How To Use Hilton Online Check In & Choose Your Room in the Hilton Honors App
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One special feature of staying at a Hilton hotel is the ability to do Hilton online check in before you arrive with the Hilton Honors app.
Did you know you can also choose your own room location when you check-in with the app, too?
In this post, I’ll walk you through how the Hilton early check in process works and what to expect when you use the app to select your room.
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How To Use Hilton Early Check In
At 6 am the day before you arrive for your stay you can begin the Hilton online check in process in the Hilton Honors app or online at the Hilton site.
You will need to login with your Hilton Honors account information to see your stay to start Hilton online check in.
I assume this only works with stays booked through Hilton.
You’ll enter your estimated arrival time when you check-in.
Though check-in wasn’t until 4 pm, our room was ready closer to 1 pm which was fantastic!
We were allowed Hilton early check in and got into our room as soon as it was ready (at no charge).
How To Choose Your Own Room
You’ll be given a pre-assigned room, which you can choose to keep or change when using Hilton early check in.
We wanted to be on a lower floor and close to the pool, so I opted to pick another room.
You’ll be able to see how many rooms are available on each floor and select a floor to see the room locations.
Since we wanted a room that overlooked the pool (instead of the parking lot), I consulted a Google Earth map of the hotel to determine which side faced the pool.
That really helped me pick the best room for us using Hilton early check in!
We loved our room location and I was glad I spent a few minutes doing Hilton online check in and selecting our room.
I would NOT have liked to be on one of the top floors of this huge hotel!
I found that I could not change my room selection once I had committed to it in the app, so I suggest doing all of your research ahead of time.
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I hope this helps anyone wondering how to do Hilton early check-in and choose your own room in the Hilton Honors app.
Since I am a frequent traveler to Disney World, I would love to see Disney get on board with this technology. How cool would it be to choose your room before you arrive?
Would you like the ability to select your room before your hotel stays? Please leave a comment below and let us know what you think about Hilton early check in!
I have checked in 3 times in the past 8 months using the app and have yet to get the room I selected. Really the only reason I downloaded the app so disappointed it doesn’t matter if I use it.
@April, It is best to check in the day of your reservation — not the night before — because many times hotels have to “unreserve” a digital room based on occupancy. You have a better chance of getting the room you selected if you do it the day of arrival.
Great advice thanks Deb!
We arrive tomorrow. Digital check in allows to do it now, the morning prior. Do you get charged for the extra night when you won’t be there? It’s just to get the requested room.
No, you will not be charged for any additional nights. You are just checking in for your reservation.
Thanks for the easy to follow explanation Leah. Do you know if the checkin time is 6am Eastern time or 6am for the time zone the hotel is located in? Thanks!
Good question! I would guess 6 am in the time zone the hotel is located in, but I can’t confirm that.
When exactly did it charge your card for the room, and if I am 17, but my brother who is 23 paid for the room, but I got there before him, they wouldn’t ID me?
Hi Mirna! I use Hilton Honors points for my stays so those get deducted from my account when I book. I’m not sure when your card would get charged. You can avoid having to visit the desk by checking in with the Hilton honors app. You can get notifications when your room is ready and go straight there. You can open the door with your phone. If your borhter bookd the room just have him share his login details with you so you can get into the room as soon as it is ready. I do this often and it works fine.
As long as you request a digital key you can go straight to the room. The app will let you know your room is ready and charge the room and any deposits.
Hello! So do you have to show ID or anything or is it literally contactless check in?
No ID – it is completely contactless.
Hi! Would I be able to check in if I am 19 using the app?
Will they let you know if your room Is ready earlier or do you have to call and ask?
They asked for my cell number and sent me a text when my room was ready. But this might not be standard practice at all Hilton hotels so your mileage may vary.
Thank you Leah! That answered all my questions. I noticed the reason my cellphone wouldn’t load the hilton app and even some other apps is because the operating system is outdated.:( I ordered a new phone yesterday. So, I’ll be able to use the app and get digital key too! Thank you again!
Is it possible to check-in on the internet directly and not the app? My cellphone won’t load the hilton app 🙁
Yes! Hilton says you can check-in through their website starting at 6 am the day before check-in: https://hiltonhonors3.hilton.com/en/mobile/digital-check-in-and-room-selection-faq.html
This exactly what I want to know. I can’t find an answer anywhere.
Thanks for the easy to follow explanation Dannah. Do you know if the checkin time is 6am Eastern time or 6am for the time zone the hotel is located in? Thanks!
Did you have to pay when you selected a new room?
No I didn’t.
I think it depends on the hotel. They’ve debited my credit card before a day before. One time as soon as I checked in on the app. And other times upon arrival day a hold is placed. It depends on what type of rate you have. If it’s points it’s immediately. If it’s prepaid it’s the day before. If it’s free cancellation it’s upon arrival date. Mobile app you go straight to your room. If you’re a elite member like diamond you still have to eventually stop by the front desk to get your freebies, like water or a snack or tickets to the complimentary breakfast, depending on what brand hotel you’re booking. This has been my experience.
This is very helpful Alice – thank you!