jphripjah

I was wondering what everyone's experience has been when booking Hilton properties through the Fine Hotels and Resorts programs.

I see a few data points online relating to whether Marriott and Hyatt stays booked through FHR accrue elite benefits, but nothing for Hilton Honors.

AMEX is currently offering $150 back when booking a PREPAID stay through FHR. I just booked such a stay at Waldorf Astoria Park City.

I also booked a postpaid stay at Conrad Washington for next month because they were offering a free fourth night.

Right now, the postpaid stay is showing up in my HHonors account but with the word "EXPEDIA" noted on stay record.

The prepaid stay isn't showing in my Hhonors account at all.

I have heard mixed reports about whether FHR stays earn elite benefits at Marriott and Hyatt, and there seems to be anecdotal evidence that the prepaid stays are less likely to earn elite benefits.

Does anyone have Hilton-related data points regarding elite recognition and points earning on FHR prepaid and postpaid stays?

Thanks.

jphripjah

Well, no one responded so I shall answer my own question and provide my own data point in the hope it will be helpful to someone else.

I called the hotel the day before my stay (still within the cancellation window) and asked if they would likely upgrade me from a Jr. suite to a full suite, and they said yes (I had heard that under the terms of the FHR program, they didn't have to do that).

I started that call by saying I was unfamiliar with FHR benefits, I usually get Diamond benefits. The agent told me that FHR benefits on property were better and asked for my Honors number so that I would earn points.

I gave it to him and then the reservation immediately showed up in my account online. That was important. Before that, the reservation wasn't tied to my Honors number even though I had input my Honors number on the AMEX page when booking the reservation.

The FHR benefits at this hotel included $60 a day for breakfast for two people, which was better than the $30 a day Diamond benefit.

It appears that I got full Honors points on my incidental spend AND on the prepaid spend I put on my AMEX platinum. This was a pleasant surprise.

Again, make sure that you call property ahead of time and give them your Honors number or give it at check in to increase your chances of getting points, don't rely on just inputting it on the AMEX booking page.

Xelodia

Thank you. I have not used the FHR system yet but am planning to in the not-too-distant-future™. I appreciate your information.

johnathome

Thanks for the update on Hilton. I'm booking a FHR trip for May 2021 now.

Pre-2020 (since I have not done any fun travel this year) I have not had any problems with Hilton in earning points via FHR postpaid. I usually call Hilton to get my HH number registered with the reservation and has never been a problem. Marriott reservations do show up on my account but I have had multiple issues with my stays in Asia earning Marriott points. I've always needed to contact an agent. Again this is all post-paid, I have not done prepaid.

Schwann

I've booked two FHR reservations this week (albeit on Amex Travel UK) and their system automatically applied my HH number to the reservation and was viewable in the app immediately.

danpeake

The terms of the program say you get your elite benefits and points.

I haven't used the program much (and never at a Hilton) but in my limited experience, that is correct.

If you don't, you should call FHR and they'll set it right.

skywalkerLAX

With FHR prepaid bookings are complicated and usually not eligible for points or benefits. Virtuoso is better that way.

kthpence

Curious on what to do w/ an upcoming booking through FHR at a Conrad property ... my boyfriend is a Diamond, I am a lowly Gold, I however am the one that has the plat and need to make the booking in my name. I see the booking has been added to my Hilton account - is it worth reaching out to Hilton and letting them know my partner will be with me and provide his HH #? I guess the only benefit from his diamond status would be a better upgrade, but not even sure that's the case ? Last time we stayed at this property (Punta Mita), we booked on his account & got an incredible oceanfront suite, which would be nice this time around as well.

Any insight is appreciated.

dieselbear

It appears Amex is now using Expedia for FHR more consistently. Three recent examples where FHR stays booked on the Amex website were deemed ineligible for Honors.

• Conrad Midtown, NYC. August 2022. Prepaid FHR with a "stay 4 nights get one free" built into the nightly rate. Sent via Expedia. Ineligible.
• Conrad Midtown, NYC. August 2022. Non-prepaid FHR without a promotional rate. Sent via Expedia. Ineligible.
• Waldorf Astoria, Orlando. September 2022. Prepaid FHR without a promotional rate. Sent via Expedia. Ineligible.

Can't speak to hotels outside the U.S. But it appears that if you want Honors credit, don't use FHR. This is too bad. I had FHR stays at the Conrad Midtown in January and May that both qualified.

jerry a. laska

The non-prepaid FHR bookings should be eligible; I would push back on this(see the first thread below). The prepaid FHR bookings are always problematic and it is difficult to impossible to get Hilton to credit. The Hotel Collection (THC) prepaid booking always show as Expedia and are not eligible.

A couple of relevant threads in the Amex forum:
Online (but not prepaid) FHR booking for Conrad showing up as Expedia

Report chain hotel rewards or benefits on PREPAID FHR and THC stays.

ElevatorEnthusiast

I had a prepaid FHR stay at Conrad Abu Dhabi that credited with full base points, Gold bonus points, and the current promotions. This was mentioned at check-in when the agent said "Don't worry, we'll be crediting your points within 3 days." without me asking or prompting.

ChevyCruze

Datapoint: Booked prepaid rate for one night at the Waldorf Versailles for this summer 2023 via amextravel.com. Am not seeing "sent via Expedia" when expanding the description nor when exporting to Excel file.

Duke787

Any updates on either of these two? I'm trying to use my $200 hotel credit (which went to waste last year) and looking at both an FHR (Conrad) and a THC (Curio Collection) as options. Would like to collect my Diamond benefits and points of course while there but would also like to actually use the $200 credit.

I'm also going to use either points or my FNC for one of the nights so I guess I could order it so that one is first to have access and then just have them merge the stay together upon check-in?

sleepindug

Apologies if this has been covered. I couldn’t find a definite answer, maybe because there isn’t one.
if I book through Amex Platinum and choose to pay at hotel on checkout i.e. don’t pay Amex but pay the hotel, am I able to earn HHonors points.
The Fine Resorts and Hotels benefits are very good.

MichaelA380

Without having actual experience, from doing some research, the prevailing answer is negative - you will get your FHR benefits, however no elite status benefits directly from the hotel as this will be considered a third-party booking (where / when / how you pay is irrelevant, what matters is the channel via which you book). Unless my understand is wrong, the only type of third-party booking that brings you both complimentary and elite status benefits is the one made through the Impresario program.