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
Mar 1, 2023, 6:05 pm
#961
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: QF Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 389
Sometime in this month, based on my past experience (i.e., about 2-plus months is usual for me)..
I keep an eye on it posting in my HHonors account in case I miss the email.
Patience Grasshopper
I keep an eye on it posting in my HHonors account in case I miss the email.
Patience Grasshopper
Last edited by DC9; Mar 1, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Mar 1, 2023, 7:10 pm
#962
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
I check every day. Maybe I should stop doing that. Watched pot and all. I wouldn't care if I didn't need it for a stay next month. Amex has done some nice things for me lately but this is just really frustrating.
Mar 1, 2023, 7:28 pm
#963
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: Hilton credit card Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,653
My card anniversary is in mid January. The AF billing date is February 1, and my certificate usually arrives in early April.
I have had the card 5 years, the certificate has arrived 3/26, 4/3, 4/1, 4/4, and 4/5.
Based on my experience, I predict is that you will have the certificate by 3/7.
I have had the card 5 years, the certificate has arrived 3/26, 4/3, 4/1, 4/4, and 4/5.
Based on my experience, I predict is that you will have the certificate by 3/7.
Mar 3, 2023, 2:47 pm
#964
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 172
Does anyone have experience with two free night certificates being used on back-to-back nights under different names? As in, I book one night under my name/account with a certificate and my fiancee books one under her name/account with a certificate - is there a way to link these reservations or at the very least keep the same room?
Mar 3, 2023, 2:59 pm
#965
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 825
Does anyone have experience with two free night certificates being used on back-to-back nights under different names? As in, I book one night under my name/account with a certificate and my fiancee books one under her name/account with a certificate - is there a way to link these reservations or at the very least keep the same room?
Mar 4, 2023, 1:17 pm
#966
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 172
Thanks - does that mean I call after making both reservations and they can essentially take one room out of circulation for to be ours on both nights?
Mar 4, 2023, 1:23 pm
#967
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 825
They place a note on your resevation, it's mostly for the rooms controller to ensure they don't upgrade part of your stay and you have ti change rooms, I wouldn't imagine an issue with the same room type for all nights.
Mar 4, 2023, 1:24 pm
#968
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 172
Mar 4, 2023, 1:25 pm
#969
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Since with Hilton you have to call to make the reservations anyway, why not just tell the agent what you want to do?...."we're using two certificates in 2 different names for 2 consecutive nights, can you have them hooked together so we don't have to change rooms?"
Mar 4, 2023, 3:36 pm
#970
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 172
Good point - I'm used to Marriott so forgot I had to call in to book anyway.
Mar 6, 2023, 7:45 am
#971
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
My card anniversary is in mid January. The AF billing date is February 1, and my certificate usually arrives in early April.
I have had the card 5 years, the certificate has arrived 3/26, 4/3, 4/1, 4/4, and 4/5.
Based on my experience, I predict is that you will have the certificate by 3/7.
I have had the card 5 years, the certificate has arrived 3/26, 4/3, 4/1, 4/4, and 4/5.
Based on my experience, I predict is that you will have the certificate by 3/7.
Mar 13, 2023, 8:16 pm
#972
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,625
transferring/extending/ points conversion a free night certificate March 2023 onward
Are there resent DP on extending or transferring the Amex free night certificates?
Does Hilton ever allow conversion of a free night award to points?
The T&C on transfers are ambigious.
One says "non transferable" and another says transferable after redemption
Recent Data Points would be most appreciate.
Thanks
Does Hilton ever allow conversion of a free night award to points?
The T&C on transfers are ambigious.
One says "non transferable" and another says transferable after redemption
Recent Data Points would be most appreciate.
Thanks
Mar 17, 2023, 1:10 pm
#973
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska
Posts: 24
I was under the impression I just had to book the 35K free night by the expiration date. Like airline certs, you just need to use by date of expiration even though travel is in advance. Well, found out the hard way that's not true and customer service was adamant and would not offer me any alternatives. Anyone have any luck with extending these? My cert expires today on lucky St. Pat's day.
Mar 17, 2023, 1:18 pm
#974
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
Sorry you didn't see the "use by" policy is in the wiki at the top.
Officially they won't extend the expiration date, but if you call with a specific property and date, they will sometimes reserve it. It worked for me as diamond, but it must depend on the agent or other factor. Lots of people have been turned down. Maybe try again late at night or a different time of day.
Officially they won't extend the expiration date, but if you call with a specific property and date, they will sometimes reserve it. It worked for me as diamond, but it must depend on the agent or other factor. Lots of people have been turned down. Maybe try again late at night or a different time of day.
Mar 17, 2023, 2:06 pm
#975
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska
Posts: 24
I googled and found on FrequentMiler.com how people got extensions on their free night certs. I called Marriott again and got lucky on St. Pat's Day. They gave me an extension and booked me a free night! Yay!