Non-Refundable Advance Reservations and Room Rates: The Definitive Thread
Feb 13, 2019, 10:31 am
#406
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 246
Work Around
Considering the chat agent with Hilton told me to reserve the rooms all under my account number so I can get the Honor's discount rate, I don't think I would have had my account terminated. I think these fraud situations are already prevented by having these earning rules put in place. After doing some reading, I have a better understanding why these rules are in place (prevent fraud through stacking points on a single membership etc.). I was just under the (incorrect) assumption that I would earn points on all the rooms since I paid for everyone's rooms. Probably in these cases, I will use 3rd party websites so I can earn points on other platforms should this situation arise again.
Regardless thank you and everyone for their help. I am brand new to earning points for hotel programs, so this was a good experience in getting to understand all the rules involved.
Regardless thank you and everyone for their help. I am brand new to earning points for hotel programs, so this was a good experience in getting to understand all the rules involved.
You could also book to rooms in your name, create Honors account for others in your party, book two rooms in each of their names, and then have them transfer all of the points to you, or set a points pooling arrangement, which you can do with up to nine others. Just remember: if you use points pooling the others in the pool will have the ability to spend any of the pooled points.
Feb 13, 2019, 11:57 am
#407
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,872
Feb 13, 2019, 6:02 pm
#408
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,426
pened in well over 10 years.
Mar 2, 2019, 6:49 pm
#409
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
Any recent data points on how quickly your card will be charged once you book advanced non-refundable/prepay?
Booked Hilton Helsinki Strand and my credit card is still not showing up, not even pending nor available credit decrease.
Booked Hilton Helsinki Strand and my credit card is still not showing up, not even pending nor available credit decrease.
Mar 2, 2019, 7:21 pm
#410
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: Hilton credit card Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,653
For bookings outside of the U.S., it is up to the individual hotel. Some hotels do not charge the card until you check in. I suggest you post this question in the thread for the hotel that you have the reservation for.
Jun 2, 2019, 10:21 am
#411
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 2
When is the advanced purchase of a room charged to your credit card? Details that lead me to ask this are below....
Back in March I made a reservation for Hilton Bali Resort, starting on May 25th. My card was charged May 23rd.
From what I have found myself, it seems like I should have been charged immediately when I booked the room in March. Looking through my old statements, I do not think I was charged then.
This wouldn't be a big deal, but it did trigger a fraud alert so I am a bit concerned. Also, before checking in, I received an email from the resort manager stating, "If by any chance the card unable to present, others payment method will be required and the total amount that we have charged to the previous credit card will be refunded." So I ended up paying with a different card at check in and expected the original card to be refunded, which hasn't happened yet.
Back in March I made a reservation for Hilton Bali Resort, starting on May 25th. My card was charged May 23rd.
From what I have found myself, it seems like I should have been charged immediately when I booked the room in March. Looking through my old statements, I do not think I was charged then.
This wouldn't be a big deal, but it did trigger a fraud alert so I am a bit concerned. Also, before checking in, I received an email from the resort manager stating, "If by any chance the card unable to present, others payment method will be required and the total amount that we have charged to the previous credit card will be refunded." So I ended up paying with a different card at check in and expected the original card to be refunded, which hasn't happened yet.
Jun 2, 2019, 10:46 am
#412
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
When is the advanced purchase of a room charged to your credit card? Details that lead me to ask this are below....
Back in March I made a reservation for Hilton Bali Resort, starting on May 25th. My card was charged May 23rd.
From what I have found myself, it seems like I should have been charged immediately when I booked the room in March. Looking through my old statements, I do not think I was charged then.
This wouldn't be a big deal, but it did trigger a fraud alert so I am a bit concerned. Also, before checking in, I received an email from the resort manager stating, "If by any chance the card unable to present, others payment method will be required and the total amount that we have charged to the previous credit card will be refunded." So I ended up paying with a different card at check in and expected the original card to be refunded, which hasn't happened yet.
Back in March I made a reservation for Hilton Bali Resort, starting on May 25th. My card was charged May 23rd.
From what I have found myself, it seems like I should have been charged immediately when I booked the room in March. Looking through my old statements, I do not think I was charged then.
This wouldn't be a big deal, but it did trigger a fraud alert so I am a bit concerned. Also, before checking in, I received an email from the resort manager stating, "If by any chance the card unable to present, others payment method will be required and the total amount that we have charged to the previous credit card will be refunded." So I ended up paying with a different card at check in and expected the original card to be refunded, which hasn't happened yet.
What did the staff say when you checked in about refunding to the other card?
Jun 2, 2019, 12:29 pm
#413
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 2
The staff said it would be refunded. And 3 days ago there was a pending refund on the card, but now there is nothing indicating that a refund was pending at any point.... wish I had a receipt. Anyway, I emailed the manager and am confident it will be set straight. If all else fails I will dispute the charge in a couple of days
Jul 30, 2019, 1:27 pm
#414
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,122
Cancelling non-refundable reservations due to family emergencies?
I just encountered a family emergency, and I have to cancel four non-refundable reservations for Hilton properties in Europe. I am wondering if there is a slight chance that Hilton will allow me to get out of these reservations? Thanks!
Jul 30, 2019, 1:52 pm
#415
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Ideally, if you’re going to visit in the next year, ask by requesting credit from your must cancel current stay toward your coming stay. Otherwise, just explain and tell them you’ll be happy to substantiate the emergency circumstances that caused you to cancel. (Chances are they won’t bother, but the offer may help them grant you an exception. Virtually everyone asking for an exception will claim an emergency, whether it is or not. They’re tired of being scammed.)
Whether it was a rate that was never refundable or one that was refundable up to a week / 72 / 48 hours out may well make a difference as well. If you purchased a non-refundable rate, your chances of getting a refund are pretty close to zero. Credit toward a future stay, maybe, but don’t expect it.
But don’t expect a “yes”. I’ve been granted my request, I’ve been denied. And I’ve been strung along by a manager who ultimately displayed his intent to cut me no slack after messing with me for weeks. I’ve stayed nearby in several different properties since, and a few times emailed the manager (no longer there now) why I was staying in another Hilton property.
Jul 30, 2019, 2:30 pm
#417
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Europe
Programs: BAEC Silver; AerClub Silver, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 315
Your best chance is to contact each individual property and ask.
Ideally, if you’re going to visit in the next year, ask by requesting credit from your must cancel current stay toward your coming stay. Otherwise, just explain and tell them you’ll be happy to substantiate the emergency circumstances that caused you to cancel. (Chances are they won’t bother, but the offer may help them grant you an exception. Virtually everyone asking for an exception will claim an emergency, whether it is or not. They’re tired of being scammed.)
Whether it was a rate that was never refundable or one that was refundable up to a week / 72 / 48 hours out may well make a difference as well. If you purchased a non-refundable rate, your chances of getting a refund are pretty close to zero. Credit toward a future stay, maybe, but don’t expect it.
But don’t expect a “yes”. I’ve been granted my request, I’ve been denied. And I’ve been strung along by a manager who ultimately displayed his intent to cut me no slack after messing with me for weeks. I’ve stayed nearby in several different properties since, and a few times emailed the manager (no longer there now) why I was staying in another Hilton property.
Ideally, if you’re going to visit in the next year, ask by requesting credit from your must cancel current stay toward your coming stay. Otherwise, just explain and tell them you’ll be happy to substantiate the emergency circumstances that caused you to cancel. (Chances are they won’t bother, but the offer may help them grant you an exception. Virtually everyone asking for an exception will claim an emergency, whether it is or not. They’re tired of being scammed.)
Whether it was a rate that was never refundable or one that was refundable up to a week / 72 / 48 hours out may well make a difference as well. If you purchased a non-refundable rate, your chances of getting a refund are pretty close to zero. Credit toward a future stay, maybe, but don’t expect it.
But don’t expect a “yes”. I’ve been granted my request, I’ve been denied. And I’ve been strung along by a manager who ultimately displayed his intent to cut me no slack after messing with me for weeks. I’ve stayed nearby in several different properties since, and a few times emailed the manager (no longer there now) why I was staying in another Hilton property.
I had similar experience. I Emailed the hotel. Once a property in UK refunded me.
Once I asked to a property in Turkey if possible to move the reservation to a date in the future; they accepted and moved the same reservation number to a date three months later.
Jul 31, 2019, 7:43 am
#418
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,047
Yet another thread where "travel insurance" is the correct answer, yet somehow there is an expectation that non-refundable isn't actually non-refundable if you have a good enough excuse.
Jul 31, 2019, 8:30 am
#420
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The starting point is travel insurance. That will simply provide a cash payment and you are done. It may require documentation, but that should be simple/
Getting a policy exception is a purely local decision. Best to catch a manager during the business day in Europe and ask for her indulgence. As others note, in order of likelihood, it will be moving the stay to another date now, having a credit one may use in the relatively near future, and issuing a refund.
Don't expect a "yes" to this ask.
Getting a policy exception is a purely local decision. Best to catch a manager during the business day in Europe and ask for her indulgence. As others note, in order of likelihood, it will be moving the stay to another date now, having a credit one may use in the relatively near future, and issuing a refund.
Don't expect a "yes" to this ask.