Consolidated "Best Strategies for Receiving an Upgrade" thread
#331
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/SMF/PDX/HNL
Programs: Hilton-lifetime diamond, Southwest A+, companion pass
Posts: 1,731
Lower your expectations and be honest with yourself.
How important is an upgrade when you are traveling alone on business?
In my 45 years of frequent travel (even before there was a frequent stay program) I found the only 100% guaranteed upgrade to a genuine suite were at facilities where you were on first name basis with the GM.
In the current environment a Diamond upgrade is usually perfunctory and would require an advanced statistical test to determine the difference between the booked room and the "upgrade."
How important is an upgrade when you are traveling alone on business?
In my 45 years of frequent travel (even before there was a frequent stay program) I found the only 100% guaranteed upgrade to a genuine suite were at facilities where you were on first name basis with the GM.
In the current environment a Diamond upgrade is usually perfunctory and would require an advanced statistical test to determine the difference between the booked room and the "upgrade."
#332
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,475
When it comes to Hiltons I very much doubt it. These are hotels with in some cases thousands of guests, the word special can't really stretch to much for anyone. However I do have a recent example to show you what it looks like.
#333
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 24
Very interesting thread, thank you very much for that. A quick question: Does someone have experience in getting an upgrade when a suite is booked already? E.g. you have booked a Junior Suite and there are 3 more levels of suites above. Is it possible to get an upgrade as a Diamond?
#334
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,179
Very interesting thread, thank you very much for that. A quick question: Does someone have experience in getting an upgrade when a suite is booked already? E.g. you have booked a Junior Suite and there are 3 more levels of suites above. Is it possible to get an upgrade as a Diamond?
mind since they often have many suite types.
#335
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
Very interesting thread, thank you very much for that. A quick question: Does someone have experience in getting an upgrade when a suite is booked already? E.g. you have booked a Junior Suite and there are 3 more levels of suites above. Is it possible to get an upgrade as a Diamond?
In terms of a strategy, is it better to complete check in in advance via the app or on arrival? (Im not sure)
#337
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,302
I haven’t used the app to check in for 2+ years.
1. Removes any chance of an upgrade.
2. In the past 6 months, they’ve removed the ability to select your room from the app.
1. Removes any chance of an upgrade.
2. In the past 6 months, they’ve removed the ability to select your room from the app.
#338
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 2
Human nature
I was looking for what the symbols mean on hilton Floorplan and came across this thread. I'm no expert on getting upgraded but I do have some thoughts on checking in and when don't get an upgrade, you show the app. I think it would work better to say upfront - I see on the app there is such and such upgrade available. Any chance I can be upgraded. Human nature will be if confronted after being told none available - the clerk will most likely double down on no.
Also in reply to person who said haven't been able to check in on the app, I have an option to check in which is why I'm looking at this site. It's at a Hampton.
Also in reply to person who said haven't been able to check in on the app, I have an option to check in which is why I'm looking at this site. It's at a Hampton.
#341
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,613
Others have said this before but it chimes with my experience.
Dont check in online the day before (many hotels do things like this overnight the night before).
On the morning of arrival take a look at what is available, if there is an upgrade consider taking it and checking in but dont download a digital key.
Stop by the desk for a key and politely ask for an upgrade.
On not being able to select rooms at all, although I have seen that on my stays this year I have had a choice on most occasions.
Since restrictions eased a little here in the U.K. I am 4/4 on upgrades, but 0/4 on upgrade to suites.
Dont check in online the day before (many hotels do things like this overnight the night before).
On the morning of arrival take a look at what is available, if there is an upgrade consider taking it and checking in but dont download a digital key.
Stop by the desk for a key and politely ask for an upgrade.
On not being able to select rooms at all, although I have seen that on my stays this year I have had a choice on most occasions.
Since restrictions eased a little here in the U.K. I am 4/4 on upgrades, but 0/4 on upgrade to suites.
#342
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,002
Very interesting thread, thank you very much for that. A quick question: Does someone have experience in getting an upgrade when a suite is booked already? E.g. you have booked a Junior Suite and there are 3 more levels of suites above. Is it possible to get an upgrade as a Diamond?
Essentially, if the hotel does include the 3 higher levels of suites as part of their upgrade pool, then you are most likely at the upper end of the list for an upgrade to one of them. If the property doesn't usually make them upgrade eligible, then it's a cash upgrade option only. Sometimes that can actually be a small upcharge if you are already in a junior suite.
One property in London I used to stay at would normally pre-upgrade me to a junior suite a few days before my stay. At that point, the offered paid upgrade to a full Exec Suite would change from circa 150 from a standard room, to 20 from a Junior Suite. Accepting the 20 upgrade pretty much always guaranteed me the room and quite often they waived the fee anyway and treated it as a Diamond upgrade, even though they didn't upgrade to those suites normally.
So far since the reopening of hotels after lockdown in the UK, I've had one hotel where we paid for the only room set-up for 2 adults and a child. At the other hotel, they contacted me a few days prior and asked if I would be happy to switch from a family room to a suite with a rollaway, if they had one available. I confirmed we were happy with that and the upgrade came through the morning of the stay. I certainly didn't do online check-in, as I didn't want to potentially block an upgrade by confirming a room.
#344
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/SMF/PDX/HNL
Programs: Hilton-lifetime diamond, Southwest A+, companion pass
Posts: 1,731
Keep your expectations low. If your stays are in the US or Canada, expect an upgrade to a suite about as frequently as you find a lost Susan B Anthony dollar on a sidewalk.
#345
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 35,996
Over the last 20 years, I've probably gotten upgrades in half of my stays (where the property in fact had upgradeable inventory). If an upgrade is really important, I fax the the manager about a week in advance with my request.