Can You Convert a Paid Hotel Reservation to an Award Night at a Sold Out Hotel?

On Monday I explained when hotels make reward nights available, essentially most chains have gone to a model where if there is a standard room available then you can claim that room night on points — although occasionally some hotel properties will play games with the definition of a ‘standard’ room.

Lucas has a question about what constitutes ‘available’ in the Hilton HHonors program.

I had a question I’ve been running into a problem trying to book a honeymoon trip for the Conrad Maldives. To keep it short I didn’t have all the points I needed to book the hotel and the first night I wanted was already sold out so I contacted the hotel about booking the stay and they were able to process it. I booked the refundable rate.

When I received the confirmation it was two different confirmation numbers one for the first night which was sold out then a four night stay. I was able to change the 4 night stay to the axon rate. I keep calling and getting a different response from everyone about changing the first night stay to points. They either tell me it can’t be done because the property is sold out or because I’m not a diamond member or because they forced sold me the room so they cant make any changes.

When I get on the Amex website it says that there are no blackout dates as long as the class of room is available. My thought is that it should be available to me considering I have already booked the room.

Do you think I will find someone who will be able to change it or do you have any suggestions for me, I’ve tried the diamond desk and the corporate guest assistance?

Congratulations on your pending nuptials! I expect you’ll much enjoy the Maldives, I did on my own trip there earlier this year.

Unfortunately, Hilton is correct here.

The hotel is currently sold out. Sometimes they will force a reservation, overselling the hotel, which it sounds like they’ve done. They will do that on a revenue stay (and often only for Diamond members) but not on award stays (something they used to do for Diamonds, before they began allowing booking any room at the hotel for additional points).

The fact that you have a reservation now means the hotel is oversold by more than it would otherwise be. It sounds like the hotel would still be sold out if you cancelled the reservation.

That’s not in any way a violation of the policy that if there is a standard room available at the hotel you can book it on points. The test is, if you call up Hilton now or go to Hilton.com, is a standard room available for booking?

Hilton does make better than standard rooms available at its hotel properties for (sometimes substantially) more points. They may put you in that premium room and let you spend your whole trip in it, or they may prefer that you switch rooms (in which case just taking the same, standard room for the entirety of the trip may be more convenient).

And of course there could be cancellations at the hotel between now and the time of your trip, so you may want to keep checking to see if award nights open up.