Which hotel loyalty program???

[Tiki]

I chose PC based on the award I am aiming for-3 nights at the IC Thalasso on Bora Bora which is worth about$1000 AUD a night.

I stumbled into a bunch of points last year from a stay in Cairo and some good bonus deals.

 

[simongr]

Arrrrrrrrrgh

Just had my Hilton Arc De Triomph posts post and I have 59,973 base points 27 points short of Gold arrgggh

I have emailed [email protected] asking for a comp to Gold based on being just 27 points short - that's equivalent to the one beer that they incorrectly charged me for and reversed from the bill in london!

27 points - I mean how stupid was that

However - I am 4K points ahead of what I forecast at this point (they seem to be giving points on Taxes) so I might sneak diamond by the end of this entire trip

 

[AllBlacks19]

I would highly reccomend going with Hilton HHonors. You get free stays and free flights. The miles also accur pretty quick if you are spending some time at hotels. I used to work for Hilton back in the States and they will bend over backwards for Gold/Diamond memebers. Its definitly the best program out there.

Arrrrrrrrrgh

Just had my Hilton Arc De Triomph posts post and I have 59,973 base points 27 points short of Gold arrgggh

Thats really funny. They will prolly do that for you, if not call the HHonors desk and talk to a live person.

 

[simongr]

Cheers - might call HHonors today see what happens. I will be Diamond this year so hoping to see some major benefits from that

Not sure how best to use my points. I am going to have about 200K points by the end of the year and am planning to go to New York next year (July) so unsure what the best way to use the points is. I can't believe that savvy frequent travellers would just blow 40K points a night for a hotel in NY surely?

What do you mean by points and flights? I am currently getting points+50% bonus points - not much point putting points into AA as I have masses of those

 

[AllBlacks19]

What do you mean by points and flights? I am currently getting points+50% bonus points - not much point putting points into AA as I have masses of those

Sounds like you do need a holiday!

They have a program called "double-dip." You can earn your base points + the point bonus for your tier and miles on the airline of your choice. I believe on AA you get one mile for every dollar you spend on your folio (so charge to your room as much as possible, ask them at the front desk to set you up a separete tab where you can put your own CC on file if you dont want the company getting billed/info on what you bought). Log into your HHonors account and I think they give you an option on there to select what airline, you can also earn DOUBLE HHonors points if you dont want to earn miles.

If you are planning on going to New York, book at the Hilton Mellenium, its the best one in NYC and for only 40K a night you will be able to have a good 5 days there.

 

[serfty]

G'day AllBlacks19, welcome to AFF.

I believe you missed simongr's meaning - he already has selected a "Double Dipping®" option.

He HAS chosen the 50% additional HHonors points option, referred to as "HHonors Points and HHonors Points", rather than the "HHonors Points and Variable Miles" you mention that gives an AA point for every USD. There is also another option HHonors refer to as "HHonors Points and Fixed Miles" where you get 500 AA miles per stay.

From "Double Dipping®", there is NO option to earn DOUBLE HHonors points.

More here: Hilton HHonors® - HHonors® Points & Miles - Double Dipping®

 

[simongr]

I used to double dip to AA/QF but switched back to 10 + 5 HHonors points as the airline points are racking up nicely but hotel points were thin on the ground (currently at 300K AA points after 9 months flying, will hit 380K by end of trip and be at 500K program to date miles by the end of Nov - not bad for 13 months of flying - shame it will die off a bit next year )

 

[AllBlacks19]

No, he gets the base points (the points that equal your total dollar amount) plus an additional 50% of those points which is the bonus you get for being a Gold or Diamon Tier member. To get the double-dip option you have to go in and specify if you want additional Hilton points or if you want to earn FF miles as well. They started this program not too long ago, and what I have found out is that not all their members are usually aware of that, who have been with them before they started double-dip.

 

[AllBlacks19]

Ok I understand what you are saying now, the nice thing though about HHonors is that you can switch back and forth as you want.

 

[serfty]

... They started this program not too long ago, and what I have found out is that not all their members are usually aware of that, who have been with them before they started double-dip.

I believe it defaults to "HHonors Points and HHonors Points" if you do not select an option.

 

[AllBlacks19]

Your right, I apologize, I was just a little confused as to what he was saying. Cheers

 

[simongr]

Arrrrrrrrrgh

Just had my Hilton Arc De Triomph posts post and I have 59,973 base points 27 points short of Gold arrgggh

I have emailed [email protected] asking for a comp to Gold based on being just 27 points short - that's equivalent to the one beer that they incorrectly charged me for and reversed from the bill in london!

W00tage! Status was upgraded overnight last night :

Mr. simongr:

Thank you for your email.

I have upgraded your account to the Gold VIP level thru April 30, 2009. Please allow 5-7 business days to receive your card. You may take advantage of your Gold VIP benefits immediately, the hotel will be able to verify your status in the system.

Please let me know if you need anything further.

Now the question is how to avail myself of these benefits:

Hilton® Hotels outside North America - Upgrade to Executive Level or to the next best available room type (does not include suites). Upgraded rooms are subject to availability at the time of check-in and only guests that receive an upgrade to the Executive Level will be given access to the Executive Lounge. At hotels that do not have upgraded types of accommodations or an upgrade is not available, Gold VIPs will receive additional amenities and/or services, which vary by property.

Given I am in Exec Room and have access to Exec Lounge already - do I just go up to the HHonors desk and say "Hi - I have just achieved Gold status - what amenities can you give me?"

What sort of things do they cough up?

 

[AllBlacks19]

At most properties they will have housekeeping put your amenities in your room before you check-in, considering you have made your reservation more than 24hrs in advance. At hilton properties dont be afraid to approach multiple employees and ask for the same thing, ie free breakfast/drinks ect. If you make it sound like they always do it for you, it will get done. The gold/diamonds usually run the place. Find the newer looking employees if you want something as they are usually more easily manipulated.

 

[drron]

Sorry but as a diamond every time I book and pay for the executive floor have received zip.I look forward to the awards-have always been upgraded on these plus outside the US usually wine and chocolates as well except for Fiji.

 

[Alanslegal]

Cheers - might call HHonors today see what happens. I will be Diamond this year so hoping to see some major benefits from that

Not sure how best to use my points. I am going to have about 200K points by the end of the year and am planning to go to New York next year (July) so unsure what the best way to use the points is. I can't believe that savvy frequent travellers would just blow 40K points a night for a hotel in NY surely?

What do you mean by points and flights? I am currently getting points+50% bonus points - not much point putting points into AA as I have masses of those

just keep an eye out for HH VIP member specials! on occasions they have special weekly rates for Plat, Gold members at 175,000HH points at any Cat6 NYC hotel - much better than 40,000HH points per night = 280,000 for a weeks stay!

 

[serfty]

Sorry but as a diamond every time I book and pay for the executive floor have received zip.I look forward to the awards-have always been upgraded on these plus outside the US usually wine and chocolates as well except for Fiji.

When booked into an exec room as a HHG I have always received an amenity. Three examples:

• Conrad Hilton Singapore - a box of chockies - with an apology they could not uprgade me to a suite
• Brisbane Hilton - Bottle of Bubbly (Had to 'request')
• Melbourne Hilton "on the Park" - U/G to corner suite
• Hampton Inn Seattle Southgate - Two bottles of water

The minimum I have received at any hilton family hotel with a standard room booking has been complimentary continental breakfast.

 

[drron]

just keep an eye out for HH VIP member specials! on occasions they have special weekly rates for Plat, Gold members at 175,000HH points at any Cat6 NYC hotel - much better than 40,000HH points per night = 280,000 for a weeks stay!

These awards are available all the time for gold or diamond honors members.
For a category 6 hotel it is 175000 points for 6 nights called a GLONP2 award.It can be extended up to 14 nights for 410000 points.These are the awards that keep me loyal to honors.
My last stay when booked an executive room as a diamond was Hilton Seattle and no amenities.However you could take as many bottles of water as you wanted from the lounge.

 

[simongr]

drron - that is great - really helps with planning my visit to the US and London next year

Thanks

S

 

[futaris]

I'm currently a Gold member in Hilton HHonors, and a standard Gold (i.e. no status) member in Hyatt Gold Passport.

Everyone here seems to recommend "Intercontinental Priority Club", but I haven't joined this yet, or stayed in one as of yet. What's the best way to go about joining and getting the most free points for enrolling, etc. Is there any chance of a status match to my Hilton HHonors Gold???

Has anyone else here recently enrolled in "Priority Club"? Are there any enrolment codes that will give extra points, etc? Or can someone get points for referring?

 

[straitman]

I'm currently a Gold member in Hilton HHonors, and a standard Gold (i.e. no status) member in Hyatt Gold Passport.

Everyone here seems to recommend "Intercontinental Priority Club", but I haven't joined this yet, or stayed in one as of yet. What's the best way to go about joining and getting the most free points for enrolling, etc. Is there any chance of a status match to my Hilton HHonors Gold???

Has anyone else here recently enrolled in "Priority Club"? Are there any enrolment codes that will give extra points, etc? Or can someone get points for referring?

futaris,

Like HHonors there is a whole topic dedicated to Priority Club. If you look, it answers all your questions incl status matching with HHonors.