What usually works for me when trying to get a free upgrade is to call the front desk the evening before the reservation and if you're lucky you'll get the on duty manager and I inquire about my reservation and if they'll have an upgrade available. Works about half the time. I got a free upgrade to a suite in the George V hotel in Paris like that! We had a suite with a balcony that had a view of the Eiffel Tower! Will forever be my best hotel experience!
Fun fact: just put in the reservation you have two guests, even if you don’t. Why? Because you get more free food credits. They don’t care, even if they know it’s just you!
With Dimond's guarantee, when it's actually available, the price is usually astronomical. For instance, I wanted to book a Hilton in Fort Worth, Texas, which usually is about $210, but with the diamond guarantee, it was $560. that's insane. Holding a room for me at more than double the price is not a perk.
The only reason why it's usually at double the price is because it has to bump someone who is a lower (or non-existent status) and walk them to another hotel. If you really, really need to be at that hotel and nowhere else close by? That's why it's so expensive. Imo it's a stupid policy altogether and overbooking hotels due to expected attrition just to have constant sold-out nights is bad business when it eventually burns somebody.
🥞 Just got the Hilton Surpass card and love that I’m a gold member already and the perks that come with it. Looking forward to the 50.00 credit every quarter for a quick weekend trip or simply just purchasing gift cards and saving them for future stays. Thanks for all you do Sebby!!!!!
My +1 got the Hilton Aspire for our trip to Japan. We used it to book some of our hotels, especially for Tokyo Dland as it's a partner hotel at the resort and at a monorail station. Main floor lounge for breakfast and happy hour, so it was well worth a stay for those going to Tokyo Dland. 👍
Great video Sebby 🥞 1) I have all 3 personal Hilton cards and was able to get SUB's on them last year. Leaning towards getting the Business card for the SUB and hoping there is an FNC attached to it like during their Summer 2023 promo. 2) My experience has been pretty good with Hilton overall. Last year I got upgraded on a 2-night stay (paid with 2 FNCs) from a standard room to a Junior Suite at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas which had amazing strip views. Was upgraded at every Hilton I stayed at during my most recent trip to Italy. Hilton Florence Metropole from standard room to Executive Floor room, Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri from a standard room to a Premium room with Rome view and they gave me a bottle of prosecco as a welcome gift, DoubleTree Rome Monti upgraded me as well from a standard room to a king deluxe (basically a bigger room). 3) Honestly I wish Hilton just gave us the option of choosing either the breakfast or credit at check-in. I mean there are times where the credit can work out if someone is not a breakfast person but I highly value having breakfast. Its one less meal I need to expense if traveling for work or one less meal I need to budget for when traveling for fun.
1. Enjoyed the executive lounge access at Conrad St. James in London. 2. Cannot believe I did not think of the Hilton Aspire downgrade to score a 15k free night then upgrade back to get the 30k free night. Thanks Sebby!!
The Surpass is practically free and a no-brainer. The $50 per quarter can be earned easily by staying at a Hilton brand or buying a gift card. The Aspire and Diamond are great for international travel. If you have Conrad stays on your list, the Aspire is great. I have both of them, but thinking of downgrading my Aspire to a second surpass getting me the same 2 free nights for a $30K spend with an effective $0 AF.
I've only stayed at Hilton internationally and I've been happy with the upgrades with Gold status. One time I was upgraded from the lowest room to an executive room. Great video explaining everything about Hilton status!
1. Aspire + Surpass + Business 2. No upgrades in the US, including at a convention Hilton that was 90% empty for Christmas. 3. Prefer credits over 🥞, I don't always eat breakfast.
🥞 Great video.I am more of a Marriott guy. Any chance you can do the same for Marriott.Did a quick search and do not see a recent video on that topic. As always, your content is top-notch. Thank you. 🙏
I just got the platinum with a 175k offer. I have a AMX Corporate card which provides $150 credit towards the 695 AF. Still makes it an expensive card. I travel a few times for work and a couple for pleasure so I don’t think I will get enough value with the platinum but trying to learn to max benefits….so thanks for the video! I figured with 175k points I really can’t go wrong?
🥞Have the Aspire card. Stayed at the lower end Hilton properties to save points. Even these lower properties were quite a pleasant experience. In Doha I loved the breakfast and the stay was great while saving points
🥞 I've always been a Marriott guy, but my wife's company's office that she visits often is in an adjoining building with a Hilton, so she has been racking up the Hilton points. We got her a Hilton Honors card, even though there is not yet family language, we figured it was inevtiable, so we wanted to maximize SUBs . She'll be going to the next level soon. As always, great job!
I agree with y'all the Marriot is def a better value and easier to make the points add up to free nights. And the 5 extra upgrades come in really handy, and I love the Marriot network they have some really beautiful resorts overseas that you can get into fairly reasonably even when not using points. Whereas I don't see the value in Hilton as much when having to pay. And Hilton nights in resorts are seriously outrageous pricewise and pointswise. 185,000 marriot points got me 4 days with a 5th night free on copacabana beach in Rio WITH a free upgrade and even had access to the executive lounge and i loved the place so much we paid for a 6th night for less than $200. So far with Hilton.... doesn't look like the welcome offer of 150,000 points will get me anywhere nice for more than a night!
🥞 Does anyone know if you can return Dell products to get store credit to be able to use Dell Business Platinum credit all at once? The new Bose headphones are $299.
🥞 Hilton Honors. Gold from points. Maximized our stays by doing the 2x points offer and my main gas card. I like both and sometimes I get comped breakfast for my kid.
I have Diamond and find the marginal difference from Gold worthless. I think hotel operators train the front desk people to never give upgrades. Breakfast is only benefit worth anything.
Just got my welcome offer with the Hilton Business Card, wondering where to spend these 150k points! :) Seems like points and free upgrades go ALOT further here in Europe and no resort fees, woohoo!
🥞 My wife and I have one of each personal cards. We prefer the credits, which work well towards breakfast or drinks depending on our schedule. Toss-up on getting an upgrade with Diamond status. How many Aspires is too many? Contemplating upgrading some of the cards.
🥞 I have the Surpass coming up on year 1 next month. Don't see the value yet upgrading to Aspire. Most of the time we are traveling with kids, and the free breakfast is fine if offered. Staying at a Hilton Garden Inn next month, so credit it is.
🥞 I have the aspire card right now and looking to possibly switch over to the Bonvoy Brilliant. I’ve been upgraded once at the WA in Chicago, most of the time I get the run around. I much rather prefer breakfast than credits. I’ve had a few stays where it was 2 people staying and only received credit for 1 person.
Make sure when you have two people who are staying that both names are on the room. Like so many automated things these days, the F&B credit is one of them. Just make sure when you check in to tell the agent to add the second name so you get the full credit.
🥞 Great video. I have the Hilton Honors card which I acquired for the bonus points. I was actually thinking of getting a better hotel/travel card since I have The Sapphire Preferred. A lot of videos compare the Amex Platinum vs Chase Reserve. I was actually trying to compare the Hilton Aspire vs the Reserve, especially since the Aspire gets good benefits and $0 cost to add an authorized user, my wife, to take advantage of the usage and points for Hilton. What are your thoughts?
@asksebby (or anyone) - I've had a Hilton Honors account for a long time through minimal work travel (~20k points). I just signed up and approved for the Amex Hilton Honors Surpass card. How does the new Amex account link up to my Hilton Honors? Is it automatic if I use the card at a Hilton? Thanks.
you often mention how airlines credits are easy to use if you know what you're doing. I get why you wouldn't share, but can I please get a pancake emoji if there's a better way to use them in SF other than United travel bank?
You can book a one-way, short-range flight like from LA to Vegas on your airline of choice. Cancel it a day later and get a transferrable credit instead of a refund. My first two quarters, I bought a Southwest flight at the Wanna Get Away Plus rate for $60, got credited $50 by Amex when I canceled it. It's like I bought a $60 flight credit for later use for only $10. Obviously, try to get as close as possible to that exact $50 so you aren't using extra money.
🥞Good to know is the US dining credit applies to anything which includes to overpriced convince stores at places like the garden inn. I prefer this when breakfast is something I'm already planning at a specific place or tired of the hotel one. You can always grab some water, candy, a bottle of wine or some gummy bears for free.
Anyone has been upgraded to suite at Waldorf Astoria? I've been to two Waldorf Astorias, one in Europe and one in Asia, both times I was told suites were excluded from upgrades, even though I'm a diamond member
🥞 I have the amex platinum but I haven’t been able to get Hilton to match my name so I get get Gold status. Is Hilton your main hotel chain to get status? Do you have any other chains we should consider?
Diamond through Aspire but Im a Hilton loyalist so I get tremendous value from the card. Hilton is by far the best hotel chain out there especially overseas so the card is invaluable to me.
🥞 Hi Sebby, what strategies would you recommend two players (wife and I) on the Aspire card? What month would be best to apply to double dip the benefits for 2? We started looking into Hilton portfolio as a novice traveler to maximize the Aspire benefits. Thanks
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What usually works for me when trying to get a free upgrade is to call the front desk the evening before the reservation and if you're lucky you'll get the on duty manager and I inquire about my reservation and if they'll have an upgrade available. Works about half the time. I got a free upgrade to a suite in the George V hotel in Paris like that! We had a suite with a balcony that had a view of the Eiffel Tower! Will forever be my best hotel experience!
Nice! Will try next time.
may I ask if you are a gold or diamond member?
@@Yormal713 Platinum Elite with Marriott Gold with Hilton
Fun fact: just put in the reservation you have two guests, even if you don’t. Why? Because you get more free food credits. They don’t care, even if they know it’s just you!
Do the food credits expire at the end of your stay, or do they stay on your account?
Free water comes in clutch in the middle of the night when you get thirsty
With Dimond's guarantee, when it's actually available, the price is usually astronomical. For instance, I wanted to book a Hilton in Fort Worth, Texas, which usually is about $210, but with the diamond guarantee, it was $560. that's insane. Holding a room for me at more than double the price is not a perk.
yeah sounds like a scam or for people on unlimited expense accounts, lol!
The only reason why it's usually at double the price is because it has to bump someone who is a lower (or non-existent status) and walk them to another hotel.
If you really, really need to be at that hotel and nowhere else close by? That's why it's so expensive. Imo it's a stupid policy altogether and overbooking hotels due to expected attrition just to have constant sold-out nights is bad business when it eventually burns somebody.
🥞 Just got the Hilton Surpass card and love that I’m a gold member already and the perks that come with it. Looking forward to the 50.00 credit every quarter for a quick weekend trip or simply just purchasing gift cards and saving them for future stays. Thanks for all you do Sebby!!!!!
You buy Hilton gift cards with the $50 credits? (Great idea!)
My +1 got the Hilton Aspire for our trip to Japan. We used it to book some of our hotels, especially for Tokyo Dland as it's a partner hotel at the resort and at a monorail station. Main floor lounge for breakfast and happy hour, so it was well worth a stay for those going to Tokyo Dland. 👍
Great video Sebby 🥞
1) I have all 3 personal Hilton cards and was able to get SUB's on them last year. Leaning towards getting the Business card for the SUB and hoping there is an FNC attached to it like during their Summer 2023 promo.
2) My experience has been pretty good with Hilton overall. Last year I got upgraded on a 2-night stay (paid with 2 FNCs) from a standard room to a Junior Suite at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas which had amazing strip views. Was upgraded at every Hilton I stayed at during my most recent trip to Italy. Hilton Florence Metropole from standard room to Executive Floor room, Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri from a standard room to a Premium room with Rome view and they gave me a bottle of prosecco as a welcome gift, DoubleTree Rome Monti upgraded me as well from a standard room to a king deluxe (basically a bigger room).
3) Honestly I wish Hilton just gave us the option of choosing either the breakfast or credit at check-in. I mean there are times where the credit can work out if someone is not a breakfast person but I highly value having breakfast. Its one less meal I need to expense if traveling for work or one less meal I need to budget for when traveling for fun.
Nice upgrades!
Hilton credits work same as cash for purchasing your next room at Hiltons hotels?
1. Enjoyed the executive lounge access at Conrad St. James in London.
2. Cannot believe I did not think of the Hilton Aspire downgrade to score a 15k free night then upgrade back to get the 30k free night. Thanks Sebby!!
How many times can you do the downgrade/ upgrade?
The Surpass is practically free and a no-brainer. The $50 per quarter can be earned easily by staying at a Hilton brand or buying a gift card. The Aspire and Diamond are great for international travel. If you have Conrad stays on your list, the Aspire is great. I have both of them, but thinking of downgrading my Aspire to a second surpass getting me the same 2 free nights for a $30K spend with an effective $0 AF.
I've only stayed at Hilton internationally and I've been happy with the upgrades with Gold status. One time I was upgraded from the lowest room to an executive room. Great video explaining everything about Hilton status!
1. Aspire + Surpass + Business
2. No upgrades in the US, including at a convention Hilton that was 90% empty for Christmas.
3. Prefer credits over 🥞, I don't always eat breakfast.
2 is super frustrating. Literally just feels like bad business.
What do you typically use the credits for?
@@rgandhi37 If there's a restaurant, any meal. Snacks, wine, breakfast bars, dessert. Occasionally a TV dinner if we arrive late and hungry.
I got the buissnes and surpass, wife has the same, every year we get 6 free nights at Waldorf Astoria;)❤
🥞 Great video.I am more of a Marriott guy. Any chance you can do the same for Marriott.Did a quick search and do not see a recent video on that topic. As always, your content is top-notch. Thank you. 🙏
On the list!
Just got the Hilton honors card… I’m moving up the ladder for all the sign up bonuses.
I just got the platinum with a 175k offer. I have a AMX Corporate card which provides $150 credit towards the 695 AF. Still makes it an expensive card. I travel a few times for work and a couple for pleasure so I don’t think I will get enough value with the platinum but trying to learn to max benefits….so thanks for the video! I figured with 175k points I really can’t go wrong?
🥞Have the Aspire card. Stayed at the lower end Hilton properties to save points. Even these lower properties were quite a pleasant experience. In Doha I loved the breakfast and the stay was great while saving points
Do the points expire? How long can you save them?
🥞 I've always been a Marriott guy, but my wife's company's office that she visits often is in an adjoining building with a Hilton, so she has been racking up the Hilton points. We got her a Hilton Honors card, even though there is not yet family language, we figured it was inevtiable, so we wanted to maximize SUBs . She'll be going to the next level soon. As always, great job!
I agree with y'all the Marriot is def a better value and easier to make the points add up to free nights. And the 5 extra upgrades come in really handy, and I love the Marriot network they have some really beautiful resorts overseas that you can get into fairly reasonably even when not using points. Whereas I don't see the value in Hilton as much when having to pay. And Hilton nights in resorts are seriously outrageous pricewise and pointswise. 185,000 marriot points got me 4 days with a 5th night free on copacabana beach in Rio WITH a free upgrade and even had access to the executive lounge and i loved the place so much we paid for a 6th night for less than $200. So far with Hilton.... doesn't look like the welcome offer of 150,000 points will get me anywhere nice for more than a night!
My understanding is that points earned from credit cards no longer count for lifetime diamond status. Starting 1/1/24.
I can't wait until I'm able to finally get my Amex Hilton Aspire card!
Aspire, so far so good!, breakfast has been a godsend for day after.
10 years of holding my aspire is easy but 2million base points is crazy
🥞 Does anyone know if you can return Dell products to get store credit to be able to use Dell Business Platinum credit all at once? The new Bose headphones are $299.
The Hilton trifecta is the infinity stones and even allows me to vacation passed the ice wall at secret continents!
🥞 Hilton Honors. Gold from points. Maximized our stays by doing the 2x points offer and my main gas card. I like both and sometimes I get comped breakfast for my kid.
🥞 I have the Amex platinum, never gotten upgraded in the US, I prefer breakfast
Book it on the fine hotels resorts website for Amex
I have Diamond and find the marginal difference from Gold worthless. I think hotel operators train the front desk people to never give upgrades. Breakfast is only benefit worth anything.
Just got my welcome offer with the Hilton Business Card, wondering where to spend these 150k points! :) Seems like points and free upgrades go ALOT further here in Europe and no resort fees, woohoo!
Nice! Yup, Europe has much better odds of upgrades vs US.
🥞 My wife and I have one of each personal cards. We prefer the credits, which work well towards breakfast or drinks depending on our schedule. Toss-up on getting an upgrade with Diamond status.
How many Aspires is too many? Contemplating upgrading some of the cards.
YMMV if you can get value or not.
Great video Sebby! Would love to see this level of detail around Marriott status.
Coming soon!
🥞 I have the Surpass coming up on year 1 next month. Don't see the value yet upgrading to Aspire. Most of the time we are traveling with kids, and the free breakfast is fine if offered. Staying at a Hilton Garden Inn next month, so credit it is.
Unrelated but who made your website? Im looking for a website and I like how smooth and organized everything is
Hi Sebby, could you please make a video that discusses Marriott statuses? Thanks! 🥞
🥞 I have the Hilton Aspire. In the US, upgrades and service is not as good. In Europe much better.
Agree!
Always fire guys. Safe travels 🥃🥃🥃😊
Nice. Thanks for the info. 🥞🥞
🥞 I have the aspire card right now and looking to possibly switch over to the Bonvoy Brilliant. I’ve been upgraded once at the WA in Chicago, most of the time I get the run around. I much rather prefer breakfast than credits. I’ve had a few stays where it was 2 people staying and only received credit for 1 person.
Make sure when you have two people who are staying that both names are on the room. Like so many automated things these days, the F&B credit is one of them. Just make sure when you check in to tell the agent to add the second name so you get the full credit.
For food credit, tell the check-in agent that you have 2 people in the room and they'll adjust it. Never had an issue being short of credits.
Does Aspire year count toward the 10 Lifetime years?
Thanks!
If I use my FHR and stay at Conrad or Waldorf Astoria, will I be able to still use my status?
Yes as long as you enter or provide the hotel your membership #
🥞 Great video. I have the Hilton Honors card which I acquired for the bonus points. I was actually thinking of getting a better hotel/travel card since I have The Sapphire Preferred. A lot of videos compare the Amex Platinum vs Chase Reserve. I was actually trying to compare the Hilton Aspire vs the Reserve, especially since the Aspire gets good benefits and $0 cost to add an authorized user, my wife, to take advantage of the usage and points for Hilton.
What are your thoughts?
@asksebby (or anyone) - I've had a Hilton Honors account for a long time through minimal work travel (~20k points). I just signed up and approved for the Amex Hilton Honors Surpass card. How does the new Amex account link up to my Hilton Honors? Is it automatic if I use the card at a Hilton? Thanks.
Does these cards make sense if you have Amex Platinum?
🥞good video! Thanks 🙏
you often mention how airlines credits are easy to use if you know what you're doing. I get why you wouldn't share, but can I please get a pancake emoji if there's a better way to use them in SF other than United travel bank?
You can book a one-way, short-range flight like from LA to Vegas on your airline of choice. Cancel it a day later and get a transferrable credit instead of a refund. My first two quarters, I bought a Southwest flight at the Wanna Get Away Plus rate for $60, got credited $50 by Amex when I canceled it. It's like I bought a $60 flight credit for later use for only $10. Obviously, try to get as close as possible to that exact $50 so you aren't using extra money.
Excellent video!
Glad you liked it!
🥞Good to know is the US dining credit applies to anything which includes to overpriced convince stores at places like the garden inn. I prefer this when breakfast is something I'm already planning at a specific place or tired of the hotel one. You can always grab some water, candy, a bottle of wine or some gummy bears for free.
im about to get hired as a lifeguard i hope and what are the usual hotel discounts
Not sure since I'm not really even sure about benefits for employees. Would love to hear once you find out though :)
How do you cash out the $200 credit by annually?
What kind of limits do they give for 800 scores
Anyone has been upgraded to suite at Waldorf Astoria? I've been to two Waldorf Astorias, one in Europe and one in Asia, both times I was told suites were excluded from upgrades, even though I'm a diamond member
“Bank shot” i see what you did there
🥞 do you just ask for the breakfast credits because I’m gold and they never say anything about it to me.
Yes, always ask if they don't mention it. Same with properties that have a "daily destination fee." Lots of unused benefits.
🥞 I have the amex platinum but I haven’t been able to get Hilton to match my name so I get get Gold status.
Is Hilton your main hotel chain to get status? Do you have any other chains we should consider?
I didn’t notice this was your Business channel!
Sounds like Hilton overpromises and then fails to deliver the perks or even worse makes up lies to get out of offering those perks.
I see what you did there with the disguise 😉
Diamond through Aspire but Im a Hilton loyalist so I get tremendous value from the card. Hilton is by far the best hotel chain out there especially overseas so the card is invaluable to me.
It didn't say free water bottles, it said free bottled water.
hi sebby!
Hello! :)
Resort World Las Vegas Conrad is pretty subpar. They will lie and tell you no upgrades. Their employees are not trained either. Very bad exp.
Yup, Crockfords is the way to go.
Tim Duncan FTW
🥞 10k+ subs ✅🥳🥳
🎉
🥞
I don’t like the new card designs.
"might be a gift card in disguise"
🥞🥞🥞
🥞 Hi Sebby, what strategies would you recommend two players (wife and I) on the Aspire card? What month would be best to apply to double dip the benefits for 2? We started looking into Hilton portfolio as a novice traveler to maximize the Aspire benefits. Thanks
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