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
Jan 30, 2023, 12:52 pm
#931
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
Essentially the fifth night free works out as a 20% discount across the five nights, especially now that award pricing is more dynamic. So you are merely replacing one of those five nights with a FNC. (what you aren't doing is replacing one of the four full-price nights and still getting a free night)
Jan 30, 2023, 2:40 pm
#932
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, HGVC, WN RR, National Exec, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,057
I don't usually link to myself to avoid breaking any FT rules. LOL.
Essentially the fifth night free works out as a 20% discount across the five nights, especially now that award pricing is more dynamic. So you are merely replacing one of those five nights with a FNC. (what you aren't doing is replacing one of the four full-price nights and still getting a free night)
Essentially the fifth night free works out as a 20% discount across the five nights, especially now that award pricing is more dynamic. So you are merely replacing one of those five nights with a FNC. (what you aren't doing is replacing one of the four full-price nights and still getting a free night)
Jan 30, 2023, 4:47 pm
#933
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
I thought you might be the author of that article and I googled your numbers to find out where they came from. I still don't follow your explanation. To book the 5 nights you are still paying 95,000 x 4, which gets you the 5th night free without using a certificate. Why use a FNC for a night you are getting free through using the 4 nights worth of points already?
76,000 * 5 = 380,000
95,000 * 4 = 380,000
So if you used the FNC, you will would use 76,000 points for 4 nights (308,000 total), and 1 FNC.
Correct me if I am wrong
Jan 30, 2023, 4:52 pm
#934
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
I believe what is being said is that 5th night free is not really that. They take the cost of 4 nights and spread it over 5 nights.
76,000 * 5 = 380,000
95,000 * 4 = 380,000
So if you used the FNC, you will would use 76,000 points for 4 nights (308,000 total), and 1 FNC.
Correct me if I am wrong
76,000 * 5 = 380,000
95,000 * 4 = 380,000
So if you used the FNC, you will would use 76,000 points for 4 nights (308,000 total), and 1 FNC.
Correct me if I am wrong
Jan 30, 2023, 5:29 pm
#935
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Benefits and Member Tiers with Hilton Honors
This is from the Hilton website. Similar explanations are on Points Guy, etc.
What I didn't realize was that you had to have elite status, just Silver or above so no biggie, and it also could only be a standard room.
This is from the Hilton website. Similar explanations are on Points Guy, etc.
What I didn't realize was that you had to have elite status, just Silver or above so no biggie, and it also could only be a standard room.
Jan 31, 2023, 4:51 am
#936
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,050
I thought you might be the author of that article and I googled your numbers to find out where they came from. I still don't follow your explanation. To book the 5 nights you are still paying 95,000 x 4, which gets you the 5th night free without using a certificate. Why use a FNC for a night you are getting free through using the 4 nights worth of points already?
I believe what is being said is that 5th night free is not really that. They take the cost of 4 nights and spread it over 5 nights.
76,000 * 5 = 380,000
95,000 * 4 = 380,000
So if you used the FNC, you will would use 76,000 points for 4 nights (308,000 total), and 1 FNC.
Correct me if I am wrong
76,000 * 5 = 380,000
95,000 * 4 = 380,000
So if you used the FNC, you will would use 76,000 points for 4 nights (308,000 total), and 1 FNC.
Correct me if I am wrong
Jan 31, 2023, 5:50 am
#937
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
My understanding from above, unless I am mistaken, you book it online, and then call and ask one night to be switched to a FNC...I could be wrong however
Jan 31, 2023, 9:13 am
#940
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Like everything, if you get an agent willing to do it that's great, but I was just pointing out what the policy was so no one really expected it and then was disappointed.
Jan 31, 2023, 3:12 pm
#941
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,485
I booked three more with FNCs as well.Have a 2/12 expiry I now have a need to use on 2/28.
Jan 31, 2023, 4:49 pm
#942
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
I have a 5-night stay in 2 reservations. 1st reservation is 1 night w/cash. 2nd reservation is 4 nights with FNCs and points. Night 2 is now sold out, but if that changes I might ask.
Contrary to what Eujeanie said, for what it's worth a HH rep told me not to book with points and then call to swap an FNC. It was more than a year ago, but she said the FNC will be a new reservation and you risk not getting the room back.
Last edited by rrgg; Jan 31, 2023 at 5:37 pm
Jan 31, 2023, 5:08 pm
#943
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New York, NY
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 456
The points used for a reservation cannot be swapped with a FNC. I believe in the past it could be done, but not anymore. Now, the agent will check that a room can booked using the FNC as a new reservation and then, if so, confirm you want to cancel the original reservation booked with points.
Feb 1, 2023, 10:21 am
#944
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 30
Did you eventually receive it? My certificate is also late, albeit by only 2 days. But I am depending on it for a reservation I need to make in less than a week. It had arrived on the same day for the previous 3 years.