The end of complimentary upgrades? Hilton to sell room upgrades to Gold and Diamond elites
There's more upgrade drama for Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond elite members.
As of Monday, the 7,000-property hotel megachain began selling paid upgrades to Gold and Diamond members during mobile check-in. This news was first reported by View from the Wing.
Earlier this year, Hilton piloted these same paid app-based upgrades for general and Silver members. Now, Gold and Diamond members will also be offered paid upgrades as an option when checking in with the Hilton Honors app. However, complimentary room upgrades are a benefit of Gold and Diamond status.
Hilton has told its properties that mobile check-in paid room upgrades are "intended to drive incremental revenue." Hilton room upgrades are completely at the individual property's discretion, as the Hilton Honors terms do not require hotels to upgrade any elite members, even when rooms are available.
Additionally, Hilton will start processing elite upgrades at Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn properties Nov. 18. In the past, these brands — along with Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, Hilton Grand Vacations and Motto — have been ineligible for elite upgrades. But again, these upgrades are processed at the hotel's discretion.
Related: How to redeem Hilton points for upgraded rooms
What could happen to Hilton Gold and Diamond upgrades
As mentioned, Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members are eligible for what Hilton calls "space-available room upgrades." Gold members should receive upgrades up to executive-floor room types, while Diamond members should be given upgrades up to a one-bedroom suite.
I fear that most properties will effectively stop upgrading Gold and Diamond members unless a member pays for an upgrade. Since the terms of the Hilton Honors program do not require upgrades to be given on a complimentary basis, hotels have little incentive to provide upgrades. That's one of my major complaints about Diamond status.
When a hotel upgrades a guest, there are two primary considerations.
First, a guest who receives an upgrade takes that room out of inventory for a paying customer. Hotels always have to weigh upgrades with the possibility that a guest might pay full price for a suite at the last minute. If an upgraded guest has filled that suite, that could be a considerable amount of lost revenue.
Additionally, larger rooms take longer to clean and have higher maintenance costs, especially since hotels generally do their best to keep their suites in top condition.
So for these reasons, there's little reason to upgrade a Gold or Diamond guest unless, of course, the guest is paying something for the upgrade. And while it makes sense for the property, this could mean that Hilton elite status is facing a huge devaluation.
Related: Hilton snaps back to pre-pandemic elite status requirements for 2023
Bottom line
Ultimately, paid upgrades at the time of mobile check-in are a way for Hilton to monetize room upgrades, even though Gold and Diamond members can be given upgrades based on status.
About a year ago, Hilton started offering confirmed upgrades for elite members up to 72 hours before arrival. But this most recent development leads us to believe that complimentary Hilton upgrades will be less common, even for top-tier Diamond members.
Depending on how properties react to this change, the move to upsell hotel upgrades could be a huge devaluation for Hilton elite members.
Have an upcoming vacation in mind? See how close you are to paying for it with points with the free TPG App!
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees