Or I guess to rephrase the question, can you cut something that you never really offered? 😉
In this post:
Hilton Honors removes mention of late check-out benefit
LoyaltyLobby flags how Hilton Honors has updated the benefits matrix on its website, stating the benefits for various membership tiers. You’ll notice that unlike before, there’s no longer any mention of late check-out being a benefit.
For context, historically Hilton Honors has offered one of the weakest late check-out benefits of any major hotel group, in terms of actually guaranteeing anything:
- On the plus side, Hilton Honors offered all members late check-out subject to availability, even those without elite status
- However, on paper, there’s no incremental late check-out perk for elite members (over non-elite members)
- The late check-out perk is simply described as being subject to availability, with no guidance as to how late check-out can be
So while Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt offer guaranteed 4PM check-out for select elite tiers at non-resorts, there’s no such benefit at Hilton Honors.
It’s worth mentioning that Hilton has updated the benefits matrix on its website, though the app still lists late check-out as a benefit, so hasn’t been updated… yet.
Furthermore, the Hilton Honors terms & conditions still reference late check-out, though simply state that it “must be requested and is subject to availability,” with no additional details.
What’s actually going on with Hilton Honors late check-out?
Several weeks ago, we learned how in 2026, Hilton plans to introduce confirmed late check-out for a fee. The idea is that for a fee of $40-60, guests will be able to confirm late check-out in advance, as a way for hotels to increase revenue opportunities.
So, how should we read into Hilton increasingly eliminating mentions of a late check-out perk for Hilton Honors members? The way I view it, there are a few possible explanations:
- Hilton is just trying to condition us to get used to paying for late check-out, even if the existing benefit isn’t formally eliminated; by reducing mentions of it, maybe fewer people will make the request
- Hilton plans to eliminate complimentary late check-out for all Hilton Honors members
- Hilton Honors will overhaul its program at some point in the near future, and plans to make late check-out a perk only available to select elite tiers
Personally, I think it’s unlikely that Hilton will just completely eliminate any form of late check-out for all elite tiers. That just seems unrealistic and uncompetitive, given what other hotel groups are offering.
I think the more likely scenario is that we could see a larger overhaul of the Hilton Honors program, as it sure feels like it’s due for a refresh in some ways. As part of that, maybe we could see late check-out only offered to higher tier elite members.
For now, we’ll mark this as “developing.” Hilton hasn’t chimed in on why this verbiage has been changed, though the terms & conditions suggest it’s still a benefit. Then again, it’s not like Hilton promises much as is on that front, since there’s no reference to how late of a check-out can be requested. All too often, hotels seem to simply offer an extra hour, or something like that.
Bottom line
Hilton is increasingly removing mentions of late check-out being a benefit for Hilton Honors members. While it continues to be in the terms & conditions and on the app, it has otherwise been removed from the website. It’s not like Hilton ever promised much — all members were entitled to late check-out “subject to availability,” with no clarity beyond that.
I can’t imagine that this website update is unrelated to Hilton’s plan to introduce confirmed late check-out for a fee in 2026. So we should get some clarify on this eventually, but as of now, it seems to be business as usual.
What do you make of this Hilton Honors late check-out situation?
Just paid around USD 45 for a 2 PM late check out at a Hilton Garden Inn in New York. It is already live!
1. Hilton screwed up my “status match” last month.
2. I gave the all Indian customer service center a piece of my mind (they don’t really care)
3. But I have so many hotel nights this year (3 nights away from Marriott Titanium) that I resubmitted the status match documents and got approved in 3 days.
4. I plan to get Diamond by End Aug. And not renew it in 2026!
5. Suck it Hilton!!
Marriott aspires to be Hilton. IHG aspires to be Hyatt.
As an Accor Platinum I find the comments made by Honors elites here kind of shocking. It's kind of pathetic that expecting anything beyond an extra hour is met with (almost) hostility. I think in the end it comes down to approach of the hotel staff. While early/late checkout is subject to availability, generally the staff in all Accor properties I've been and requested this perk tries to be as accommodating as possible. If there's...
As an Accor Platinum I find the comments made by Honors elites here kind of shocking. It's kind of pathetic that expecting anything beyond an extra hour is met with (almost) hostility. I think in the end it comes down to approach of the hotel staff. While early/late checkout is subject to availability, generally the staff in all Accor properties I've been and requested this perk tries to be as accommodating as possible. If there's no availability, then it's usually because the hotel is actually full and I understand this. Perhaps economy/midscale brands are more eager to offer it too as it's less work to clean a room in an Ibis or Novotel than a Hilton. I am usually able to score at least 4 PM late checkout (I've gone as high as 6 PM though) and the earliest early check in I've had was around 9 AM.
I recently stayed at the Vancouver Hyatt Regency and San Diego Manchester Grand Hyatt, and was readily offered 2:00p late checkout (as an Explorist) during check-in. So, nice job by the staff(s) there.
I have to say my Hilton experience aligns with most of the folks below; you end up kind of haggling for an extra hour or so and it's rarely a pleasant convo. Hyatts have never had an issue with offering me 2pm since I gained Explorist and like you, I have had front desk staff proactively offering it at check-in recently.
Now I just wish Hyatt would do something about the absurd parking charges that elites have no way around.
Lifetime Hilton Diamond here. Upgrades shouldn’t even be listed as a benefit. I had 102 nights in 2024 and 78 so far in 2025 and have not been upgraded once. I am offered paid upgrades and I see the upgrades are available at check in but they want to sell it. The only benefit is the food and beverage credit and most of the time they calculate it incorrectly not including my guest.
Unfortunately have the agree with most of the commentators here. In my 7+ years as a HH Diamond, I’ve never been granted late check-out beyond 1PM (i.e., 1-2 hour extension), even outside Western markets.
If Hilton introduce some form of guarantee late check-out time for higher tier elites, that would certainly be a positive development.
That said, considering number of American travellers who obtain Diamond status by simply holding a credit card…I won’t be...
Unfortunately have the agree with most of the commentators here. In my 7+ years as a HH Diamond, I’ve never been granted late check-out beyond 1PM (i.e., 1-2 hour extension), even outside Western markets.
If Hilton introduce some form of guarantee late check-out time for higher tier elites, that would certainly be a positive development.
That said, considering number of American travellers who obtain Diamond status by simply holding a credit card…I won’t be surprised if the US market is excluded from this benefit (a la the current breakfast benefit)…
Giving late check out to upper elites while charging $40-60 to everyone else is a bonanza in “perceived value.”
Feels like this is the optimal position.
Hyatt and Marriott will soon follow. This is incremental income and follow the same success as airlines penny pinching customers.
I think Hyatt and Marriott are in a different position and they have to be careful as a result.
No one stays at Hiltons just because of the non-guaranteed late check out benefit, but there are many Marriott and Hyatt members that stay at those hotels primarily because they know 4pm is guaranteed (including myself). I don’t see either completely removing guaranteed late check out as a result, but I can see watering down at...
I think Hyatt and Marriott are in a different position and they have to be careful as a result.
No one stays at Hiltons just because of the non-guaranteed late check out benefit, but there are many Marriott and Hyatt members that stay at those hotels primarily because they know 4pm is guaranteed (including myself). I don’t see either completely removing guaranteed late check out as a result, but I can see watering down at Marriott in particular given the number of elites - perhaps 2pm guaranteed for Platinum in the near future or something.
Marriott says it is guaranteed 4pm, but even as an Ambassador I had several hotels argue that late check out is “if available” and the hotel is fully booked. That and the lack of upgrades made me move most business to Hilton….at least outside the US and UK I get a suite upgrade probably 90% of the time
At larger Hilton properties, upgrades, late checkout, and other benefits have been completely unbundled. $25 for a corner room, $40 for late check out, etc. Diamond status affords the daily F&B credit (in the U.S.) and bottled water only. I am not stating this negatively - the points multiple via the Aspire card makes Hilton stays viable for me still.
Just as a data point, I have a stay at the Hyatt Centric LAX (I have no status with Hyatt) next month and they were offering different rates depending on the time of the late check out. I think it was like $50 until noon, $75 until 1pm, etc. I have an important virtual meeting at 11am, so will pay the extra fee since I have nowhere else to conduct this Zoom before my evening flight.
You're more likely to see a hotel willingly remove their resort fee than to give you a late check out. I get the sense that they hate it because managing check in /out is very manual human intensive task requiring good management skills that doesn't exist with most employees these days. People probably get angry when they get in late and can't check in. Maybe this "benefit" can actually happen when the entire process is...
You're more likely to see a hotel willingly remove their resort fee than to give you a late check out. I get the sense that they hate it because managing check in /out is very manual human intensive task requiring good management skills that doesn't exist with most employees these days. People probably get angry when they get in late and can't check in. Maybe this "benefit" can actually happen when the entire process is automated. But right now you mind as well as front desk to give you their kidney than to give you a 2 hour late check out.
I am not in the camp of those requiring a guaranteed late checkout as provided by Marriott, IHG Ambassador, or Hyatt. Even a based-on-availability one worked for me with IHG, or, back in the days, as Accor Diamond. It is provided 95% of the time I request it. (In fact, even the guaranteed late checkout with Hyatt has been denied but it's rare just as the based-on-availability one is rarely declined).
However, Hilton always used...
I am not in the camp of those requiring a guaranteed late checkout as provided by Marriott, IHG Ambassador, or Hyatt. Even a based-on-availability one worked for me with IHG, or, back in the days, as Accor Diamond. It is provided 95% of the time I request it. (In fact, even the guaranteed late checkout with Hyatt has been denied but it's rare just as the based-on-availability one is rarely declined).
However, Hilton always used to be an exception in this regard. Even when I was Diamond until last year, there used to be properties I frequent were late checkout was always a struggle; you had to haggle even to get 1 PM or 1:30 PM.
Ultimately, Hilton's change reflects the reality on the ground. Does not make it better.
In over 10 years of Diamond status, I think I got late checkout maybe 2-3 times, for about 30mins - 1 hr. It should neve be listed as a benefit.
Same here. Asking for anything more than an hour even 1.5 hour and you can instantly see the anger on the person's face and it's fight club time.
For now, we’ll mark this as “developing.” is probably Ben's favourite sentence :-)
My experience with late check out as a Diamond member: in busy business destinations (London, Frankfurt), I always found the offer to be weak (sometimes I got as early as 1pm), while on leisure places (Dead Sea, Batumi, Bali), I never found this to be an issue and consistently got 3-4pm late check out spontaneously offered
Breathlessly waiting for a 15-page analysis from @DCS with five instances of "ergo" or "indubitably" in it.
As a Lifetime Diamond I've been denied a late checkout of as short as an hour at a Homewood, chewed out for even asking at a more upscale property and had to sit in the lobby of a Hampton to do a one hour conference call starting at the stated checkout as they insisted I exit the room. In each case I was offered late checkout for a fee. I never ask anymore nor do...
As a Lifetime Diamond I've been denied a late checkout of as short as an hour at a Homewood, chewed out for even asking at a more upscale property and had to sit in the lobby of a Hampton to do a one hour conference call starting at the stated checkout as they insisted I exit the room. In each case I was offered late checkout for a fee. I never ask anymore nor do I generally do a Hilton as I accrue towards Lifetime Marriott Platinum. I've been hassled in Marriotts as well over late checkout but very rarely and I can't guess why this is not a competative disadvantage to Hilton.
I just got back from a 3 night award stay at the Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria, Maui. On my last day, I asked about a late check out, at about 8 AM. I was told that, as a Diamond, they could give me until 1 PM (instead of 11 am.) When I asked about 4 PM, I was told they could not give that to me because of other reservations. But, they could SELL me...
I just got back from a 3 night award stay at the Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria, Maui. On my last day, I asked about a late check out, at about 8 AM. I was told that, as a Diamond, they could give me until 1 PM (instead of 11 am.) When I asked about 4 PM, I was told they could not give that to me because of other reservations. But, they could SELL me a 4 PM check out for $ 400. It fit a pattern during my stay that everything was extra and way overpriced. Fabulous property otherwise.
Everything on Maui is overpriced.
"Is Hilton cutting this benefit?"
No. All you gotta do is ask Hilton, who will respond clearly (and quickly) promising nothing has changed.
In my view, anything that is "subject to availability" is not a real perk in the hotel world - especially in US
It's not like the benefit existed. It's down to whatever hotels feel like providing and it's gonna stay that way. Good properties will keep granting the late checkout and crap ones will keep not granting it. No change here really. Book accordingly.
They're doing the same thing with check-in at many lower/mid-tier properties as well. Try to arrive an hour or two early and they'll charge you an early check-in fee.
If we are going to have regulations demanding all-in pricing, perhaps next to the all in pricing you can also see how many "all in hours" of a hotel room you are getting. Is check-in 3pm? 4pm? Checkout 10am? 11am? In some cases you may think...
They're doing the same thing with check-in at many lower/mid-tier properties as well. Try to arrive an hour or two early and they'll charge you an early check-in fee.
If we are going to have regulations demanding all-in pricing, perhaps next to the all in pricing you can also see how many "all in hours" of a hotel room you are getting. Is check-in 3pm? 4pm? Checkout 10am? 11am? In some cases you may think you are paying for 24 hours and only get 18 "guaranteed" hours. You really only start to think in 24 hour days if you are staying for more than one night.
Let's face it: Hilton has some of the weakest bennies in the industry nowadays. In the last two weeks, I had three Hyatt stays at three US Hyatts and early check-in wasn't a problem at either one as globalist.
Late checkout is a nightmare logistically for hotels. Operators are thrilled with this change..until they realize they lost all my revenue.
But, most operators nowadays have both Hilton and Marriott branded hotels. So if I shift my spend to Marriott, the same operator will still get my money. F*ck!
Others have already stated but to this I would, when was this ever a benefit for Honors? As a Diamond for nearly 10 years, my average late check benefit is probably 1 hour when requested and IF granted cause room is already assigned. And same follow up at some hotels, which only irks me more, “…but if you want to buy late checks it, it’s…” are they just reassigning room then?
So yea, Diamonds get...
Others have already stated but to this I would, when was this ever a benefit for Honors? As a Diamond for nearly 10 years, my average late check benefit is probably 1 hour when requested and IF granted cause room is already assigned. And same follow up at some hotels, which only irks me more, “…but if you want to buy late checks it, it’s…” are they just reassigning room then?
So yea, Diamonds get more Points and an F&B credit. Overseas you might get a decent upgrade to something beyond a higher floor on a 5-floor building.
My dream is daily water bottles or refillable water stations for Diamonds. I’ve gotten the mini 4 ounce water bottles for a 4 night stay and though “wow, lucky me”.
I've never consider late check-out to be a HH benefit. It's so hit/miss, in general. Overall, it's time for a benefit refresh. Current layout is very 2003.
Hotels have become a pure economic play. Tier benefits are being eliminated or devalued. Accept it.