Semi soft landing for Hilton Elites?

[simongr]

Hi all

Just wondering if this is common on the HHonors program. I am Diamond until the end of March and just got my new SILVER card. I knew I hadn't qualified for Diamond again due to a massive reduction in Hilton stays.

I was surprised though that there wasn't a slightly softer landing - I half expected to drop to Gold (like with QFF) so Silver was a shock.

This will change my stays this year as I was trying to stay at Hilton properties but now wont as I wont get any Elite benefits

S

 

[straitman]

Hi all

Just wondering if this is common on the HHonors program. I am Diamond until the end of March and just got my new SILVER card. I knew I hadn't qualified for Diamond again due to a massive reduction in Hilton stays.

I was surprised though that there wasn't a slightly softer landing - I half expected to drop to Gold (like with QFF) so Silver was a shock.

This will change my stays this year as I was trying to stay at Hilton properties but now wont as I wont get any Elite benefits

S

My understanding though maybe I'm wrong is that soft landings apply. Last year I dropped from Gold to Silver.

Have you checked the web site or dropped them an email :?:

 

[dajop]

I was surprised though that there wasn't a slightly softer landing - I half expected to drop to Gold (like with QFF) so Silver was a shock.

If you look over on FT in the Hilton area this is common. On FT two schools of thought - tough spend the hard yards in a bed and of course you'll requalify - you should do a mattress run (as if that's feasible outside the LOTFAP where every tinpot town has a cheap Hampton). The second school of thought is that Hilton basically don't give a proverbail about existing customers, but are happy to practically give away status to newcomers - a sign of a thoroughly st##ed program (and indeed industry).

The contrast to airline programs (at least in this part world) is stark - where soft landings are the norm, where comps to those who already have status and go a long way to retaining are the norm - and a strict no comp to those who have never earned status.

Anyway I'm going back to Silver (from Gold - but with 12 stays I easily earnt Silver), but got my challenge for the next 3 months today. Stay 4 and I get gold back. Not sure whether I will bother or not.

 

[serfty]

FT HHonors lore indicates generally no soft landing ... maybe the policy has changed.


FWIW, In my early AFF/FT days I received HHonors Silver simply by sending an email mentioning my SG status and future travel plans with a request for Gold.

 

[JohnK]

My understanding though maybe I'm wrong is that soft landings apply. Last year I dropped from Gold to Silver.

Same for me and I definitely did not have enough stays to qualify Silver.

Unfortunately I will more than likely lose Silver status this year.

 

[simongr]

I am not doing enough travel to warrant trying to get status (more frequent flying but less frequent overnights).

It is frustrating that my company doesnt have a deal with a major (or couple of) chain(s) - each country/business negotiates locally so we end up in no-brand hotels unless you are an Exec

 

[oz_mark]

Anyway I'm going back to Silver (from Gold - but with 12 stays I easily earnt Silver), but got my challenge for the next 3 months today. Stay 4 and I get gold back. Not sure whether I will bother or not.

In some respects, it is possible a challenge is better than a straight out comp. If they comped you gold, then it would be to this time next year. Not having seen the terms of a challenge, but would have thought that completing the challenge would get you gold until 2012.

 

[dajop]

In some respects, it is possible a challenge is better than a straight out comp. If they comped you gold, then it would be to this time next year. Not having seen the terms of a challenge, but would have thought that completing the challenge would get you gold until 2012.

Yep true. More fool them. 4 stays and I get gold til Mar 2012. If they comped me I'd probably try and get the full compliment of stays.

 

[anat0l]

Well, I'm very surprised that Hilton have been extremely proactive and made sure that an important letter arrived in the mail for me today, about 2 days before my HHG is due to expire.

It's the delivery of my shiny new.... HH Silver card (the card design appears to have changed...someone is copying SPG's card design aspect)

Nothing else, although there was a comment on the paper included with the new card:

Return to Gold VIP status.
Elite membership can be yours again.
Complete 16 stays or 36 nights throughout the year to return to Gold VIP status, with perks like 25% bonus on Base points and room upgrades

Although I've only got two stays coming up within the next three months, I really, really wouldn't mind a fast track right now (I guess I could dump my account and start again?)

 

[JohnK]

Although I've only got two stays coming up within the next three months, I really, really wouldn't mind a fast track right now (I guess I could dump my account and start again?)

Have you tried signing up for the Hilton Racing promotion again?

 

[straitman]

Have you tried signing up for the Hilton Racing promotion again?

Send them the email and it may just work. You have nothing to lose.

 

[dajop]

Anyway I'm going back to Silver (from Gold - but with 12 stays I easily earnt Silver), but got my challenge for the next 3 months today. Stay 4 and I get gold back. Not sure whether I will bother or not.

Just completed my fourth stay for the quarter. Decided to pop up to KL for the weekend and checked into the Hilton Petaling Jaya (~$90AUD inc. breakfast) to get my final stay (went via coach SIN-KUL, never again, coach fine but 2 1/4 hrs to just cross the border from Singapore to Malaysia :evil. As it turned out getting the first 3 stays was easy, and getting 1000 bonus EK miles per stay, plus a free night certificate after fourth stay for the quarter made the thing entirely worthwhile.