As long as she is listed as a guest it will be no problem for her to check in normally. She's just arriving before you get there.

Really no need though to start another thread on this.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilt...g-another.html

FWIW, I checked in online and specified a 4pm arrival. The app kept saying "preparing room" and not providing a digital key. At some point it switched the room number. When my wife arrived at around 9-10pm, she was able to check in, at which point a digital key appeared for me in the app. She didn't have any trouble otherwise.

I do wonder why I didn't get a digital key earlier, why they switched the rooms and what to do if this happens again. Call the hotel?

Switching rooms is fairly rare, it's generally thanks to some guest not shifting when they were supposed to do so, occasionally if there is a housekeeping shortage one day the managers may decided to defer some room clean-ups and shift people to rooms which will be known to be available. Occasionally things like plumbing issues, when they want to keep the room empty. But it is the exception. For the new room, sometimes hotels don't do all the necessary steps to reissue the digital key. If you use the Chat to point this out, then typically the front desk can press a few buttons and a few minutes later the digital key arrives. Properties do vary as to Digital Key processes. Some always work, others are inconsistent, and for now it's not possible in places like Spain due to guest identification requirements (this will probably change in a few months, pragmatic responses will probably suffice in the end).

The idea is to wait a bit after the check-in time and, if a digital key is not yet issued, use Chat?

Just to be tediously clear, I didn't get a digital key for either my chosen room or the reassigned room until my wife checked in at the desk. They didn't reassign the room until a few hours after check-in time.

Yes, the circumstances were indeed clear, it has happened to me, on one occasion I decided to hang off going to the hotel thinking it would clear itself, only to discover that in fact the new room had not been used the night before and was available from the get-go. But yes, once the Digital Key moves off the initial stage of "we will send you your digital key when the room is ready" (or words to that effect) then get on to Chat, it wouldn't matter much if it was a bit before the official check-in time. I think the intermediate stage is something like "hang on, we are getting you a new room, your key will be with you shortly", from memory. This stage really should only last about 5 minutes, after 10 minutes it's best to get on to Chat, ideally with something specific like "I am OK to accept any room that's now available not overlooking Main Street and not room 418". They will then have a giggle about room 418.

What I would dearly like the App to do, on check-in day, is to show rooms available now, and the option to move an existing room selection to one of those available now rooms. This would surely be to Hilton's advantage in giving them more room with housekeeping flexibility and related operational freedom.

We are lifetime Diamond. I was looking at the member benefits and it no longer says the second guest stays free. I was wondering if this has gone away. I know there were issues with international Hilton and the second guest free because there is usually a one person rate and a two person rate even if staying in the exact same room. Anyone know what the policy is for this previous benefit is now?

Nothing has changed. 2nd guest stays free is not a benefit just for Diamond or lifetime diamond members but is a benefit for all HH members.
From the Hilton Honors terms and conditions:
https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/terms/#guaranteed-member-discount

Thanks! It also has the disclaimer that the hotel can elect not to provide the benefits

"A number of services and benefits ('Amenities') are available to Members of Hilton Honors. These Amenities are offered solely at the discretion of Hilton Honors and the individual hotel. Not all Amenities are provided by all hotels within the Hilton Portfolio."

But nice to know a quick call to an international hotel should be able to conform they will honor this benefit.