How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[QF WP]

Just thought I'd create a thread for this - looking back over the last year, I thought I'd done a thread here as well as on Priority Club.

I'm a Gold member.

Friday, 22 May to Sunday, 31 May (yes, 9 nights)
Property: Hilton Cairns
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Travelzoo $135 package rate (included bottle of red wine)
Received: Upgrade to King Suite, card from GM and the wine, obligatory 2 free water bottles per day

Wednesday, 8 July
Property: Hilton Parmelia Perth
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Award room
Received: Upgrade to King Suite, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Thursday, 9 July
Property: Hilton Adelaide
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Award room
Received: Upgrade to Exec Floor, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Saturday, 11 July
Property: Hilton Brisbane
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Met Package (birthday present for Mrs LW, included 2 buffet breakfasts at Atrium Cafe & 2 tickets to Qld Art Gallery for Impressionists Showing from Metropolitan Museum New York - to get some culture)
Received: Upgrade to Exec Floor, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Got some more travel to do to Melbourne this Friday, so hoping to fly down Thursday night to sample the new Hilton.

 

[Fifa]

no. the lounge staff knew i was diamond and rang and checked with 'management' who said there was a $10 a head change even for diamonds

Well, that certainly stinks .
If you arrive late as we did last time, it may be worth foregoing the exec lounge to receive brekky in Salt!

 

[Cynicor]

I just wouldn't ask, enter restaurant, say my room number and see what happens. If they actively say you can have continental but $10 upgrade then that is that. But don't ask what the diamond bennies are!

 

[Princess Fiona]

I just wouldn't ask, enter restaurant, say my room number and see what happens. If they actively say you can have continental but $10 upgrade then that is that. But don't ask what the diamond bennies are!

This is exactly the tactic I use at any hotel advising at check-in that I can have breakfast in the Exec Lounge.
Never been charged for a Restaurant breakfast yet.

 

[Buzzard]

This whole breakfast thing seems confusing.
If you are Gold which includes breakfast, does that mean you are sent up for the free brekky in the Exec Lounge?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

This whole breakfast thing seems confusing.

The breakfast is more than confusing it is a downright PITA - and Hilton should address it at least for Diamond:
1. Waldorf in London - booked Studio Suite at rate ~1 arm + 1 leg / nt - free breakfast in Exec Lounge (incl ALL hot items) until Exec Lounge overflows then sent down to main reastaurant - downright denial of ANY hot items or pay £15 I think it was
2. Waldorf Astoria Shanghai - help yourself to full a-la-carte breakfast in main dining room Mr Elite - and full a-la-carte meant full buffet + a full a-la-carte menu
The inconsistency mind boggling.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm like Cynicor and Princess Fiona. I don't ask, I just turn up to the restaurant. I've never been charged but H-Taupo did state clearly, that if we wanted a full breakfast, it would be NZ$10 (I think) extra per person. As their full breakfast consisted of only 3 additional items (one day two of the three choices were scrambled egg and poached eggs :shock, we declined that offer. In fact most places let us include whoever is in our party (except H-Taupo who steadfastly applied the two rule) and at HSP, we've had up to 4 or 5 for breakfast without charge.

I'm guessing it was just easier for the Salt guy on the phone to say no rather than actually find out the true policy at HSP, but if nothing else, HSP is all over the shop for what's supposed to be a reasonably "classy" hotel, so I'm not overly surprised. The Salt phone guy was probably a back packer picking up some more cash to continue a holiday and whether or not someone is an elite client is possibly neither here nor there for him.

 

[QF WP]

Same as others above, I dine in the restaurant as a Gold (last year Diamond) unless I am short on time - never been charged.

 

[Fifa]

Status: Diamond
Property: Auckland Hilton
Booked: King Guest Room
Received: King Deluxe Harbour View Plus

I haven't had this room before - it is on the corner nearest the city with wrap around balcony and floor to ceiling windows.
Another AFFer (who shall remain nameless ) received his usual Bow Suite!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

OT - but what did Darryl Kerrigan say? Of yeah that's it - 'Tell 'em they're dreamin'!!!



But wait - it get's better - add the taxes:



Maybe I should start a new thread - 'Worlds Most Overpriced Hotel Rooms'!

 

[jackthomas]

Status: Gold
Property: Hilton Sydney
Room Book: King Executive
Room Received: Junior King Suite.

Was voluntarily told the new rules regarding breakfast and that I must eat in the executive lounge... Didn't question it because of the pretty generous upgrade ( which btw the air con isn't working and I'm SWELTERING)

 

[DC3]

New rules for breakfast? I must have missed that.

 

[JessicaTam]

New rules for breakfast? I must have missed that.

I have moved further discussion about breakfast here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-hhonors/new-breakfast-enhancement-68169.html

 

[boomy]

The management at DT MEL must be doing something right if they can afford to charge that much for the most basic rooms.

I think I'll go for the Hilton this time...

 

[Princess Fiona]

I only ever post the best and worst experiences on here, but this one is certainly the most different
Staying at HSW for the next two nights. Hotel is completely sold out tonight. Online check-in was offering rubbish rooms on low floors overlooking the freeway so thought it best not to pick a room. Waiting at NTL to board my flight and received a call from the Duty Manager telling me that the hotel was full and they would be unable to upgrade me from my booked twin room tonight but would be in a suite tomorrow night. After explaining that I'm staying with my sister it's going to be the two bedroom one.
Very happy little Vegemite

 

[drross]

I only ever post the best and worst experiences on here, but this one is certainly the most different
Staying at HSW for the next two nights. Hotel is completely sold out tonight. Online check-in was offering rubbish rooms on low floors overlooking the freeway so thought it best not to pick a room. Waiting at NTL to board my flight and received a call from the Duty Manager telling me that the hotel was full and they would be unable to upgrade me from my booked twin room tonight but would be in a suite tomorrow night. After explaining that I'm staying with my sister it's going to be the two bedroom one.
Very happy little Vegemite

I like the idea of the call from the duty manager!! had an email from HSP after our stay offering some please come back deals..first time I've ad one of those.

 

[straitman]

21st May.
Status: Diamond
Property: Auckland Hilton
Booked: 2 X King Guest Room
Received: 2 X Bow Suites.​

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ok, arrived a couple of hours ago at HSW. Front desk welcomed me back and advised that I was staying for one night, I advised this was incorrect and repeated the telephone conversation I'd had prior to boarding my flight. Checked in and given 9th floor freeway view twin room. After a bit of polite enquiry nothing better available apparently. A bit weird as the online check-in was on first opening it yesterday offering much higher floor with Yarra view.
Anyway I'll take it on the chin but I think the moral of the story at HSW is if the hotel is sold out get the best room you can at online check-in as it appears that they don't pre-allocate decent levels/views to Diamonds not upgraded.
The service recovery for tonight (as mentioned I will be in a two bedroom suite tomorrow night) was a choice of wine and a couple of choccies. A card also appeared congratulating me on my 10th stay. Nice thought but the count would run to at least double that - maybe they meant Diamond but still I'm pretty sure I have more stays than that.

 

[Zerosignal]

Diamond.

Hilton Sorrento Palace - Booked standard garden room, upgraded to Executive Room.

Thanks to that upgrade we spent most of our free time in Sorrento drinking Champagne by the roof top executive lounge pool.

 

[Duffa]

Gold HHonors
Conrad Centennial Singapore - arrived 06.15 - room ready 15th floor corner upgrade as per my request from online check-in
All benefits explained and offered at check-in.
Breakfast included in downstairs restaurant tomorrow

 

[Duffa]

And fruit, chocs and bottled water