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 9, 2019, 4:09 am
#76
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SIN/BNE
Posts: 816
WA Beverley hills is a good property to use it. Usually goes for $600+ per night.
Apr 9, 2019, 10:51 am
#77
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PHL/EWR
Programs: AA, US, WN, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,528
For me the best use is tacked on to a fifth night free point stay at a resort.
I'm not going to stay at a particular property just so I can get the best value from it.
I'm not going to stay at a particular property just so I can get the best value from it.
Apr 9, 2019, 11:36 am
#78
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
We're using ours at the WA Orlando this year. Nightly rate was around $400. Combine it with the Aspire $250 resort credit and we're feelin' pretty good about the trip.
If you're looking for bang-for-your-buck, any resort in the summer will do. Looking at the Hilton Pensacola Beach during 4th of July and the Blue Angels Air Show, nightly rates are north of $600.
If you're looking for bang-for-your-buck, any resort in the summer will do. Looking at the Hilton Pensacola Beach during 4th of July and the Blue Angels Air Show, nightly rates are north of $600.
Apr 9, 2019, 3:00 pm
#79
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 696
We just used it at the Grand Wailea, Waldorf Astoria resort in Maui - a lot of value in return because the rate there can be $800-$900 easily. So we thought that was the great use of the certificate night. If you are a Diamond member, you will get upgraded to the Napua tower that comes with the club/lounge access: complimentary breakfast, appetizer and even free cocktails in the evening. If you are Gold/Diamond, you receive $15 credit up to $30 for two people at the their Grand Dinning restaurant for breakfast.
Apr 9, 2019, 5:03 pm
#80
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
A couple data points on my usage of certs this past winter:
Like Schutzee I had bad issues with trying to "reuse" a cert. In June of '18 I booked for 1 night in Nov '18, and then ultimately canceled that booking in Oct '18. It took months to get the cert restored in my account. I would call every few weeks, get told they were working on it, not to worry they'd extend it, and then nothing. When it finally reappeared in my account at the end of Feb '19, I'd already missed 2 trips I was trying to take, but they refused to extend it, so I ended up booking 1 night at the WA in Vegas this past weekend, a week before the original expiration date. We did well enough at the tables that even all of our F&B and shows ended up being free too, so I guess I can't complain.
For my new cert this year, I learned (1) you cannot simply replace a points booking with a cert (I'd held a free night in Koh Samui, hoping to replace it with the cert when it finally showed up) - regular award space needs to be available when you try to make the switch, and (2) if you want to do a 3 night stay (which we are), they can deduct 2 nights worth of points and combine with the cert into a single reservation - but if you want to do 6 nights, including a 5th night free, that required some additional steps that would require 2 separate reservations. Or at least that's what I was told.
Like Schutzee I had bad issues with trying to "reuse" a cert. In June of '18 I booked for 1 night in Nov '18, and then ultimately canceled that booking in Oct '18. It took months to get the cert restored in my account. I would call every few weeks, get told they were working on it, not to worry they'd extend it, and then nothing. When it finally reappeared in my account at the end of Feb '19, I'd already missed 2 trips I was trying to take, but they refused to extend it, so I ended up booking 1 night at the WA in Vegas this past weekend, a week before the original expiration date. We did well enough at the tables that even all of our F&B and shows ended up being free too, so I guess I can't complain.
For my new cert this year, I learned (1) you cannot simply replace a points booking with a cert (I'd held a free night in Koh Samui, hoping to replace it with the cert when it finally showed up) - regular award space needs to be available when you try to make the switch, and (2) if you want to do a 3 night stay (which we are), they can deduct 2 nights worth of points and combine with the cert into a single reservation - but if you want to do 6 nights, including a 5th night free, that required some additional steps that would require 2 separate reservations. Or at least that's what I was told.
Apr 9, 2019, 8:06 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
I have a points + certificate reservation. At the time of booking, the phone agent said no cash out of pocket.
I got my confirmation email a few minutes later and it shows a $45 per day resort fee charge.
Can anyone confirm if a resort fee is charged when on a points + certificate reservation.
I got my confirmation email a few minutes later and it shows a $45 per day resort fee charge.
Can anyone confirm if a resort fee is charged when on a points + certificate reservation.
Apr 9, 2019, 8:17 pm
#82
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 696
I have a points + certificate reservation. At the time of booking, the phone agent said no cash out of pocket.
I got my confirmation email a few minutes later and it shows a $45 per day resort fee charge.
Can anyone confirm if a resort fee is charged when on a points + certificate reservation.
I got my confirmation email a few minutes later and it shows a $45 per day resort fee charge.
Can anyone confirm if a resort fee is charged when on a points + certificate reservation.
Apr 10, 2019, 7:21 am
#84
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
My understanding is that 100% points stay no resort fee and since the certificate is basically a complete full points stay then it should be the same, no resort fee. I used the certificate and upon check in, the agent told me that no resort fee because I booked the stay on points. Point and cash bookings have resort fee though.
Lots of glitches going on recently.
Apr 10, 2019, 7:52 am
#86
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 2
I am looking at the London NYC for a trip in June. They are switching to Conrad later in the summer so their restaurant is closed . They said as diamond member I should get credit for breakfast but didnt day for how much.
Apr 10, 2019, 8:18 am
#87
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,454
Conrad NYC is decent, though not a true luxury property. Hilton has very few true high end properties in the U.S. (W/A Beverly Hills being an exception, but also a very difficult redemption). Conrads in Asia are very good.
Apr 12, 2019, 10:53 am
#89
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Suwanee,Ga ,usa
Posts: 3,617
Booked on the phone. My confirmation email lists the certificate # as below. Anyone have experience with this listing it as 50,000 points?
STANDARD ROOM REWARDHonors Reward ID: (Cert # here) 50000 Points per Night
STANDARD ROOM REWARDHonors Reward ID: (Cert # here) 50000 Points per Night
Apr 12, 2019, 12:00 pm
#90
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: Hilton credit card Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,653
Redemption Type:STANDARD ROOM REWARD
Honors Reward ID:123456789
Total Number of Points per Stay:80,000 Points
and when I checked in, the front desk clerk said that it was a points stay.