HHonors Gold/Diamond for Velocity Gold/Plat

[Bundy Bear]

For what it's worth,

VA SG applied for HH Gold on 2/4. I've previously held HH Diamond as VA WP.

Nothing heard after initial email from VA. Contacted velocity via Facebook on Friday. Was told they would sort it out and check back by Tuesday. Just checked then and I've changed from silver to gold.

Applied about the 5 April.

Welcome Bundy Bear 7,812 Points / Silver

So nothing yet.

Should I send the VA Facebook rep a Facebook message.

 

[N860CR]

I would, they seemed to get on it pretty quickly for me.

 

[markis10]

I have a feeling this benefit will be made fairer and simpler soon.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I have a feeling this benefit will be made fairer and simpler soon.

Insider trading or a hunch?

 

[markis10]

Insider trading or a hunch?

I have no insider contacts, just a hunch that its had its day.

 

[drross]

I have no insider contacts, just a hunch that its had its day.

hope you're hunch is abit off the mark.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have a feeling this benefit will be made fairer and simpler soon.

I totally agree. I think like a lot of things with Sabre changeover, website issues etc. the extra year of Hilton Status by those moving up or down status levels was an unintended benefit.
"Complimentary Partner membership with IHG’s Rewards Club® or Hilton HHonors™
Access to Platinum Partner membership with IHG’s Rewards Club® or Diamond Partner membership with Hilton HHonors™.
To request membership into your preferred program, login to your Velocity account, go to My Benefits and select your preferred option.
This benefit is only available once and is valid for 1 year. To retain Platinum-level Partner membership you will need to meet the maintain requirements for the membership of your choice."

It seems counter intuitive to offer an incentive when moving down a membership level.
Just my two cents and if it was available to me I would absolutely take advantage of it.

I wonder if the recent issues have been a combination of the end of Hilton year in March and some attempt at preventing this from happening.

 

[hummel]

I'd hope it won't change until June when I drop to SG but can't win them all!

 

[bullerdude]

Well the line in Bold is Brand new.... Not the response from VA I was hoping for but I guess at least the website doesn't lie about the benefit.

Complimentary Partner membership with IHG’s Rewards Club® or Hilton HHonors™

• Access to Platinum Partner membership with IHG’s Rewards Club® or Diamond Partner membership with Hilton HHonors™.
• To request membership into your preferred program, login to your Velocity account, go to My Benefits and select your preferred option.
• This benefit is only available once and is valid for 1 year. To retain Platinum-level Partner membership you will need to meet the maintain requirements for the membership of your choice.

FYI: I emailed them the a few weeks back with a very long complaint about the complimentary platinum membership and pointed out there were in breach of Australia Consumer Protections Law. Being VA, I was generally ignored and got a 'blah blah blah' standard response, and now a quiet update to the website.

 

[basso]

Great it finally went through, but there is no mention of the 4 stays to keep it for the full term. My hhonors account has updated, however the expiry says 2015 not 2016

As I understand it, the current offer does not require the 4 stays (the old agreement with VA recently expired, and it looks as though they have cleaned that bit up in the new agreement)

 

[GCC]

My account just updated to Gold today after applying on the 19 March. A bit odd that no email confirmation was received from either HH or Velocity. I did PM the VA rep on this forum, so many thanks VA if that was what resolved this.

I agree that this benefit feels more like a loophole than an intended benefit. It would make some sense to obtain HH Gold as a SG and then be able to upgrade to HH Diamond when you hit WP, but it makes no real sense to gain a benefit when you drop down a level. I'm very grateful that I got to double dip.

 

[lobo76]

So I'm status matched HH Gold (about 14 months ago) from when I was Velocity Gold. I'm now VA Plat (and about to requal as Plat this month).
Should I redeem my Diamond match adn if so when is the best time to do so?

 

[Princess Fiona]

So I'm status matched HH Gold (about 14 months ago) from when I was Velocity Gold. I'm now VA Plat (and about to requal as Plat this month).
Should I redeem my Diamond match adn if so when is the best time to do so?

When does your HH Gold expire?
Do you have any upcoming travel where guaranteed Exec Lounge access would be useful?

 

[lobo76]

When does your HH Gold expire?
Do you have any upcoming travel where guaranteed Exec Lounge access would be useful?

The card says 03/2015, I'll have some domestic stays this year... possibly some European ones in August but I've had reasonably success with upgrades as a Gold (mostly in Au).
I suppose it's best to hold off til early 2015 then, yea?

 

[GCC]

So long as nothing changes with the benefit, then yes as you'll have HH gold until 3/15 then diamond until 3/17 so 3 years of elite status. You will gambling however that VA/HH don't change the rules between now and early 2015...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You will gambling however that VA/HH don't change the rules between now and early 2015...

Doesn't the change in T&Cs linked to a few posts back suggest that rule change has already occurred? I know some who were in the system has received it, but those not already there may have trouble activating a 2nd bite of the cherry, even now. I'll be interested to see some feedback on this in the coming weeks/months.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I am surprised our Virgin AFF rep hasn't replied to the thread.

 

[serfty]

They have been replying to PM's - last cited the 20 business days ... that's up after today - I'll be contacting again next week.

 

[lobo76]

OH so I might not be able to obtain Diamond matching even now? :/

 

[QF WP]

Well, if it doesn't show as a Platinum benefit (when you're signed in), then no. But it is still showing.

My account shows:

-Complimentary Partner membership:
Hilton HHonors™

close
​

You opted-in to the Diamond Elite tier of the Hilton HHonors™ program on 20 May 2013.
Terms and Conditions

I think the concern shown about double dipping hasn't been qualified under the T&C's (whether going from VA Gold to Platinum the next year, or vice versa. The only change that I can see if the post by bullerdude above:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....amond-velocity-gold-32478-13.html#post1036973