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Hilton is offering “Bonus Miles Packages”, with the headline selling point being “earn 500 miles at our newest hotels & resorts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa“.

While commendably modest, the “500 miles” claim is actually a bit off, as several of the airlines featured offer more than 500 miles, including:

• Aeromexico: 1000 kilometers;
• Iberia: 750 Avios
• LAN: 1000 kilometers
• Virgin Atlantic: 1000 Points.

That said, El Al Israel will earn you 12 Points, JetBlue 250 Points and Virgin America 250 Points, so it’s not only upwards of the 500 mile headline.

How To Secure the Hilton Bonus Miles

To benefit from the Hilton Bonus Miles Package, you can use this link and/or if you are having any issues, use the Hilton promo code PR09EM in the Hilton Promo Code box when booking.

Why the warning?

It’s all too easy to get suckered in by bonus miles and points packages. In truth, I think it’s unlikely that anyone will find any value in this particular offer.

Taking the fairly random but illustrative example of a February night at the Higueron Hotel in Malaga (a Curio Collection by Hilton hotel), the best value night available to me is a mere €101 a night.

However, the cheapest rate with the Bonus Miles Package is €119. Taking the Avios example, there’s absolutely no way that the bonus 750 Avios (which I’d value, at best, at around €8) compensates for the additional €18 payment. Likewise even the 1000 Virgin miles. I am no expert on some of the more obscure airlines included, but I’d be very surprised if any of the Miles/Points offered come close to an €18 valuation.

However, this is one Hilton hotel on one particular day. It may be that you find a rate that justifies the Bonus Miles Package – if so, feel free to let us know in the comments.

How To Select The Airline

To choose which airline loyalty scheme the Hilton bonus miles credit to, you need to select a “preferred airline” in your Hilton Honors profile.

Given that British Airways is a non-participating airline (see below), I would change my preferred airline here to Iberia. However, subject to the exclusions below, there’s a wide choice.

Non-participating airlines

Note that the following airlines are not participating in this offer: Air Asia Big, Air China, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Eva Air, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Eastern Airline, China Southern Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, OK Cashbag, Olympic Air, Qantas, Sri Lankan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Vietnam Airlines and Virgin Australia.

So, if you’re an Avios collector with BA Executive Club, you should credit to Iberia and then use our little trick to get them transferred to BA.