Changes to free WiFi Elite benefit
Dec 18, 2014, 11:02 pm
#181
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Apex, NC
Programs: AA EXP, Delta DM, Bonvoy Titanium, Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Club, National Exec something!
Posts: 103
Agreed. Diamond here, 34 stays this year, 50ish nights. Next year will be far under this (shifting to Marriott mid-year) unless this is fixed.
Dec 19, 2014, 5:27 am
#182
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Starwood free WIFi Feb 2015 - Hilton shorts business travelers
According to Australian Business Traveler:
If Hilton properties / Blackstone don't get with courtesy connectivity, I've little doubt this will cost them. Particularly since Hilton has throttled back speeds for courtesy connectivity for HHonors elites.
Dumb moves, Blackstone /Hilton!
The Starwood group will give SPG members free Internet across its family of hotels – including Sheraton, W, Westin, Le Meridien and Aloft – from February 2015.
Dumb moves, Blackstone /Hilton!
Dec 19, 2014, 7:45 am
#183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
JDiver omits - or a sloppy ABT omits - that this Starwood internet benefit is only for SPG members booking through SPG web sites or the SPG app. Booking through corporate portals may not qualify. This isn't a move at all targeted to business travelers - it's for personal business where booking site and property chain are discretionary.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...s-spg-app.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...s-spg-app.html
Dec 19, 2014, 8:14 am
#184
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
Dec 20, 2014, 1:13 pm
#185
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
).Just spent 3 nights at a Crown Plaza. Was surprised to learn at check-in that I was still a Gold member (their mid-tier level), since typically I only stay at IHG properties 2 or 3 time per year (5 to 6 nights total).
After I read this thread, I did an in-room internet speed test. 10Mb upload. 10 Mb download. Consistently.
Free internet (provided free to all three levels in their program).
No hassle of having to pick a speed level. Straightforward log-in.
Hilton: you money-grubbers should be ashamed of yourselves.
Dec 20, 2014, 4:10 pm
#186
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Drammen, Norway
Programs: SAS Eurobonus Diamond, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 298
I'm right now at Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town. I have stayed here several times a year for 15 years, and I have always had good free Internet.
Not any more! Now they have drastically reduced the speed. Now I get 0.8 Mb down and 0.34 Mb up. That is stone age speed and can't be used for anything. They have introduced an option to PAY for better speed, but as a HHonors Diamond I refuse to do that.
This is really bad, and I'm sure that many loyal Hilton travelers will look at other hotels!
Not any more! Now they have drastically reduced the speed. Now I get 0.8 Mb down and 0.34 Mb up. That is stone age speed and can't be used for anything. They have introduced an option to PAY for better speed, but as a HHonors Diamond I refuse to do that.
This is really bad, and I'm sure that many loyal Hilton travelers will look at other hotels!
Dec 21, 2014, 5:58 am
#188
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: WSSS/RCTP
Programs: SQ KF, A3 Gold, CI Dynasty, UA MileagePlus, ANA AMC, HH Gold, M&C Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 317
Recent stay at 3 Japan properties. For comparison, I used the same youtube video for all three properties.
Hilton Niseko: Internet speed was painfully slow. I was better off tethering my prepaid data from my mobile phone. Even those commercials that usually load before the actual youtube video was also buffering. You know you're @#$%-ed when that happens.
Hilton Tokyo Bay. Nice and fast. No complaints except for the occasional lag which I can live with.
Conrad Tokyo. There was an option for premium connection at 1000JPY/day. At check in was informed that premium connection is complimentary for HH Gold and Diamond but when I was in the room and tried to connect, premium connection still showed as chargeable. So I only used the free wifi option. The free internet option didnt have any noticeable lag though.
Hilton Niseko: Internet speed was painfully slow. I was better off tethering my prepaid data from my mobile phone. Even those commercials that usually load before the actual youtube video was also buffering. You know you're @#$%-ed when that happens.
Hilton Tokyo Bay. Nice and fast. No complaints except for the occasional lag which I can live with.
Conrad Tokyo. There was an option for premium connection at 1000JPY/day. At check in was informed that premium connection is complimentary for HH Gold and Diamond but when I was in the room and tried to connect, premium connection still showed as chargeable. So I only used the free wifi option. The free internet option didnt have any noticeable lag though.
Dec 22, 2014, 9:04 am
#189
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,466
Well Hyatt just officially announced that it will offer free wifi to all guests across all brands and that Plat and Diamond will get the free upgrade to premium internet.
So Hilton has officially been left in the dust by all major competitors now. Combined with all the website issues, this will undoubtedly cost them business in 2015.
So Hilton has officially been left in the dust by all major competitors now. Combined with all the website issues, this will undoubtedly cost them business in 2015.
Dec 22, 2014, 10:59 am
#190
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: HNL
Programs: Marriott Gold | Hilton Diamond | Hyatt Plat | UA 1K | HA Plat| Hertz President's circle
Posts: 588
Well Hyatt just officially announced that it will offer free wifi to all guests across all brands and that Plat and Diamond will get the free upgrade to premium internet.
So Hilton has officially been left in the dust by all major competitors now. Combined with all the website issues, this will undoubtedly cost them business in 2015.
So Hilton has officially been left in the dust by all major competitors now. Combined with all the website issues, this will undoubtedly cost them business in 2015.
"Hyatt hotels will be offering free Wi-Fi to all guests at all hotels and resorts worldwide independent of booking channel. Platinum and Diamond members will get a complimentary upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service where available. Guests will be able to access free Wi-Fi on an unlimited number of mobile devices in Hyatt-branded guest rooms and social spaces.
Internet connectivity is an integral part of daily life and essential for today’s traveler. Our guests should not have to remember which brands or locations offer it for free and which do not."
Internet connectivity is an integral part of daily life and essential for today’s traveler. Our guests should not have to remember which brands or locations offer it for free and which do not."
HILTON PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS - Internet connectivity is an integral part of daily life and essential for today’s traveler. ...guests should not have to remember which brands or locations offer it for free and which do not. - AMEN!
Dec 22, 2014, 1:50 pm
#191
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
IHG vs. Hilton
Diamond also. Over 30 stays, over 70 nights, nearly 100,000 based points (almost scored a hat trick).
Just spent 3 nights at a Crown Plaza. Was surprised to learn at check-in that I was still a Gold member (their mid-tier level), since typically I only stay at IHG properties 2 or 3 time per year (5 to 6 nights total).
After I read this thread, I did an in-room internet speed test. 10Mb upload. 10 Mb download. Consistently.
Free internet (provided free to all three levels in their program).
No hassle of having to pick a speed level. Straightforward log-in.
Hilton: you money-grubbers should be ashamed of yourselves.
).Just spent 3 nights at a Crown Plaza. Was surprised to learn at check-in that I was still a Gold member (their mid-tier level), since typically I only stay at IHG properties 2 or 3 time per year (5 to 6 nights total).
After I read this thread, I did an in-room internet speed test. 10Mb upload. 10 Mb download. Consistently.
Free internet (provided free to all three levels in their program).
No hassle of having to pick a speed level. Straightforward log-in.
Hilton: you money-grubbers should be ashamed of yourselves.
Dec 22, 2014, 2:29 pm
#192
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
Conrad Tokyo. There was an option for premium connection at 1000JPY/day. At check in was informed that premium connection is complimentary for HH Gold and Diamond but when I was in the room and tried to connect, premium connection still showed as chargeable. So I only used the free wifi option. The free internet option didnt have any noticeable lag though.
I have had the same experience at a number of Hilton properties. Select the top speed but I never have been charged for it, most recently at the ES at LAX.
Dec 23, 2014, 6:01 pm
#193
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Drammen, Norway
Programs: SAS Eurobonus Diamond, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 298
Like I said in my post 2 days ago, I'm now at Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town and I get the lousy 0.8 Mb Internet download speed without paying extra. I asked the management here about it, and said that as a Diamond I'm not happy to have to PAY for the speed I have had here for years. I was surprised by the reply. Here it is :
"As a Diamond member you are eligible for a complimentary internet upgrade at Hilton Hotels. In the future make sure to use your Hilton honors number and pin number to log into the internet and you should automatically receive the upgraded speeds for free."
Is this true? I ALWAYS sign in with my HHonors number and pi, and I'm NEVER upgraded without paying.
I hope that Erin can comment on that.
"As a Diamond member you are eligible for a complimentary internet upgrade at Hilton Hotels. In the future make sure to use your Hilton honors number and pin number to log into the internet and you should automatically receive the upgraded speeds for free."
Is this true? I ALWAYS sign in with my HHonors number and pi, and I'm NEVER upgraded without paying.
I hope that Erin can comment on that.
Dec 23, 2014, 8:23 pm
#194
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA - all of it!
Programs: United Premier 1k, Avis First, HHonor Diamond, Marriot Gold
Posts: 195
Here is another response I got from HHonors. I will be taking my business to Marriott where they allow Platinums to pick any internet speed no matter the cost.
Dear Mr. Jeffus,
Please accept our sincerest apologies on behalf of the property for any aggravation or inconvenience experienced during your visit. Unfortunately, premium Internet is not covered under the Hilton Honors
complimentary Internet. It is the standard Internet that is We are unable to override the hotels procedures and guidelines nor offer a refund of the premium charge. When choosing premium Internet
it is an upgrade and there will be a fee associated no matter the Hilton family brand.
We do appreciate your feedback and value your continued loyalty.
Should you have any additional questions relative to this matter, please contact our Guest Assistance office at [email protected] or by calling 1-888-240-6152.
Sincere Regards,
Wilma C.
Dear Mr. Jeffus,
Please accept our sincerest apologies on behalf of the property for any aggravation or inconvenience experienced during your visit. Unfortunately, premium Internet is not covered under the Hilton Honors
complimentary Internet. It is the standard Internet that is We are unable to override the hotels procedures and guidelines nor offer a refund of the premium charge. When choosing premium Internet
it is an upgrade and there will be a fee associated no matter the Hilton family brand.
We do appreciate your feedback and value your continued loyalty.
Should you have any additional questions relative to this matter, please contact our Guest Assistance office at [email protected] or by calling 1-888-240-6152.
Sincere Regards,
Wilma C.
Dec 24, 2014, 12:57 pm
#195
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
Well, that is obviously not true. I always choose the highest speed and have never been charged (I always use my HH# and PIN). Could this be a property by property decision?