Today, Hilton has started sending emails to Honors members eligible for Global Automated Upgrades that they have tested since the summer. The program will go officially live on November 15, 2021.
Hilton announced this program last month (read more here), and we got hold of information in what order these upgrades are processed (read more here).
You can access Hilton Honors here.
READ MORE: Hilton Honors Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Hilton’s Email Announcing Global Automated Upgrades:
Upgrade Email From Last Friday For A Stay On Monday:
Few Things To Note About These Upgrades:
Hilton has brands that are excluded from providing upgrades for Gold and Diamond members, at least officially, but many do when they have availability.
Included
- Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
- LXR Hotels & Resorts
- Conrad Hotels & Resorts
- Canopy by Hilton
- Hilton Hotels & Resorts
- Curio Collection by Hilton
- DoubleTree by Hilton
- Signia by Hilton
- Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Excluded
- Embassy Suites
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Hampton by Hilton
- Tru by Hilton
- Homewood Suites by Hilton
- Home2 Suites by Hilton
- Hilton Grand Vacations
Hotels must make a special case to Hilton if they wish to be excluded from automated upgrades. They can, however, set the room and suite types that are used for complimentary upgrades, and there is always inventory left for last-minute sales.
Upgrades are processed 72 hours before scheduled check-in time. For example, the upgrade email on Friday arrived at 4 PM for a stay on Monday. If you make a last-minute reservation (within 72 hours), the automated system cannot process it.
Unless sold at the last minute, there is inventory left to upgrade members who make reservations at the last minute, and the higher category suites are not included in the automated upgrade pool.
And the upgrade order?
1. Redemption Stays (Over 100,000 Points)
2. Lifetime Diamond
3. Diamond
4. Gold
We broke this over the weekend, and there is a lively discussion on the thread.
Examples of my stays in Europe with upgrade notifications:
- Hilton Testing Pre-Arrival Upgrades
- Another Email From Hilton: We’re upgrading your upcoming stay!
- Email From Hilton: We’re upgrading your upcoming stay!
Conclusion
These automated upgrades can be convenient because you will know three days in advance, instead of the morning of checking in, if the upgrade has been processed. It also allows members to use the Hilton app, which they push very hard, to check-in and use the electronic key without ever visiting the front desk.
It will be interesting to see if there is any form of pushback from the hotels, how these upgrades are processed, and how things will eventually settle. For example, individual hotels may prefer to prioritize guests that mostly stay at their properties instead of someone redeeming an award.
