Ok, call us crazy ... our journey to 1 million HH points via HGV Owner Updates ...

[ljmiii]

What would really be nice is if one could book "5th night free" and then swap in FNC for one more more of the point-paid nights. But seems not allowed.

I know that Marriott allows you to book a 6 night points reservation and use one FNC + four nights worth of points. But Marriott also allows you do make that reservation online...I now wonder if you call Hilton they will do the same.

 

[TravelJoy]

I can appreciate your tenacity. It's how I got over one million AA frequent flyer miles and Platinum status for life. (We really don't fly that much.) But reading this reminded me of our first sales presentation for Marriott Cypress Harbour many, many years ago. I am forever grateful that we were too poor to bite.

That is fantastic what was the deal to achieve the 1mm then

 

[JohnnyO]

The SLH properties are popping up all over the world! I’ve got a couple of them in Europe reserved July/August. I love the fact you proved my point about the WA never having standard awards!

Yeah I just searched on my laptop and most everything listed was premium room rewards out into the future 2025-2026. Except there were last minute June Standard rewards available.

 

[JohnnyO]

RCI … mandatory all inclusive and board fees plus tax some at $300+ per day per person. Now you know why they have availability

 

[brp]

Not sure if I understand correctly what you are suggesting. Last I used my FNC's was at WA Los Cabos Pedregal. Next planned use of FNC's will be three nights WA Punta Cacique in Costa Rica. These nights are charged at several thousand dollars per night.

After that we hope to tag another 3 or 4 FNC's in conjunction with fifth night free somewhere in the Maldives over water. So that would be the five nights via HH points plus an additional 3 or four nights FNC's. That's 8 or 9 nights after traveling so far. Not sure we would make that long trip for only five nights. But ... you are saying you cannot combine the two programs? Is what I'm suggesting allowed?

Even better would be if we could get a traded week (via DeX EU or RCI) at a timeshare in Maldives (I don't even know what's out there) and extend it even more. Now if that was possible then that would already be a long enough trip there and we would want to do what I think you are suggesting isn't allowed, using 3 or 4 FNC's towards the 5 night deal.

Pretty sure that what you have in mind is fine. You're just adding onto the 5 nights of points (with 4 nights' worth) with additional nights. What I understand is not allowed is to book 5 nights, using 4 nights' points and then substitute the FNC(s) for one, or more, of the existing nights in the reservation. I have a reservation that I'll be trying to make for next year where the standard rate for several of the nights will be 140K. The whole reservation will be 490K points. It would be great to sub in a couple of FNCs in place of two of the 140K nights. But I believe that's not allowed.

Now, if I booked a 4 night stay (it would be the same 490K points), I believe that I can sub in the FNCs). The reservation will be for May 2027, so I have some time to find out.

@ljmiii - Hilton are the only ones that we have where one has to call to use FNC equivalents. I can book with our Hyatt and Marriott free night certs online.

Cheers.

 

[frank808]

You are correct BRP, the book 4 nights and get 5th night free has to be all HH points. Example, you cannot book 3 nights with points and use a FNC to get the 4th night and then invoke 5th night free. It has to be all points for 4 night booking to get the 5th night free.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[brp]

You are correct BRP, the book 4 nights and get 5th night free has to be all HH points. Example, you cannot book 3 nights with points and use a FNC to get the 4th night and then invoke 5th night free. It has to be all points for 4 night booking to get the 5th night free.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

Yeah, that's what I had understood. And even swapping out a points night for FNC after the fact is also not allowed, I believe.

Cheers.

 

[BingoBangoBongo]

So that would be the five nights via HH points plus an additional 3 or four nights FNC's.

I do this at a Hilton property in FL. I end up with 3 different reservations. #1) The initial 4 nights on points 5th Night Free...#2)The FNC from my Aspire card and #3) The FNC from my wifes card. I do need to go to the FD each am (added) between reservations to check in and out and I think it's pretty important to make sure that all the reservations are for the same room type. I've done that a number of years and never had a problem staying in the same room for the entire stay. Last year they offered me an upgrade for 1st night that was using a FNC, but I had to decline it as I didn't want to have to change rooms. YMMV

 

[jp10558]

Pretty sure that what you have in mind is fine. You're just adding onto the 5 nights of points (with 4 nights' worth) with additional nights. What I understand is not allowed is to book 5 nights, using 4 nights' points and then substitute the FNC(s) for one, or more, of the existing nights in the reservation. I have a reservation that I'll be trying to make for next year where the standard rate for several of the nights will be 140K. The whole reservation will be 490K points. It would be great to sub in a couple of FNCs in place of two of the 140K nights. But I believe that's not allowed.

Yes, you can't get the 5th night free on points if you don't book all 5 nights with points.

Now, if I booked a 4 night stay (it would be the same 490K points), I believe that I can sub in the FNCs). The reservation will be for May 2027, so I have some time to find out.

@ljmiii - Hilton are the only ones that we have where one has to call to use FNC equivalents. I can book with our Hyatt and Marriott free night certs online.

This is my one major complaint with HHonors - why can't we use the FNCs in the app? I believe it's to hope people forget to or forgo using them because of the hassle.

 

[brp]

Yes, you can't get the 5th night free on points if you don't book all 5 nights with points.

Yup. So, it's either the 5 nights for 490K or just book the 4 nights and then I should be able to sub in 2 FNCs for two of the 140K nights. Much more manageable.

Cheers.

 

[tananth]

Yup. So, it's either the 5 nights for 490K or just book the 4 nights and then I should be able to sub in 2 FNCs for two of the 140K nights. Much more manageable.

Cheers.

Keep in mind that the ability to sub FNCs for points based reservations is not guaranteed and is only possible if the standard room awards are still available when you call to sub FNC : That is because the agent will just use your FNC to book another night (based on standard room award) and then cancel your original points reservation. If there is no standard room award availability, they will warn you against cancelling the original points reservation first and hoping that it will free up a standard room award, since there is no guarantee that will work.

 

[brp]

Keep in mind that the ability to sub FNCs for points based reservations is not guaranteed and is only possible if the standard room awards are still available when you call to sub FNC : That is because the agent will just use your FNC to book another night (based on standard room award) and then cancel your original points reservation. If there is no standard room award availability, they will warn you against cancelling the original points reservation first and hoping that it will free up a standard room award, since there is no guarantee that will work.

Thanks. We're getting somewhat off topic, so I'll end up calling them to get more details. This is a hard to book location/date and can book up within half an hour. It also has a 4-night minimum so the swap may not work anyway. I've got about a year to do some research before making the reservation

Cheers.

 

[DebBrown]

That is fantastic what was the deal to achieve the 1mm then

At the time, all miles went toward lifetime status. Now it is just actual flown miles. AA had lots of promotions: pudding, cereal boxes, movie theater cups, etc. Our biggest haul was at the Cinemark movie theaters. There were little tabs on the cups. Most people didn't take them so we'd go around the theater collecting all the miles. In multiplexes, we'd go from theater to theater grabbing the tabs. My husband would be my lookout! He might have been a bit embarrassed but not sorry when we put the miles to use. I made it to 2 million lifetime miles and platinum status. We get a lot of upgrades.

 

[brp]

At the time, all miles went toward lifetime status. Now it is just actual flown miles. AA had lots of promotions: pudding, cereal boxes, movie theater cups, etc. Our biggest haul was at the Cinemark movie theaters. There were little tabs on the cups. Most people didn't take them so we'd go around the theater collecting all the miles. In multiplexes, we'd go from theater to theater grabbing the tabs. My husband would be my lookout! He might have been a bit embarrassed but not sorry when we put the miles to use. I made it to 2 million lifetime miles and platinum status. We get a lot of upgrades.

I took AAdvantage of AA's generosity back in the day. I'll hit 4 million miles with AA next year and lifetime Platinum Pro/OneWorld Emerald. Wish I'd taken further advantage before the change in 2011 as 5MM gets lifetime top tier.

Cheers.