Hilton Partner Membership Retrigger

[Lord_Lenny]

No need to email, you'll usually be auto upgraded if space is available prior to check-in or at check-in. Depending on how you go about check-in. I have done this online but had it upgraded on arrival.
I have been upgraded the last 8 visits i can remember as a Diamond.

I've noticed them being pretty consistent with Diamond upgrades, I usually skip the online check in and wait until I get to the property. From memory I've only missed out on an upgrade twice in the time I've been Diamond, and both of them kinda made sense:

• Hilton Queenstown for a 7night stay right at the end of the July NZ school holidays
• Hilton Munich Park for a 6 night stay over New Years, but they did allow me to check in at 7am the morning of arrival

All in all I'm pretty happy with the hit rate, I have had better results in Asia and Europe (Hilton KL usually bumped me from a standard room to one of their suites), but that's sort of the trend with Hilton anyway.

 

[Jack_OC]

I've noticed them being pretty consistent with Diamond upgrades, I usually skip the online check in and wait until I get to the property. From memory I've only missed out on an upgrade twice in the time I've been Diamond, and both of them kinda made sense:

• Hilton Queenstown for a 7night stay right at the end of the July NZ school holidays
• Hilton Munich Park for a 6 night stay over New Years, but they did allow me to check in at 7am the morning of arrival

All in all I'm pretty happy with the hit rate, I have had better results in Asia and Europe (Hilton KL usually bumped me from a standard room to one of their suites), but that's sort of the trend with Hilton anyway.

I've had excellent experiences with upgrades as a HH Diamond. The only exceptions have been in properties like Hilton Garden Inns, where they didn't actually have any better rooms at the property compared to what I had booked. On numerous occasions I have been upgraded to suites after booking a basic room. I have never requested an upgrade - always just been granted one. As for mobile check in, I find if I wait until late in the evening on the day before arrival, they have usually assigned an upgrade by then, whereas if I look as soon as mobile check in opens, I'm still in the room category that I booked. You can always start the process and see what room they are giving you, and if you're not happy just cancel and re-try later (or wait until you get to the property itself).

I have managed to pretty much keep HH Diamond for a few years now, but only by dropping down to Gold last year and then completing a status challenge to get back to Diamond. I can't see any way that I will retain it this year, and I will miss it when it goes.

 

[Saltywings]

Thanks for everyone's experiences.

Just made a booking and was presented with a ton of paid options, including upgrades. I'll know to skip the trap...

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Thanks for everyone's experiences.

Just made a booking and was presented with a ton of paid options, including upgrades. I'll know to skip the trap...

Good form, don't be tempted haha

 

[Spacetravel]

Hey everyone so I emailed velocity about having my status retriggered and they said no. I got the below email, notice the interesting point I underlined..

"Dear Mr Banana

Thank you for contacting us about your Complimentary Partner Membership with Hilton HHonors.

Complimentary Partner Membership is only being offered once and not offered to members who maintained Gold or Platinum if they have previously selected a program.

After a minimum of 12 months, Complimentary Partner Membership will end.

Ive checked your account and I found that youve opted in to Hilton HHonors program last 30 March 2016.

Please note that your eligibility for continued membership and membership level with Hilton HHonors after the minimum 12 months of Complimentary Partner Membership will be based on their standard program requirements outlined in their program's terms & conditions.

Hilton HHonors will conduct a review and if you did not fulfill the requirements to retain your membership level with them, you may continue as a member of their program but your status may be downgraded.

Your continued membership is subject to their terms and conditions. Virgin Australia and VRPL are not involved in the continued membership, including status reviews or setting fees.

If theres anything else we can help you with, please visit www.velocityfrequentflyer.com or call the Membership Contact Centre on the number below."

 

[bullerdude]

This has always been the case, however they advertise it such that one gets the impression hotel membership is part of velocity gold/platinum membership (until you read the fine print).

 

[Spacetravel]

Let me clarify what I was trying to highlight. Reading it as its written.. it means if you maintain status you don't get to keep it but if you lose the status and regain it later you would be eligible for it.. which has been my experience previously anyway.

 

[GSP]

Let me clarify what I was trying to highlight. Reading it as its written.. it means if you maintain status you don't get to keep it but if you lose the status and regain it later you would be eligible for it.. which has been my experience previously anyway.

So I posted on another thread but never got a response so I'll try here on a similar scenario. I opted in for HH Gold earlier in the year with VFF Gold membership. I've now jumped to VFF Platinum and the Hotel partnership Opting In options are now available again on the VFF website but this time HH as Diamond and IHG as Platinum Elite. I'm interested in what would happen if I tried opting in for HH Diamond whether that would work?

And by extension, what would happen if I tried to opt in for IHG Platinum Elite given I haven't opted with them previously. I'm guessing this wouldn't be an option if I rolled the dice on HH diamond opting in as mentioned in the previous para.

 

[Spacetravel]

So I posted on another thread but never got a response so I'll try here on a similar scenario. I opted in for HH Gold earlier in the year with VFF Gold membership. I've now jumped to VFF Platinum and the Hotel partnership Opting In options are now available again on the VFF website but this time HH as Diamond and IHG as Platinum Elite. I'm interested in what would happen if I tried opting in for HH Diamond whether that would work?

And by extension, what would happen if I tried to opt in for IHG Platinum Elite given I haven't opted with them previously. I'm guessing this wouldn't be an option if I rolled the dice on HH diamond opting in as mentioned in the previous para.

If you applied for HH Diamond you would get it (well sometimes there are technical issues with them doing it that takes time to work through), but yes I have done it a few times.

You only get to pick 1 IHG platinum or Hilton diamond. Usually I recommend to people who are going to get gold and platinum to activate IHG as gold and Hilton as platinum. Since you have already done Hilton you could try IHG but Hilton diamond is very good and much better IMO.

 

[GSP]

Thanks Banana, I think I'll got Hilton Diamond then as I really don't use IHG that much if at all, however I'll await until my Gold runs out in March next year (I may not requalify with HH's requirements) and then activate Diamond.

Cheers

 

[hydrabyss]

Thanks Banana, I think I'll got Hilton Diamond then as I really don't use IHG that much if at all, however I'll await until my Gold runs out in March next year (I may not requalify with HH's requirements) and then activate Diamond.

Cheers

If you opted into HH Gold this year your expiration will be march 2020 due to they use a calendar year to qualify so they give a full 12month period (2019). Just remember if you loose Virgin Platinum you won't have the option anymore unless you regain platinum at a later date.

 

[GSP]

If you opted into HH Gold this year your expiration will be march 2020 due to they use a calendar year to qualify so they give a full 12month period (2019). Just remember if you loose Virgin Platinum you won't have the option anymore unless you regain platinum at a later date.

Well butter me on both sides - You got me thinking, so I just chatted with HH on their chatline and as I upgraded on Feb 14, it turns out my expiry is March 2020 (despite the website showing Mar 2019 which they say is a bug). Maybe I should hang on until Jan 1 2019 and then kick go to upgrade to Diamond bringing me to Mar 2021.

 

[djchuckles]

Let me clarify what I was trying to highlight. Reading it as its written.. it means if you maintain status you don't get to keep it but if you lose the status and regain it later you would be eligible for it.. which has been my experience previously anyway.

This used to work but stopped some years ago

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well butter me on both sides - You got me thinking, so I just chatted with HH on their chatline and as I upgraded on Feb 14, it turns out my expiry is March 2020 (despite the website showing Mar 2019 which they say is a bug). Maybe I should hang on until Jan 1 2019 and then kick go to upgrade to Diamond bringing me to Mar 2021.

Yes, this is my plan before I lose VA WP (first and last time I will ever be WP anywhere I think!)

 

[hydrabyss]

Well butter me on both sides - You got me thinking, so I just chatted with HH on their chatline and as I upgraded on Feb 14, it turns out my expiry is March 2020 (despite the website showing Mar 2019 which they say is a bug). Maybe I should hang on until Jan 1 2019 and then kick go to upgrade to Diamond bringing me to Mar 2021.

In Australia gold and diamond used to be similar with full breakfast offered to both but some hotels will only offer it to diamond now.

Same goes for upgrades where some hotels will usually give diamond an executive room golds may only get one category room upgrade. Guaranteed lounge access for diamonds is always a plus.

So having gold until end of the year will give you an idea of the benefits then January go for diamond which will last for two years.

A tip you can use is if staying for an anniversary mention it in the booking comments section.

 

[GSP]

In Australia gold and diamond used to be similar with full breakfast offered to both but some hotels will only offer it to diamond now.

Same goes for upgrades where some hotels will usually give diamond an executive room golds may only get one category room upgrade. Guaranteed lounge access for diamonds is always a plus.

So having gold until end of the year will give you an idea of the benefits then January go for diamond which will last for two years.

A tip you can use is if staying for an anniversary mention it in the booking comments section.

Thanks for the update hydrabyss. I really only stay at the Adelaide Hilton and have done so (as Gold) 7 times I think this year. Each one has been an upgrade however a couple of times I've had to request Exec Lounge access which a couple of times they were initially reluctant. I've had free downstairs breakfast offered a couple of times but other times would have to pay $10, which is a non issue as I prefer to have breakfast in the exec lounge. So it would appear that Diamond would remove that minor hassle, plus your points earning is a little higher - I can hang out until Jan I think.

Good tip on the anniversary - I wonder how many different anniversaries I can think of? I might pop a few in on my next visits and see what happens.