Ways to Fast Track to Hhonors Gold?

[kpc]

Hi all,
I'll probably be staying in a few Hilton group hotels in the next few months. I note they seem to have a fast track offer of 4 stays in 90 days offer every now and then. Which is the best way of getting it?
1. Ringing up Hilton and asking?
2. Via Hilton racing? Hilton Racing - Benefits
I note members have had a few issues with it. Any one done it recently without too many hassles? Any tips of doing it successfully?

How long does the Gold last for? In particular, would it last till end of May 09? (thinking of Oz Fest 6 here)

 

[Mal]

Pretty rare to call up or email and get a Fast Track offer.

Have also heard lots about issues with the Racing promo, but as long as you keep the appropriate documentation (and perhaps call up before the stays to ensure you're registered) then you should get it in the end.

Not sure how long it will last for.

 

[Febs]

As Mal said - the Hilton Racing promo will probably require a bit of effort (if it's still running), but keep the paperwork and you'll get there eventually. I did.

...then I used that HHonors Gold membership to acquire Hyatt Diamond. Go Hyatt status matching.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[JohnK]

I had a minor issue with the Hilton Racing fast track but when I called them after completing the 4 stays they could see that I did in fact register, I had the confirmation email, and gave me HH Gold straight away. That was in September 07 and I think I have HH Gold until May 09.

Also as you are PC Platinum why not try asking for a status match? Do you have any status with SPG? That could also assist.

 

[Mox_Fulder]

Did not know about this fast track promo from Hilton....Was going to sign up for their normal Blue card and work my way up. This would be handy.

Does anyone know if this is an ongoing promotion ? My stays are going to occur in Oct/Nov 08 and I might join this closer to the date if it does not get removed before then...

Cheers

 

[QF WP]

Well, kpc, I finally managed to convince Hilton Honors that I was deserving of Gold as I posted here in a Flyertalk thread. There are a number of people like me that had to fight for the Gold status to be linked to our accounts.

Use the link in that post, sign up and keep the email that Hilton Racing will send you. Perhaps my rant has got their IT Department to fix the linkage betwen the offer and one's account.

Mox_Fulder, This still appears to be a current offer and there doesn't appear to be any cessation date.

 

[Mox_Fulder]

Mox_Fulder, This still appears to be a current offer and there doesn't appear to be any cessation date.

Thanks for that. I was worried it was only a short term promo and that if you did qualify for Gold, it was only valid to May09 or something to that effect. If I can get a full years Gold status, it would work well with my travel plans for late 09.

Cheers

PS Do you guys get the normal Hilton Gold card upon qualification or is it a special Hilton Racing gold card ?

 

[JohnK]

PS Do you guys get the normal Hilton Gold card upon qualification or is it a special Hilton Racing gold card ?

You get normal Hilton Honors Gold membership and your Hilton Honors status is no longer associated with Hilton Racing once the fast track is completed.

 

[pauly7]

As Mal said - the Hilton Racing promo will probably require a bit of effort (if it's still running), but keep the paperwork and you'll get there eventually. I did.

...then I used that HHonors Gold membership to acquire Hyatt Diamond. Go Hyatt status matching.

Cheers,
- Febs.

What would SPG Gold equate to @ Hyatt and how did you get it matched?

 

[Febs]

What would SPG Gold equate to @ Hyatt and how did you get it matched?

SPG Gold probably matches Hyatt Platinum the closest.

I got Hyatt to match my SPG Gold and HHonors Gold by e-mailing (possibly faxing, can't remember) them a copy of my cards and stay history, and saying I'd like to start staying at Hyatts (I'd had one recent stay) but would prefer to do so with the benefits of status.

I almost asked them to match it with Hyatt Plat, but thought I'd try my luck on Diamond and sure enough...

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Evan]

Thinking i should consider matching my PC status (Plat RA) to SPG then. May leave it till later in the year though when i will get better use from it.
Only get one bite at the cherry for a status match.
E

 

[kpc]

I'll probably be staying in a few Hilton group hotels in the next few months. I note they seem to have a fast track offer of 4 stays in 90 days offer every now and then. Which is the best way of getting it?
1. Ringing up Hilton and asking?
2. Via Hilton racing? Hilton Racing - Benefits

Done without any drama via option 2. I did email Hhonors after signing up with Hilton racing to ensure that the promotion was registered on my account. Today, after my 4th stay posted, my account was automatically upgraded to Gold. Keen to know how long it will be valid for....

 

[serfty]

... Keen to know how long it will be valid for....

Your new card should have the info; or you can email HHonors and ask.

 

[QF WP]

kpc, I was going to say that you can find out online through your account (member services, account serbvices, VIP tier qualification), however it comes up with the following message:

In response to customer feedback, Hilton HHonors will soon institute an easy-to-understand calendar year VIP qualification system, counting stays from January 1 to December 31 for VIP Tier qualification. As a result, the VIP Tier Wizard has been deactivated. The requirements for achieving VIP Tiers have not changed.

Absolutely brilliant :!: Going back to the way most others do it. Seems like a lot of people were unhappy. Whilst it was well meaning to have a rolling 12 months qualification, it meant a lot of work for Hilton Hhonors and a lot of uncertainty and angst for us to try to understand the convoluted system.

So now what serfty said.

 

[serfty]

... Absolutely brilliant :!: ...

Indeed!

There's quite an extensive thread on FT HHonors forum about this and there was a round about way to ones expiry date but that loophole has been closed.

• End of Rolling VIP Tier Qualification - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[kpc]

Your new card should have the info; or you can email HHonors and ask.

I think I will just wait til I get my card. From reading the FT thread, it may be til April 2010:mrgreen: but I'll wait and see. In the meantime, I've booked Conrad Bali next month and KL Hilton in December. Fingers crossed for that elusive executive floor room upgrade...Thanks to Straitman for organising the Hilton Premium Club membership at a great coporate rate, I've still got a $99 stay card left, so might use it at Sydney Hilton at some stage.

 

[anat0l]

Well this is odd enough.

I followed the racing link and it accepted a sign up! Am I supposed to get some sort of email? Or is the system faulty and/or I'm setting myself up to get shot down?

 

[kpc]

Well this is odd enough.

I followed the racing link and it accepted a sign up! Am I supposed to get some sort of email? Or is the system faulty and/or I'm setting myself up to get shot down?

Yes, you should get a confirmatory email from Hilton Racing

 

[anat0l]

I'm probably more apprehensive of whether to proceed with the challenge or not. I have some stays coming up but I don't want to make them Hilton if I don't have to. (Although if this challenge is real, I can definitely see the downstream benefits.)

Especially if I have to move heaven and hell like LW did to get the deal sealed.

What is supposed to show in one's HHonors account online if the racing deal has been registered for? I guess if US people are doing this it may be slow to update until certain times.

I'm also miffed that stays not booked through the Hilton portal don't count for tier status. My recent stay for AFF Gather #1 was booked through QF Ready Rooms; I probably should have booked the same thing through the Hilton website with the relevant promotion code (which was buried in web searching) and got the count added to my account..... Actually, those points are still pending for credit....grrr......

 

[JohnK]

Unfortunately these changes will result in most of us losing existing Gold status and our best option to regain it would be via another fast track along the way. Unless you are travelling overseas a lot or work is paying for the hotel stays Hilton is very difficult to get decent status. Just looking at Millenium Hilton in Bangkok for early October and the room rate is ~5,000 baht/night (~A$180) and the only reason I would book it would be for the executive lounge access. But even at that rate lounge access is questionable and I may not get there until after 9:00pm so will lose most lounge benefits.

I think I am better off concentrating on PC but I wish the had decent Pointbreak hotel availability to spend the ever increasing PC points balance....