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
Apr 12, 2019, 12:09 pm
#91
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 139
Couple quick questions. 1: Since it is a free weekend night. Does that mean you can only use it to book a night on the weekend? I'm sure this has been answered many times, I apologize. I have been looking around for quite some time but haven't found what I am looking for.
2nd- if it is only for a free weekend night, would I have the ability to do the following,
Book 4 nights on points (5th night free) from Wednesday-Sunday night. --- Then call into diamond desk & use free weekend cert for one of those nights. & have my 5th night free actual drag over to Monday. Therefore having 6 nights on my stay?
2nd- if it is only for a free weekend night, would I have the ability to do the following,
Book 4 nights on points (5th night free) from Wednesday-Sunday night. --- Then call into diamond desk & use free weekend cert for one of those nights. & have my 5th night free actual drag over to Monday. Therefore having 6 nights on my stay?
Apr 12, 2019, 12:10 pm
#92
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 139
Couple quick questions. 1: Since it is a free weekend night. Does that mean you can only use it to book a night on the weekend? I'm sure this has been answered many times, I apologize. I have been looking around for quite some time but haven't found what I am looking for.
2nd- if it is only for a free weekend night, would I have the ability to do the following,
Book 4 nights on points (5th night free) from Wednesday-Sunday night. --- Then call into diamond desk & use free weekend cert for one of those nights. & have my 5th night free actual drag over to Monday. Therefore having 6 nights on my stay?
2nd- if it is only for a free weekend night, would I have the ability to do the following,
Book 4 nights on points (5th night free) from Wednesday-Sunday night. --- Then call into diamond desk & use free weekend cert for one of those nights. & have my 5th night free actual drag over to Monday. Therefore having 6 nights on my stay?
Apr 12, 2019, 12:15 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
Yes, all 5 nights have to be contiguous. You could add a free night to the beginning or end, of course, if it’s a valid day to redeem the free night.
Apr 12, 2019, 12:17 pm
#94
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 139
Apr 12, 2019, 12:27 pm
#95
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,945
Apr 12, 2019, 12:31 pm
#96
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 139
Hopefully I'll get lucky with an agent then. Hoping to do 6 nights at the Conrad Maldives... Got enough points for 4 nights, & the weekend cert. But my Wednesday-Tuesday is cemented due to flights. Would be frustrating if I can't work it out one way or another.
Apr 12, 2019, 1:29 pm
#97
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 139
Just for a data point... The agent wouldn't do it. Said the booking can't be done. Due to the fact of the the 4 night 5th night free must be continuous & the weekend night is only valid on weekends.... 
Might try back in a little & try again.
Might try back in a little & try again.
Apr 12, 2019, 2:28 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: AA EXP/LT Plat (4 MM), SPG LT Plat (Bonvoy doesn’t exist to me), HH Diamond via cc, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,713
Assuming the hotel would have been 50K for a standard award, then yes this is correct. Mine shows 80K for Koh Samui.
Apr 12, 2019, 2:33 pm
#99
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: AA EXP/LT Plat (4 MM), SPG LT Plat (Bonvoy doesn’t exist to me), HH Diamond via cc, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,713
Unfortunate that you’re stuck with your travel dates as W and Th are the only arrival days that wouldn’t work for 6 nights.
Apr 12, 2019, 2:46 pm
#100
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 139
This has always been my experience. I know above it says there have been reports of usage on other days, but when I tried the agent said they couldn’t even get the system to take it even if they wanted to.
Unfortunate that you’re stuck with your travel dates as W and Th are the only arrival days that wouldn’t work for 6 nights.
I'm sure everyone has the exact same complaint, it's weird that they only allow weekend nights for redemption of this. I was naive to think it was just a clever marketing idea or something and not actually only to be used on the weekends. I would think resorts value weekends higher than weekdays?? I'm sure there is a logistical reason for this. I just can't think of it off the top of my head.
Apr 17, 2019, 12:09 pm
#102
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: AA, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 40
As a secondary question to this thread...I have 2 separate free weekend night certs (from my AMEX). Can they be used together? Can I use them added on to stays using points? Thanks in advance!!
Apr 17, 2019, 8:37 pm
#104
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO/LAX/SAN/LAS/DFW/JFK/LGA/EWR/MIA
Posts: 1,073
any DP here about when the aspire annual CC free night arrives? im into week 11 and im still waiting after AF posted. last year also took 11 weeks after sign up. dont know why it takes over 2 months. totally ridic.