-
Is there a formula to how a hotel will determine which sort of upgrades a Diamond (or Gold) Honors member should receive?
Presumably if the hotel is full then no upgrade will be possible, but at the 3 day mark are they compelled to give you an upgrade if one is available?
How is it determined to what extent you will be elevated?
I stayed at one hotel a couple of weeks back and got upgraded from the basic room type (King) to a suite, which was 3 grades higher. I’m staying at the same hotel tonight and the app is indicating I’ll be bumped to King Deluxe but the same hotel still has availability (and not at a high price) for all the grades above that.
Not ungrateful at all, but would like to understand better how I can maximise this Diamond benefit.
- This topic was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Hilton introduced automatic upgrades in November. The upgrades are determined in the following order:
Points bookings (over 100k)
Lifetime Diamond
All other Diamond membersHowever, a hotel can choose not to participate in this and there is no exclusion list published. I also found out at one hotel, they can decide which rooms are in the upgrade pool and in that particular hotel they can manually override it at check-in an give you a downgrade or upgrade. The rationale for that particular hotel is that they are going to upgrade repeat customer first.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
I’m Diamond. The place where I’ve stayed the most doesn’t ever seem to upgrade me.
I generally book the lowest category and my last two bookings (Cheltenham and Greenwich) have both moved me up two categories – one paid, one points.
At check in I was bumped up to the Suite again, which was lovely. I think it probably pays not to just accept the upgrade you’re given (by checking in on the app).
Not that picking a room on there actually gets you that room, as I found out at Hilton Nottingham in December!
Hilton introduced automatic upgrades in November. The upgrades are determined in the following order:
Points bookings (over 100k)
Lifetime Diamond
All other Diamond membersHowever, a hotel can choose not to participate in this and there is no exclusion list published. I also found out at one hotel, they can decide which rooms are in the upgrade pool and in that particular hotel they can manually override it at check-in an give you a downgrade or upgrade. The rationale for that particular hotel is that they are going to upgrade repeat customer first.
Very interesting, I didn’t know that! Is that official or something you just heard?
I’m Diamond and coughing up 320,000 points in the Waldorf RAK in a few weeks, I was there last Sept and they upgraded me to a Junior Suite from a standard room, but I expect it to be a lot busier this time. We’ll see if that system plays out. 👍It’s official. Google pre-arrival upgrades, as it seems I can’t post links.
Obviously no-one should ever check-in online unless they are satisfied with the upgrade.
It’s official. Google pre-arrival upgrades, as it seems I can’t post links.
It was a rumour which has been debunked by Hilton.
Status is the most important factor followed by length of stay. Unclear what this actually means but shorter stays would logically be more likely to score an upgrade, as the auto system won’t make you change rooms. Not sure if booking everything as one night will increase chances.
I thought there was article on HfP about it, but can’t find it.
So here are two links:
https://frequentmiler.com/heres-hiltons-auto-upgrade-policy-order-eligible-brands/
https://onemileatatime.com/news/hilton-honors-automated-elite-upgrades/
It’s official. Google pre-arrival upgrades, as it seems I can’t post links.
It was a rumour which has been debunked by Hilton.
Status is the most important factor followed by length of stay. Unclear what this actually means but shorter stays would logically be more likely to score an upgrade, as the auto system won’t make you change rooms. Not sure if booking everything as one night will increase chances.
Above all of those …
If you stay often enough that you know the reception staff and they know you, and are nice enough that they don’t hate you (not a high hurdle given how unpleasant some of the customers they experience will be) then that trumps everything else by miles.
If you had some relatively trivial issue at a previous stay and were gracious, unfussy and generally not a **** about it then this applies x100.Whilst on the subject of upgrades, can you get bumped up to Executive? (as a Gold member)
Looking at at a Hilton for a stay in a few weeks with the family (currently booked a Moxy with a flexible rate) – if I booked the highest normal room [Deluxe Double Queen], chances of getting bumped to an Executive Double Queen?
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
@peld – yes has happened to me before as gold. Means you get exec lounge access if they have one. Was a few years ago so YMMV. If you contact the hotel before – especially if it is for a special occasion – it normally helps your chances
… one thing to consider is whether the exec lounge is even open – I’ve been looking recently and some still aren’t
@peld – another thing which might be more useful than my anecdotal evidence from years ago. I normally take a look at trip_advisor and search reviews for terms like executive/ gold/ diamond/ upgrade to get an idea how likely upgrades etc. are. If it is important you can always be up front with the hotel and ask.
Status / availability / returning guest!
Just been upgraded at Conrad Maldives from BV to DBV with pool, occupancy approx 50%, next up available & Gold member & returning guest.- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Careful on exec room upgrades and lounge access. I was upgraded to a huge suite at the Hilton Park Lane a couple of weeks ago which should have come with lounge access, but was told at reception this wouldn’t be given as part of the upgrade. Don’t get me wrong I was very pleased with what I got (room was £1k per night and I originally booked a std room for 80k points!) but it does seem hit and miss. Gold status FWIW
So do people try and get in touch in advance (if so how far in advance, over email?) Or do you leave it to on the day when you check in?
I generally leave it to check in. That way any automatic upgrades or manual upgrades by the staff can happen and you’re in a good position when you do check-in in person.
On exec lounge access with an upgrade, I’ve had both experiences, most of the time I got lounge access as part of being upgraded to an exec room but once or twice I didn’t. Last time I popped down to the reception later and asked if they could enable my key card for exec lounge access and they did it without any problem. This was as Gold of course.
I’ve had both Gold and Diamond for a few years each and found that Diamond definitely gets you better upgrades overall and you always have lounge access which is great and really drives loyalty for me.
I’ve just noticed that ‘Upgrades to Preferred Rooms’ isn’t listed as a benefit under Hampton or HGI on ‘MyWay’ benefits. This kind of makes sense at Hampton as those tend to be single-standard properties (although some, like Blackpool, do have several grades of room) but HGI tend to offer a range of room types – Snowdonia goes right from a basic room to a Junior Suite.
Is an upgrade in HGI or Hampton rare or just not promised?
I’ve just noticed that ‘Upgrades to Preferred Rooms’ isn’t listed as a benefit under Hampton or HGI on ‘MyWay’ benefits. This kind of makes sense at Hampton as those tend to be single-standard properties (although some, like Blackpool, do have several grades of room) but HGI tend to offer a range of room types – Snowdonia goes right from a basic room to a Junior Suite.
Is an upgrade in HGI or Hampton rare or just not promised?
Rare, many don’t have a room to upgrade to, but in your Snowdonia example I wasn’t upgraded when staying last year (Gold membership). You might get a room with a better view, at best.
I stayed at Hampton Waterloo last year and was ‘upgraded’ to a high floor with a nice view as gold. These particular room were something like £40 more per night IIRC.
A few years ago at the Hampton, Gatwick, I was upgraded to a corner room. Same spec as a standard room but it was bigger. This was as diamond.
I’ve just noticed that ‘Upgrades to Preferred Rooms’ isn’t listed as a benefit under Hampton or HGI on ‘MyWay’ benefits. This kind of makes sense at Hampton as those tend to be single-standard properties (although some, like Blackpool, do have several grades of room) but HGI tend to offer a range of room types – Snowdonia goes right from a basic room to a Junior Suite.
Is an upgrade in HGI or Hampton rare or just not promised?
Rare, many don’t have a room to upgrade to, but in your Snowdonia example I wasn’t upgraded when staying last year (Gold membership). You might get a room with a better view, at best.
Most helpful. Probably worth looking at the standby upgrade offers when staying there then.
Tbh, I’ve never received any great upgrades with Hilton during last few years. I have a diamond status, never received a suite upgrade, normally it’s ‘Executive’ at Hiltons or deluxe/superior at DTs, Curios, or larger rooms/high floor with a view at HFI and Hamptons.
Marriott Platinum status seems to be more worthy – I’ve received an upgrade at all occasions, mostly junior or ‘real’ suites unless it’s a smaller hotel/select brands with no/few suites.
I normally book the cheapest room, whether it’s Hilton or Marriott.
I recently booked a room for tomorrow night at Hilton Liverpool in a standard King room and have been upgraded to an Executive Suite Park View. Not bad for £99.75
I am a diamond with Hilton, and looking online it would be £372 for the night in question.
@dundj Sounds manual. Did you see the upgrade today? What upgrade did it show 3 days prior-if any?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
