Hilton Honors Site driving me mad

[Mal]

It is my understanding that the HH points are calculated on the $US equivalent of your folio ex-GST, so no points are awarded on the GST component of your bill.

http://www.hhonors.com/terms
"8. Any applicable federal, state or local taxes, including city occupancy tax, will be omitted for purposes of point accrual for hotel stays."

 

[JohnK]

It is my understanding that the HH points are calculated on the $US equivalent of your folio ex-GST, so no points are awarded on the GST component of your bill.

Which would make A$144 equal to A$130.91 without GST then converted to US$99.1 using formula of US$1=~A$1.32.

OK. So I now have 991 HH points. Only 19,009 HH points before I can redeem a one night stay at a Hilton hotel? We have probably discussed this many times but transfering Amex points to HH points at 1:1 ratio gives a better redemption than transfering to QF FFP? Has anyone done the sums?

 

[oz_mark]

Which would make A$144 equal to A$130.91 without GST then converted to US$99.1 using formula of US$1=~A$1.32.

OK. So I now have 991 HH points. Only 19,009 HH points before I can redeem a one night stay at a Hilton hotel?

Actually most Hilton's in Australia require 25,000 points to get a night. Some hotels require more (the Melbourne Hiltons, the Queensland Conrads are 30,000 and the Sydney Hilton is 40,000), so you need more points than you think!

 

[JohnK]

Actually most Hilton's in Australia require 25,000 points to get a night. Some hotels require more (the Melbourne Hiltons, the Queensland Conrads are 30,000 and the Sydney Hilton is 40,000), so you need more points than you think!

Unless I attend the next 27 Ozfests I am unlikely to accumulate that many points. May have to look for ways to use HH points somewhere else. The transfer of HH points to QF at 10:1 does not sound like a good option. Any better alternatives?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Actually most Hilton's in Australia require 25,000 points to get a night. Some hotels require more (the Melbourne Hiltons, the Queensland Conrads are 30,000 and the Sydney Hilton is 40,000), so you need more points than you think!

I think these might be the old rates - most of the australian hotels went up category (hence more points to redeem) 1 June.

 

[NM]

Unless I attend the next 27 Ozfests I am unlikely to accumulate that many points. May have to look for ways to use HH points somewhere else. The transfer of HH points to QF at 10:1 does not sound like a good option. Any better alternatives?

If travelling to the LOTFAP, you have lots more opportunities to earn HH stays and points. Their range of hotels include Hampton Inn (low cost, good value), Hilton Garden Inn (my USA staple), Homewood Suites, Embassy Suites etc.

Most of my HH points and status over the years has come from using Hilton Garden Inn hotels in the USA. And being Diamond for many years has enable me to benefit from the 50% bonus, as well as some good targeted promotions for double or triple points etc. So far I have redeemed rooms at London Paddington Hilton (2 rooms for 3 nights) and Scandic Grand Marina in Helsinki (2 rooms for 3 nights) for a total spend of around 270K points. So far I have not had to supplement points from other sources.

I currently have 2 rooms for 3 nights booked at BNE Hilton for a family getaway in December using 150,000 HH points. That will leave me about 230,000 points in my account. If I need more, I will transfer from Amex at 1:1 rate, which I think it reasonable value. I plan to use my points before my status drops from Diamond to Gold next April.

 

[serfty]

Unless I attend the next 27 Ozfests I am unlikely to accumulate that many points. May have to look for ways to use HH points somewhere else. The transfer of HH points to QF at 10:1 does not sound like a good option. Any better alternatives?

Actually, over my 17 month HHonors membership I have accumulated just over 31,500 'base' points. I have actually used 75,000 points for two award nights, saving approx. AUD950. Also, I still have a balance of over 20,000 points.

These additional 60,000 points came from bonus programs (e.g. 10K for four stays with web booked nights). Keep your eye out on the FT Hilton HHonors forum.

 

[JohnK]

I currently have 2 rooms for 3 nights booked at BNE Hilton for a family getaway in December using 150,000 HH points.

Don't you live in BNE? Or are you getting away from your family?

These additional 60,000 points came from bonus programs (e.g. 10K for four stays with web booked nights). Keep your eye out on the FT Hilton HHonors forum.

I think I will need to keep an eye out there on a regular basis.

My main problem is that Hilton in Australia is too expensive for me at $180-$200/night when I can stay at a Best Western for ~$100/night. I don't travel to LOTFAP at all so the only other option is Hilton in SE Asia but I have not looked at the options or rates charged there. Probably a little out of my range again considering I can get 8 nights at a 2-3 star for ~A$300.

 

[oz_mark]

My main problem is that Hilton in Australia is too expensive for me at $180-$200/night when I can stay at a Best Western for ~$100/night. I don't travel to LOTFAP at all so the only other option is Hilton in SE Asia but I have not looked at the options or rates charged there. Probably a little out of my range again considering I can get 8 nights at a 2-3 star for ~A$300.

It is the cost question as to why I will generally use PC when I can (holiday inn or Crowne Plaza) as they generally provide reasonable comfort at a good price. Sometimes stay at Hilton, especially when they have good offers. That is why Hhonors is my second program and why I probably won;t ever get above silver.

 

[NM]

Don't you live in BNE? Or are you getting away from your family?

Yes, BNE is home. We like to take the family and stay in the city just before Christmas. We can do the last minute Christmas shopping as well as enjoy the atmosphere of the decorations, lights etc. The kids really look forward to it. Its my way of providing some benefits to the family from my travel.

My main problem is that Hilton in Australia is too expensive for me at $180-$200/night when I can stay at a Best Western for ~$100/night. I don't travel to LOTFAP at all so the only other option is Hilton in SE Asia but I have not looked at the options or rates charged there. Probably a little out of my range again considering I can get 8 nights at a 2-3 star for ~A$300.

Understand. When we pay for room at BNE, its usually around $120-$140 rate. Given that earlier this week we stayed in a cabin at a caravan park for $122/night (included linen, but not daily servicing), the BNE Hilton is not too bad value. But we could sleep all six in the caravan park cabin, while we need two room at the BNE Hilton, which is where the value declines. Hence I am going to use up my points for this year's holidays.

We may also stay a few nights at the Gold Coast (Conrad) in Feb to use them up.

 

[SF&]

I had they same trouble but it is working now

 

[oz_mark]

OK finally called HHonors customer care today and I was sad to hear that a lot of my details were missing from membership.

I was asked a lot of questions and finally it was calculated that I would receive 991 HH points and 1,000 QF FF points.

They did the calculation, but did you ever actually get the points?

 

[JohnK]

They did the calculation, but did you ever actually get the points?

Yes I did.

Welcome back, JOHN
HHonors Blue # 1234567890
Current Point Balance: 991
Qualifying Stays Completed: 1
Qualifying Nights Completed: 1
Qualifying Base Points Earned: 991
Last Stay: Hilton Brisbane

 

[oz_mark]

Yes I did.

Perhaps more importantly, did you get you QFF points?

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps more importantly, did you get you QFF points?

All 1,000 of them. System appears to work after a slight push.

 

[oz_mark]

All 1,000 of them. System appears to work after a slight push.

Yes, sounds like it is easier to get Hilton to push the points across, than to get QF to pull them across

 

[NM]

Yes, sounds like it is easier to get Hilton to push the points across, than to get QF to pull them across

It is when doing through Hilton Honors double dippling. They are generally on the ball and fast. Not sure that is tha case if not using HHonors and just giving your QFF number to the Hotel Check-in staff.

 

[oz_mark]

It is when doing through Hilton Honors double dippling. They are generally on the ball and fast. Not sure that is tha case if not using HHonors and just giving your QFF number to the Hotel Check-in staff.

My experience with hotels and giving the FF number is that you end up having to chase the points. I don't have personal experience of Hilton in this regard, but would expect the same problems as all other hotels.

 

[NM]

My experience with hotels and giving the FF number is that you end up having to chase the points. I don't have personal experience of Hilton in this regard, but would expect the same problems as all other hotels.

Hilton is a little different. As noted previously, there are two different ways to get the airline points/miles. If you use your airline number in the hotel reservation then it is as you note. But if you use your HHonors number in the booking, then they credit to HHonors program very quickly and reliably. Then if your HHonors profile is set up to pay you airline points/miles through their double dipping option, then that transfer is also fast and reliable.

So if the hotel itself is doing the airline transfer, it takes time and may need to be chased. If HHonors is doing the airline transfer, then it is fast and reliable. Its all your choice as to which way you want to earn the points (direct from hotel or via HHonors).

 

[oz_mark]

Hilton is a little different. As noted previously, there are two different ways to get the airline points/miles. If you use your airline number in the hotel reservation then it is as you note. But if you use your HHonors number in the booking, then they credit to HHonors program very quickly and reliably. Then if your HHonors profile is set up to pay you airline points/miles through their double dipping option, then that transfer is also fast and reliable.

So if the hotel itself is doing the airline transfer, it takes time and may need to be chased. If HHonors is doing the airline transfer, then it is fast and reliable. Its all your choice as to which way you want to earn the points (direct from hotel or via HHonors).

I should clarify, my experience with Hilton is only through the double dip option (when it changed itself to fixed miles), and not through giving them the FF number when I check-in. It is my experience with giving my FF number during the booking or check-in process that I find I have to chase them up. Only once have the points found their way across without intervention.

I don;t know why rental car companies can get this to work properly, but hotels can't.