This is a new Hilton Honors point redemption feature and it's a convenient one at first glance. Now, elite members can rack up points toward redeemable hotel stays on mobile as part of their Hilton Honors app during digital check-out. However, before you begin to spend points in this manner, it is important to consider if there is any real value.

What is Pay With Points?

Pay with Points allows elite members to use their points for eligible hotel charges when checking out of a hotel online through the Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors Silver, Gold & Diamond members are welcome.

Members can partially cover their expenses with points by using the app to cancel their bookings, including on-site spending. The availability and allowed redemption may differ from property to property, what is available in one place may not be in another.

The point is, when it is available

• It's currently available at 150 hotels across the United States. It is expected to roll out rapidly.
• 150 hotels are currently open in the United States.
• By the end of 2026 over 800 hotels will be available
• By early 2027, over 6,000 properties in the US and Canada will be using us.By early 2027, over 6,000 properties will be using us in the US & Canada.
• This option might not be available at your next stay as the rollout is gradual. Look into the app just before your hotel check-in to see if it's participating.

Hilton's Claim of First

It's the first big hotel brand to have something like this, says Hilton, without the need to go to the front desk. Yes, but the difference is not that one can spend points on property purchases. It's being able to do it without speaking to a front desk person.

Other programs already allow you to use points at checkout when you pay for your hotel. These include Accor Live Limitless, Global Hotel Alliance and World of Hyatt. So, Hilton is not pioneering with the concept, just the convenience of the digital.

Should it be a good means to redeem points?

However it's always good to have more redemption options as long as nothing is sacrificed, so there's no reason to pick on Hilton for adding this one. However, the value will be unlikely to be good.

Hilton has given no detail on the number of points you'll receive per value. There is a simple reason behind the following, however. Hilton will presumably have to pay cash to the property to cover purchases that are offset with points. That does not leave the company a lot of room to provide a generous rate.

Hilton Honors points come with a value of 0.5 cents and purchases are now more difficult to come by. Redeeming for Amazon purchases returns just 0.2 cents per point, so we will likely see more along the lines of the middle. So, don't look for anything that's all that much less than 0.5 cents per point.

Explain why low value redemptions exist

These redemptions are usually less valuable since you are able to accumulate small amounts of points to redeem. That helps members to prevent breakage, which is the money left over that isn't utilized. It's highly convenient, but it's not as good a rate.

It's noteworthy, too, that this feature is exclusive to elite members. The reasoning goes that Hilton wouldn't want non-elite members to be able to effortlessly use all of their points for so cheap.

Hilton Claims to Be First but Others Got There Earlier 

It was developed straight from member feedback, says Hilton. Hilton Honors' research found 70% of its members surveyed would like to use points for on-property purchases. Half indicated the ability would make them more likely to stay or book with Hilton.

That is difficult to not laugh at. Was the study truly carried out by asking members if they would like to redeem points for purchases on the property? Very few people would turn down any of them. The 70% mark isn't particularly good and the question did not even mention the poor value.

• It might still make sense, provided there isn't a strong need to quit.
• It has a few situations in which it might be helpful.
• A small points balance that cannot be utilised in any other manner.
• You're trying to balance an unpaid fee at the register.You're trying to compensate for a small fee at checkout.
• You prefer using up points rather than letting them go to waste
• The smartest bet for most is to save points for award night, and Hilton points offer a lot more value. A room is a much bigger bang for your buck than a bar tab or meal.

The Bottom Line

Hilton is rolling out its Pay with Points program, which enables high-value customers to redeem those points for their stays at Hilton, as well as on-site expenditures through its Hilton Honors app. It can be used by all members, including those with a Silver, Gold or Diamond membership, and is available during digital check-out, so you don't have to go on site. It's a simple idea and a whole new angle for a digital check-out that other programs allow you to redeem points towards hotel expenses during check-out.

The trick is in the catch. The number of points that can be redeemed for a certain value is not revealed by Hilton, but it is safe to assume that the value for redeeming will be very low, as Hilton will certainly settle the property in cash for the member's points. This is likely to fall somewhere between the value of a Hilton point (about 0.5 cents apiece) and an Amazon purchase (0.2 cents per point). Unless you have a small amount of money left to spend that you have no other means to spend, it is probably better to forgo the feature. Otherwise your points will have greater value on award nights.