Hilton HHonors Double Points/Miles Returns For 2016

Hilton HHonors Double Points Promotion 2016

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The hotel loyalty programs are all starting to release their promotions for the first quarter of 2016 and it’s interesting to see how they differ. Yesterday I posted details of IHG’s Accelerate 2016 promotion which, for new joiners to its loyalty program, is nowhere near as generous as before but is still pretty good for some existing members (like Joanna). Now Hilton has announced its first promotion of 2016.

The first thing to note is that Hilton’s 1Q 2016 promotion is nothing new – it offered a nearly identical promotion towards the beginning of 2015 – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As promotions go this isn’t a bad one although it’s not exactly amazing either.

Hilton Double Your HHonors 2016

Promotion Period: 1 January – 30 April 2016

The premise of the promotion is pretty simple:

If in your Hilton HHonors account you have opted to earn “Points & Points”, you will earn double the number of base Hilton HHonors points on every stay (this is what I opt to do):

Hilton HHonors Double Points Promotion 2016

If, on the other hand, you opt to earn “Points & Miles” you’ll earn double the number of base airline miles on every stay.

Hilton HHonors members need to register for the promotion (you’re not automatically enrolled) and confirm which earning rate they prefer – double points or double miles.

Screen Shot 2015-12-17 at 11.59.27

As the warning on the Hilton website says: “Choose wisely because your selection cannot be changed”. Once you’ve confirmed your earning preference you’re locked in for the duration of the promotion.

If you’re not a regular Hilton guest you may be better off electing to earn miles in your chosen airline loyalty program – as Hilton has a fair few of these across the globe you shouldn’t find it hard to find our loyalty program of choice.

Hilton HHonors Double Points Promotion 2016Hilton HHonors Airline Partners in the Americas

If you’re not sure how to change your earning preferences on the Hilton website just follow these simple steps:

1. Log into your HHonors account
2. On the left hand menu under My Profile, select ‘Preferences’
3. On the Preferences screen verify your MyWay™ Earning Style is “Points & Miles”
4. If it is not showing “Points & Miles”, you will need to update your selection. Please select the words “Change Earning Style”
5. Select the “Points & Miles” option
6. There may be a delay before any updated Earning style is displayed on the Preferences screen
7. Add a Double Dip® travel partner by completing the requested data
8. You will earn the Double Miles for the partner that is selected as “Preferred” upon checkout
9. Select “Save Preferences”

It’s very important that you make sure what you selected as your earning preference when you signed up fo the promotion matches what you have selected in your account. 

Per the Hilton FAQ:

Will I still earn the Double Your HHonors promotion bonus if I select Double Miles but I do not have Points & Miles selected for my MyWay™ Earning Style Option?

No. If you do not have Points & Miles selected as your MyWay™ Earning Style Option you will not earn a bonus for the Double Your HHonors offer.

That’s pretty clear so you have been warned!

The full FAQ for the Hilton Double Points/Miles promotion are here.

There are two added bonuses to this promotion:

Firstly, ALL Hilton properties are included and this makes a very welcome change to a lot of recent promotions (for all hotel chains) which have tended to exclude a good number of properties.

Hilton HHonors Double Points Promotion 2016

Secondly, if you have a Hilton HHonors co-branded credit card from American Express, you can earn a bonus 1,000 bonus Hilton HHonors points when you use it at check-out on the first stay of the promotion.

Hilton HHonors Double Points Promotion 2016

The bonus points earned by using a Hilton HHonors Amex card require a separate registration:

Hilton HHonors Surpass Card registration

American Express Hilton HHonors Card registration

Bottom Line

I have a couple of Hilton stays booked for the promotion period so the bonus points will be nice and will probably boost my existing Hilton HHonors balance high enough for a top-level award night.

Had I not already had Hilton stays booked I’m not sure this promotion would me enough of an incentive to make me change my plans. Apart from the fact I’d probably be spreading myself too thin (I’m trying to hit Hyatt and Marriott top-tier status for 2017) you need a lot of HHonors points to book a top-tier stay (70,000+ points) and I don’t stay at Hiltons often enough to rack up enough points to put together a nice stay (3-4 nights).

If however, you’re a Hilton HHonors loyalist and stay at Hilton’s properties on a regular basis, double points is probably a very welcome promotion.