Paid and free upgrade advice

[NotTheRealRob]

Hi sorry in advance hope I can make my question clear.

I have been offered a free upgrade at online check in. Has anyone had this offered and not done online check on then on arrival at hotel been told the free upgrade is now not available.

In addition to this regarding paid upgrade I was offered to apply for a very cheap e-standby upgrade just £10 to a suite. Does anyone know if I do online check in now will I miss out on potential e-standby on arrival.

Thanks in advance

[nike85]

Hi NTRR

In my experience, free upgrade offers aren’t dependent on your doing online check in. I have never been downgraded from an upgrade showing in the app when checking-in in person. I rarely do online check in.

Never done e-standby so can’t answer that one.

[NotTheRealRob]

nike85 wrote:

Hi NTRR

In my experience, free upgrade offers aren’t dependent on your doing online check in. I have never been downgraded from an upgrade showing in the app when checking-in in person. I rarely do online check in.

Never done e-standby so can’t answer that one.

Thanks for this. I’m holding off then. So far I’ve been given free upgrade to Exec room with lounge access. £10 standby offer for Exec Suite so will report back tomorrow

[NotTheRealRob]

I had a quick look at the app after the above comment and we have been upgraded for free again. It looks like a TRIPLE upgrade from Superior to Exec Suite. The only one above this is presidential suite. No other options at check in apart from pay to upgrade to presidential suite so I’ve checked in.

[dundj]

Would be worth knowing which Hilton this relates to, so others may know what is possible.

[NotTheRealRob]

dundj wrote:

Would be worth knowing which Hilton this relates to, so others may know what is possible.

Cardiff

[alastairtravel]

Limited experience of this, but recently I have been upgraded to what was requested in e-standby for no charge.
I’m Hilton Gold – so got the auto-upgrade in advance / requested another nominal e-standby upgrade got that for no extra paid. This was at Hilton Garden Inn – Old Trafford

[BBbetter]

As a gold, was never upgraded to a better category, just a better room until autumn this year. In Southampton, upgraded to a suite from the basic room.
Sign of slowdown in hotel bookings?

[ABA]

I have been upgraded to massive suites at times and to an executive room some other times which can mean the same room with a slightly better view and/ or some amenities. This largely depend on the occupancy level and as one of the posters above said I too very rarely check in online. As far as I can remember I have never been downgraded from what was available online for free. Check in a little early on the day of arrival may increase your chances.

[AndyUK101]

A little off topic but my last few stays in a Hampton were auto-upgraded 3 days out, never happened before in 20+ stays during 2023 but since November all of them have been (all as Diamond)

Admittedly doesn’t make a huge difference, a little more space or a nicer view but made me wonder if the policy has changed

[James C]

Just to add another datapoint on this. I was upgraded on the App a few days out at The Westminster (Curio Collection). I had checked in online and selected a room although I hadn’t requested a digital key as I prefer a key card. Arrived c11pm and at reception was presented with a key card for a totally different room to the one I’d selected and only when I pressed was told I had also been downgraded. I was furious. I wouldn’t have been fussed if I’d not been upgraded at all but really felt it was poor form to be told you’d been upgraded and selected a room and then just be reassigned and downgraded without any notice.

[NotTheRealRob]

Ended up with a Triple category room upgrade for this booking. Stay was in general very good I would however avoid any rooms in the curved front part of the hotel. The curve of the walls makes the rooms very awkward even though they are large they don’t feel it.