Partner costs when making a booking...

[munitalP]

I have some upcoming advanced paid bookings at 3 Thailand hotels. During the booking process I did not choose 2 guests (my bad) and when a conformation email from one of the hotels was received on Saturday, I had the girl at the exec lounge at HSW change the booking to two at that particular hotel.

Last night I got another email from that hotel confirming that the booking was changed to 2 people, however there is an extra cost that must now be paid. It's only $80 but when I was booking the hotels, I run dummy bookings and this $80 now places the advance purchase price over the flexi rate.

As a HH Diamond, should I be getting charged for the additional guest?

 

[haydensydney]

Interesting - i've always thought that 1 or 2 guests was the default with extra guests over and above this amount to pay a loading.

I would fight it.

 

[3eef]

When travelling in Europe I have often seen the price of Hiltons go up if you have 2 guests.

It used to be, but checked and cant find it now a feature of diamond/gold that you got the free extra person from 1 to 2.

I must say I've never had an issue and always only book for 1 and turn up with the other half.

 

[oz_mark]

Oridinarily, when I book I book for one, and include a note about the spouse

Spouse stays free
Spouse stays free in the member's room on qualifying stays. This benefit excludes stays at Hampton Inn properties. This benefit does not apply at any hotel when the rate includes additional components (e.g., meals, activities, parking, etc.) that are quoted as a per person or per room charge.

Hilton HHonors® - About HHonors® - Benefits & Services

 

[straitman]

Oridinarily, when I book I book for one, and include a note about the spouse



Hilton HHonors® - About HHonors® - Benefits & Services

As oz_mark says.
If you have Hilton status then it is not an issue. Just go back to them and quote their own rules back at them.

 

[docjames]

As oz_mark says.
If you have Hilton status then it is not an issue. Just go back to them and quote their own rules back at them.

It's pretty irritating when you have to do this (with any company).

 

[serfty]

...
As a HH Diamond, should I be getting charged for the additional guest?

Not if 1) you are an HHonors member and, 2) The additional Guest is you spouse.

Please see this dedicated thread:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....b/hilton-hhonors-spouse-stays-free-34657.html

I book for one and put a note in the comments box:

2 Guests - Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE

See this FT thread: Spouse Stays Free: The Definitive Thread

...

Generally, if the rate for the executive floor specifically includes "additional components" (like breakfast or opera tickets) in its description then it is ineligible for "spouse stays free".

Another thing to avoid is booking a "Single" room - it may have bedding for only one person. However, single rooms are generally sold as that - "Single". If you book a "Queen"/"Double"/"King"/"Twin" for one then the room should have the capacity for two.

Here's what I do.

• Ascertain the rate has no additional components.
• Check the price of the rate you want for one guest.
• Note this price.
• Check the price of the rate you want for two guests.
• If this rate for two guests is not more than as the rate for one guest, proceed with your booking for two guests.
• If the rate for two guests is more than the rate for one guest then
  • start the booking again, but for one guest only.
  • Note in the comments section:

    2 Guests - Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE

Without doing this, I did have a problem three years ago with the Brisbane Hilton. Since I have been doing this, I have not had an issue.

 

[lovestotravel]

Spouse or otherwise, I doubt they'd check if they are your spouse on check-in

 

[JohnK]

I have noticed that some hotels the price is not always the same for 1 guest or 2 guests.

That being said though as a Hilton Diamond you should be OK and should not have to pay anything extra.

 

[Austman]

It's certainly not just Hilton. Many hotels in the world charge more for 2 persons. In Europe, in Asia, elsewhere too.

Why the surprise? It's been happening for decades.

 

[serfty]

It often referred to as the "towel" fee ...

The stuff I put in post #7 should assist.

 

[oz_mark]

It's certainly not just Hilton. Many hotels in the world charge more for 2 persons. In Europe, in Asia, elsewhere too.

Why the surprise? It's been happening for decades.

The issue is that programs such as HHonors allow the spouse to stay for free. In retrospect, it may have been better for a note to be added to the booking rather than changing the booking. Nevertheless, a communication with them outling this issue should get it corrected.

This is Thailand, and it would be fair to say that there are stories that many folk are joined by non-spouses in their rooms :shock:

 

[kpc]

Not if 1) you are an HHonors member and, 2) The additional Guest is you spouse.

Please see this dedicated thread:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....b/hilton-hhonors-spouse-stays-free-34657.html

The government rate (I have government ID ) at Hilton Sydney is $20 cheaper if I booked for 1 guest as oppposed to 2 guests. Will "Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE" apply to a government rate?? Don't want it to be an issue for $20...

 

[Austman]

The issue is that programs such as HHonors allow the spouse to stay for free. In retrospect, it may have been better for a note to be added to the booking rather than changing the booking. Nevertheless, a communication with them outling this issue should get it corrected.

This is Thailand, and it would be fair to say that there are stories that many folk are joined by non-spouses in their rooms :shock:

No - it's not that. It's that some seem surpised that hotels will even charge more for 2. But they do, and they have for ages. And there are many other hotel benefit progams that allow the 2-for-1 benefit. If not resolved at booking it's usually resolved at check-in. It has been for me at Hiltons, InterConti's, Radissons etc.

 

[serfty]

The government rate (I have government ID ) at Hilton Sydney is $20 cheaper if I booked for 1 guest as oppposed to 2 guests. Will "Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE" apply to a government rate?? Don't want it to be an issue for $20...

If it's an eligible points/stay/night credit earning rate and there are no 'additional components' include in the rate then Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE would indeed apply.

 

[straitman]

The government rate (I have government ID ) at Hilton Sydney is $20 cheaper if I booked for 1 guest as oppposed to 2 guests. Will "Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE" apply to a government rate?? Don't want it to be an issue for $20...

I cannot see why it would not apply. The HHonors rules have no such stipulation regarding rates.

 

[serfty]

...The HHonors rules have no such stipulation regarding rates.

Other than the stay (in relation to the rate) being "qualifying" - see the master thread.

Spouse stays free
Spouse stays free in the member's room on qualifying stays. This benefit excludes stays at Hampton Inn properties. This benefit does not apply at any hotel when the rate includes additional components (e.g., meals, activities, parking, etc.) that are quoted as a per person or per room charge.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The government rate (I have government ID ) at Hilton Sydney is $20 cheaper if I booked for 1 guest as oppposed to 2 guests. Will "Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE" apply to a government rate?? Don't want it to be an issue for $20...

Last Saturday, I changed a booking I had using the Gov't rate to a booking using the "Great Getaway" rate. I had two rooms booked (for 4 people) and the previously advised text certainly worked for me for both rooms. When I changed the booking, (over the phone with the int. reservations call centre) the price came up differently from what I could see on line. When I queried the difference, the lady said the price on line was for 1 person and her price was for 2 (??? the booking was for 4). I mentioned the spouse stays free benefit and she said "oh yes, I'd forgotten about that" and promptly changed it.

Although the Great Getaway deal for the same room config. came back $20/night/room cheaper ($160 saving) the main reason for the change was so I could get a decently priced 2 bedroom suite rather than the 2 rooms. I got a bay view suite for the same price as the two rooms under the Gov't rate and hopefully may get the city view suite as the status upgrade (fingers crossed). Kids seem to not be charged at an extra rate, but adults do........sometimes.

 

[kpc]

The government rate (I have government ID ) at Hilton Sydney is $20 cheaper if I booked for 1 guest as oppposed to 2 guests. Will "Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE" apply to a government rate?? Don't want it to be an issue for $20...

If it's an eligible points/stay/night credit earning rate and there are no 'additional components' include in the rate then Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE would indeed apply.

I cannot see why it would not apply. The HHonors rules have no such stipulation regarding rates.

OK, rebooked to save $20 and inserted "Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE" in the comments....if my +1 has to sleep on the street , I will be in the doghouse and I'll be after 2 AFF moderators!!

 

[beardoc]

When travelling in Europe I have often seen the price of Hiltons go up if you have 2 guests.

It used to be, but checked and cant find it now a feature of diamond/gold that you got the free extra person from 1 to 2.

I must say I've never had an issue and always only book for 1 and turn up with the other half.

It's actually not a Gold/Diamond benefit - it's a benefit for all HHonors members, even Blue (so people that signed up with absolutely no stay history can get this too!):

Hilton HHonors® - About HHonors® - Blue