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 27, 2024, 10:36 pm
#1171
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
Can someone help clarify a couple of points for me:
1) The terms state: Reward Certificate may be issued to the Hilton Honors Member, any person in the Member’s family, or to any other person, as directed by the Member. Once issued, rewards are not transferable and may be used only by the individual named on the reward.
Does this mean that once the family member hits the spend on the credit card to qualify for a free night certificate, the family member can direct it to me? But my understanding is that the award is automatically issued to the cardholder, or is there some other method?
2) If the award is issued to the cardholder (with no/low status) and an award booking is made for a family member who is a Diamond, do Diamond benefits apply?
TIA.
1) The terms state: Reward Certificate may be issued to the Hilton Honors Member, any person in the Member’s family, or to any other person, as directed by the Member. Once issued, rewards are not transferable and may be used only by the individual named on the reward.
Does this mean that once the family member hits the spend on the credit card to qualify for a free night certificate, the family member can direct it to me? But my understanding is that the award is automatically issued to the cardholder, or is there some other method?
2) If the award is issued to the cardholder (with no/low status) and an award booking is made for a family member who is a Diamond, do Diamond benefits apply?
TIA.
Mar 28, 2024, 12:12 am
#1172
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA Plat, AA Plat Pro, Hilton Dia, Marriott Plat
Posts: 19
Can someone help clarify a couple of points for me:
1) The terms state: Reward Certificate may be issued to the Hilton Honors Member, any person in the Member’s family, or to any other person, as directed by the Member. Once issued, rewards are not transferable and may be used only by the individual named on the reward.
Does this mean that once the family member hits the spend on the credit card to qualify for a free night certificate, the family member can direct it to me? But my understanding is that the award is automatically issued to the cardholder, or is there some other method?
2) If the award is issued to the cardholder (with no/low status) and an award booking is made for a family member who is a Diamond, do Diamond benefits apply?
TIA.
1) The terms state: Reward Certificate may be issued to the Hilton Honors Member, any person in the Member’s family, or to any other person, as directed by the Member. Once issued, rewards are not transferable and may be used only by the individual named on the reward.
Does this mean that once the family member hits the spend on the credit card to qualify for a free night certificate, the family member can direct it to me? But my understanding is that the award is automatically issued to the cardholder, or is there some other method?
2) If the award is issued to the cardholder (with no/low status) and an award booking is made for a family member who is a Diamond, do Diamond benefits apply?
TIA.
2) Property dependent. At the property I work for, we would honor Diamond benefits at check in if you let us know at check in that another member of the party is a higher tier (after verification in our system).