Complimentary Elite memberships for Platinum and Gold Members

[castow]

Welcome to AFF castow! I don't yet have my HH match (only recently requested). I imagine it might be early days for those matched by Velocity as far as trying a further match from HH to other hotel schemes. An interesting idea though and I'm sure some people would be interested in doing so. As a solely self-funded leisure traveller there is not too much point me jumping around matching too muchas maintaining a reasonable status in one scheme is problematic, or at the very least I've got to pick and choose with whom and when. A little different for me with airlines though, although the Flying Blue match I took up was probably a bit optimistic.

Thanks Tuapekastar, long time lurker first time poster. I just hit VA Gold a few days ago and perhaps I am getting a little greedy lol.

I have a couple of long haul trips planned to Europe next year and thought I would see what my options were as I am looking to take my wife to Paris for a belated honeymoon mid next year.

Hopefully by then Singapore Air will be onboard as I have heard that the stop in AUH with Etihad can be a big chore and via LAX with VS is almost double the price.

 

[castow]

I don't believe Hyatt match any more, but instead may offer a challenge. As for other chains, some will request evidence of stays.

Which chains do you have in mind?

Hi Oz_mark, I was contemplating Hyatt at this stage as they have some very nice properties around Asia and Europe where I do most of my flying.

If I was to complete the required 4 stays to extend HHonor's for the full 12 month period I am assuming that this should be enough evidence to support a status match with Hyatt via their Diamond challenge?

 

[MrJetset]

Hi Oz_mark, I was contemplating Hyatt at this stage as they have some very nice properties around Asia and Europe where I do most of my flying.

If I was to complete the required 4 stays to extend HHonor's for the full 12 month period I am assuming that this should be enough evidence to support a status match with Hyatt via their Diamond challenge?

As per my previous post you will need to submit stay and night credit to be applicable for a Diamond Trial i.e. no it will not be sufficient. Why should they match you for a challenge at the top tier when you can't prove similar status with another chain?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Suprised nobody noticed this yet:

Gold and Platinum members who enrol into a car hire program or hotel program as outlined in clause 3(a) and (b), will receive a minimum of 12 months complimentary enrolment in the program from the date of their enrolment in the program, excluding enrolment by Platinum members into the Hilton Diamond Elite Level which is 6 months complimentary membership (Complimentary Elite membership).

So definitely IHG Priority Club for me.

There's this though:

As a Platinum Velocity Member you can enjoy complimentary Diamond Elite Membership in the Hilton Honors Program for a 6 month period. And if you stay 4 times at any Hilton Worldwide property within the 6 months your complimentary membership will be extended out to 12 months

I would hope I would stay at a Hilton at least 4 times in 6 months to enjoy the benefits (esp Exec Club anytime).

I just went looking for these previously mentioned T&Cs. They look like Velocity T&Cs, but I now can't find them.

Two questions, the 4 stays in 6 months.........when does the 6 months start. When applied through Velocity (in my case, 28/8) or when upgrade came through with HH (in my case between 14/9 and 14/10.....not exactly sure when).

1D mentioned Exec. ATA.....was this wishful thinking or actually a benefit (assuming ATA refers to non-stay visits)?

 

[serfty]

I just went looking for these previously mentioned T&Cs. They look like Velocity T&Cs, but I now can't find them.

Two questions, the 4 stays in 6 months.........when does the 6 months start. When applied through Velocity (in my case, 28/8) or when upgrade came through with HH (in my case between 14/9 and 14/10.....not exactly sure when).

1D mentioned Exec. ATA.....was this wishful thinking or actually a benefit (assuming ATA refers to non-stay visits)?

See posts #93 and #96.

q1 - no-one seems to know as it does not appear to be working as per the pop-up.

q2 - you need to be on an eligible stay and have the "Upgrade" my-way ViP option selected to get the guaranteed lounge access for Diamond.

 

[Flashback]

I know this thread has gone a bit cold, but hopefully a few more people have been able to get their HH and Europcar status matches completed and can pass on their experiences.

Just wanted to get a couple of things clarified if I may please from those who have already taken up the offers, or even those with an opinion on how they see the situation at the moment. Some commentary on my points below would be much appreciated.

I've got my VA WP status match and obviously want to make the most of the benefits.
I am not currently a HH member.
I am already a Europcar Privilege member.

Hilton

• If I join HH after 1/1/12 (say 15/1/12) I will get instant Platinum status but then have until 15/7/12 to complete 4 stays (per the offer rules) to crystalise my Platinum membership for 12 months.
• Will that mean I have HH Plat until 31/3/14, because the first full 12 months of being Plat would only be the 2013 calendar year (per serfty), thereby giving me the ~50 weeks of 2012 for free?
• The extra 3 months in 2014 i.e. until 31/3/14 would then be the membership re-assessing period before being dropped back (per straitman)
• I don't have any HH bookings this year so can hang on until 2012 to make the application (provided the benefit isn't pulled by VA). I can easily get 4 stays done in six months with a few trips to see the in-laws in Yorkshire though.

So if I timed this right and joined in January 2012 (and had 4 quick stays) I could potentially get ~26 months as a HH Plat?

Europcar

In the next six months I have already booked some upcoming rentals in TFN, BSL and MUC plus I have the need for a car in MEL, NAD, CPT and JTR. The free upgrade would obviously be very handy as would the additional driver for Mrs NCM. The free weekend rental is also obviously a nice benefit to have to use from London.

• If I upgrade my Privilege account to Privilege Elite (anybody know timeframes on doing that?) what are the connotations for re-qualifying and when do Europcar membership years start and finish? The TFN rental is at Christmas for 9 days so I wouldn't mind the benefits applying for that, but obviously if the membership year situation works like I think it does for HH above then it will be ok to hold off and ask for the upgrade to Elite in January as well so that I could keep it for longer - keeping it for all of 2013 would far outweigh the upgrade in TFN.

The expiry of my Velocity Plat membership would have no bearing on either of these programs either?

What does everybody think? Have I read the information in the thread wrong because it seems that holding off for a little while before taking up the offer may mean a longer period of being able to enjoy HH Plat at the least.

Thanks
NCM

I plan on doing this too.

I'm currently HH Gold but I will fall short of requalifying this calendar year by about 4 stays.

I'm planning to do this too. If it does end up being the case, if I don't re-qualify in 2014 I could then use my UK AMEX to get the free HH Gold they offer too and extend even further.

 

[Reggie]

I put my request through to opt in to membership with the Europcar Privilege Program on 21 Nov 2011, and other than the

"We are pleased to confirm that you have selected to receive a complimentary 12 month membership into the Privilege Elite tier of the Europcar Privilege program.

Europcar will be in contact with you to complete your membership in up to 20 business days." email,

but still haven't heard anything from Europcar or Virgin some 25 business days later!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

no-one seems to know as it does not appear to be working as per the pop-up.

So it seems they are conditions notified by Velocity but stipulated by HH. If that's correct, it should be the later of the two dates (when HH upgraded the account), or perhaps the six months is just too hard to administer.

I guess it will be a wait and see to the end of Feb '12 and see if anyone starts falling off the perch.

 

[inne17]

I put my request through to opt in to membership with the Europcar Privilege Program on 21 Nov 2011, and other than the

"We are pleased to confirm that you have selected to receive a complimentary 12 month membership into the Privilege Elite tier of the Europcar Privilege program.

Europcar will be in contact with you to complete your membership in up to 20 business days." email,

but still haven't heard anything from Europcar or Virgin some 25 business days later!

Me too. I applied on 28th Nov 2011. Still haven't heard from Europcar yet. I will give virgin guest centre a call to follow up.

 

[Reggie]

Me too. I applied on 28th Nov 2011. Still haven't heard from Europcar yet. I will give virgin guest centre a call to follow up.

Let me know how you go please.

 

[JetLagged]

I put my request through to opt in to membership with the Europcar Privilege Program on 21 Nov 2011, and other than the

"We are pleased to confirm that you have selected to receive a complimentary 12 month membership into the Privilege Elite tier of the Europcar Privilege program.

Europcar will be in contact with you to complete your membership in up to 20 business days." email,

but still haven't heard anything from Europcar or Virgin some 25 business days later!

My upgrade took considerably longer than 20 business days tyo finally come through: it must surely be a Europcar issue. I had placed my request in early October, receved confirmation that it had been accepted and forwarded for dinal processing (by which I thought it meant sending out my card) in late November, but by early December there was still nothing on the system when I picked up a car at LHR. Fortunately, I had taken a copy of the email from November so got the car upgrade and no fee for extra driver.

Now, have received an email before Chriostmas to say that my new card would be on its way - but by 28th still had not arrived.

 

[leemin]

My upgrade took considerably longer than 20 business days tyo finally come through: it must surely be a Europcar issue. I had placed my request in early October, receved confirmation that it had been accepted and forwarded for dinal processing (by which I thought it meant sending out my card) in late November, but by early December there was still nothing on the system when I picked up a car at LHR. Fortunately, I had taken a copy of the email from November so got the car upgrade and no fee for extra driver.

Now, have received an email before Chriostmas to say that my new card would be on its way - but by 28th still had not arrived.

Has your card arrived yet?

 

[jkhastings]

Velocity Rewards Gold HHonors Elite Gold offer

As a Velocity Gold member, I recently took up Velocity's offer of joining HHonors at Elite Gold level for 12 months. I received my membership card in the mail, and guess what? It says I'm Blue status. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Tried calling HHonors, but after a few minutes on hold, they hang up on you.

 

[vitagen]

Re: Velocity Rewards Gold HHonors Elite Gold offer

Takes about 2+ weeks to update from blue to gold, the same thing happened to me.

 

[james1]

Re: Velocity Rewards Gold HHonors Elite Gold offer

As a Velocity Gold member, I recently took up Velocity's offer of joining HHonors at Elite Gold level for 12 months. I received my membership card in the mail, and guess what? It says I'm Blue status. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Tried calling HHonors, but after a few minutes on hold, they hang up on you.

Yep same thing happened to me. Although I was updated to Gold via HHonors membership account page I was sent a Blue status card. This was last Sept. I never bothered chasing up and it hasn't been an issue at any of my stays since as all Gold benefits have been applied.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Re: Velocity Rewards Gold HHonors Elite Gold offer

Once you're showing as a Blue member on the HHonors website, you can request a replacement membership card for free through the website (takes 2-4 weeks to arrive). Hotels can see your current status just from the number (even if you have the Blue card), but it's always nice to have the shiny card haha

 

[serfty]

Re: Velocity Rewards Gold HHonors Elite Gold offer

As a Velocity Gold member, I recently took up Velocity's offer of joining HHonors at Elite Gold level for 12 months. I received my membership card in the mail, and guess what? It says I'm Blue status. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Tried calling HHonors, but after a few minutes on hold, they hang up on you.

Have you checked what it indicates for your status online?

 

[aplmac]

Already ticked the boxes! Being an existing Priority Club and Europcar member, the added 'boost' is very welcomed. Hopefully the upgrading process doesn't take too long to come through, as I'm off in three weeks O/S using both these program partners...

 

[Deleted member 18152]

Question; going to Europe (think France/Italy/Croatia) what's better out of the Hertz and Europcar status for Platinums? P.S. I'll be 22 at this point. Thanks fellow AFF'ers!

 

[aplmac]

I'm off to the UK next month, and threw in my lot with Europcar, as I'm doing the trip on the cheap and I could pay for the car hire from FF points. That wasn't an option with Hertz. I haven't used them before, so I'll see how it works out!