Hilton Offering Status Match

[MattJX]

Hi all. I'm hoping for some advice.
I achieved Velocity Platinum 2 weeks ago and was waiting to activate my complimentary hotel status in the new year. I am currently IHG Gold (requalified for next year) and was planning to select HHonors Diamond as my Platinum perk in 2016.
With this status match now available, would you suggest I select complimentary IHG Platinum in the new year and then match to HHonors? Would the complimentary upgrade from Velocity come through in time to give me proof for the 11th Jan status match to Hilton closing date?
An alternative might be to purchase an upgrade to IHG Platinum now just to be safe. But that seems like a waste of a complimentary status.
Appreciate any suggestions Thanks.

 

[The Flying Brick]

Hi all. I'm hoping for some advice.
I achieved Velocity Platinum 2 weeks ago and was waiting to activate my complimentary hotel status in the new year. I am currently IHG Gold (requalified for next year) and was planning to select HHonors Diamond as my Platinum perk in 2016.
With this status match now available, would you suggest I select complimentary IHG Platinum in the new year and then match to HHonors? Would the complimentary upgrade from Velocity come through in time to give me proof for the 11th Jan status match to Hilton closing date?
An alternative might be to purchase an upgrade to IHG Platinum now just to be safe. But that seems like a waste of a complimentary status.
Appreciate any suggestions Thanks.

Hi MattJX,
Hilton will status match without the actual card. You can send them a copy of the online version of your IHG Platinum card or print it and send them a scan.

After 2 years and 3 requests I am still waiting for my IHG Platinum card and have been carrying around a paper version for all that time.

The good news is that I used this for my HHonors status match request and the reply came back today confirming Diamond status until 31 March 2017

I would suggest going for the IHG Platinum and then doubling up with Hilton because you can never have too much status!

 

[MattJX]

This plan could backfire if I request IHG Plat on 1st Jan and it doesn't show on my IHG account by 11th. I would then miss out on Hilton Diamond altogether.
I also noticed that the Complimentary Hilton Diamond from Velocity WP gives up to 27months while this status match is only 12... I think. So confusing!

 

[JohnK]

Might have a go at this when I get back to office next week.

I have complimentary upgrade to Hhonors with Velocity still outstanding. Was waiting for 01 January before submitting. Also have IHG Platinum status and Accor Platinum status. I would guess that should match me to Hhonors Diamond?

 

[Kea 02]

Put in request for status match from IHG platinum, Discovery platinum, best western diamond (attained through status match)
you never know your luck in the big city, have to wait n see

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hi all. I'm hoping for some advice.
I achieved Velocity Platinum 2 weeks ago and was waiting to activate my complimentary hotel status in the new year. I am currently IHG Gold (requalified for next year) and was planning to select HHonors Diamond as my Platinum perk in 2016.
With this status match now available, would you suggest I select complimentary IHG Platinum in the new year and then match to HHonors? Would the complimentary upgrade from Velocity come through in time to give me proof for the 11th Jan status match to Hilton closing date?
An alternative might be to purchase an upgrade to IHG Platinum now just to be safe. But that seems like a waste of a complimentary status.
Appreciate any suggestions Thanks.

Wouldn't the answer be prefaced by the question how much would you use it between now and Jan 1? There is no comparison between Hilton Diamond and IHG Platinum (IMHO), but if you so desire Platinum with IHG, you could fairly easily match Hilton gold to your IHG gold if you're worried that your other idea may backfire. There's not a whole heap of difference between Hilton gold and diamond, but it's enough to make me want diamond each year. IHG keep giving me back platinum and I hardly ever use them as their scheme doesn't take me at all. YMMV.

 

[Jacques Vert]

My Diamond status came through overnight; matched to IHG Platinum and Rydges Black.

Pity this wasn't around before my European trip last year; guess I will have to plan another trip for 2016.

JV

 

[Deleted member 29185]

My Diamond status came through overnight; ... guess I will have to plan another trip for 2016.

JV

Ah, the diamond handcuffs are working already! Who says SMs don't work!

 

[Jacques Vert]

Ah, the diamond handcuffs are working already! Who says SMs don't work!

Well, someone's got to do it; might as well be me!

 

[Virgin Bart]

Hi guys, approx number of days it's taken for you SM to come through? Waiting for mine... Impatiently...

 

[jackthomas]

Hi all. I'm hoping for some advice.
I achieved Velocity Platinum 2 weeks ago and was waiting to activate my complimentary hotel status in the new year. I am currently IHG Gold (requalified for next year) and was planning to select HHonors Diamond as my Platinum perk in 2016.
With this status match now available, would you suggest I select complimentary IHG Platinum in the new year and then match to HHonors? Would the complimentary upgrade from Velocity come through in time to give me proof for the 11th Jan status match to Hilton closing date?
An alternative might be to purchase an upgrade to IHG Platinum now just to be safe. But that seems like a waste of a complimentary status.
Appreciate any suggestions Thanks.

Certainly sounds like a good plan to me, especially since IHG continue to refuse to do any Status Matches, however the Velocity Hotel matches are notorious for taking a long time to process, so I'd be keeping that in mind.

 

[boylero]

not sure what to do
I have a free HH SG membership through my Velocity SG which I havent activated but I also have an IHG Ambassador card. Should I use my IHG Ambassador to get comped for the next 12 months and then use my freeby from velocity to extend it 12 months? choices choices

 

[Deleted member 29185]

not sure what to do
I have a free HH SG membership through my Velocity SG which I havent activated but I also have an IHG Ambassador card. Should I use my IHG Ambassador to get comped for the next 12 months and then use my freeby from velocity to extend it 12 months? choices choices

Depends on your chances of renewing VA gold and your review date. If we assume you'll retain VA gold and since ambassador gives you complementary IHG gold, I'd be using the IHG gold that to match HH gold and save your VA SM for another year. If you think you have a chance of becoming VA platinum, then I'd certainly save the VA SM until then and use it to match for HH diamond (Experience here is that you'd get another VA SM in that case regardless, but I think that is a VA computer error which may be corrected at any time, so why risk it when it's not necessary).

The VA match sits in your account for as long as you retain that level. I've got a full suite of VA SMs that's been sitting there for about 3 years now. Someone else may like to confirm or correct, but I'm of the belief that if you lose your VA level (ie drop to silver) you also lose any unused SMs that you have.

 

[nonpop]

Another data point ... Confirmed HH Gold matched to Accor Gold. March 17 expiration.

As such have just booked 13 nights across Dec / Jan they wouldn't have gotten. Win for Hilton and a win for me.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Another data point ... Confirmed HH Gold matched to Accor Gold. March 17 expiration.

As such have just booked 13 nights across Dec / Jan they wouldn't have gotten. Win for Hilton and a win for me.

Thanks for that, congrats! Any details on how long it took?

 

[plugster2011]

Data Point. Submitted match claim on Wednesday 2nd. Just received confirmation matching IHG platinum Ambassador to Diamond.

Not sure if it greased the wheels at all but I had booked 9 nights at Hilton Hawaiian Village in between submitting and receiving the match.

And now they'll get another 10-15 nights as a result over the next 4 months.

 

[exceladdict]

Only just stumbled across this thread, have just applied from IHG PE, will advise on result.

Edit: threw in my best western diamond as a response to their follow up email for a giggle.

 

[nonpop]

Thanks for that, congrats! Any details on how long it took?

Approx 2 wks ... but there was a major US holiday in that period that involved turkey.

 

[dragonman]

Matched from Hyatt Diamond to Hilton Diamond. Whole process took 10 days or so.

 

[penegal]

Colleague submitted on the 4th, and match was effective by the 9th. (Hyatt Diamond screenshot showing this year's stay counter).

FWIW - I shouldn't have bothered doing so many Hilton nights this year (qualified BIS/BIB), if I knew I could get matched... Ah well.