V-Flyer

Here's one for the Miles Wh0res out there [;)]

For September I'm looking to change my SF hotel to the MO. As a FC partner I'd get 1000 miles per stay.

1. I take it that's 1000 mile regardless of nights.
2. If not, if I book 4 separate nights would I get 4000 miles? Or is that against the spirit of the rules. [:?]

I know separate booking would be a pain with checking in and out but perhaps the hotel can accommodate with the same room each time.

1. Yes.
2. It's against the spirit of the rules, and I *think* you'll find (as MANY hotel points/miles schemes stipulate) they reserve the right to consider consecutive nights as 'one stay' to protect them from this exact scenario.

The specifics between MO and FC may allow for it, but don't be surprised if they smell it a mile off (excuse the pun) and hold back the credit.



In fact, I've just checked the T's and C's and it's not specifically mentioned, so IF you're willing to put up with the *potential* hassle the hotel could make you go through, then you may 'get away with it'. (In reality, when checking in, the hotel are likely to allow you to keep the same room for consecutive stays)

Thought so but hey, a guy has gotta try. [:)] Get a VS AMEX black and go miles mad instead

Nah - I'd give it a go (once!) and see what happens... [y]

For 4000 miles over 1000 (and MO stays can be notoriously slow in crediting) I don't think I could be bothered with the hassle of packing/unpacking every night.

Still, interesting to see if your experiment yields the moolah...

Originally posted by preiffer

2. It's against the spirit of the rules, and I *think* you'll find (as MANY hotel points/miles schemes stipulate) they reserve the right to consider consecutive nights as 'one stay' to protect them from this exact scenario.

The specifics between MO and FC may allow for it, but don't be surprised if they smell it a mile off (excuse the pun) and hold back the credit.



In fact, I've just checked the T's and C's and it's not specifically mentioned, so IF you're willing to put up with the *potential* hassle the hotel could make you go through, then you may 'get away with it'. (In reality, when checking in, the hotel are likely to allow you to keep the same room for consecutive stays)

I agree with you Mr. P and I know for sure Hilton does consider separate bookings without one night buffer between them as one miles/points earning event.

The T&Cs are what they are. But two or travelers could 'hop scotch' if you will. Let me explain (Four night example): Traveler A books nights 1 and 3 and Traveler B books 2 and 4. This way the hotel has the appearance of two different parties. The using of the miles only works if the accounts are linked (SSA, or 25/75, 50/50 awards). Hotel points normally require a fee to transfer points. Also you will have to switch rooms. BUT you would earn more miles and could then call yourself a mileage whore. [y]

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
I agree with you Mr. P and I know for sure Hilton does consider separate bookings without one night buffer between them as one miles/points earning event.

I had exactly this situation at the beginning of the year at a Hilton where I wanted to bring forward my arrival by one night. I was told that to amend my existing booking would put up the cost from £110 per night to £150 per night, but to add the first night as a separate booking would only cost me the £120 for that night plus the fact I may have to check out / check in again, i.e. two stays.

Once I arrived at the desk I was told it had been changed to all one booking (and stay and at my £110 rate).

Paul

Originally posted by pjh

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
I agree with you Mr. P and I know for sure Hilton does consider separate bookings without one night buffer between them as one miles/points earning event.

I had exactly this situation at the beginning of the year at a Hilton where I wanted to bring forward my arrival by one night. I was told that to amend my existing booking would put up the cost from £110 per night to £150 per night, but to add the first night as a separate booking would only cost me the £120 for that night plus the fact I may have to check out / check in again, i.e. two stays.

Once I arrived at the desk I was told it had been changed to all one booking (and stay and at my £110 rate).

Paul

Paul (pjh), you make another great point! Hilton (and possibly other chains) up the rate if a single night in a multi-night book contains a night with a high rate.

Example
Night 1 - $100
Night 2 - $500
Night 3 - $100

If nights 1 to 3 were booked inclusive then the total would be $1,500. If each night was a different booking then the total would be $700.

Hilton can also merge/link award and paid stays into one booking so you avoid chaining rooms (assuming the same type of room is booked).

Hi Darren,

The SFO MO is not the greatest MO out there, and I'm guessing will be a damn sight more than other hotels....

It is 1000 miles per stay; most hotels are per stay, I know Radisson SAS's are per night which is a bonus, and I think some of the Virgin LE hotels are per night.

Consecutive nights always count as one stay, even if there are separate bookings.

Worth checking with any other loyalty programs you may use though, as I know with VS you get 1000 points per stay for Hiltons, where if you credit them to BMI you get 1000 per night (up 3 nights).

Don't forget if your spend is going to be > $500 in Hilton switch to variable miles as the doubling still applies.

Originally posted by Decker
Don't forget if your spend is going to be > $500 in Hilton switch to variable miles as the doubling still applies.

With the fixed miles option do you get the bonuses that accrue from premium membership and periodic bonus points offerings ?

Paul

Yes

Originally posted by Decker
Yes

Thx. Interesting - as I can change my preferences for each stay it may well pay when I'm only out for the occasional night in a Hilton where the company has negotiated a low rate.

Paul

Yeah I review pretty much before every trip! One 'gotcha' to be aware of, if you have ANY other airlines on your preferences before VS then when you swap it will swap to THAT airline and you'll have the Devil's own job getting them to rectify it. I'm waiting on a BIG pre-Xmas spend which netted about 60,000 Hilton points and SHOULD have netted about 5,000 VS miles but instead got me 500 AA as WAY back in the mists of time I did most of my flights on AA.

I've found that instead of taking the 1000 miles per stay that taking it as 2 VS miles per dollar spent is a good way of getting miles, I got 2500 from the a hilton hotel in Austin and 1139 from two nights in a Marriot in NYC, which only does the 2 miles per dollar scheme

All good, I've had 5000 odd miles this year already and two more trips this month to come.

thanks
Gavin

Hello Gavin

I have a ZZ twin[:D]

Sorry!

That's so weird - we use zz as our namespace at work - have done for over a decade

Hello Gavin

zz came from a previous job, it was a prefix in Outlook which some other people used to hide on the address book. It is always free as a username and it has stuck. I do grab Gavin if it is free though...

cheers
Gavin