AMEX Platinum Charge Benefits - Q&A

[Haplo]

I got an email from Hilton confirming I am now Gold - I got excited for a second when I thought I would get Diamond

 

[DC3]

I got an email from Hilton confirming I am now Gold - I got excited for a second when I thought I would get Diamond

Good news. I was wondering how long it took HHonors to confirm your Gold status. Just to get an idea of their response time.

 

[s15blk]

Good news. I was wondering how long it took HHonors to confirm your Gold status. Just to get an idea of their response time.

Under 48 hours after I sumitted via Amex.

 

[DC3]

Under 48 hours after I sumitted via Amex.

That's a very fast response from HHonors. Thank you for sharing.

 

[misterchan]

The only difference between Hilton Gold to Hilton DM is the possible upgrade to suites (rare but it does happen) along with guaranteed access to club for DM. It's just that I've never heard any Golds getting denied club access ever.

I did get an upgrade from el cheapo room to a suite at Hilton Tokyo, but it turned out they didn't even have my HHonors Gold number on file - that was purely because I informed them it was my honeymoon. However as an Honours Gold, I've never been offered club access before. Are you saying just walk in?

 

[mitwg]

I did get an upgrade from el cheapo room to a suite at Hilton Tokyo, but it turned out they didn't even have my HHonors Gold number on file - that was purely because I informed them it was my honeymoon. However as an Honours Gold, I've never been offered club access before. Are you saying just walk in?

Nope, definitely not what I meant. If one was to say Hilton Golds ALWAYS gets club access, that would be incorrect. But at the same time, it would also be extreme to say that Golds NEVER get club access (I think the truth will be closer towards always then never though).

if you have never been offered lounge access before, then there's clearly a problem. Either the property you frequent isn't following the rules or as you mentioned, they may not have your number on file (or they don't have a club). The only time where you shouldn't be given access to the club lounge as a gold is when it is "full".

I'd definitely chase this up with the front desk on each check in.

 

[misterchan]

if you have never been offered lounge access before, then there's clearly a problem. Either the property you frequent isn't following the rules or as you mentioned, they may not have your number on file (or they don't have a club). The only time where you shouldn't be given access to the club lounge as a gold is when it is "full".

I'd definitely chase this up with the front desk on each check in.

Thanks mitwg, I'll definitely do that next time. I'm most often at the Conrad Singapore and Hilton Tokyo

However, I can't find any reference on the HHonors site to lounge access for Gold. I can see it for Diamond status. The page I'm looking at is Loyalty Rewards from Hilton HHonors. Am I on the wrong page? Do you have a link to the rules you are talking about that the properties should be following and that I can direct the staff to on my next visit?

For Gold

Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton™

• Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
• 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or a complimentary continental breakfast for you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of your stay

For Diamond

Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton™

• Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
• 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay
• A complimentary continental breakfast for you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of your stay
• Executive Floor Lounge Access (available at select properties[SUP]7[/SUP])

 

[mitwg]

Check the footprints for Golds.

It it says 'only if you receive an upgrade to club floors' but this isn't always the case. I've heard of Golds getting access added on without club level rooms.

[SUP]7[/SUP]Executive Floor Lounge Access Policy: The following policy applies at all Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton™ hotels with Executive Floor Lounges. Executive Floor Lounges are available only at select properties.

• If you are an HHonors guest with Gold status, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will be granted complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge only if you receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits.
• If you are an HHonors guest with Diamond status, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will always enjoy complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge, even if you do not receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor.

 

[misterchan]

Thanks mitwg - They've never been able to upgrade me to an Exec Floor room before, so it makes sense. I'll make sure to ask specifically for access next time. Can't hurt right? Thanks!

Check the footprints for Golds.

It it says 'only if you receive an upgrade to club floors' but this isn't always the case. I've heard of Golds getting access added on without club level rooms.

[SUP]7[/SUP]Executive Floor Lounge Access Policy: The following policy applies at all Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton™ hotels with Executive Floor Lounges. Executive Floor Lounges are available only at select properties.

• If you are an HHonors guest with Gold status, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will be granted complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge only if you receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits.
• If you are an HHonors guest with Diamond status, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will always enjoy complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge, even if you do not receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor.

 

[Haplo]

I called Amex travel again and the information I got this time is as follows:

Accor + and Accor platinum gone! Must register by 15 April to get one year benefit
Accor + said (I also called A+）if you have accor plus it will remain valid till your anniversary

Replaced with

1. Hilton Gold
2. Travel credit to go from 200 to 300

Overall it is a really bad outcome. A+ is worth $300 but is now replaced with $100 travel credit plus trading Accor Platinum with Hilton Gold (I value Accor more due to more property in Australia, and everyone these days is Hilton Gold due to status match), so effectively devalues the card by more than $200.

 

[netaddict]

I called Amex travel again and the information I got this time is as follows:

Accor + and Accor platinum gone! Must register by 15 April to get one year benefit
Accor + said (I also called A+）if you have accor plus it will remain valid till your anniversary

Replaced with

1. Hilton Gold
2. Travel credit to go from 200 to 300

Overall it is a really bad outcome. A+ is worth $300 but is now replaced with $100 travel credit plus trading Accor Platinum with Hilton Gold (I value Accor more due to more property in Australia, and everyone these days is Hilton Gold due to status match), so effectively devalues the card by more than $200.

Did they say when this will go out officially to card members?

Loosing Accor Plus is one thing but the Platinum status with Accor is really what's the biggest loss ever!

For example, in the last 2 weeks I've gotten over $1000 value in Accor stays ... so to me it's big value lost. Hilton is not worth the paper it's written on.

The card fee of $1200 becomes overpriced if these Accor benefit's are lost.

 

[Abdul_A350]

I called Amex travel again and the information I got this time is as follows:

Accor + and Accor platinum gone! Must register by 15 April to get one year benefit
Accor + said (I also called A+）if you have accor plus it will remain valid till your anniversary

So if I want to book a member's rate a year from now, I'd have to buy A+ to be entitled to use it? That seems a little unfair.

 

[Haplo]

Correct when your current A+ membership expires you have to pay the $329 renewal fee to keep using it.

 

[sloth]

This will really make me reassess if I want to keep the card when renewal comes in next year. A+ and Accor Platinum were one of the main reasons why I signed up!

 

[misterchan]

I've only had the card for a week and it's already making me re-think about renewing it next year.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

I called Amex travel again and the information I got this time is as follows:

Accor + and Accor platinum gone! Must register by 15 April to get one year benefit
Accor + said (I also called A+）if you have accor plus it will remain valid till your anniversary

Replaced with

1. Hilton Gold
2. Travel credit to go from 200 to 300

Overall it is a really bad outcome. A+ is worth $300 but is now replaced with $100 travel credit plus trading Accor Platinum with Hilton Gold (I value Accor more due to more property in Australia, and everyone these days is Hilton Gold due to status match), so effectively devalues the card by more than $200.

Really disappointing & continuing the devaluation of AMEX Platinum. Honestly I don't think the card is worth the $1200/year fee at this stage.

 

[decs]

Cheers for following up and finding out Haplo. Disappointing news indeed but I still have a majority of a year left so will make the most of it. Let's see if any other changes occur; the lack of Platinum level status at any chain is a bit of a stinker.

 

[nlagalle]

Really disappointing & continuing the devaluation of AMEX Platinum. Honestly I don't think the card is worth the $1200/year fee at this stage.

Agreed.. The jump from $900 to $1200 was poor but the $200 credit plus the Accor stuff was good. Now it's poor value again.

 

[kaktusdigital]

Really disappointing & continuing the devaluation of AMEX Platinum. Honestly I don't think the card is worth the $1200/year fee at this stage.

If this board is anything to go by, watch the lines of people get rid of their 1200 a year card. I'm hoping the lack of Accor will be enough of a bargaining chip come card renewal time.
The Accor plus membership is still on the benefits page when you log-in, but missing from the card application page. Fanciful thinking that current holders could still hang onto the perk?

 

[mlob]

Someone here was told current members might retain. I am really hoping this. I too think this is a very bad outcome. Had thoughts of cancelling card and taking up the Accor Plus instead but it only comes with silver status.