T-Mobile adds Hilton hotel discounts and Hertz status to customer benefits
T-Mobile's loss in postpaid customers last year didn't stop the carrier from making some bold moves early in 2026. Some of the decisions, such as the recent price hikes, threatened to frustrate customers even further or drive them to cancel service, whereas others aimed to boost customer loyalty and engagement.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, T-Mobile reported postpaid phone churn (customer losses as a percentage) increased to 0.93%, up from 0.86% in 2024.
In addition to raising prices for some of its older plans last year and raising its late fee for customers who don't pay their bills on time, earlier this year, the carrier raised its Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery fee again and started charging $3 a month for its Apple TV "On Us" perk, which had been free for customers on Plus-level phone plan since 2021, writes TheStreet's Patricia Battle.
Additionally, T-Mobile increased its restocking fees across all device price tiers. Depending on the retail cost, customers will now pay between $25 and $75 to return a device.
However, the carrier also shared good news for customers over the last three months, such as bringing back its free full regular-season subscription to the MLB.TV app, a perk valued at $149.99.
More recently, the carrier announced a special partnership under which it has launched sweepstakes and introduced perks for all members that go beyond phone plans.
T-Mobile teams up with the National Park Foundation, launches sweepstakes
T-Mobile has partnered with the National Park Foundation to launch the "Do Not Disturb Season" for the summer of 2026. The idea behind this initiative is to encourage people to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with nature in America's national parks.
While the campaign promotes silencing phones, T-Mobile highlights that its network (including satellite connectivity) remains available for emergencies or essential communication in remote areas, according to the press release.
"Our customers take their phones virtually everywhere - including some of the most remote places in the country. Connecting people in those places is exactly what we've built our network to do. Do Not Disturb Season encourages people to step away from the everyday noise and spend more time outside, knowing their network is built for the places they want to go - from the trailhead to the summit," stated Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products, T-Mobile.
Under the campaign, T-Mobile is hosting a sweepstakes for both subscribers and non-subscribers, which is open until May 8, 2026
T-Mobile Adventure On Us offering highlights
The "Adventure On Us" grand prize package includes:
- Travel & lodging: A 4-day/3-night stay for two at a Hilton property or AutoCamp near a national park, plus roundtrip airfare and a 4-day Hertz Gold rental.
- Gear & tech: A $1,500 outdoor gear bundle, a one-year subscription to AllTrails Peak, and a one-year subscription to AccuWeather Premium+.
- Impact: A $2,000 donation to the National Park Foundation made in the winner's name.
T-Mobile launches new benefits for all members beyond the sweepstakes
Beyond the sweepstakes, T-Mobile is introducing new perks for all its customers.
- 15% off across all 27 Hilton hotel brands.
- Complimentary Hertz Five Star status through the end of 2027.
- Magenta Base Camp: A new immersive installation at Grand Central Terminal (running April 14–18) where visitors can experience national park sights and sounds and enter the raffle in person.
Why do T-Mobile new deals matter for customers?
T-Mobile's new partnership comes at a perfect time, when a growing number of consumers are experiencing the psychological weariness of a constant stream of extra fees and hidden costs, or in other words: fee fatigue.
Recent industry reports confirm that fee fatigue is a major reason behind customer dissatisfaction and churn in the American wireless market. Consumers are no longer just accepting price hikes; they are reconsidering businesses that hide costs or often raise prices.
In fact, 58% of customers cite bill increases as the leading reason they reconsider their plan, according to a March report by Oxio.
Moreover, roughly 42% of T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T customers have seen their monthly bills rise over the past year, 7% above average, according to December data by WhistleOut.
Key reasons why the offering matters for customers:
- Outdoor popularity: In 2024, the outdoor recreation participant base grew 3% to a record 181.1 million participants, or 58.6% of all Americans aged 6 and older, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.
- The savings: Normally, reaching Five Star status requires a minimum of 12–19 rentals and a minimum $2,400 in annual spending on rentals, according to Hertz. With T-Mobile's new benefits, customers essentially get thousands of dollars in loyalty equity, a one-car-class upgrade and 25% bonus points on every rental.
- Not disturbed but connected: While Do Not Disturb Season promotes silence, the underlying technology provides customers with emergency satellite access in dead zones.
As the wireless market becomes fiercely competitive, T-Mobile is again trying to differentiating itself from other carriers with lifestyle integration. Teaming up with iconic names such as Hilton, Hertz, and the National Park Foundation, T-Mobile's un-carrier strategy offers customers more than just a phone plan.
However, after recent price hikes and additional changes to its offerings that frustrated some customers, members might be skeptical. It remains to be seen if new travel perks and additional benefits will be enough to win back users' trust.
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 3:07 PM.