Update Hilton Honors Elite Status on Existing Reservation
Note:Â Hilton invited my wife and I to spend the weekend at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas to attend their Hilton Honors Experiences Walk the Moon concert. They provided us with the room, two meals and complimentary entrance to the event.
Last week I wrote about why I decided to apply for the Amex Hilton Honors Aspire right before a stay at the Waldorf Astoria. The Aspire card gives Hilton Honors Diamond status which I was hoping to use to score a better room while at the property. My plan worked, sort of.
Why I Applied for the Amex Hilton Aspire & How I Found One of the Card’s Perks Instantly Rewarding!
Hilton Honors Diamond Check-In Experience
I applied for the Aspire card just one day before my stay at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. Thankfully my account instantly showed as Diamond when logging in, but this doesn’t update on your reservations. When I went to check-in at the Waldorf my account only reflected my previous Gold status. That wasn’t acceptable! 🙂
Updating Hilton Honors Status on a Reservation
My check-in process at the Waldorf was fine, however I did have a trainee, so she was confused as to what was going on. I explained that I had just achieved Diamond status and she explained my reservation only showed Gold and she didn’t know what to do. In a moment of divine inspiration I asked her to remove my Hilton Honors number from the reservation and to reapply it! That was ultimately the trick and they could now see my newly minted Hilton Honors Diamond status.
Note that I did this at the hotel since it was so close to my check-in plus I wanted to see how it would work, however you can probably just call the Hilton Honors reservation line to have them do the same thing in order to get pre-blocked into better rooms prior to arrival and to make sure you don’t have issues.
Did Diamond Status Help?
The Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas was sold out during my stay partly because of a UFC event, partly because of Nascar weekend in Las Vegas and partly because of the Hilton Honors concert. From what I could tell the hotel was packed with Diamond members. For example, all three of the other people checking in at the same time as me were Diamond as well!
This news didn’t discourage me though. I had long given up any hopes of an upgrade outside of a better view, so during check-in I honed in on getting a Las Vegas Strip view room. Understandably given their occupancy rate the clerk had to ask her manager if it was alright to upgrade me as a Diamond, but it was approved and in the end we had our amazing view. Even though my room was paid for by Hilton Honors corporate, I do not believe there were any special notations on my reservation as I was being given a normal view standard room before inquiring about the upgrade.
Conclusion
If you achieve a higher level of Hilton Honors status either through stays or through picking up one of their co-branded credit cards such as the Hilton Honors Aspire, then make sure your new status is reflected on your reservations. If it was me I would make a quick call and have it done all at once. That way you can get the royal (or at least above average) treatment!
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Was the status not showing on your reservation since it was less than a few days old, or because it was achieved after the reservation was made? If there were more time, do you think the status would update on the reservation automatically? I ask because I have 2 stays at Asian Hiltons happening this summer, that were booked last year (as a lowly gold) before I applied for the Aspire card and got diamond. They are prepaid btw and I can’t simply rebook.
Just a little grammar note: Hilton invited my wife and ME. If you aren’t sure whether it’s “me” or “I” simply omit the other person (in this case wife) and create a sentence without it and see how it sounds. E.g. “Hilton invited me”. Or “I went to the movies”. Grammar lesson over.
Shawn, are you going to post a review of the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas? Am planning to visit Vegas for a convention later in the year and was thinking about arriving a day early to use a weekend night certificate at the Waldorf. Seems like a swank property but trying to decide if it’s worth it.
I don’t do full reviews when I don’t pay, but I’ll definitely have an overview post coming in the next week showing off what we experienced and what I thought.
I liked the hotel a lot and feel its standard rooms are very nice compared to the competition. The view is pretty good too. More in about a week!
Hi Luke Vader – We reviewed the WA Las Vegas on Jan 28 if you’d like to check it out. A Google search for Middle Age Miles Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas should pull it right up. Hope you have a great stay and an awesome trip to Vegas!