Hilton Honors GOLD

[Mal]

I am going to make HH Gold halfway through my US trip.

Will the subsequent Hiltons I stay at recognise my newly earned gold status?

I would not have received the gold card yet.

Once you've stayed your last stay that makes you Gold, give HH a call and see if they can post your stay faster (you'll need the details from your stay such as rate, number of nights etc so have your receipt handy). Ask them at that stage if they can update your other bookings to ensure they have the correct status in them.

Otherwise it will take around 4 days for the stay to post and you to be upgraded. Some hotels seem to print out their check-in cards early, so may not know your new status, so perhaps a comment like "I just made HH Gold recently, can you check to see if that's reflected in the booking" may give the gentle nudge you need to remind them of your Gold status when you check in.

A card really isn't neccessary except for a couple of Hilton hotels in the US (where the card gives you benefits like special access to a buffet), but does serve as a gentle reminder of your status. The points and status bonus should post correctly regardless of what the hotel thinks your status is.

 

[Chucksta]

Once you've stayed your last stay that makes you Gold, give HH a call and see if they can post your stay faster (you'll need the details from your stay such as rate, number of nights etc so have your receipt handy). Ask them at that stage if they can update your other bookings to ensure they have the correct status in them.

Otherwise it will take around 4 days for the stay to post and you to be upgraded. Some hotels seem to print out their check-in cards early, so may not know your new status, so perhaps a comment like "I just made HH Gold recently, can you check to see if that's reflected in the booking" may give the gentle nudge you need to remind them of your Gold status when you check in.

A card really isn't neccessary except for a couple of Hilton hotels in the US (where the card gives you benefits like special access to a buffet), but does serve as a gentle reminder of your status. The points and status bonus should post correctly regardless of what the hotel thinks your status is.

Thanks for the advice Mal.

 

[Chucksta]

Maybe i can just take a print out of my HH homepage showing the GOLD status?

 

[parsonstrish]

I'm dropping down a level from Gold. But whilst Gold I got upgrades and exec lounge plus free breaky at all hiltons except waldorf in nyc. supposedly a better room but not in the tower and free breaky in oscars for continental and no exec. lounge access. If i go back to nyc i will stay hilton new york again. i was given a lovely large room, once again not in the higher level rooms but wonderful plus continental breaky.

Staying at the Waldorf can be good one time just to walk through the lounge but I pick the hilton ny over it for the room. treated myself to afternoon tea at waldorf, again this is a once off experience. fun to people watch at waldorf. kept hoping to see a famous face come out of the towers lift but missed them if they were there.

given a fantastic upgraded room at cavaleri rome hilton, just beautiful and food all day in exec. lounge.

enjoy your gold.

anyone going to nyc, don't miss the drowsy chaperone, lots of fun.

 

[Mal]

Maybe i can just take a print out of my HH homepage showing the GOLD status?

I'd take it with you, but keep it aside to show if they don't believe you're now Gold.

There should be a HH help number they can call to prove your status, but not sure if most front desks would want to call or not.

 

[alect]

Does that mean Hyatt will status match HH GOld?

Hyatt matched my HH Diamond to Hyatt Diamond.

 

[Chucksta]

Is there any other benefit for HH Diamond except the 50% bonus pts?

Is it just me or does HH Diamond seem to have the same upgrade benefits as HH Gold...

 

[Mal]

Is it just me or does HH Diamond seem to have the same upgrade benefits as HH Gold...

In theory yes, however, different hotels treat Gold and Diamond differently.

Gold has been diluted somewhat in the last few years (in terms of upgrades) whereas Diamond has still stood some of it's ground.

Conrad Singapore is a perfect example of a hotel that treats Golds ok and Diamonds very well (most of the time)!

 

[Chucksta]

Is there anyway I can get HH to comp me HH Gold?

I am currently HH Silver and I have over $5,000 USD of bookings coming up.

I should be Gold after my first stay and possibly even Diamond at the end.

Another question, are the HH pts earned during a stay based on total paid (inc taxes) or is it before tax? Makes a difference when I get gold!

 

[Mal]

Is there anyway I can get HH to comp me HH Gold?

How much time till you leave? Are you short one stay? A certain number of points?

HH comp's Gold all the time (normally by giving a fast-track (eg 4 stays to Gold), but they don't like comping it for little reason. With only 1 stay remaining, fast tracks are pretty useless I would think. You could call or email the HH Desk and ask for a comp, explaining that you would earn it on your next stay anyway and have heard great things about X hotel and how they treat Golds, or how it would make your holiday even better etc etc, I can't really think of a logical path to request it, so you may need to think about what the best way to approach a request would be.

Assuming the Perth is correct in your profile, and you are short one stay, you could check-in to Perth Hilton under the PR4499 promotion code (also known as $99 Friday Special, Room Only on the Specials Page for the hotel) this Friday night for $99 (Room only) and get a twin room. You don't even have to stay - just check in and check out.

Points are only earned on the pre-tax amount of your stay, but as incidentals are included, this could affect as well.

 

[Chucksta]

How much time till you leave? Are you short one stay? A certain number of points?

Another month before I travel.

I am short about 18,000 base pts = $1800 USD. I will easily make that during my first stay in the USA.

It's just that I have 8 subsequent bookings with HH hotels in the same month. Was hoping that based on this HH could see that I will make Gold during my first stay and comp me before I leave.

I should also make HH Diamond at the end of my trip.

Do you think I can just email HH explaining my situation? Has anyone got the HH Diamond email?

 

[serfty]

Another month before I travel.

I am short about 18,000 base pts = $1800 USD. I will easily make that during my first stay in the USA.

It's just that I have 8 subsequent bookings with HH hotels in the same month. Was hoping that based on this HH could see that I will make Gold during my first stay and comp me before I leave.

I should also make HH Diamond at the end of my trip.

Do you think I can just email HH explaining my situation? Has anyone got the HH Diamond email?

Yes, you can email.

Try [email protected]

FWIW, I was comped Silver after several emails - took a few more tries before they comped me Gold - I have since been earning it via stays annually anyway.

More on that here:

• There it was .... Gold! - FlyerTalk Forums

Other (FlyerTalk) references:

• Hilton HHonors Gold versus Hilton HHonors Diamond: What Are the Differences? - FlyerTalk Forums
• The Definitive Hilton HHonors Status Match Thread - FlyerTalk Forums
• Hilton HHonors Gold VIP Status Short Cuts: Fast Track, Instant, Challenges and Comps - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Chucksta]

Yes, you can email.

Try [email protected]

Is this a special flyertalk email for hilton?? Are they on the Flyertalk forum as well?

Serfty: How long did it take HH to reply thru email?

 

[Chucksta]

Got this reply from the HH email.

In order to maintain the integrity and protect the benefits of the Gold VIP program, I am unfortunately unable to provide complimentary upgrades to the Gold VIP level. As there is a program cost associated with providing these benefits, it is not financially feasible for us to provide this level to those members who do not earn the level based on the revenue generated through their individual stays and room nights.

Looks like a cut and paste job from the email sent to Serfty!

I will try the flyertalk@hilton email next... fingers crossed..

I don't see what the big deal in comping me gold when i'm going to get it anyway in just another stay.

 

[Chucksta]

Got this reply from Flyertalk@hilton

At this time, I do not have any available offers to upgrade your account
to the Gold or Diamond VIP levels. The qualifying activity must be
completed and added to your account before VIP upgrades and benefits are
offered.

Oh well.... looks like a no go...

 

[drron]

Dont worry so much chucksta.All will be well.When I made HH diamond the hotel stay that got me there was the Hilton King Of Prussia,PA.At check in I was greeted with Welcome drron.i see that this stay will make you diamond so we have given you a suite and here are coupons for free drinks in our bar and of course you will get our full breakfast in the morning.
Unfortunately the properties are not consistent and this was exceptional.Certainly when your status changes remind the property,have a printout of your status just in case.The only problem will be that your gold status is not shown until the stay posts which sometimes is a while.
So at the qualifying hotel just announce none too subletly that this stay will make you Gold.At the next property if the stay has not posted tell them at checkin that the last stay made you gold and have the receipt handy just in case.
If you are upgraded to the executive floor then anyone in your room gets the lounge access and/or free breakfast.I have yet to be charged for taking a guest to the lounge but i do it infrequently.I have seen others charged though.Sometimes again the property can go the extra mile-at the DT Walt Disney World 4 grandkids and their parents were staying in a separate room but they were all given a free full breakfast because i was diamond.
So a lot will depend on the specific properties that you are staying at.If they are one of the more lousy ones even if you got comped to gold the only benefit may be the free continental breakfast anyway.If a good property it may make no difference being comped now.

 

[Chucksta]

How do HH work out the points?

eg: say if my rate is $449 plus tax per night (3 night stay)

Total for stay: $1536 (with taxes)
Rate for stay: $1347

Does that mean i get 15360 base points or do I only get 13470 base points?

ie are taxes included in the HH points calculation?

This is going to affect when I get GOLD and if I get to DIAMOND!

Chucksta

 

[oz_mark]

How do HH work out the points?

eg: say if my rate is $449 plus tax per night (3 night stay)

Total for stay: $1536 (with taxes)
Rate for stay: $1347

Does that mean i get 15360 base points or do I only get 13470 base points?

ie are taxes included in the HH points calculation?

This is going to affect when I get GOLD and if I get to DIAMOND!

Chucksta

Usually it is without taxes, but I have had taxes included.

(same as Premium club discount, I had points on the full price, and sometimes on the discounted price)

 

[drron]

Unfortunately taxes no longer count for hhonors points.

 

[JohnK]

The tax has not been included in the HHonors points credited to my account for all my Hilton stays. I have been a HHonors member since 2005.