The Breakfast "upgrade" fee.

  • Thread starter Deleted member 29185
  • Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Deleted member 29185

Guest
I thought I might start a new thread just for this fee as it seems to be spreading like the coffee tax.

I stayed at DT-CNS and the restaurant has reopened following "renovations". I must admit that the only thing I noticed different was a new fee. I was welcomed into the restaurant as a HH diamonds member and was told I was entitled to a continental breakfast and should I want to upgrade to a full breakfast, that would be an additional $10. I declined as the breakfast at DT-CNS is described as ordinary, at best. The single coffee machine fails to keep up with demand and given the approximately 10 deep waiting to make a coffee I skipped out to the airport early and settled into an acceptable spread at the QF lounge., including coffee, for which I didn't have to wait.

I asked on check out why the change and the lady politely informed me it was a direction to them from Hilton Honors. Seems possible that we're heading down the same path as the coffee tax. Add both together $10 + $5 = $15 for a complementary breakie and it's making local coffee shops look like an attractive alternative. (and yes, I do realise continental is all that HH offer in any case. I'm just pointing out a change to what previously occurred).
 
I find it hard to believe they think the breakfast they have is worth charging an extra $10 for. You can definately tell you are in a regional hotel and penny pinching is how they try and make money. I would be asking for the $10 fee to be waived due to the lack of a usable internet that at peak times pretty mutch stops working.
 
DT MEL had this policy for over a year now. Hope it's only a DT thing. Just had a funny thought, wonder how they willl be policing this, especially if they have a large gathering of diamonds like the 2015 AFF annual meet up in CNS. If they have to add more staff, it'll cost them more in salaries plus losing goodwill with their guests.
 
Just had a funny thought, wonder how they willl be policing this,
it was suggested to me that it'd be unlikely the lounge staff would be looking over your shoulder to see what you have on the plate. For me, that's neither here nor there as a rule/request should be good enough. I'll either accept the charge or forego the hot selection. I get a hot breakfast cooked for me for half of each month and I rarely eat it. This new fee won't bother me too much. I appreciate coffee for breakfast more than food and the lack of coffee without a 1/2 hour wait in a queue is definitely a failure to me. Next time I'll just check out and head off to the airport lounge without wasting time. I wonder if diamonds can opt for the 1000 points if not having breakfast?
 
DT MEL had this policy for over a year now. Hope it's only a DT thing. Just had a funny thought, wonder how they willl be policing this, especially if they have a large gathering of diamonds like the 2015 AFF annual meet up in CNS. If they have to add more staff, it'll cost them more in salaries plus losing goodwill with their guests.

In my experience it is just a DT thing, always full breakfast at Hilton. I think I stayed at DT MEL maybe 20 times last year. Every time at breakfast they informed me that i could pay for an upgrade to a full breakfast. On more than one occasion I helped myself to some baked beans and bacon, they never mentioned any thing and I was not charged additional costs.
 
Last edited:
The DRW DT didn't charge for the hot breakfast when I was there last December
 
it was suggested to me that it'd be unlikely the lounge staff would be looking over your shoulder to see what you have on the plate. For me, that's neither here nor there as a rule/request should be good enough. I'll either accept the charge or forego the hot selection. I get a hot breakfast cooked for me for half of each month and I rarely eat it. This new fee won't bother me too much. I appreciate coffee for breakfast more than food and the lack of coffee without a 1/2 hour wait in a queue is definitely a failure to me. Next time I'll just check out and head off to the airport lounge without wasting time. I wonder if diamonds can opt for the 1000 points if not having breakfast?

pretty sure you can opt for the 1000 points
 
Is the MEL DT up charge still $6?

I can not remember what the fee was I thought is was a bit more, I just checked my account my last stay was 21/22 Aug 16, more hotel nights have come and gone since then. I was booked in on 12/2/17 but cancelled, this thread prompted me to call DT MEL as I am staying there in a couple of weeks. It would seem the rules have changed, I was advised diamond members now get full breakfast included
 
Only place I've been charged an upgrade fee for breakfast was Hilton Queenstown - but it was very clear up front that was their rule. I'd hate it if HSW or Hilton Auckland ever did this (two of the better full Hilton breakfasts for Diamond I've come across).
 
In my experience it is just a DT thing, always full breakfast at Hilton. I think I stayed at DT MEL maybe 20 times last year. Every time at breakfast they informed me that i could pay for an upgrade to a full breakfast. On more than one occasion I helped myself to some baked beans and bacon, they never mentioned any thing and I was not charged additional costs.
There are people on this board that would have you believe that this board is inhabited by folk that are as pure as the driven snow, and wouldn't dream of bending the rules. I am sure you are a great disappointment to them......
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Only place I've been charged an upgrade fee for breakfast was Hilton Queenstown - but it was very clear up front that was their rule. I'd hate it if HSW or Hilton Auckland ever did this (two of the better full Hilton breakfasts for Diamond I've come across).

How recently was Queenstown? Received SM Gold last yr and free breakfast no charge.

I remember something about BNE Hilton and a $10 charge? I was out early so didn't eat.
 
I asked on check out why the change and the lady politely informed me it was a direction to them from Hilton Honors. Seems possible that we're heading down the same path as the coffee tax. Add both together $10 + $5 = $15 for a complementary breakie and it's making local coffee shops look like an attractive alternative. (and yes, I do realise continental is all that HH offer in any case. I'm just pointing out a change to what previously occurred).

Bah!

This might explain why the HSYD tried the same on for me late Jan. I find it pretty hard to believe its a HH direction ... no-one in Asia would dream of charging you as a gold/diamond for breakfast in the restaurant.... or coffee for that matter. All seems like local Aus penny pinching to me.
 
There are people on this board that would have you believe that this board is inhabited by folk that are as pure as the driven snow, and wouldn;t dream of bending the rules. I am sure you are a great disappointment to them......

Come now, most on this forum will push a loophole or explicit benefit to the max (including me), but if I'm specifically told that the complementary breakfast does not include the hot selection, then I respect their advice and not have it ... even if I do think it's a bit miserly. That's not being as pure as the driven snow, it's simply being honest.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

... Every time at breakfast they informed me that i could pay for an upgrade to a full breakfast. On more than one occasion I helped myself to some baked beans and bacon, they never mentioned any thing and I was not charged additional costs.

There are people on this board that would have you believe that this board is inhabited by folk that are as pure as the driven snow, and wouldn;t dream of bending the rules. I am sure you are a great disappointment to them......

I wouldn't call beans and bacon a full breakfast. Far from it. :p

Edit: And if they call them "hot items", they were probably lukewarm at best.
 
How recently was Queenstown? Received SM Gold last yr and free breakfast no charge.

I remember something about BNE Hilton and a $10 charge? I was out early so didn't eat.

Queenstown was probably 3 years ago, so may have changed. Think I was Diamond at the time but not sure.

Never been charged for full breakfast or coffee at BNE. Last stay was some time in 2016 though past 5 stays in Brisbane have been at Sofitel so again, may be different now.
 
A couple of years ago at the Hilton Metropole, london I was told it was extra for a cooked breakfast as a gold.

Confirmed when I went back to reception later.

At breakfast the next morning I asked whilst being shown to my seat and was told no extra charge for cooked breakfast for golds, so I helped myself.

Sometimes it pays to keep asking.
 
At HSW in January I was told that it would be an additional $10 for a cooked breakfast (I'm Gold). I was surprised as I hadn't heard about this fee before, but not being a frequent Hilton user I thought I might have missed it. I opted to eat in the lounge.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..
Back
Top