Hilton Master Thread

[ilherman]

How much of are you actually missing? It is not crazy for Amex or Hilton to adjust your balance to do you a favor.

23k

What do you mean It is not crazy for Amex or Hilton to adjust your balance to do you a favor.?

[GettingReady]

Ah, got it. In that case it helps. Don't think Hilton does that though.

That's the way I did it (this year) for Hilton-- 6 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Venice, and 3 nights in Berlin. Still have one cash night in Berlin.

[ilherman]

Ah, got it. In that case it helps. Don't think Hilton does that though.

The agent actually said I can do that and he noted the booking. Do you know for sure that it is not possible?

[ilherman]

That's the way I did it (this year) for Hilton-- 6 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Venice, and 3 nights in Berlin. Still have one cash night in Berlin.

What did you do?

[GettingReady]

What did you do?

I booked all nights with cash, via a CC, and converted to points as they became available.

[benjie1305]

23k

What do you mean It is not crazy for Amex or Hilton to adjust your balance to do you a favor.?

"Hi. I am shy 20k on a 480k booking."

"Not anymore. Enjoy your stay."

Definitely worth asking. Even more so if you have status.

[ilherman]

"Hi. I am shy 20k on a 480k booking."

"Not anymore. Enjoy your stay."

Definitely worth asking. Even more so if you have status.

Where have you seen such reports? That would be very generous....

[ilherman]

I booked all nights with cash, via a CC, and converted to points as they became available.

So to be clear, you put a standard room on hold for the cash rate and when the points posted to your account you called up to pay with points?

[mochjas]

Where have you seen such reports? That would be very generous....

it happened to me but I think I was 1500 short. But I didn't have any status at the time

[benjie1305]

Where have you seen such reports? That would be very generous....

Old ones on FT. Again, it might be worth asking either way. 10k from Amex, 10k from Hilton. Voila.

[CS91]

I booked all nights with cash, via a CC, and converted to points as they became available.

But it could be that at the time of conversion, there was points availability anyways.

[GettingReady]

So to be clear, you put a standard room on hold for the cash rate and when the points posted to your account you called up to pay with points?

Yes. The only time it was a hassle was when I wanted my 5th free night. We have 5 nights, post cruise, booked in Rome. When I had enough points, I called and they changed the cash reservations to points. I received an email confirmation showing a balance of 29k points. Then when I asked about the free night, she had to cancel all the reservations and put it under one booking. Rather than a 5th free night, they take 20% off each night including the weekend certs. I went from a positive 29K point balance to a negative 6k (which they gave me). I was annoyed, escalated it, but to no avail.

Wed: 80k points
Thus: 80k points
Fri: weekend cert
Sat: weekend cert
Sun: free night.

[GettingReady]

But it could be that at the time of conversion, there was points availability anyways.

Yes, since we booked early. Our rooms are reserved for Sept.

[CS91]

Yes, since we booked early. Our rooms are reserved for Sept.

Right. So the conversion didn't really do anything because had you not made the cash reservation in the first place, you still would have been able to book it on points when you finally had enough.

The question is if you book a cash rate now (when there is point availability but you just don't have the points) and in a month from now, when you finally have the points, if they'll let you convert your cash reservation into a points reservation even if there is no more points availability. I don't think they'd let.

[GettingReady]

Right. So the conversion didn't really do anything because had you not made the cash reservation in the first place, you still would have been able to book it on points when you finally had enough.

The question is if you book a cash rate now (when there is point availability but you just don't have the points) and in a month from now, when you finally have the points, if they'll let you convert your cash reservation into a points reservation even if there is no more points availability. I don't think they'd let.

Okay, sorry for muddying the waters.

[CS91]

Okay, sorry for muddying the waters.

No worries. You didn't muddy the waters. Just trying to be clear so that we get the best data point and hopefully an answer. 

[ilherman]

Yes, since we booked early. Our rooms are reserved for Sept.

When you called to pay with the points did the confirmation number stay the same or they canceled your current booking and made a new one?

[GettingReady]

When you called to pay with the points did the confirmation number stay the same or they canceled your current booking and made a new one?

They cancelled the current booking, made a new one, and gave new confirmation numbers.

[CS91]

They cancelled the current booking, made a new one, and gave new confirmation numbers.

So that's just a brand new booking. If it was a conversion, the reservation number would have stayed the same.

[ilherman]

So that's just a brand new booking. If it was a conversion, the reservation number would have stayed the same.

Yup. Fingers crossed.