Jun 4, 2015, 11:33 am
Last edit by: dmodemd
Hilton rolled out the complimentary Wi-Fi earlier than originally planned!
* Beginning in June 2015, premium Internet access, where available, will be rolled out globally and will be free of charge for Diamond members when they book directly through a proprietary Hilton channel or via one of our corporate travel partners.
* Starting in August, we will extend complimentary standard Wi-Fi access to Blue and Silver members when they book their stays directly through a proprietary Hilton channel or one of our corporate travel partners.
* Complimentary standard Wi-Fi will continue to be a benefit for HHonors Gold members who also book directly through our proprietary Hilton channels or one of our corporate travel partners:* This update doesn’t apply to hotels where there is a resort charge (except for Diamond members complimentary premium access - Post #6).
* This offering will not be available until August through September in EMEA and APAC.
* Free standard Wi-Fi will continue to be a benefit for Hilton HHonors Gold members who also book directly through our proprietary Hilton channels one of our approved travel agent partners.
* Free standard Wi-Fi will be available on June 4, 2015 for all HHonors members who book directly at all StayConnected properties globally.
* The HHonors Terms and Conditions will be updated on June 4, 2015 to reflect these changes.
* Starting in August, we will extend complimentary standard Wi-Fi access to Blue and Silver members when they book their stays directly through a proprietary Hilton channel or one of our corporate travel partners.
* Complimentary standard Wi-Fi will continue to be a benefit for HHonors Gold members who also book directly through our proprietary Hilton channels or one of our corporate travel partners:
- The Hilton HHonors mobile app
- Online from hilton.com, HHonors.com, or any of our brand/hotel websites
- Calling Hilton Reservations Customer Care: 1-800-HHonors or your local Hilton reservations office
- Calling an individual hotel (plus walk-ins and physical on-property too)
- Via corporate travel agencies and travel professionals that book via a Hilton proprietary channel
* This offering will not be available until August through September in EMEA and APAC.
* Free standard Wi-Fi will continue to be a benefit for Hilton HHonors Gold members who also book directly through our proprietary Hilton channels one of our approved travel agent partners.
* Free standard Wi-Fi will be available on June 4, 2015 for all HHonors members who book directly at all StayConnected properties globally.
* The HHonors Terms and Conditions will be updated on June 4, 2015 to reflect these changes.
Hilton Wi-Fi Update
Mar 2, 2015, 11:56 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: UK
Programs: LH lifetime Sen; HH lifetime diamond; flying blue silver
Posts: 285
Can I please have clarification of a possible diamond downside?
If I book through a channel such as Expedia now, I still get free wi-fi at a property. It seems that when this new rule comes into effect, I will no longer get any free wi-fi, despite being diamond. I have to book direct or via a corporate TA. Is this correct?
If I book through a channel such as Expedia now, I still get free wi-fi at a property. It seems that when this new rule comes into effect, I will no longer get any free wi-fi, despite being diamond. I have to book direct or via a corporate TA. Is this correct?
Mar 2, 2015, 12:11 pm
#20
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Definitely great news. Nice to see a positive change which makes my status more valuable ^
Mar 2, 2015, 12:46 pm
#22
Company Representative - Honors by Hilton
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 1,516
Can I please have clarification of a possible diamond downside?
If I book through a channel such as Expedia now, I still get free wi-fi at a property. It seems that when this new rule comes into effect, I will no longer get any free wi-fi, despite being diamond. I have to book direct or via a corporate TA. Is this correct?
If I book through a channel such as Expedia now, I still get free wi-fi at a property. It seems that when this new rule comes into effect, I will no longer get any free wi-fi, despite being diamond. I have to book direct or via a corporate TA. Is this correct?
Correct. Diamond members who book through one of our direct channels or a one of our corporate travel partners via corporate travel agencies and travel professionals will receive complimentary premium Wi-Fi.
Thanks!
Erin
Mar 2, 2015, 1:12 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: UK
Programs: LH lifetime Sen; HH lifetime diamond; flying blue silver
Posts: 285
So this is a downgrade if I am correct. At present via Expedia, say, I still get free wi-fi. Now this benefit is withdrawn?
Mar 2, 2015, 1:29 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
If you book on the websites eg Hilton.com for quite sometime it has stated at top of first screens that free wifi is only given for booking directly with Hilton
Of course if you bok with an ota you don't ever see that flagged
Like everything else one tends to get more than hotel needs give on an ota booking as is not qual night, earns no points & I believe hotel does not have to give gold/diamond bennies (eg upgrades) if you book via ota, though many/most still do
Mar 2, 2015, 1:43 pm
#28
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,640
Furthermore, it is you that has been asking repeatedly what the brand standard is for internet. Anecdotally this appears to be between 0.5 and 1 Mbps, presumably blues and silvers are now going to be enticed to stay at Hilton properties with the offer of free internet, only to be disappointed to find that it cannot actually be used for anything. I see no claims by guests at Marriott, Hyatt or Starwood that the basic free internet is useless. This is at best deceptive.
Mar 2, 2015, 1:49 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond, DL PM, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 920
Mar 2, 2015, 1:50 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Exp, IHG Plat, National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 648
I'm very glad to see HH responding to this debacle they created. And thank you, Erin, for helping voice our collective feedback on this issue over the past few months.
Selfishly, I'm really glad to see Diamonds being comped the premium speed. I've been a fan of how Marriott does this for Gold and higher, and am really happy to see Hilton adopting a similar model, albeit just for Diamond.
But I'll reserve my full enthusiasm until I see how much better the "premium" speeds actually are in practice. I suspect it'll be a slight improvement over the free tier, but still worse than 3G in a 3rd world country. Unless HH addresses the minimum requirements for ul/dl speeds at the free and premium tiers, this announcement is just smoke and mirrors. They'll succeed in stroking the egos of Diamonds, but they'll still fail in delivering acceptable internet speeds for the year 199... er 2015.
Selfishly, I'm really glad to see Diamonds being comped the premium speed. I've been a fan of how Marriott does this for Gold and higher, and am really happy to see Hilton adopting a similar model, albeit just for Diamond.
But I'll reserve my full enthusiasm until I see how much better the "premium" speeds actually are in practice. I suspect it'll be a slight improvement over the free tier, but still worse than 3G in a 3rd world country. Unless HH addresses the minimum requirements for ul/dl speeds at the free and premium tiers, this announcement is just smoke and mirrors. They'll succeed in stroking the egos of Diamonds, but they'll still fail in delivering acceptable internet speeds for the year 199... er 2015.
