rybob1

I frequent (unfortunately) the Spokane Doubletree. Its very dated, but I like that its downtown and convenient to restaurants and bars. On my stay last week, when using the app, it brought me to the pick your room, but many of the rooms had $10-$290 upgrade fees on them, and there were a lot of rooms that could be upgraded. No alert or message of an upgrade automatically. Did Doubletree/Hilton do away with upgrades in some situations? This was a paid room with the Hhonors discount, it wasn't an award redemption.

Jaimito Cartero

There are existing multiple threads on the subject.

Some properties may say they don�t upgrade, but I�d certainly check on it at the property. I�ve received suite upgrades on 90% of my nights this year.

storewanderer

Ask at the property (you could try calling the day of arrival before doing online check in and explain the situation).

Was upgraded as a Gold there, doing check in at desk (did not ask for it).

smmrfld

OP's experience is not indicative of policy or practice IME.

jsn55

The OP is correct, there's a new Hilton policy, but some of the other brands have changed themselves over the past year or two. The Embassy Suites I frequent at SFO wanted to charge me $15 when I wanted a room away from the airport noise a few months ago. It was a 'lagoon view'. First I laughed in the agent's face, but he wouldn't back down. I know this particular hotel has new management, but now Hilton's new policy will make it pretty easy for any hotel in their portfolio to do whatever they want to. That's a real shame. I've stayed at this Embassy for 20 years, but when my husband's with me, we need a more quiet room. I don't appreciate the non-recognition of my loyalty.

smmrfld

As has been noted in numerous other threads, the policy doesn’t preclude properties from upgrading as they see fit.

mreynolds767

With Doubletree you should get an upgrade if space is available ; did you try at check-in???

I am hoping the app shows fee only but the front desk would still upgrade for a diamond member if many room types were available.
I no there is no hard rule but this sounds really bad depending on how the OP made out.

mreynolds767

Embassy Suites is listed as excluded from the Upgrade policy ; so what you experienced with them makes more sense than the OP's example with Doubletree that is not excluded.
That is my understanding at least

aww3583

Back-to-back stays earlier this week. Both hotels were virtually empty as evidenced by the empty parking facilities and empty breakfast areas.

No upgrades offered via the app, via online check-in, or via the front desk.

Jaimito Cartero

Did you ask for an upgrade? If so, I�d name and shame.

I just finished an almost monthlong stay, and the property went out of it�s way to keep us in our upgraded suite the whole time. I think they even had an 80�s famous Aussie band take a smoking suite.

smmrfld

So what happened when you asked for an upgrade at check-in?

Riioun

I received upgrades from a Doubletree and Tapestry last week. No fees to do so and was presented in the app.

Cymro

There are many ways to split properties, but of the brands that are supposed to upgrade, there are essentially two kinds:

• Those that see upgrades, F&B credits, etc., as losing money - giving away things that the guest would otherwise definitely have paid for, and therefore to be avoided at all costs; and
• Those that see upgrades, F&B credits, etc., as their competitive advantage - a relatively cheap way to get loyal guests through the door, who would otherwise have saved $20 by staying in the Holiday Inn, etc.

Basically, it depends on whether their strategy is to squeeze out the last penny when they've "caught" a guest, or whether the strategy is to keep the guest's money flowing into room rates, dinner, etc. by making the whole experience as seamless as possible. It doesn't seem to matter which end of the market these properties are, either; I can think of properties that deploy each strategy that are otherwise very similar in terms of price, geographic market, etc.

divrdrew

I have been a loyal Hilton Diamond for close to 20 years now. I'm beginning to start asking if it is still worth my loyalty. Points have been severely devalued, no more free breakfast (this year it might go away internationally), few if any upgrades, etc, etc, etc. The only real advantage I've seen lately is the ability to check in very early (sometimes as early as 7 or 8 am). Only problem is that no other brand / collection (e.g. Bonvoy, IHG) is any better and many are even worse when it comes to top tier elite benefits. Hyatt is better, but unfortunately not in many places where I frequently travel. Such a shame what the company has done to its loyalty program, but no different than what the airlines have done either.

hessinger

I'm in Asia and have yet to experience this issue. I don't think it was explicit that it's going away, just left room at the properties to do so.