How does complimentary memberships work?

[Eternalx]

Hello! I'm just a bit confused with the complimentary membership thing, could someone please help?

1. My understanding is that complimentary membership with Hilton etc. is a one time offer when you qualify for gold/diamond. Is this correct?
2. Say I activated my Hilton gold when I was VA gold, and then get promoted to VA diamond 6 months later (June this year), can I get Hilton to give me diamond in June (or should I wait until Jan next year to request it)?

Thanks!

 

[Jet L]

As I understand you can request the complimentary membership at anytime so you can let your gold ride out then get the complimentary diamond membership

 

[The Flying Brick]

As I understand you can request the complimentary membership at anytime so you can let your gold ride out then get the complimentary diamond membership

Yes, that sounds right.

My VA WP came through several years ago but held on to HHonors Gold until it expired in March the following year then just rang up VA and requested that they activate my stored HHonors Diamond status.

The bigger problem is that these are only single year memberships and they don't renew - even if you re qualify for VA WP or SG as the case may be.

 

[Eternalx]

Yes, that sounds right.

My VA WP came through several years ago but held on to HHonors Gold until it expired in March the following year then just rang up VA and requested that they activate my stored HHonors Diamond status.

The bigger problem is that these are only single year memberships and they don't renew - even if you re qualify for VA WP or SG as the case may be.

Thanks guys! Were you still VA WP when you called to request the activation of the HHonors Diamond status?

Also, theoretically, if you get demote and promote between VA gold and WP, can you activate the HHonors benefits that way (gold one year, diamond another and repeat)?

 

[bullerdude]

Thanks guys! Were you still VA WP when you called to request the activation of the HHonors Diamond status?

Also, theoretically, if you get demote and promote between VA gold and WP, can you activate the HHonors benefits that way (gold one year, diamond another and repeat)?

Nope, they are a one-time benefit for the life of your velocity account regardless of how many times you make gold/platinum.

 

[Jet L]

I am fairly sure that you get the offer on initial qualification so if you are SG one yer then WP the next the SG and so on then you will alternate between HHGold and HHDiamond

 

[Cynicor]

There is a thread on this floating around, from memory also in the VA subforum. It has lots of useful info including how long a membership is valid and the best time to pull the trigger; definitely worth a look at if you are considering using the benefit.

 

[Jurahn]

There is a thread on this floating around, from memory also in the VA subforum. It has lots of useful info including how long a membership is valid and the best time to pull the trigger; definitely worth a look at if you are considering using the benefit.

This one? http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hhonors-gold-diamond-velocity-gold-32478.html

 

[Moopere]

I am fairly sure that you get the offer on initial qualification so if you are SG one yer then WP the next the SG and so on then you will alternate between HHGold and HHDiamond

There was some evidence of this back around 2011 when the scheme was first introduced, but I'm almost completely certain that its been 'corrected' now, for many years, and its truly a once only deal. I don't believe we can any longer alternate between VA gold and Plat and continually renew the HH membership to alternate between gold and diamond. Its a shame really and something I hope that they review. After all, many many credit cards (worldwide) and at least one inside Aus will give you endless HH status so long as you hold the card, the HH Macquarie Visa is like this. You pay your annual fee, get the card, and are gold HH ... next year, you pay the card fee again, and you remain gold.

For VA plats its a real bonus in my view, and Plat needs every perk it can find as there is precious little of real-world value in the jump from VA gold to VA plat. Continuing diamond status at HH would be something that would matter to me and would help in justifying my reach for Plat and maintenance of it.

 

[moa999]

I'm actually surprised that given this HH have continued the agreement. It would be a very small number of new people reaching status now I would suspect.

Was a great benefit for those who matched across from Qantas

 

[coyote25]

I'm actually surprised that given this HH have continued the agreement. It would be a very small number of new people reaching status now I would suspect.

Was a great benefit for those who matched across from Qantas

I was one of those you status matches to VA then took advantage of the HH status offer from VA. worked out great for me as I was just starting a world trip so got the HH Gold benefits without warning them.

Rare example of a rewards program were the client (me) benefited totally.

Having said that I wish I could status match with VA again post reaching LTG with QF I expect I'd split me travel 50-60% with VA but starting at scratch with discount Y MEL-SYD and Mel-BNE seems like a lot of flying without lounge access and other benefits.

 

[Jet L]

I was one of those you status matches to VA then took advantage of the HH status offer from VA. worked out great for me as I was just starting a world trip so got the HH Gold benefits without warning them.

Rare example of a rewards program were the client (me) benefited totally.

Having said that I wish I could status match with VA again post reaching LTG with QF I expect I'd split me travel 50-60% with VA but starting at scratch with discount Y MEL-SYD and Mel-BNE seems like a lot of flying without lounge access and other benefits.

You could try Accelerate to get Pilot Gold

 

[TrippingAUS]

As I understand you can request the complimentary membership at anytime so you can let your gold ride out then get the complimentary diamond membership

Hi All, I just contacted the Virgin call centre and enquired about this. They advised that it is no longer available. I'm a IHG Gold Elite and only Virgin Red so wanted to get the Virgin status matched. Seemed like a great oppurtunity, but no luck. Any feedback on whether this is still currently available, and the process to get it activated?

 

[andye]

Hi All, I just contacted the Virgin call centre and enquired about this. They advised that it is no longer available. I'm a IHG Gold Elite and only Virgin Red so wanted to get the Virgin status matched. Seemed like a great oppurtunity, but no luck. Any feedback on whether this is still currently available, and the process to get it activated?

I may be misunderstanding but I've never heard of an airline status matching a hotel programme (excepting United & Marriott which have some reciprocal status and SPG with Delta and Emirates with some reciprocal benefits)

 

[TrippingAUS]

I may be misunderstanding but I've never heard of an airline status matching a hotel programme (excepting United & Marriott which have some reciprocal status and SPG with Delta and Emirates with some reciprocal benefits)

Thanks for the quick reply! Yes, that was what I was trying to clarify. I know they did do it for a short period, but yes appears now it is just matching from the hotel end, not the airline end (unfortunately). Wasn't entirely clear (well for a newbie) in the thread.