HHonors Recognition when hotel booked through 3rd party websites

[fbrimfield]

Hey everyone.

As a relatively new HHonors Gold member, I have a bit of a dilemma. I booked 2 nights at the Hilton Tokyo in August through the JAPANiCAN.com website for 35,000 JPY (~450AUD) whereas the Hilton website quoted 42,000JPY (~560AUD) as the best price.

I emailed both the HHonors Japan contact, as well as JAPANiCAN asking if they could attach my HHonors Gold number to the reservation (as to get room upgrade to exec floor, lounge access, etc).

Just got the following email back from HHonors Japan:

Thank you for contacting Hilton HHonors.
We appreciate your time to write.

Regarding the reservation made through travel agents or third party websites, HHonors points & benefits are not eligible. Please be advised that points are eligible for bookings via Hilton websites, or through Hilton worldwide reservation centers.

Does this mean that even if I rock up with my HHonors Card on the day, that it wont be recognised at all since it was booked through a third party? To be honest I don't care about earning points for the stay, all i'm interested in is a room upgrade and exec lounge access.

Has anyone had any experience with this? I've never had this problem doing this with Accor or Best Western. If they really aren't going to recognise my status because of the 3rd party booking, i'd rather just cancel the booking (which I can do without penalty at this point in time) and stay at the Mercure in Ginza (my usual tokyo hotel - and much cheaper too). :-|

Thanks

 

[serfty]

In Japan they tend to follow the rules ...

... and stays booked through (most) third party web site are not eligible with HHonors for stay/night credits, points/miles earn nor the granting of status benefits such as lounge access and breakfast.

 

[koonyaflyer]

To be honest I think most loyalty programmes only recognize bookings made direct or through travel agents. A rule of thumb I have found is if a 3rd party is paid before the stay the benefits will not be extended. Accor is certainly operating that way. I find the best way, if I find a cheaper price, is to ask the hotel to price match the 3rd party quote.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I find the best way, if I find a cheaper price, is to ask the hotel to price match the 3rd party quote.

+1

Use the price match/best price guarantee that most of the chains offer. I know this doesn't help the OP right now.

Hope at checkin the agent is forthcoming.

 

[fbrimfield]

That's so annoying, usually when I book Accor I will get them to price match it if I find it cheaper, but Accor is usually the cheapest. And with Best Western, when I book with 3rd party sites, i've never had a problem getting recognition for BW Diamond Elite.

To be honest I think I might just cancel the booking and stay at the Mercure as well. It's a nice hotel and i've always received upgrades in the past (despite the facts mercures dont have to upgrade Le Club plats)

Thanks anyway everyone.

 

[serfty]

The surprising thing is your booking was refundable.

Really the HHonors "Best rate guarantee" can be quite useful here.
Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[Must...Fly!]

I've become wary of these best rate guarantees. I booked a 5 night stay at the Hilton Frankfurt for 99EUR per night a while ago on a 3rd party for a stay in July. I was in Frankfurt a few weeks later and decided to call in to ensure all was ok as it was such a cheap deal; they had added my hhonors number (I think I put it in the comments on the 3rd party site) and assured me that I would likely get an executive upgrade, etc. This surprised me...I doubt I will get hhonors points!

As it is, I don't really care if I don't get the Gold hhonors benefits - the main benefit (for me) is breakfast, which is included in that EUR99 rate anyway! But an upgrade and free wi-fi never goes astray

 

[serfty]

To be sure you need to know exactly what you are doing with the BRG - there is a humongous thread on FT with numerous posts on the pitfalls.

Our Best Rates Guarantee Terms & Conditions

Hilton Best Rate Guarantee: The Definitive Thread

In reality it seems they will try to deny any/most claims as a matter of course.

You can be successful: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....um-club/best-rate-guarantee-newbie-36160.html

 

[browniedx]

As it is, I don't really care if I don't get the Gold hhonors benefits - the main benefit (for me) is breakfast, which is included in that EUR99 rate anyway! But an upgrade and free wi-fi never goes astray

Don't count yourself out just yet - my experience is actually that while third party bookings definitely do not qualify for points/stay credit, they do qualify for status benefits unless you booked through a mystery hotel provider (i.e. wotif, Priceline etc).

From the Hilton Gold web page:

Stays that are booked via third party websites are not Eligible Stays irrespective of rate paid, for the purpose of earning points, miles or stay credit toward Elite tier status. Stays booked via "opaque" channels where the brand is unknown at the time of purchase are not Eligible Stays for the purpose of earning points, miles or stay credit toward Elite tier status, or the receipt of Elite tier benefits such as upgraded accommodations / amenities or access to health clubs.

 

[Cynicor]

My one and only HH BRG claim was painless, but I have heard others have had issues. That thread is huge, do you know the most common reason for declining the claims?

SPG are great with the BRG.

 

[fbrimfield]

To be sure you need to know exactly what you are doing with the BRG - there is a humongous thread on FT with numerous posts on the pitfalls.

Not exactly sure I want to risk it with the BRG. This holiday is already going to be a bit of a splurge and I was probably already misbehaving by booking the hilton in the first place.

In other news, the other hotel I booked at (Best Western Shinjuku - also through JAPANiCAN) emailed me back and said that even though i'd booked through a third party, I would definitely be given a room upgrade if it was available. Good on you, Yuko Namagata from Best Western Shinjuku.

 

[Mollycram]

I had a terrible time trying to get a price match at Sydney Hilton....admittedly I was trying it via Hilton not the hotel itself. In the end I booked through the third party website as it was so much cheaper. After a few emails however, I did get them to count my stay and was able to earn points. Was very pleasantly surprised to arrive at the hotel and get an upgrade...

 

[djfuzz]

I had a terrible time trying to get a price match at Sydney Hilton....admittedly I was trying it via Hilton not the hotel itself. In the end I booked through the third party website as it was so much cheaper. After a few emails however, I did get them to count my stay and was able to earn points. Was very pleasantly surprised to arrive at the hotel and get an upgrade...

During the Great Mid May Website Slowdown, I was unable to make a booking at Hilton Syd and had to do so through Agoda (non-opaque). I understand the points / stay credit issue, but would be very disappointed if benefits were excluded too, given the wording of the terms and the fact that I couldn't make a booking at the time I needed to through Hilton.com. I included my details on the booking comments, will see how it pans out.

 

[fromheretothere]

Just for infor, Hilton Auckland booked through a third party did NOT extend Diamond benefits not give points. Was def cheaper with the third party than through the Hilton website. No such thing as a free lunch sometimes Good luck

 

[Andyc]

As with many things, I think a lot of it comes down to the person on the desk. I had a booking at Hilton Surfers Paradise that was booked in a companion's name through an opaque website but upon arrival was still given free wifi & very late checkout (6:30pm).
Room upgrade wasn't applicable since we were in a 2 bedroom apartment.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Room upgrade wasn't applicable since we were in a 2 bedroom apartment.

I've got a 2 b/room apartment booked for June........I'm secretly hoping for a 3 b/room so boy and girl offspring don't have to share a bedroom.

 

[nate89]

I've actually had a bit of luck getting status/points when I've booked through third parties. Firstly was at the millenium hilton in NY where I stayed for a week. I booked through booking.com IIRC. I didn't actually ask for the points to go through or provide my HH# but they tracked me down and added it to my account which was a pleasant surprise as it was a fairly expensive stay.

After this happened I decided to try my luck and try and get status/points on another stay in LA. I didn't mention it at check in, but later walked through when a different person was there (so they would not have my booking info in front of them) and kindly asked for them to add it. It worked fine which was nice so it isn't hard coded into their system it appears.

I don't usually go out of my way to try and evade rules to get status/points. However I was paying them after all and remaining 'loyal' to them (and they gave me a shoddy room! "Pleasant" view of a wall 2m away). At this stage I did not have any status so no perks as such at the time or reason to bring it up at check in like the OP, but maybe my strategy would work for others and thought I would mention it

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I've also had that happen. In Cairns, I'd booked one night in a deluxe room (base room I think) through Wotif. My wife decided to come up as well because the Wotif deal was for 2 people including breakfast (she couldn't bare to see a breakfast go wanting) so I rang the hotel directly to book another night so we could make a weekend of it. I knew I wouldn't get the first Wotif booking, but I felt I should get the second night so when points didn't arrive, I chased it up with the Hilton Cairns. In the end they gave me both nights worth of points and nights and the one stay, which was nice but also during the stay they had price matched the Wotif fare for the second night (including full breakfast for two) and upgraded us to a relaxation room because they couldn't give us the same deluxe room for both nights........both were happily accepted.

All in all, we enjoyed it. Thanks Hilton Cairns!

 

[dein_gesicht]

I've got a 2 b/room apartment booked for June........I'm secretly hoping for a 3 b/room so boy and girl offspring don't have to share a bedroom.

Let me know how you go as I'm planning the same later in the year

 

[bullerdude]

Let me know how you go as I'm planning the same later in the year

I book 3 night at Surfers Paradise this week through Wofif not knowing that I may not receive my Diamond benefits...

Although, minus the points issue (which is understandable because Wotif offer discounted rates), I cannot find anything on the HHonors website that says I won't get the diamond benefits.

So I called up the hotel this evening and they happily added my hhonors account # to my booking and made a note that I would like an upgrade to a suite if available

So finger crossed that it all works out OK!