Complimentary Elite memberships for Platinum and Gold Members

[GCC]

Have just had my match to Plat come through. I will take up one of the car rental programs, and as I'm not familiar with either (I use Avis if I ever rent a car) I wonder if anyone can help with the decision.

We will need a rental in South Africa in about 6 weeks, and that will involve 5 days driving with Mrs G and toddler G and plenty of luggage. It will also involve a drop off at a different point to the pick up.

I will be paying with Amex Plat charge, so assume that will cover any excess / deductible. I have a recollection of reading a recent Choice article that identified some problems with Europcar car, and also several letters to the SMH travel section complaining of charges for damage being made after cars were dropped off with no damage.

So I'm thinking Hertz, but happy to be swayed by someone who actually knows about the respective benefits of the programs.

 

[ozmille]

Was just reading on the Europcar website and there it says that your status is re-assessed each calendar year. Does this mean that in effect we only have 4 months of elite status?

 

[anat0l]

Was just reading on the Europcar website and there it says that your status is re-assessed each calendar year. Does this mean that in effect we only have 4 months of elite status?

Check it again - call them if needed - but I'd suspect it works like this.

Say you get the Europcar status now. You now have it until the end of the year.

On 1 January 2012, your status reassessment instruments (points, credits, whatever - I don't know - I'm not a Europcar elite) are 'reset' to 0. Now you have 12 months during 2012 to requalify your status.

 

[Pushka]

Check it again - call them if needed - but I'd suspect it works like this.

Say you get the Europcar status now. You now have it until the end of the year.

On 1 January 2012, your status reassessment instruments (points, credits, whatever - I don't know - I'm not a Europcar elite) are 'reset' to 0. Now you have 12 months during 2012 to requalify your status.

Which means, as ozmille says, we will only have it for 4 months.

 

[ozmille]

Which means, as ozmille says, we will only have it for 4 months.

I thought lets try it anyway and got the following email from Velocity;

Dear Mr ozmille,
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 shortly to complete your membership.


Kind Regards,
The Velocity Frequent Flyer Team

So if they try to revoke it in Jan I have something in writing. The privilege elite is a benefit I will definitely use so am quite happy.

 

[serfty]

Which means, as ozmille says, we will only have it for 4 months.

No, I believe anat0l means that you'd keep the status for all 2012. During that time your use of the status goes toward earning status for 2013.

 

[ozmille]

No, I believe anat0l means that you'd keep the status for all 2012. During that time your use of the status goes toward earning status for 2013.

Even better

 

[anat0l]

No, I believe Anat0l means that you keep the status for all 2012. During that time your use of the status goes toward earning status for 2013.

Sorry, this is what I meant.

 

[simongr]

Hmm - I didnt get an email saying I had asked for complimentary HHonors status but it is not available now as a benefit on my account page.

No sign though in my Hhonors account yet.

 

[Pushka]

I thought lets try it anyway and got the following email from Velocity;



So if they try to revoke it in Jan I have something in writing. The privilege elite is a benefit I will definitely use so am quite happy.

No, I believe anat0l means that you'd keep the status for all 2012. During that time your use of the status goes toward earning status for 2013.

Cool, that is better then. We plan on using it next June in Europe. Just waiting for Europcar now to contact us.

 

[serfty]

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 have been trying to confirm this.

Can anyone point out a link for those specific terms or where I may otherwise find them?

Googling the web only returns that particular post.

 

[QF WP]

One might need to be Plat and signed in to see that explanation serfty, all I can find on the VA Velocity Membership page under Platinum (the scroll down to Travel Benefits: at your desination and click the + to expand the point Complimentary Elite Membership...to Hilton Honors).

No further information given on the membership comparison page either

Hmm, just noticed that I could access Hertz Gold 5* (slightly better than Gold), but need to judge when to apply. Can't see any need yet for rentals (MEL is the only city where I regularly use to see particular clients).

 

[Danger]

I have been trying to confirm this.

Can anyone point out a link for those specific terms or where I may otherwise find them?

Googling the web only returns that particular post.

This may be what you're after:



It's written in the middle of the red-headed pop-up box. This is once I've logged in.

 

[simongr]

And this is the annoyance for me - I have my first of four bookings next week...

 

[simongr]

OK - you guys do know from reading my Trip Reports that I have OCD don't you

So a call back to Virgin today with [not the same as insert name here] and was advised that after a 48 hour turnaround it should be effective after 10 business days - which is today. SO "you will have nothing to worry about for your booking next week" and the welcome pack for HHonors should be 21 business days.

I should get an email tonight/tomorrow - if I don't get the email or status update on the HHonors website it will be back on the phone...

I was told by [not the same as insert name here] that [insert name here] had escalated to someone - so at last there was a note and a record of the benefit.

[not the same as insert name here] was certainly clearer on the process - perhaps reflecting some update on Virgin's side to document the process for their people.

Updates tomorrow or perhaps I am not sure yet...

 

[serfty]

This may be what you're after:

View attachment 3764

It's written in the middle of the red-headed pop-up box. This is once I've logged in.

Thanks, I was logged on, but the underlying URL in "Click here to find out more about Hilton HHonors™ and the benefits of being a Diamond Elite member. " was different.

As a HHonors member, you'll enjoy a host of privileges during your stay plus you can earn both HHonors Points & Velocity Points for the same stay at any of the 3600 hotels in 82 countries worldwide.

The Hilton family or properties include Waldorf Astoria®, Conrad®, Hilton®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Homewood Suites®, Home2 Suites by Hilton® and Hilton Grand Vacations®. 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.

The exclusive benefits of Diamond Elite Membership include:

Early check in and late check out ( subject to availability) Space available room upgrades Diamond reservations guarantee (48hrs in advance subject to certain restrictions) 50% bonus on Hilton Honors base points Complimentary High speed internet access Complimentary newspaper and bottled water

Selection of certain restaurant bonus point offers & complimentary dining packages across the Hilton network Access to executive floor lounge with daily complimentary Continental breakfast Worldwide recognition at Hilton worldwide portfolio of hotels.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Privilege Executive or Privilege Elite membership with the Europcar Privileges Program or, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star or Hertz #1 Club Gold Presidents Circle.

Got the status match with VA recently.
Selected Europcar Elite Program last night.

Called up Europcar today to book a car (knowing that my match hadn't gone through...yet).
No cars available for pick up at 17:30 today. Guy who l spoke to at the store sounded like he wanted to get out of there early, because he asked me a few times if l could come in at 17:00 or 16:30 or 16:00? So, there were cars available, but not at that time...

Called Thrifty, got a car reserved over the phone and picked it up at 17:30 this afternoon.
Hello Thrifty.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I note the following in the IHG offer pop-up on the Velocity page:

The exclusive benefits of Platinum Elite Membership include: Complimentary room upgrades( subject to availability)
Guaranteed room availability (72 hours in advance)
Extended checkout to 2pm (subject to availability Complimentary newspaper

Priority Check-in ensures your room and key are ready upon arrival
Exclusive toll-free Platinum Elite customer service number Earn 3 Velocity Points for every AUD spent in hotels and resorts in Australia. You will earn 600 Velocity Points per stay for hotels and resorts outside Australia.


This seems to be the same points earn for the lowest level membership; I thought you were supposed to get a 50% bonus as a platinum with Priority Club?

Has anyone stayed since becoming Platinum Elite? Did you get 3 points/$ or 4.5/$?
Can you take the priority club points instead of the Velocity points?

JV

 

[anat0l]

I note the following in the IHG offer pop-up on the Velocity page:

The exclusive benefits of Platinum Elite Membership include: Complimentary room upgrades( subject to availability)
Guaranteed room availability (72 hours in advance)
Extended checkout to 2pm (subject to availability Complimentary newspaper

Priority Check-in ensures your room and key are ready upon arrival
Exclusive toll-free Platinum Elite customer service number Earn 3 Velocity Points for every AUD spent in hotels and resorts in Australia. You will earn 600 Velocity Points per stay for hotels and resorts outside Australia.


This seems to be the same points earn for the lowest level membership; I thought you were supposed to get a 50% bonus as a platinum with Priority Club?

If I recall correctly, Priority Club will only award status bonuses if you choose to earn in Priority Club points, not miles. If you choose to earn miles:

• You do not earn bonuses on the miles you earn.
• You can only requalify for status via nights or stays.

Unlike Hilton HHonors, Priority Club does not have a "double dip" system. You must choose to earn in Priority Club points or your airline miles. You cannot hold a balance of Priority Club points whilst you choose to earn airline miles. Promotions or offers from Priority Club that give bonuses in Priority Club points cannot be substituted with miles unless otherwise stated (e.g. some promotions may advertise "Earn 10,000 bonus points or 2,000 miles" or similar).

If you choose to earn Priority Club points rather than airline miles, being a Platinum will give you 50% bonus on the base points earned for a stay. Points accumulated yearly are another measure of whether you can requalify for your Priority Club status or not (a "quirk" of Priority Club is that any points - irrespective of how you got those points - counts towards your elite status requalification).

 

[Jacques Vert]

If I recall correctly, Priority Club will only award status bonuses if you choose to earn in Priority Club points, not miles. If you choose to earn miles:

• You do not earn bonuses on the miles you earn.
• You can only requalify for status via nights or stays.

Unlike Hilton HHonors, Priority Club does not have a "double dip" system. You must choose to earn in Priority Club points or your airline miles. You cannot hold a balance of Priority Club points whilst you choose to earn airline miles. Promotions or offers from Priority Club that give bonuses in Priority Club points cannot be substituted with miles unless otherwise stated (e.g. some promotions may advertise "Earn 10,000 bonus points or 2,000 miles" or similar).

If you choose to earn Priority Club points rather than airline miles, being a Platinum will give you 50% bonus on the base points earned for a stay. Points accumulated yearly are another measure of whether you can requalify for your Priority Club status or not (a "quirk" of Priority Club is that any points - irrespective of how you got those points - counts towards your elite status requalification).

Interesting.

I note that if you take PC points the conversion rate is 5:1 (10,000 PC points = 2,000 Velocity or QFF points).

For example, you spend $200 (before GST) in Aus and you get 2,000 PC points (spendx10); these can be converted to 400 VA or QFF points (5:1). If you are plat with PC you get 50% bonus which works out to 600 points. If you put your points direct to one of the airlines you get 600 points ($ spend x 3). Thus and unless I am missing something, as far as airline miles/points are concerned, there is no benefit in being plat with Priority Club!

And even as a lowly club member, I often get the other benefits anyway.

Unfortunately, my travel allowance would rarely cover the cost of a Hilton; what to do? Decisions, decisions.....

JV