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
Dec 22, 2019, 6:47 am
#211
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 694
The terms and conditions does say that your annual certificate will arrive 8 - 12 weeks after your anniversary date.
Dec 22, 2019, 8:37 am
#212
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Is anyone else annoyed that these certs coming via email and require a phone call to redeem? Why can’t these just be loaded into my HHonors account? Banking on higher breakage?
Dec 22, 2019, 2:25 pm
#213
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle WA, USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, AS Lounge
Posts: 3,478
I for one don't mind calling in for occasional reservations like this one. The last time I used one of these certs the phone rep put in a request for an upgrade and I got the best room I've ever had at that hotel despite the fact that the reservation was for just a standard room.
Dec 22, 2019, 3:02 pm
#214
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 694
I don't sweat the small stuff, lol. It's really not that deep.
Dec 22, 2019, 5:54 pm
#215
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
The fact that it is only good on a weekend makes sense regarding difficult IT programming. Guess I’m used to Marriott where my free night certs are visible in my account wallet and return as certs (not points) when a reservation is cancelled.
Dec 22, 2019, 10:36 pm
#216
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,870
Dec 22, 2019, 10:49 pm
#217
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
Dec 24, 2019, 12:20 am
#219
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta, Hertz, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 4,921
Dec 24, 2019, 12:28 am
#220
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta, Hertz, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 4,921
I get the first notice saying I've been awarded the certificate that will show up in 8-12 weeks, but both times I never got the follow-up email with the specifics. However, a message will show up after signing into my Amex card account online telling me that's is has arrived on a certain date, but nothing else. I get a free night, so I'm happy. Just seems a bit wonky.
Dec 24, 2019, 5:17 am
#221
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 536
Dec 24, 2019, 5:20 am
#222
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 536
And yes, I suspect that far more certs are forgotten and never used because there’s nothing online.
Dec 25, 2019, 3:50 am
#223
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta, Hertz, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 4,921
I looked back and it actually says 8-14 and they got it to me within the time frame, but it seemed like it took forever.
But it does say that the specifics regarding the award will be arriving by email. Maybe they really mean it will show up as a message in my Amex Aspire online account which it has both times. And now that I read the whole thing, it does include all the information. The certificate number and date of issue and all the terms. The small print states that it's good for 365 days from date of issue (in my case December 4), not anniversary date which is good to know.
But it does say that the specifics regarding the award will be arriving by email. Maybe they really mean it will show up as a message in my Amex Aspire online account which it has both times. And now that I read the whole thing, it does include all the information. The certificate number and date of issue and all the terms. The small print states that it's good for 365 days from date of issue (in my case December 4), not anniversary date which is good to know.