Hilton eStandby Upgrades (Paid – Nor1)

Oct 8, 2019

Hilton has pushed for years upgrades that are offered at the time of making the reservation, when you are checking your booking on the app, or you may receive an automated email offering an upgrade (for cash).

Hilton calls these “eStandby Upgrades,” while within the industry, they are referred to as Nor1 per the company who offers chains this facility.

You can access Hilton’s page for upgrades here.

Nor1 handles these upgrades under various names, eStandby with Hilton, with several companies including Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott.

The image above is from an email that I received from Hilton before my stay at their namesake in Miraflores, Lima.

Here were the options for my stay:

Hilton also pushes these heavily on their app:

The options are always the same, whether app or web:

Guess what I received as my Diamond upgrade at this property?

I have stayed at this property three or four times and always received Executive Suite as an upgrade.

Here’s my take on Nor1 upgrades:

1. Only use if no status with the chain

2. You desperately want an upgrade because these are prioritized over complimentary ones ($$$ to the property).

Sometimes the upgrades are priced rather reasonably. It could make sense to book a standard room and then use Nor1 for a suite upgrade.

Here are examples from other hotels:

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

Managed to get the Prestige Suite based on my Le Club AccorHotels status.

Fairmont Winnipeg

I used one of my upgrade certs (yes – some still get them yearly) for the suite.

Hilton Auckland

Hilton Auckland is sometimes problematic with the upgrades, but I have received the Bow Suite a few times.

Conclusion

These Nor1 eStandby upgrades (or whatever they are called with other hotels) may make sense for a non-elite member or if you desperately want one. Hotels do prioritize upgrades based on who is willing to pay versus who wants one based on their status.

The way Hilton Honors pushes these on the app for elite members is often misleading. The paid options often include room types that you almost certainly will receive, if available, as a Diamond member such as club rooms.

I have never used Nor1 options by myself and do get upgraded in almost all of my stays based on the elite status or rate type that I book.