Hotel loyalty programs offer points or free night certificates in order to help frequent customers earn lucrative rewards for their stays and/or spend. However, not all free night certificates are created equal. Free night certificates, or FNCs (we’ll refer to them as FNCs for the sake of brevity) help customers book one free night based on certain terms and conditions. So how do Hilton’s FNCs work? Let’s have a look.
Hilton Free Night Certificates
So how are Hilton’s FNCs different? Compared to some of their peers, Hilton’s FNCs have no restrictions in the way of:
- Maximum number of points you can redeem a free night for (no capping of points like Marriott)
- Any category restrictions (like Hyatt)
In case of Hilton, you can redeem an FNC as long as the property has a standard room available. Also, in the past, Hilton used to restrict FNC redemptions to weekends. That’s not the case any more. In short, you can redeem an FNC as long as a standard room is available during any day of the week.
How to earn free night certificates
At the moment, you can earn free night certificates in two different ways:
- When you are approved for or renew your Hilton Aspire card
- When you meet annual spend thresholds on Hilton’s co-branded consumer credit cards
Welcome Bonuses
At the moment, American Express is offering elevated welcome bonuses on all of their co-branded credit cards with Hilton. However, you’ll earn the free night certificate only with the Hilton Aspire Card. For other cards, you will need to meet spend thresholds in order to earn the bonus.
| Credit Card | Free Night Certificates | Welcome Bonus Offer + Application Link | Complimentary Elite Status |
| Hilton Aspire Card | Upon account opening and renewal, another after $30k spend, another after $60k spend in a calendar year | 175,000 Hilton Honors points + 1 free night certificate | Diamond |
| Hilton Surpass Card | $15k spend in a calendar year | 165,000 Hilton Honors points | Gold |
| Hilton Honors Card (No annual fee) | None for annual spend | 100,000 Hilton Honors points | Silver |
| Hilton Honors Business Card | None for annual spend | 175,000 Hilton Honors points | Gold |
FAQs
Let’s cover some of the frequently asked questions.
How do I redeem my FNC?
You can redeem by calling Hilton’s customer service number at 1-800-HHONORS. You cannot redeem an FNC on the Hilton website.
Can I book a single stay with more than one FNC?
Yes, as long as the property has standard rooms available for that many nights, you can do it. Simply let the customer care rep know you want to book a multiple night stay using your FNCs.
Can I combine points and FNCs into a single stay?
Yes, you can! Simply tell the rep that you want x nights using points and y nights using FNCs
What are the terms and conditions for cancelling or making changes to an FNC reservation?
You will be subject to the same policy that a property may levy for a points reservation. The rep will specify the policy while booking and you will get an email confirming the deadline up to when you can cancel or make a change.
Which properties qualify for the use of an FNC?
You can use the FNC whenever a standard room is available at any property worldwide. Here is the list of properties that are not bookable using FNCs.
How many people can stay in a room?
In general, FNCs only allow you to book a standard room with double occupancy. Any additional guests may be charged extra.
When is the FNC issued?
The FNC is usually issued 8-14 weeks after you meet the requirements, be it by way of a welcome bonus or for meeting annual spend on a qualifying credit card.
When to FNCs expire?
FNCs expire one year after they are issued.
How I have used my FNCs (and what the stays looked like)
Here’s a list of properties where I’ve used my FNCs over the last few years:
- Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
- Hilton Amingiri Maldives Resort & Spa
- Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri
- Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Thailand
- Grand Wailea Maui
- Hilton Waikoloa Village
- Conrad Dubai
- Hilton Cartagena, Colombia
- Hilton Playa del Carmen (all-inclusive resort), Mexico
The Pundit’s Mantra
Over the last half a decade, free night certificates have gone a long way in helping me book some really memorable stays, be it doing one Maldives trip after another, or booking stays at properties all around the world, from mainland US, Hawaii and New Zealand to Thailand, the UAE, India and Mexico.
What’s been your favorite stay using your Hilton FNCs? Tell us in the comments section.
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