eStandby upgrades: comments, thoughts

[thewinchester]

Have just booked my first ever stay at a Hilton property, the Hilton Sydney on Pitt Street.

Once everything had gone through and confirmation screen displayed, I noticed a nice little box offering eStandby upgrades. As it was a no-cost option, I decided to have a punt and have requested standby upgrades from my Guestroom Plus to either a king deluxe (for extra AUD 15/night), king executive (AUD 39) or king relaxation (AUD 59).

Considering the discount over booking one of these rooms straight out, its worth it if any of them do come through.

The question is, how often do they usually come through on Hilton properties? Would be interested to know if anyone been offered & taken it up before, and if so how often do you find that these stand-by upgrades deliver a result?

 

[Danger]

Serfty, I believe, is against these (they are referred to as NOR1 properties) and on his recommendation I never take up the opportunity. Basically, as I understand it, it devalues the HHonors program for those Gold and Diamond members who would otherwise receive the unallocated superior rooms due to their status. Again, as I understand it, the non-status guests who take up the estandby option have priority over the Gold and Diamond members. Essentially, Hilton get some dollars from a room that would otherwise go free to a Gold or Diamond member.

 

[Mal]

I agree. They devalue the HH program. Not that it really matters much to me, as I've moved pretty much all of my hotel business to Accor and ICH.

 

[thewinchester]

Basically, as I understand it, it devalues the HHonors program for those Gold and Diamond members who would otherwise receive the unallocated superior rooms due to their status.

Agreed, that is a bit of a kick in the guts for their premium pax IMHO.

I've basically booked the night at the Hilton because I want to try it out, and still steamed over Swissotel from earlier in the year. I also have a 2,500pt reactivation bonus from HHonours, so I might as well make use of it.

For anyone from AFF/FT planning to stay at the Sydney Hilton on or around 1 June this year, I apologise in advance for accepting this offer. At least I'm only staying there one night - will be trying out either of the Marriott properties the night before and allowing the good member at FT who referred me to score some extra points on their account.

 

[anat0l]

I don't know how often they clear. Of course it depends on hotel loading blah blah blah.......I'm not sure if status has anything to do with it (of course if you are Gold or Diamond you get your free upgrade, but for the eStandby upgrades I think it matters little). I think if the space is there, you get the upgrade. The other "scenario" is that certain rooms are set aside for eStandby upgrades and Gold/Diamond upgrades; if some of this "inventory" is available, you get the upgrade. (Starting to sound a lot like the airlines here!)

I wouldn't normally try it because my former HH Gold status gave me a free upgrade to Executive level rooms, so no need for the eStandby upgrade (and the "total rate" wasn't completely justified if I tried for suites).

I tried this feature only once, last year at Hilton Melbourne South Wharf. I only applied for eStandby upgrades for suites; if neither pulled through I had my Executive room upgrade thanks to HH Gold to fall back on. It was rather little cost for a suite upgrade and it pulled through. So I stayed in a Yarra Relaxation Suite for two nights. OK a waste of my Gold benefit but at the prices they were offering the upgrade it was a bit hard to pass up. OK the cheap rate on my room also helped me make a decision - I essentially got a top level suite for almost less than a Deluxe Guestroom at flexible rack rate. (There's a little bit more to this story than meets the eye, but I will only discuss it over PM. Needless to say, I probably wouldn't be able to pull off something like this ever again.)

I could see why these would be viewed as a devaluation of the HH program.

 

[chanteuse]

Last year we booked an exec room at Pitt St Hilton, put in for estandby upgrade to a relaxation room. They charged us the extra and put us in a king suite!

Reception couldn't believe we had the room at such low cost.

 

[steptoe]

Stayed at Hilton Sydney two weeks ago with my wife for a special occasion (and as part of Hilton fast-track to gold!). Booked an executive room, ticked the upgrade boxes and ended up in a relaxation suite for $50 extra. It was a sunday night so there may have been lesser occupancy than other nights. We were well pleased with the suite.

 

[Cynicor]

I used a NOR1 in Hilton Arcadia, Thailand, to upgrade to an Andaman suite and get lounge access. Otherwise the lounge is only open to gold, diamond and suite members so it's a little more exclusive. I can see why many elite members would be against it, but as I have no status with Hilton (and this will be unlikely to change) I say go for it. Hilton really shouldn't offer the upgrades or they should come through with something better for their elites if they let the rooms go like that. Jon

 

[serfty]

Certainly I don't generally like them as it interferes with my Gold upgrade chances.

e.g. three of five stays at Sydney, I have been upgraded to a "Relaxation" suite or better and given exec lounge access for all 5 stays, simply as a gold and paying no extra. Someone using an estandby upgrade may have gotten one or more of these instead of me.

Having posted that I do agree eStandby upgrades make good business sense for hotel management.:-|

And note my use of the word "generally". There are some circumstances where ones upgrade chances are restricted where an eStandby upgrade makes sense.

e.g. at the Rome Cavalieri (Rome Cavalieri - Hilton HHonors)

 

[odysseus]

Having posted that I do agree eStandby upgrades make good business sense for hotel management.:-|

Isn't that the idea though?

I've heard a lot of criticism in the past elsewhere referring to US airlines who frequently upgrade their status members to Business class, and that QF's approach is more appealing. This sounds fairly similar. Another analogy is with airlines which offer standby upgrades.

They are premium rooms so ideally the hotel would want to make a return from them. While it's a nice perk to have a good chance to get one if it's unallocated - and status is giving you that that you otherwise wouldn't have - I don't see that the hotel should be criticised for trying to making a commercial return from a more valuable property.

 

[Danger]

I've heard a lot of criticism in the past elsewhere referring to US airlines who frequently upgrade their status members to Business class, and that QF's approach is more appealing. This sounds fairly similar. Another analogy is with airlines which offer standby upgrades.

Except in this case the status passengers are the HHonors Gold and Diamond members who are missing out. At least in the case of the US airlines those being upgraded are the status passengers, not the non-status passengers, as can happen with the estandby upgrades.

They are premium rooms so ideally the hotel would want to make a return from them. While it's a nice perk to have a good chance to get one if it's unallocated - and status is giving you that that you otherwise wouldn't have - I don't see that the hotel should be criticised for trying to making a commercial return from a more valuable property.

I don't think anyone is begrudging the hotels making a buck, just that it can come at the expense of premium guests receiving privilleges.

 

[uzza]

As an infrequent Hilton guest I have no issue with them but I'm never going to be a high status guest in the near future! (I will be a silver member in the next week though). I can see how Golds/Diamonds would have a problem with them though, and I can see why the Hotel uses NOR1.

I got a $50/night upgrade at the Beverly Hilton in LA last week from a stock standard prepaid room to a cabana room looking out over the pool, the actual price would have been far too much for me!

 

[esquire]

From the point of a Diamond member - I have already done 13 stays in the last 3 months (Australian and UK) and have always been upgraded to more premium rooms - even in booked-out hotels.

In most cases, earlier on the day of arrival, the booking details in HHonors will show what type of upgraded room you have been given.

I have found HHonors Diamond the hardest level to reach out of the other top tier hotel programs - so if I didn't get an upgraded room or at least showered with gifts - look out hotel manager!