Mar 14, 2019, 8:27 am
Last edit by: rrgg
Expiration: The 12 month expiration date on a certificate means you must reserve and complete the stay by the expiration date. You can't reserve something beyond the 12 month period. You can't extend the expiration date. (Some exceptions starting with this post.)
Eligible Dates: A certificate can be used for a Standard Room Award any day of the week. (Old policy limited them to Fri, Sat, Sun).
Other Notes:
Eligible Dates: A certificate can be used for a Standard Room Award any day of the week. (Old policy limited them to Fri, Sat, Sun).
Other Notes:
- If you earned a free night from a credit card and cancel the card, the free night certificate remains intact.
- If you cancel a reservation made with a free night certificate, the certificate becomes available right away.
- After making a reservation with a free night certificate, you'll get an email that says you booked a Standard Room Award. It will also show the points value, but no points will actually be deducted.
- The free night from the Aspire card arrives by email within 2 months of being approved and anniversary date, and the free night from spend on the Aspire/Business/Surpass arrives within a week or sooner of reaching the spending threshold. This is irrespective of your card statement date. If you upgrade from another Hilton Amex to the Aspire, the free night may post more quickly.
- Available, reserved and used certificates can be seen midway through the My Account page (https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-hon...st/my-account/)
- If you're waiting for a free night certificate to arrive, Hilton reps say it does not help to make a points reservation and then swap it later. The reason is they have to cancel the old points reservation one and make a new reservation. The old one can't just be edited to change the payment to a FNC.
- From the Hilton email regarding a special 2020 policy on some certificates, "For all unexpired Weekend Night Rewards as of March 11, 2020, and all new ones issued until August 30, 2020, we are extending the expiration date through the end of next summer (August 31, 2021). There is no need for you to do anything, as your certificate(s) are being automatically updated in our systems. We hope this adjustment gives you some additional flexibility for your travels
Consolidated "Free Night Certificate Questions & Experiences" thread
Nov 2, 2022, 2:05 pm
#841
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: IAH
Programs: Hilton Diamond; UA Gold; Marriott Gold; Accor Gold;
Posts: 232
Nov 5, 2022, 10:26 am
#843
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: San Francisco & London
Programs: UA1k, Oneworld Sapphire, Hyatt Globalist, IHG DiamondAmb, Hilton Diamond, Marriott LTP,
Posts: 1,785
How long before the Aspire free night hits my HH account? Hit minimum spend on new account over three weeks ago, first statement closed a few days ago.
Also are HH still allowing freights to be extended?
Also are HH still allowing freights to be extended?
Nov 6, 2022, 5:05 am
#844
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
The first year free night is not tied to spend. I got mine 44 days after opening, but I think terms say up to 8 weeks
Nov 24, 2022, 12:33 am
#848
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 14
Has anyone had success recently getting free night certificates extended? I have 2 expiring at the end of the year that I wanted to use for a stay Jan 1-3 and have gotten a hard no from multiple agents saying they cannot do anything to extend the certificates. I have diamond if it makes a difference.
Nov 24, 2022, 3:07 pm
#849
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SW Florida
Programs: DL Gold, HHDiamond, IHG Plat Regular Joe Everywhere Else
Posts: 538
Has anyone had success recently getting free night certificates extended? I have 2 expiring at the end of the year that I wanted to use for a stay Jan 1-3 and have gotten a hard no from multiple agents saying they cannot do anything to extend the certificates. I have diamond if it makes a difference.
Nov 25, 2022, 6:50 pm
#850
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 920
Free night Cert
I just realized I have three months left before one of my certs expires. (It was an Amex $8k spend cert).
Any tips or tricks on this? If a hotel has any inventory available, can I use it? Or only if they have standard reward availability? Can I tell online? Or do I have to call in to see if a hotel has certificate availability?
Any tips or tricks on this? If a hotel has any inventory available, can I use it? Or only if they have standard reward availability? Can I tell online? Or do I have to call in to see if a hotel has certificate availability?
Nov 25, 2022, 6:58 pm
#851
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,834
I just realized I have three months left before one of my certs expires. (It was an Amex $8k spend cert).
Any tips or tricks on this? If a hotel has any inventory available, can I use it? Or only if they have standard reward availability? Can I tell online? Or do I have to call in to see if a hotel has certificate availability?
Any tips or tricks on this? If a hotel has any inventory available, can I use it? Or only if they have standard reward availability? Can I tell online? Or do I have to call in to see if a hotel has certificate availability?
Nov 25, 2022, 9:21 pm
#852
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,750
My favorite hotel for this award is Waldorf Pedregal in Cabo. You can get to Cabo flying nonstop from SAN on Alaska. I didn't check but believe there are nonstop flights from Tijuana. A standard room at the Waldorf is 120K points/night. I just checked Dec and Jan for award availability. Should you be incredibly flexible, one night next week is available. That is Friday night, Dec 2. Dec 6, 14 and Jan 25 are also available.
Nov 26, 2022, 7:52 am
#853
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
I just realized I have three months left before one of my certs expires. (It was an Amex $8k spend cert).
Any tips or tricks on this? If a hotel has any inventory available, can I use it? Or only if they have standard reward availability? Can I tell online? Or do I have to call in to see if a hotel has certificate availability?
Any tips or tricks on this? If a hotel has any inventory available, can I use it? Or only if they have standard reward availability? Can I tell online? Or do I have to call in to see if a hotel has certificate availability?
And unfortunately you do have to call in to book.