Consolidated "Best Strategies for Receiving an Upgrade" thread
Jul 31, 2019, 3:41 pm
#226
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Since I posted over a year ago the upgrades I can recall are:
- HGI Detroit Metro Airport
- HGI New Orleans Convention Center
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando. This was the only one that really mattered as it was a suite upgrade on a three night stay.
Pretty dry out there.
- HGI Detroit Metro Airport
- HGI New Orleans Convention Center
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando. This was the only one that really mattered as it was a suite upgrade on a three night stay.
Pretty dry out there.
Jul 31, 2019, 4:40 pm
#227
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego
Programs: Hilton Gold; IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 237
Diamond downgrade
I was travelling with a tour group- I know I'm not entitled to anything.
We checked into the DT Yerevan and I was given a large king room on a high floor. As our group checked out I told the front desk I was Diamond. She said that I would get 1k points per night (which I did). I told her I was returning in a day for another two day stay. When we returned I was put in a small room with two twin beds on a low floor. Guess I shouldn't have mentioned my status. Seems like I was downgraded.
We checked into the DT Yerevan and I was given a large king room on a high floor. As our group checked out I told the front desk I was Diamond. She said that I would get 1k points per night (which I did). I told her I was returning in a day for another two day stay. When we returned I was put in a small room with two twin beds on a low floor. Guess I shouldn't have mentioned my status. Seems like I was downgraded.
Jul 31, 2019, 7:41 pm
#228
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 698
In the past month, I've been upgraded at the Conrad New York Downtown (Deluxe King to Hudson River view suite ), the Conrad Koh Samui (Waterview Pool villa to Ocean Retreat Pool villa) , and the Conrad Centennial Singapore (Deluxe King to Centennial Suite). They exist.
Jul 31, 2019, 7:47 pm
#230
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,619
I was travelling with a tour group- I know I'm not entitled to anything.
We checked into the DT Yerevan and I was given a large king room on a high floor. As our group checked out I told the front desk I was Diamond. She said that I would get 1k points per night (which I did). I told her I was returning in a day for another two day stay. When we returned I was put in a small room with two twin beds on a low floor. Guess I shouldn't have mentioned my status. Seems like I was downgraded.
We checked into the DT Yerevan and I was given a large king room on a high floor. As our group checked out I told the front desk I was Diamond. She said that I would get 1k points per night (which I did). I told her I was returning in a day for another two day stay. When we returned I was put in a small room with two twin beds on a low floor. Guess I shouldn't have mentioned my status. Seems like I was downgraded.
Jul 31, 2019, 7:50 pm
#231
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL DM/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,118
This isn’t really rocket science - whenever I pull up to a hotel, I go to the Hilton web site and see what rooms are available to be booked. If there is a nice upgrade I would want, I ask at the desk if there are upgrades available. 9 times out of 10, I am given an upgrade to what I’ve seen available on line.
Aug 1, 2019, 1:16 am
#232
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bne
Programs: Velocity Gold, AIRNZ Elite, Qantas Silver ,Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,329
Aug 1, 2019, 8:04 am
#233
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London
Programs: HertzPresCircle, Virgin Atlantic Gold,Hil-Diam, Europcar Elite Vip, Emirates Gold, MarriottTitanium.
Posts: 419
The question is; why do asian hotels do it right and make yu feel appreciated with either upgrades or just a nice gesture and in the USA they couldnt care less where as in Usa its always about customer satisfaction/service?
Aug 1, 2019, 8:09 am
#234
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: IND
Posts: 301
Because there are fewer Golds and Diamonds in Asia.
Aug 1, 2019, 9:13 am
#235
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bne
Programs: Velocity Gold, AIRNZ Elite, Qantas Silver ,Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,329
More gold and diamonds in the USA
do you think the main reasons are
1: the American are wealthier
2: travel more
3: the hilton credit card
4: the americans are more loyal to one brand
5: American companies spend more on hotels
6: there are more hotels in the USA
7: hotels are cheaper in the USA so people use them more frequently
8: American use the hotels for day stays
1: the American are wealthier
2: travel more
3: the hilton credit card
4: the americans are more loyal to one brand
5: American companies spend more on hotels
6: there are more hotels in the USA
7: hotels are cheaper in the USA so people use them more frequently
8: American use the hotels for day stays
Aug 1, 2019, 9:53 am
#236
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,060
I stay mainly with Hilton in Asia and get upgraded 100% of the time-about 40% of the time to suites. In addition, for the destinations that I frequent, I find the Hilton properties nicer than Marriott or Hyatt at the same price point. Upgrades in Europe are harder, but I usually still get what I want.
In the US, I just don't care. I don't vacation in the US, and a Hampton Inn is fine for almost everything I need for a business trip. I have started to loathe the giant metropolitan properties in the US like the San Francisco Marriott Marquis or the Grand Hyatt in NYC-access to a club is just not that important. I very much prefer smaller properties now for business trips.
+1 This is me. I have to cover all of my expenses when traveling for business, so I really only care about getting a good room for an excellent price. What is very nice is that I often exploit the flash sales in Asia and, even though I may have paid only Yen 15,000-/nt for my room at the Hilton Tokyo, they will still upgrade me to an outstanding room and sometimes a suite-and this for a long stay of 10 nts or more.
In the US, I just don't care. I don't vacation in the US, and a Hampton Inn is fine for almost everything I need for a business trip. I have started to loathe the giant metropolitan properties in the US like the San Francisco Marriott Marquis or the Grand Hyatt in NYC-access to a club is just not that important. I very much prefer smaller properties now for business trips.
+1 This is me. I have to cover all of my expenses when traveling for business, so I really only care about getting a good room for an excellent price. What is very nice is that I often exploit the flash sales in Asia and, even though I may have paid only Yen 15,000-/nt for my room at the Hilton Tokyo, they will still upgrade me to an outstanding room and sometimes a suite-and this for a long stay of 10 nts or more.
Last edited by zombietooth; Aug 1, 2019 at 11:34 pm
Aug 1, 2019, 2:31 pm
#237
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: TX, USA
Programs: Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG SA
Posts: 140
do you think the main reasons are
1: the American are wealthier
2: travel more
3: the hilton credit card
4: the americans are more loyal to one brand
5: American companies spend more on hotels
6: there are more hotels in the USA
7: hotels are cheaper in the USA so people use them more frequently
8: American use the hotels for day stays
1: the American are wealthier
2: travel more
3: the hilton credit card
4: the americans are more loyal to one brand
5: American companies spend more on hotels
6: there are more hotels in the USA
7: hotels are cheaper in the USA so people use them more frequently
8: American use the hotels for day stays
Aug 9, 2019, 7:25 am
#238
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1.65M , Platinum, 1K Emeritus, UC Lifetime , HHonors Gold, Presidential Plus card holder
Posts: 711
do you think the main reasons are
1: the American are wealthier
2: travel more
3: the hilton credit card
4: the americans are more loyal to one brand
5: American companies spend more on hotels
6: there are more hotels in the USA
7: hotels are cheaper in the USA so people use them more frequently
8: American use the hotels for day stays
1: the American are wealthier
2: travel more
3: the hilton credit card
4: the americans are more loyal to one brand
5: American companies spend more on hotels
6: there are more hotels in the USA
7: hotels are cheaper in the USA so people use them more frequently
8: American use the hotels for day stays
10: Marketing - which platforms are Hilton hotels on, do they have a good position on local booking platforms
11: Marketing - how is it sold, who is it sold to & is it sold as a familiar space in a foreign culture ( I want to immerse myself in this unfamiliar culture - until its time to go to bed)
12: Marketing - Corporate sales (and relationships) versus family sales
Upgrades are a function of availability and demand - A United top Premier has a higher chance of an upgrade flying out of Charleston SC than that same Premier out of San Francisco