Hilton discontinues Points & Fixed miles

[BOZZ]

I received email this morning from Hilton that starting 6 January they will discontinue points & fixed miles earning style. Here's the copy of the email

Over the years, we have evolved and enhanced the Hilton HHonors™ program to provide benefits that deliver value and complement the way you travel. We have reviewed our members’ earning preferences and have decided to simplify our Earning Style Options.

On January 6, 2014, we will discontinue the Points & Fixed Miles Earning Style. At this time, you will automatically start to earn variable miles, or 10 HHonors Base Points plus one airline mile (or kilometer) per eligible US dollar spent for most stays.* This will appear as Points & Miles™ in your HHonors account profile. To learn more about this update and our Points & Points Earning Style, please visit us here.

We know the ability to Double Dip® is important to you and are pleased to be able to continue to offer this unique benefit. Hilton HHonors is the only hotel loyalty program that lets you earn Points & Miles from your choice of more than 50 airlines around the world. This update allows us to remain focused on the most widely-used rewards our members value.

Thank you for staying with us and we look forward to hosting you on your next getaway at any one of our 4,000 hotels and resorts worldwide.

Sincerely,

Mark Weinstein
Vice President - Hilton HHonors

 

[Austman]

Fixed Miles Earning to end on 6th Jan 2014.

From HH:

No more 1,000 QFF points (sometimes 2,000) for me/stay unless I spend US$ 1,000.

An update from hilton hhonors Dear Austman,

Over the years, we have evolved and enhanced the Hilton HHonors™ program to provide benefits that deliver value and complement the way you travel. We have reviewed our members’ earning preferences and have decided to simplify our Earning Style Options.

On January 6, 2014, we will discontinue the Points & Fixed Miles Earning Style. At this time, you will automatically start to earn variable miles, or 10 HHonors Base Points plus one airline mile (or kilometer) per eligible US dollar spent for most stays.* This will appear as Points & Miles™ in your HHonors account profile. To learn more about this update and our Points & Points Earning Style, please visit us here.

We know the ability to Double Dip® is important to you and are pleased to be able to continue to offer this unique benefit. Hilton HHonors is the only hotel loyalty program that lets you earn Points & Miles from your choice of more than 50 airlines around the world. This update allows us to remain focused on the most widely-used rewards our members value.

Thank you for staying with us and we look forward to hosting you on your next getaway at any one of our 4,000 hotels and resorts worldwide.

Sincerely,

Mark Weinstein
Vice President - Hilton HHonors

 

[serfty]

Ouch! Neither Qantas nor Virgin Australia have has the Points and Variable miles option available - it's been HH point+fixed or HH points only.

EARNING POINTS

 

[anat0l]

For those who sweep the double dip to AA, this also means discontinuation of a fixed 500 miles and instead reverting to a mile per USD. (Which of course means zip to those who have long or expensive stays, but for those of us on single night stays, that hits hard).

Maybe time to just go back to points+points?

 

[drdpr]

Completely consistent with my comments in the coffee thread on cost cutting across group by blackstone. Variable miles in the main means less points thus less cost for Hilton. This, plus recent down grading of point value for redemptions all clearly points to the direction they are taking HH. As my insider said they are killing the brand for short term gains to offload their stake. Cutting costs on laundry, eg not washing towels during the stay, likely turndown service is culled or reduced to selected guests.

 

[JohnK]

Not good to see these type of "enhancements"!

While no change to Virgin Atlantic for now how much longer before that is "enhanced"?

 

[MartinO]

Not good to see these type of "enhancements"! While no change to Virgin Atlantic for now how much longer before that is "enhanced"?

The Virgin Atlantic option for variable miles stays. The Virgin Atlantic option for fixed miles is going. So if you're on the 1,000 points per stay option, it is being 'simplified' out of existence..

 

[JohnK]

The Virgin Atlantic option for variable miles stays. The Virgin Atlantic option for fixed miles is going. So if you're on the 1,000 points per stay option, it is being 'simplified' out of existence..

Ooooh! I clicked on the wrong link.

Well that puts a dampener on any future Hilton stays as I value Hhonors points at next to nothing. At least though Virgin Atlantic earns 2 VS Flying miles per US$ which is double most other FF programs.

 

[serfty]

As posted, this counts out QF / VA points eaning unless they come under the variable miles umbrella.

 

[dajop]

Ooooh! I clicked on the wrong link.

Well that puts a dampener on any future Hilton stays as I value Hhonors points at next to nothing. At least though Virgin Atlantic earns 2 VS Flying miles per US$ which is double most other FF programs.

Although Virgin Atlantic is a hefty penaliser when it comes to fuel fines and one of the more challenging ones to find meaningful inventory with partner airlines, which devalues this a bit. At $25: 1 NZ Airpoint, and the absence of fuel fines on most airpoints redemptions, there could be some sweet spots in Airpoints (eg flying to NZ on a $400 return sale fare, ie $250 + govt taxes) takes 250 Aussie Airpoints, which is equivalent to a Hilton spend of $7500.. or 7500 points in most other programs.

 

[JohnK]

Although Virgin Atlantic is a hefty penaliser when it comes to fuel fines and one of the more challenging ones to find meaningful inventory with partner airlines, which devalues this a bit.

There were a few reasons I went with Virgin Atlantic after the demise of BMI.

Firstly Hilton stays earned 1,000 VS miles and some great promotions
Secondly car hire from Avis and Hertz earns 1,000 VS miles per rental (I am hiring a car both days this weekend for 2,000 VS miles)
Thirdly I can transfer Amex MR points 1:1 and occasionally they have 15%-25% bonus points promotions
Fourthly I can transfer e-rewards points at 6,400:2,000

A business class award SYD-HKG or vv is only 40,000 VS miles + ~AUD220 taxes and fuel surcharges and I can generally find availability ~6 months or more from travel date.

 

[dajop]

A business class award SYD-HKG or vv is only 40,000 VS miles + ~AUD220 taxes and fuel surcharges and I can generally find availability ~6 months or more from travel date.

Ok, I see. Makes sense. For me, VS is a pain, SYD-HKG is no use as it's a long way around to get from SIN-MEL! I have a significant number of VS points from an Amex bonus points transfer a few years ago, and have been trying to use on SQ for a while. SQ have availability, BMI (previously) and AV (now) had availablity, even UA/NH have availability, but VS just never seem to have the seats ... and I'm even talking Y. Maybe I should look at using on VS HKG-LHR, it's not such a detour. Alternatively the new DL tie up may bring better options.

 

[BOZZ]

I used points & fixed miles to VS like JohnK (and short term car rentals from Avis + e rewards). It might be time to go points + points

 

[k3nnis]

Am I the only one that uses points+variable miles?

It's probably because when I go away I stay at least 5 nights....

 

[serfty]

Am I the only one that uses points+variable miles?

It's probably because when I go away I stay at least 5 nights....

Variable miles has not been an option for QF (nor VA) in the last 10 years at least.

 

[k3nnis]

I see. I only use it for VS.

 

[JohnK]

Am I the only one that uses points+variable miles?

It's probably because when I go away I stay at least 5 nights....

You must be the only one. How often do you go away?

 

[k3nnis]

Not often at all. Twice a year for the past couple of years due to a 3 year old lol.

 

[drron]

With a whole lot of 1 or 2 night stays coming up in the UK next year this couldn't be timed worse.
Our normal stays are 3-6 nights but now all those are with SPG.Unfortunately they are poorly represented in the UK.

 

[ash.1111]

Has anyone else not received this e-mail??? Very strange.

And at the very least, I hope VA comes to the variable miles party. Otherwise I might need to reconsider my whole approach.