www.hiltonpremiumclub.com

[Danger]

I emailed HPC and got this response within 30 minutes:

Dear Mr. Danger,

Thank you so much for your enquiry.

Unfortunately for this $155 rate offer at Hilton Sydney is not eligible for
Hilton HHonor and Frequent Flyer points.

Thank you for your kind understanding.

Please let us know if you require any further assistance.

Kind regards,
Hilton Premium Club Australasia
​

 

[JohnK]

I am starting to think that Hilton Premium Club is not worth the effort. In my opinion the majority of people in HHonors and Hilton Premium Club are in it to try and achieve status and HHonors points and not the discounts. A $155 stay is a $155 stay and should be credited with the stay and HHonors points without having to jump through hoops....

 

[serfty]

Dunno, I have a $210 stay in BNE next month that is going to cost me $168 ...

It's the discounts I am in the HPC for. In reality it's gunna cost a lot to get/maintain HHonor status with stays purely in Oz/Nz (even with HPC). If it wasn't for my other stays outside SWP, there's no way know I could afford to retain HHonors gold.

 

[oz_mark]

Dunno, I have a $210 stay in BNE next month that is going to cost me $168 ...

It's the discounts I am in the HPC for. In reality it's gunna cost a lot to get/maintain HHonor status with stays purely in Oz/Nz (even with HPC). If it wasn't for my other stays outside SWP, there's no way know I could afford to retain HHonors gold.

Here, Here. Hence why I am a silver, which is easy enough to retain, but gets you jack.

 

[Danger]

I am starting to think that Hilton Premium Club is not worth the effort. In my opinion the majority of people in HHonors and Hilton Premium Club are in it to try and achieve status and HHonors points and not the discounts. A $155 stay is a $155 stay and should be credited with the stay and HHonors points without having to jump through hoops....

I couldn't agree more, JohnK. I'm a member of HPC to take advantage of the discounted rates to achieve HHonors status. I've utilised HPC special rates at Hiltons in Adelaide, Brisbane and Cairns in 2008 and received points fine. It's one thing to give all these promotions; another to make them ineligible for earning and don't specify it.

 

[rwatts]

I couldn't agree more, JohnK. I'm a member of HPC to take advantage of the discounted rates to achieve HHonors status. I've utilised HPC special rates at Hiltons in Adelaide, Brisbane and Cairns in 2008 and received points fine. It's one thing to give all these promotions; another to make them ineligible for earning and don't specify it.

Well as I posted earlier (http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...iltonpremiumclub-com-11484-28.html#post214301) there were two $155 stay offers at Sydney Hilton late last year - one which specifically excluded points and stay credits in the fine print and one which didn't. I had a stay using the latter and duly received points and stay credit with no issues.

Richard.

 

[oz_mark]

I am starting to think that Hilton Premium Club is not worth the effort. In my opinion the majority of people in HHonors and Hilton Premium Club are in it to try and achieve status and HHonors points and not the discounts. A $155 stay is a $155 stay and should be credited with the stay and HHonors points without having to jump through hoops....

My criteria is whether is saves me more money than it costs. So far this has been true.

 

[rwatts]

My criteria is whether is saves me more money than it costs. So far this has been true.

In the few months that I've been in HPC I've more than had my money's worth if I compare with the usual cost of staying at Hilton properties. My first ever Hilton stay however was a HPC $99 stay. Compared to what I've traditionally paid (at least domestically) it is still somewhat of a luxury.

Richard.

 

[JohnK]

My criteria is whether is saves me more money than it costs. So far this has been true.

All valid points.

Personally if I wanted to save money I would not be staying in a Hilton. I am just as comfortable in a $89/night Choice/Comfort Motel as I am in $156/night Hilton room.

I am still trying to justify 2 nights @ $195/night at the Cairns Hilton, discounted to $156 with HPC, for Ozfest as I am unlikely to get an upgrade to an executive room or any Hilton status now that HHonors has changed the criteria. I am probably better off at the Holiday Inn @ $135/night or possibly some other cheaper Motel offering QFF points and $ savings. After all I am not likely to be spending much time in the room with all the activities normally planned for previous Ozfests.

 

[Danger]

Well as I posted earlier (http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...iltonpremiumclub-com-11484-28.html#post214301) there were two $155 stay offers at Sydney Hilton late last year - one which specifically excluded points and stay credits in the fine print and one which didn't. I had a stay using the latter and duly received points and stay credit with no issues.

Richard.

And I emailed HPC and HHonors with the very email that came on 1 December (the one that made no mention of it being an ineligible stay) and they have both avoided it. I protested to HPC and have been emailed back the following:

Dear Mr. Danger,

Thank you for your enquiry.

We will look into this, get back to you in the next 2 weeks.

Please let us know if you require any further assistance.

Kind regards,
Hilton Premium Club Australasia
​

 

[Danger]

The only ineligible rate is the $99 "Welcome to Hilton" rate.

All booking utilising the 20% off rate are fully eligible when booked via any Hilton family web site or Hilton telephone assistance.

Serfty, are you able to direct me to the relevant section of the HPC T&Cs where this is stated?

Apparently not. Looking back at the Sydney $155 offer that I used in early December, I see in the fine print...

Rwatts, are you able to forward me the email that came through on 17 October where the offer stated it was ineligible for points earning and the subsequent email on 3 November? I can't find them in my emails.

I've again heard back from HHonors who tell me this time:

The fact that you must present a voucher at check in is what makes it ineligible for HHonors credit. Stays settled by voucher at the hotel are not eligible for HHonors credit.
​

Now, I know the offer said you need to present "room voucher must be presented at check-in" but I don't believe this is what's meant by a voucher. Surely the meaning of "voucher" is like a gift certificate. Second, on none of my three stays was I asked for the voucher.

 

[rwatts]

Rwatts, are you able to forward me the email that came through on 17 October where the offer stated it was ineligible for points earning and the subsequent email on 3 November? I can't find them in my emails.

Sure, you've got pm.

I've again heard back from HHonors who tell me this time:

The fact that you must present a voucher at check in is what makes it ineligible for HHonors credit. Stays settled by voucher at the hotel are not eligible for HHonors credit.
​

Now, I know the offer said you need to present "room voucher must be presented at check-in" but I don't believe this is what's meant by a voucher. Surely the meaning of "voucher" is like a gift certificate. Second, on none of my three stays was I asked for the voucher.

I agree with your interpretation of "voucher" - usually in travel it represents a prepayment to an agent, etc. However HPC do use the term "voucher" in their offers...

Click here to print your Exclusive Rate voucher & present upon check-in

Like you, I've never been asked for the voucher and neither have I offered it - the rate has just been in the reservation (unlike the HPC discount which requires the hotel to adjust the rate). I assumed something in the promotion code is supposed to indicate if eligible for points and stay credit.

Richard.

 

[Danger]

Finally, it seems I've had success. I got this email from HPC this morning:

Dear Mr. Danger,

Thank you so much for your patience.

The hotel has advised that they have passed on this matter to the HHonors Manager who will credit you with the points as we did not stipulate this condition.

We do apologise for this inconvenience caused. In future, the eligibility for Hilton HHonors points will be stated more clearly to avoid any confusion.

Thank you once again for understanding.

Please let us know if you require any further assistance.

Kind regards,
Hilton Premium Club Australasia
​

Now, to ensure the points post and the eligible stays.

(Incidentally, overnight I received an email back from HHonors in the US insisting that I wasn't eligible for points.)

 

[JohnK]

(Incidentally, overnight I received an email back from HHonors in the US insisting that I wasn't eligible for points.)

Well done on your success.

I may be wrong but isn't Hilton Premium Club and Hilton/HHonors two different entities? This may explain why they are so disorganised....

 

[Danger]

Possibly, JohnK. However, I wouldn't have thought so. I've argued that HPC must be a subsidiary of Hilton, if for no other reason than to bear the Hilton name.

 

[Mal]

Possibly, JohnK. However, I wouldn't have thought so. I've argued that HPC must be a subsidiary of Hilton, if for no other reason than to bear the Hilton name.

Nah, I'd put their relationship somewhat closer to a Greenpeace mugger on the street and Greenpeace themselves

 

[oz_mark]

HPC is run by Hotel Dynamics, would be some contractual/licensing thing between Hotel Dynamics and Hilton.

As to their marketing, bear in mind that Hotel Dynamics is in the Wyndham group

 

[JohnK]

As to their marketing, bear in mind that Hotel Dynamics is in the Wyndham group

That well and truly explains it all....

 

[Mal]

We do apologise for this inconvenience caused. In future, the eligibility for Hilton HHonors points will be stated more clearly to avoid any confusion.

Interestingly enough, the latest mailshot contains the following note in every T&C:

"Eligible for Hilton HHonors and Frequent Flyer points." Presume a different note will also be added where they aren't.

 

[Danger]

My issue has been resolved with a better outcome than I was expecting. About Friday of last week I got yet another email from HHonors in the US saying, again, that my stays weren't eligible but, probably because I'd pushed the point so much, they would credit me with 5000 HHonors points. And they did.

Then on Saturday I get an email from a different person at HHonors in the US apologising for the inconvenience and crediting me points for one stay. I emailed back and pointed out the other two stays and an email came back saying "one time exception" and all points and stays have now been credited. A win for the good people!

On a separate note, has anyone had experience as HHonors Gold staying at the Parmelia Hilton in Perth? It seems like they don't have an executive lounge and according to the HHonors website in situations like this you get complimentary breakfast. Does the Parmelia go beyond this? I'm wanting to take advantage of their latest HPC special to get some stays up.