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Staying in hotels for free is one of the primary motivators for many points enthusiasts to accumulate travel miles and points diligently.
Over the years, I have stayed in countless unforgettable properties without spending a considerable amount of cash because of hotel points.
In this blog post, I will discuss one of my favorite features of the Hilton Honors program, which is the ability of any member to transfer Hilton points to another member.
Hilton Hotels have an expansive global footprint, which is why finding a Hilton-branded hotel virtually anywhere is not difficult.
Currently, the Hilton Honors program allows Hilton Honors points to be transferred between accounts for free, and the process is relatively simple.
Moreover, they permit members to pool points with up to 10 other members so big groups can spend vacations together.
Indeed, these transfer perk is pretty generous and a valuable benefit that Hilton Honor members should maximize.
This article will walk you through the steps on transferring and pooling Hilton Honors points so you can accumulate points much faster and plan travel with families and friends on bucket-list vacations for free.
How To Transfer Hilton Points to Another Hilton Member
Step 1:
Log on to your Hilton Honors profile.
If you do not have a Hilton Honors Profile yet, enrolling is free.
Click the button below.
Step 2:
Click “Points”
Step 3:
Select “Transfer Points” (We will discuss pooling points in the next section).
You may have to scroll to the bottom for the Transfer Points link.
Step 4:
On the drop-down menu (see image below), select the number of points you want to transfer in increments of 1,000 up to 500,000.
Then, type in the Recipient Information.
- Full Name
- Email Address
- Hilton Honors Number
You will get another opportunity to double-check if all the information is accurate, then click “Transfer Points.”
Step 5:
You will get confirmation that the transaction went through successfully if all the details are correct.
In my experience, the transfer was instant, but it is also not unusual for it to sometimes take at least 24 hours.
Step 6:
Your recipient will receive an email almost instantly to inform them of the points transfer.
In the example below, my mom received an email from Hilton informing her that she had received 1,000 Hilton points from me.
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Pooling Hilton Points with Other Members
What is Points Pooling?
Points Pooling is a feature of the Hilton Honors program that allows members to transfer and combine their Hilton Honor points with family and friends for a future hotel redemption.
With this valuable perk, a Hilton Honors member can combine their points with up to 10 other Hilton members, unlocking multiple opportunities for aspirational redemptions in unforgettable properties.
For instance, if a group of friends plans to embark on a trip together, they can funnel their points towards one Hilton member (the account that created the “group pool”) to book properties that could not be reserved individually due to insufficient points.
Is there a fee to participate in the Hilton Honors Points Pooling feature?
No, pooling Hilton points with other members is free of charge.
How many people can contribute to Points Pooling?
A total of 11 Hilton Honors Members can pool their Hilton Honors points together.
One member, preferably someone with Hilton Elite status, will jumpstart the creation of a “group pool” and send invitations to up to 10 other members so they can contribute to the same bucket.
Steps on How to Pool Hilton Points with Other Members
Step 1:
Log on to your Hilton Honors profile.
Enrolling is free if you do not have a Hilton Honors Profile yet. Click the button below.
Step 2:
Click “Points”
Step 3:
Select “Pool Points”
Step 4
Enter up to 10 names and email addresses.
Ensure they are all Hilton Honors members and their accounts are active during the transaction.
When is a Hilton Honor member considered to have an active account?
According to the Hilton.com website, an account is deemed active if the following requirements are met:
A. They have been members of the Hilton Honors program for at least 30 days
B. The member has had at least one qualifying activity on their account at the time of transfer/pooling. Activity is defined as any transaction on the member’s account, either accumulating or using points.
C. The member has at least 1,000 Hilton Honors in their account before they can be allowed to transfer.
Pro-Tip: If you plan to pool points with family or friends, encourage them to sign up for a Hilton Honors account immediately. Hence, their 30-day hourglass starts immediately, allowing them to engage in at least one qualifying activity.
Step 5:
After completing the Points Pooling form, click “Create My Pool and Send Invitations.”
You will also get a notification that the invitations have been successfully sent.
Step 6:
The Hilton Honors members you invited will receive an email invitation.
Each member can transfer or pool up to 500,000 Hilton Honors points annually.
Step 7:
Once all the points are in the primary Hilton Honors account, they can redeem them for their preferred property.
When Is It Recommended to Transfer or Pool Hilton Points?
1. When a friend or a family member needs extra Hilton Honors points to top off their accounts for a specific redemption
Occasionally, there comes a time when we inevitably find ourselves or our loved ones short on points at the exact moment that we need to stay at a Hilton property.
Whether it is a bucket-list property that suddenly became available or an expensive airport hotel that we need to urgently book for an overnight layover, those Hilton points can be incredibly valuable.
Periodically, however, our points may not be adequate to complete a reservation.
This is when transferring Hilton Honors points between members, which can be beneficial.
2. When we need additional points to take advantage of Hilton’s 5th-night free benefit
Arguably, one of my favorite Hilton sweet spots is earning the 5th night free whenever I book a property for four consecutive nights on points.
Again, this fantastic 5th-night free benefit only applies to award stays, and not paid rates.
Case in point, we stayed at the incredible Conrad Rangali Island Maldives property for four nights on points, giving us the 5th night for free.
Since one night at this splendid property requires 120,000 Hilton points, getting the fifth night free benefit saved us a significant amount of points and cash since the nightly rate was $1,500/night.
Ultimately, when you are in a situation where you need additional points to capitalize on Hilton’s 5th-night free benefit, transferring points between members is a viable alternative that may save you some hard-earned cash.
3. When you do not want to fork out the cash
Sometimes you don’t want to shell out money to pay for hotels.
If you have family members who do not mind (temporarily) parting ways with their Hilton Honors points, transferring them from their accounts to yours can be a worthwhile alternative.
In my example above, I was not willing to spend almost 1,500 USD on a hotel.
Yet, I will not hesitate to use points, especially if the redemption rate yields terrific value.
4. When you are splitting the room with a friend or a family member
Sharing a room with friends and relatives is one of my favorite frugal methods of saving money in hotels.
And this transfer feature makes it practically effortless to pool Hilton Honors points with others.
Hilton’s free transfer benefit doesn’t only encourage it, but there are no limits to the number of people you may send points to as long as you don’t go beyond the 500,000 points limit within a calendar year.
5. When you are traveling with someone who has elite status or a higher elite status
Because of the unique benefits associated with having elite status, it is recommended that whoever holds the highest Hilton Honors loyalty status should reserve the room from their account.
Doing so will unlock perks that will not only save money but also guarantee a more comfortable and memorable stay.
These benefits include late check-out, welcome amenities, complimentary breakfast, and room upgrades depending on the traveler’s elite status.
Frequently Asked Questions (Source: Hilton.com)
What is the maximum number of points a Hilton Honors Member can send to other Hilton Honors members per calendar year?
- A Hilton Honors Member may pool or transfer a maximum of 500,000 points annually. Any transaction that exceeds this limit will be canceled.
What is the maximum number of points a Hilton Honor Member can receive per calendar year?
- Each Hilton Honors member can receive a maximum of 2,000,000 points through pooling or transferring points. Transactions exceeding this limit will be prohibited.
What is the minimum number of points a Hilton Honor Member can send to another member?
- A Hilton Honor Member may transfer a minimum of 1,000 Hilton Honors points. It’s not possible to move anything less than 1,000 Hilton Honors points.
Can a Hilton Honors Member transfer or pool points without any activity?
- Yes, if you’ve been a Hilton Honors member for at least 90 days, you may transfer or pool points even if your account is inactive.
How many times can a Hilton Honors Member transfer per calendar year?
- Hilton Honors Members can initiate no more than six transfers to other Hilton Honor Member accounts per calendar year.
How many times can a Hilton Honor Member pool points with other members per calendar year?
- Each Hilton Honor member can participate in no more than six Hilton Points Pooling transactions per calendar year. A transaction occurs whenever a Hilton Honor Member moves points to another member with the purpose of pooling points.
What is the maximum number of Hilton Honors Members that can participate in points pooling?
- A total of 11 Hilton Honors members can create a “group” pool. Each Hilton Honor member can invite a total of 10 other Hilton Honor members to contribute to the “group” pool.
What is a group pool?
- A group pool can have up to 11 members who share a common goal: pool points together toward a common redemption.
- For example, if you plan a trip to Thailand with five friends, you can create a group pool with six members (your five friends and yourself).
- Each Hilton Honor member will then transfer points to the main account, which will serve as the bucket containing the entire pool of points from all members.
- Since the maximum number of points a Hilton Honors member can receive is 2,000,000 Hilton Honors points per calendar year, it is possible to pool points to a second main account once the 2,000,000 points threshold is met.
- It is recommended that the primary account be owned by a Hilton Honor Member with top-tier status to unlock Hilton elite benefits. For example, rooms should be booked by a Hilton Diamond member to gain access to upgraded rooms (including suites), complimentary breakfasts, and late check-out.
How many group pools can a Hilton Honor Member join?
- There is no limit to the number of group pools a Hilton Honor Member can join.
| Group Pool | Members | Target Number of Points |
|---|---|---|
| No Limit on the number of group pools you can join | No more than 11 members can join a specific group pool | The maximum number of points a member can receive is 2,000,000 |
| Waldorf Astoria Cabo | 7 | 2,000,000 |
| Waldorf Astoria Maldives | 6 | 1,500,000 |
| Waldorf Astoria Maui | 11 | 1,000,000 |
When will the Hilton Honor points show up in the other member’s account?
- The transferred or pooled points will be available at the time of transfer but allow up to 24 hours for the pooled points to show up when you log in to your account.
What’s the difference between Points Pooling and Points Transfer?
Points Transfer is a transaction between two Hilton Honors members, whereas Points Pooling allows up to 11 Hilton Honors members to contribute to a single account.
How often can we transfer or pool points per year?
Each Hilton Honors member can make up to six (6) transfers to other member accounts and up to six (6) Hilton Points Pooling transactions throughout the year. Transactions that exceed these limits will not be posted to the member’s account.
Credit Cards That Earn Hilton Honors Points
Final Thoughts
Hilton Honors points are a fantastic currency to accumulate as there is no shortage of places to stay within the Hilton portfolio. Their footprint is quite impressive.
You can find Hilton properties in almost every corner of the globe, which means that you can use your points almost anywhere.
As a frugal tourist, I try to use hotel points whenever I travel so I do not have to spend money on my accommodations.
This way, I can earmark the cash I save for meals, sightseeing, and other incidentals. Whatever is left gets diverted to my retirement accounts or travel funds for future trips.
Hilton’s generous transfer feature allows any member to move points to another member, giving more people access to multiple redemption possibilities available worldwide.
Similarly, their points pooling benefit ensures that families and friends can combine points.
Hilton values the importance of spending unforgettable vacations with loved ones, and this perk moves you a step closer to that goal.
Have you ever taken advantage of Hilton’s transfer & points pooling feature?
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE – Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. The content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
