How many have let their HH status drop

[JohnK]

Hotel status is too difficult for me to earn.

I got Hilton Gold 6-7 years ago via fast track and lost it quickly.

I was Hilton Diamond 2-3 years from Velocity Platinum and that lasted ~18 months and I think I may have earned Hilton Silver in my own right.

I have now had Hilton Gold ~12 months from Velocity Gold and that will last another 12 months. I have 3 stays. Can't see myself getting many more and I may limp to Hilton Silver.

I have ~70,000 Hhonors points. I cannot bear to part with them for 1 room regardless of what that room costs. Need to see if I can use those points at the BKK properties.

 

[k_sheep]

I'm giving up on chasing hotel chain status - having held SPG gold for the last 4 years, and HH gold for 2 years, I'm out of the game. The bonuses have dried up - SPG had some great ones for a while such as 3 stays = 1 free night. Nothing even remotely good for the last year.

I love the free breakfast with HH and the late checkout with SPG, but I figure with all the money I save staying in non chain hotels, I can pay for the perks several times over.

 

[markis10]

I'm giving up on chasing hotel chain status - having held SPG gold for the last 4 years, and HH gold for 2 years, I'm out of the game. The bonuses have dried up - SPG had some great ones for a while such as 3 stays = 1 free night. Nothing even remotely good for the last year.

I love the free breakfast with HH and the late checkout with SPG, but I figure with all the money I save staying in non chain hotels, I can pay for the perks several times over.

You should be playing the SPG BRG game, at 2000 points a stay does not take long to rack up an AA J award to Asia

 

[Fifa]

I first joined HHonors via Velocity Platinum and got 2 years of Diamond thanks to all the advice from AFFers .
This year I have maintained Diamond on nights in various countries and a few mattress runs.
Like others, the benefits I value most are free breakfast, guaranteed exec lounge and internet. Although when travelling with a Gold a few times we received exactly the same rooms/suites and lounge with nothing additional. I like the fact that you get a stay credit for award nights.
I definitely don't get as many suite upgrades as I did when I first joined though.

I have also maintained IHG Platinum but it's certainly a juggle!

 

[k_sheep]

You should be playing the SPG BRG game, at 2000 points a stay does not take long to rack up an AA J award to Asia

I've tried that, been knocked back every single time for "minimal difference". I'm doing it wrong

 

[JohnK]

You should be playing the SPG BRG game, at 2000 points a stay does not take long to rack up an AA J award to Asia

And how many people manage to do that successfully?

 

[markis10]

And how many people manage to do that successfully?

Quite a few going by the FT threads, its a lot easier than the other chains given you dont actually have to book anything to put a claim in.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Saw the thread, logged into Hilton eventually was still Diamond, check again around 5:00pm AEDT, and was still Diamond, at about 8pm AEDT I check the mail box and find a card from Hilton, as expected Silver, log into Hilton and it shows silver, time to do a VA hit. I still have status with IHG, Platinum although at the moment Hilton is winning stays, free breakfast and free wifi do it for me, I have got lounge in the past but I know going forward just being Gold doesn't guarantee it.

 

[markis10]

I have got lounge in the past but I know going forward just being Gold doesn't guarantee it.

Unless you check the threads with other peoples experiences, giving you a likely upgrade indication. Comes in handy as a Gold where there are a number of choices in a city, ie Singapore Hilton, DT KL, Hilton Central Abu Dhabi.

 

[JohnK]

Ok. Now I am definitely missing the point of these threads.

 

[boomy]

I'm moving back to Starwood.

They have a lot of nicer properties and while I'll miss the free breakfast they've always treated me consistently well in their properties. I've lodged so many complaints in my 2 years of Hilton that I've lost count. I lodged two complaints in my 5 years holding elite status with Starwood (and one of them wasn't even a formal complaint - it was a grumbling on Twitter that the property picked up and followed up while I was still in residence).

I will however still be able to keep status thanks to VA

So far I managed to keep diamond / platinum with both SPG & HH and I can say that Starwood is by far a superior program. As you said, their properties are usually much nicer, they also offer suite upgrades, 4pm late checkout and great customer service.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I dropped from Diamond to silver last year as company no longer books Hilton. Now Blue

But moving up in the SPG ranks

 

[Kefci2000]

Going to try IHG

Have applied for a status match from HHONORS Gold up to either Gold or Diamond (if that gets knocked back will use VA Gold match).

Have a 15 night trip next month and using a combo of HH and IHG properties

 

[JohnK]

I have got lounge in the past but I know going forward just being Gold doesn't guarantee it.

As a Gold I have had lounge access including breakfast in all stays in Thailand.

Parmelia Hilton provided room upgrade and breakfast in restaurant for both stays.

 

[boomy]

I dropped from Diamond to silver last year as company no longer books Hilton. Now Blue

But moving up in the SPG ranks

I'll give you a bit of encouragement.
The difference between Hilton and Sheraton (in Sydney):
Last week I arrived at Hilton Sydney and checked in at 7pm.
Front desk: "Sir, you've been upgraded to an executive room"
Me: "Is it possible to get a relaxation room?"
Front desk: "Sorry sir, we are fully booked tonight".
Me: "But I can see availability online" (showed her on my iPhone).
Front desk: "Sorry sir, there is nothing I can do".
Arrived this morning at Sheraton Sydney and checked in at 11am.
Front desk: "Sir, you've been upgraded to a park view room".
Me: "Can you check if there are any suites available?"
Front desk: "It's a bit early but let me see what I can do... I can see one suite available but it still need to be cleaned. Do you mind waiting in the lounge and we will call you as soon as it's ready?"
Me: "No problem, thank you very much".
Front desk: "will you need late checkout tomorrow? I can do 4pm".

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I'll give you a bit of encouragement.
The difference between Hilton and Sheraton (in Sydney):
Last week I arrived at Hilton Sydney and checked in at 7pm.
Front desk: "Sir, you've been upgraded to an executive room"
Me: "Is it possible to get a relaxation room?"
Front desk: "Sorry sir, we are fully booked tonight".
Me: "But I can see availability online" (showed her on my iPhone).
Front desk: "Sorry sir, there is nothing I can do".
Arrived this morning at Sheraton Sydney and checked in at 11am.
Front desk: "Sir, you've been upgraded to a park view room".
Me: "Can you check if there are any suites available?"
Front desk: "It's a bit early but let me see what I can do... I can see one suite available but it still need to be cleaned. Do you mind waiting in the lounge and we will call you as soon as it's ready?"
Me: "No problem, thank you very much".
Front desk: "will you need late checkout tomorrow? I can do 4pm".

It's the lying to your face that really annoys me. 'Fully booked my cough!'

 

[N860CR]

Randomly... My status shows blue online but I was mailed a silver card.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Well the good old Hilton CMB has failed to notice Shrek's devaluation from Diamond to Silver and have upgraded him on his current stay to a suite

 

[QF WP]

If it was booked as a Diamond, then there is every likelihood that the system hasn't refreshed the booking. Got to love it

 

[Kefci2000]

Going to try IHG

Have applied for a status match from HHONORS Gold up to either Gold or Diamond (if that gets knocked back will use VA Gold match).

Have a 15 night trip next month and using a combo of HH and IHG properties

update

have managed to get "matched" / upgraded on both IHG and Club Carlson

have booked 7 nights in IHG and 1 in CC

have not yet been weened off Hilton, having 7 nights there