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
Jul 29, 2023, 1:05 pm
#1051
Join Date: May 2023
Posts: 40
In online account under FNC there was a button to push for Hilton to call me to book FNC, so I did that and didn't need to go through all the phone menus to reach someone. If I cancel, FNC still is available immediately?
Last edited by churns; Jul 29, 2023 at 10:40 pm
Jul 31, 2023, 4:22 pm
#1052
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
Yes, it should come back immediately
Aug 9, 2023, 8:44 pm
#1054
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
Aug 14, 2023, 12:40 pm
#1056
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: IAD | YTZ
Programs: UA *G
Posts: 84
I'm trying to book a six night stay at a hotel with a three night minimum stay requirement. I have enough points for four nights (fifth night free) plus a free night certificate.
The first agent I spoke to said I couldn't mix points and certificates.
The second agent I spoke to said I could but I would not get the fifth night free if I used the certificate for the sixth night. She said the option to apply a certificate did not show up with a six night booking but did with a five night booking. Obviously, the latter would not make sense since I would already get the fifth night free using points.
Should I HUCA? Thanks!
The first agent I spoke to said I couldn't mix points and certificates.
The second agent I spoke to said I could but I would not get the fifth night free if I used the certificate for the sixth night. She said the option to apply a certificate did not show up with a six night booking but did with a five night booking. Obviously, the latter would not make sense since I would already get the fifth night free using points.
Should I HUCA? Thanks!
Aug 14, 2023, 12:51 pm
#1057
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,214
I'm trying to book a six night stay at a hotel with a three night minimum stay requirement. I have enough points for four nights (fifth night free) plus a free night certificate.
The first agent I spoke to said I couldn't mix points and certificates.
The second agent I spoke to said I could but I would not get the fifth night free if I used the certificate for the sixth night. She said the option to apply a certificate did not show up with a six night booking but did with a five night booking. Obviously, the latter would not make sense since I would already get the fifth night free using points.
Should I HUCA? Thanks!
The first agent I spoke to said I couldn't mix points and certificates.
The second agent I spoke to said I could but I would not get the fifth night free if I used the certificate for the sixth night. She said the option to apply a certificate did not show up with a six night booking but did with a five night booking. Obviously, the latter would not make sense since I would already get the fifth night free using points.
Should I HUCA? Thanks!
Aug 14, 2023, 12:53 pm
#1058
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: IAD | YTZ
Programs: UA *G
Posts: 84
Unfortunately, the three night minimum stay requirement means no single night availability on either end.
Aug 14, 2023, 1:16 pm
#1059
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,214
Aug 14, 2023, 2:17 pm
#1060
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
Maybe you can call the property and tell them what your are attempting to do and ask them to coordinate with Hilton to allow you to book 1 night with your certificate being that you are staying 6 nights total?
Aug 24, 2023, 10:30 pm
#1061
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 308
Recent FNC extension DP.
I needed a certificate extended by 16 days for an upcoming stay. Online chat agent was only able to offer 14 days, first Diamond Desk agent on the phone also would not budge past 14 days, but I asked her to escalate and she forwarded me to "guest services" or something of the sort, and the next one was able to extend it a bit more (18 days, to be really sure) and book the stay with that cert. It took an incredibly long time, a 45 minutes call. The agent was very apologetic about how long it's taking because apparently it a very complicated process on their end.
Moral of the story, 14 day extension is easy, past that, even a couple of days more - you have to really fight for it.
I needed a certificate extended by 16 days for an upcoming stay. Online chat agent was only able to offer 14 days, first Diamond Desk agent on the phone also would not budge past 14 days, but I asked her to escalate and she forwarded me to "guest services" or something of the sort, and the next one was able to extend it a bit more (18 days, to be really sure) and book the stay with that cert. It took an incredibly long time, a 45 minutes call. The agent was very apologetic about how long it's taking because apparently it a very complicated process on their end.
Moral of the story, 14 day extension is easy, past that, even a couple of days more - you have to really fight for it.
Aug 29, 2023, 7:22 am
#1062
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,296
Can an Aspire credit card anniversary FNA expiration date currently be extended (by Hilton) and if so, how readily or easily and for how long? Thank you.
Aug 29, 2023, 10:16 am
#1063
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
I’ve confused myself about some Hyatt & Hilton differences, specifically regarding FNA (free night award) expiration date extension. I read the Wiki and much of this thread (and the post above), there are references to “exceptions” and it’s confusing as to which procedures are COVID related and which are “permanent”.
Can an Aspire credit card anniversary FNA expiration date currently be extended (by Hilton) and if so, how readily or easily and for how long? Thank you.
Can an Aspire credit card anniversary FNA expiration date currently be extended (by Hilton) and if so, how readily or easily and for how long? Thank you.
Sep 1, 2023, 2:08 am
#1065
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 346
For those that upgraded to their Aspire from another Hilton card, when do you get your anniversary free night? Is it the date of upgrade or the date the original card was opened? One would assume it is the date of upgrade so I was very surprised to find that I received my anniversary free night today (3.5 mths before the anniversary of my upgrade but right on time if going by the original card anniversary date).