How I Ask for a Room Upgrade When I Check In to a Hotel

When I check in to a hotel, I often wonder what upgrades are available. After all, who doesn’t love more space to spread out? Even though I’m an elite member with several different hotel brands, knowing how to check and see if an upgrade is available is key to getting a better room for your stay.

Even if you can’t secure a suite, there are plenty of better rooms you might want to stay in, including corner rooms, rooms on a higher floor, or rooms with a balcony. So, it’s important to know how and what to ask for when you arrive.

You can use a few strategies to try and get a room you prefer. We’ll go through those strategies so you can be more prepared.

Elite Upgrades

It’s important to note that some travelers are eligible for elite upgrades as a benefit of status.

For example, elites with World of Hyatt Globalist and Marriott Bonovoy Platinum Elite or Titanium Elite status are eligible to be upgraded to a room up to and including an entry-level suite at all hotels. If you’re a Hilton Honors Diamond, however, the policy is a little more lax and includes rooms up to and including suites, but the upgrades are defined based on the property.

In these situations where you’re eligible for an upgrade, the hotel may or may not upgrade you in advance but generally will wait to change your room until you physically check in, which means other customers could end up snagging a preferred room before you if you’re checking in late. Some hotel chains, like Hilton, allow you to select your room in advance on their app, which means you can secure the best room in advance, though it sometimes comes at a fee.

Most hotel loyalty programs offer space-available upgrades to the highest elites, but you may also be able to access benefits like a suite upgrade award or nightly upgrade award.

Even if you don’t have elite status, you can still use the tips here to ask for a better room.

Check the Hotel’s Inventory

One of the best ways to ask for an upgrade is to know what upgrades are specifically available. To do this, open the hotel’s app or website and try to make a duplicate booking for the same nights as your stay. Don’t worry, you won’t actually reserve anything.

Enter your dates of travel and see what rooms show as available. This can give you an idea of what types of upgrades are available and which rooms are still for sale. Generally, you can assume that if a room is available for purchase, it’s also available for upgrade.

Some hotels, however, will tell you that the app or website doesn’t show real-time inventory, and if you see a suite for sale, for example, it doesn’t exactly mean a suite is available. Many hotels use this tactic to dissuade travelers from trying to upgrade. Still, the reality is that if you can ordinarily reserve a room on the hotel’s website, you should be entitled to that room as an upgrade.

However, remember that upgrades can change minute by minute, so even if you see an available room now, it may not be available when you check in.

Asking for a Corner Room

If you’re looking for a little more room or privacy and no suites are available, a corner room can be a great option. These rooms are usually at the end of the hotel and are much quieter due to less foot traffic. One of the walls will usually face outside, so it’s 1 less neighbor you’ll be next to.

Many times, there is no charge to request a corner room, and many travelers don’t think to ask for these coveted rooms, either. However, not all corner rooms include more space, so ask yourself if this is important to you.

Keep in mind that corner rooms are usually the furthest away from the elevator, so if you don’t like to walk, you may want to avoid reserving one.

Upgrade Midstay

If an upgrade is unavailable for the entire length of my stay, depending on the property, I may ask if an upgrade is available the next day or midstay. To be clear, a property isn’t required to move your room for this type of case, and the onus may be on you to check to see if an upgrade is available while you’re midstay. Many properties will, however, both attempt to show loyalty to you and to free up entry-level rooms that are more likely to sell.

Sometimes, an upgrade may not be available for all the dates I plan on being at the hotel, but a particular room may be freed up partway through. Usually, only the front desk will be able to work with you on this to see the proper behind-the-scenes inventory, but it’s always worth checking.

Cash Upgrades

At some hotels, cash is king. If I have elite status and standard suites are sold out, I may ask about using cash for upgrades to a higher-category room that I usually wouldn’t be eligible for. At many hotels, the property is willing to sell premium rooms to those willing to pay even a fraction of what that room would generally sell for. Typically, you won’t pay the total cost of the standard rate, but it is a far reduced amount as an upgrade.

Premium suites and rooms at many properties tend not to get sold unless there’s a special event or function, so you have a good chance of trying to secure an upgrade if these rooms are still available at check-in.

Being Flexible

Premium rooms are in extreme demand at some hotels, so being flexible can go a long way. If you don’t need a late checkout, you may have a better chance of getting a front desk representative to provide you with an upgrade since basic rooms are easier and faster to clean with housekeeping.

Similarly, if you arrive at the hotel early but no better room is available when you get there, let the front desk know you’re willing to wait until a room becomes available, even if that’s much later in the day. Most hotels will usually store your bags for you while you head out or sightsee, so this may make the most sense, especially if you don’t plan on spending most of your arrival day in the room.

Final Thoughts

When I check in at a hotel, I always try to maximize my upgrade potential by knowing what rooms are still available and what rooms to ask for. I often find that most front desk agents are more than willing to help a customer receive an upgrade if the customer is friendly but knowledgeable, so be sure to try these strategies the next time you arrive for your next hotel stay!