HHonors Gold/Diamond for Velocity Gold/Plat

[Denali]

I've often read here to not activate until January, to extend benefits an extra year.

My husband is about to gift WP and trigger their Hilton Diamond, will advise how much long it takes as I expect it will take a few emails for the person.

 

[shuuy]

I've often read here to not activate until January, to extend benefits an extra year. My husband is about to gift WP and trigger their Hilton Diamond, will advise how much long it takes as I expect it will take a few emails for the person.

Smart to wait until January!
I received my HH diamond within 5 business days. Quick!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

even though I opted-in around October they appear to have extended the status an extra year.

I'd suggest it's simply based on when they actually process the status match. It would appear that was a few days ago, rather than October.

 

[Kangarucci]

I opted in mid Nov and have not received an email from Hilton Honors. Phoned them after Christmas and they do not have any record of an account. Told to phone Velocity, which I haven't done just yet.

 

[JohnK]

I'd suggest it's simply based on when they actually process the status match. It would appear that was a few days ago, rather than October.

True. I was expecting March 2019. Took me by surprise.

 

[Quickstatus]

I opted into Hilton Gold around October 2017. Had not heard anything. Sent email off to Velocity early December and again had not heard anything. In fact cannot even remember if my request was acknowledged.

Called a few days ago and they assured me they will follow up. I have received an email informing me that my Hilton status has been upgraded to Gold and is valid through to March 2020. So even though I opted-in around October they appear to have extended the status an extra year.

They seem inordinately slow. You are not the first.

 

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Are there any tips to speed it up? I applied a few weeks ago, and the message on the screen said it can take up to 20 (or 25, forgot the exact message) business days to process.
I've got a trip to a Hilton property next week that I was hoping to have the status for.

 

[Quickstatus]

Not I’m my experience . The application disappears into a black hole between VFF and Hilton
Best I can suggest is call.
HH will say: we have not received application
VFF will say they sent it

 

[Denali]

For my husbands benefit, VFF was a frequent poster here and he/she PMd for details and overnight it was fixed. You can try to PM VFF but he/she doesnt post often these days.

Hilton kept fobbing me off to VA, VA kept fobbing me off to Hilton - it still hasnt changed, still ridiculous.

If I was you, I would post on their FB page, asking why as a WP its so hard to get a advertised benefit and its been that way for years and what do you have to do, to get the benefit fixed overnight so you can use it next week. Be a bit pushy, they deserve it because its been years and its the same problem.

 

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Not I’m my experience . The application disappears into a black hole between VFF and Hilton
Best I can suggest is call.
HH will say: we have not received application
VFF will say they sent it

Cheers Quickstatus. I've just finished reading up on the last two years worth of posts and came to the same conclusion. Planning to Call now and email end of the week, hoping for the best.

 

[Quickstatus]

Best I can recall it took them 4 months for ours

 

[dec540]

I've had this issue 3 times so far (both the Gold hotel & hire car matches + the platinum hire car match). The trick is to wait the prescribed 20 business days then e-mail either [email protected] or [email protected] and explain that you requested the match but it hasn't gone through, providing all relevant details.

It tends to get resolved within a few days from experience.

There seems to be no appetite to look into or expedite the process even when you've had the issue twice before. I recently had a hire car booking about 24 business days after my request was made. I called and e-mailed approx 10-15 business days after the request was made, advising I've had issues before and that I had an upcoming booking. They told me to wait, so I e-mailed them after 20 business days on the dot and they managed to get the status match through literally 3 hours before I picked up the hire car.

It's BS that after all these years it still requires follow up and manual intervention for these matches to go through. They shouldn't even bother having an online link and instead resort to requesting it over e-mail since the link clearly sends data into the abyss.

 

[Denali]

I looked up my old thread (2015!) so in 3yrs, the situation is the same. Hilton Diamond and VA - Why is it so hard?

Also note that I patiently waited 8 weeks and fobbed off by both Hilton and VA multiple times before only going public got husband his benefit.

 

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

I looked up my old thread (2015!) so in 3yrs, the situation is the same. Hilton Diamond and VA - Why is it so hard?

Also note that I patiently waited 8 weeks and fobbed off by both Hilton and VA multiple times before only going public got husband his benefit.

I'll reserve going public until last. But looking into it, the Australia Hilton Honors Facebook page has been inactive since 2015. There's a toggle, however, to get to the worldwide page. They're active, and I've messaged them my details asking if they can help, or send me to someone who can. I'll be calling through later today/tomorrow to try from the VA side as well.
NB, is it the standard membership contact centre I need to call?

...All this just so I can get a room upgrade and free breakfast for my holiday :-/

 

[Denali]

........All this just so I can get a room upgrade and free breakfast for my holiday :-/

But worth it, we've had quite a few upgrades to suites.

Good luck!

 

[N860CR]

We had a major fight with VA and Hilton regarding this for my better half recently.

Both blamed each other, neither had a clue what to do. VA support is all Manila based and the care factor was less than 0.

Ended up coming through after an email was sent CC’d to the CEO.

 

[stevenwr175]

I had the same problems as listed above when I applied for it in January this year, I began by emailing them at the 14 day mark to just mention I had a trip booked and needed this done ASAP and their response was it may take up to 20 days to be activated. At the 21 day mark post application I emailed [email protected] to ask for assistance and I again mentioned I had heard they were renowned for slow access to this offer and I had a trip to Fiji booked in 7 weeks time so would now appreciate their help. They responded with in 24 hours to say they were looking into it and within a few hours post that I had the email from Hilton to confirm I had been upgraded to Diamond status.

It seems the system needs you to keep chasing Velocity for this and i recommend starting early and then re-email after their period stated and let them know you now need their help. I hope that works for more people.

I have already used the membership and yes the perks and upgrades are worth the need to chase it and also scored 2 years of membership so hang in there.

 

[Quickstatus]

After our experience with HH Diamond, I dont think its anything special.

The most memorable one is the Diamonds parking area which is usually as close as the disabled. But Ive never been able to park in one.
Other than that really nothing substantial. Ive never been upgraded.
2 bottles of water - meh
Free breakfast - but I usually get that anyway.
Free internet - no faster than lowest tier.

We are happy to lose VA WP. Nothing much to gain from it. Not going to chase it.

 

[Denali]

We're self funded travellers and really enjoyed the Diamond perks.

Upgraded to a suite quite a few times, in a couple of different countries. Lounge canapes, drinks and breakfast have been a nice perk, most breakfasts have been in the restaurant/made to order and not in the lounge.

 

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Just got upgraded to Gold a few minutes ago (per email from Hilton). (until March 2020 as well)

Thank you @Denali for the suggestion of contacting Hilton directly, I had back and forth messages with their Honors team on Facebook messenger overnight, generally a new message asking for more information and confirmation every 3 or 4 hours, and it now looks to be resolved.

Whilst still waiting for VA's Gold membership team to reply to my email.