So...I picked up the mail yesterday and there were two letters from Hilton HHonors/US Air - one to my husband and one to my (3 yo) daughter. Thinking that they were credit card promotions, I almost did the standard shred-n-toss, but opened one up on a whim. Inside both letters was a complimentary Hilton HHonors Gold membership, valid until April 2009!

Who knows what the selection criteria were for this?!? My husband, my daughter, and I are all DM GP, but I flew more miles both last year and (so far) this year on US than either of them. The only thing I can think of is that I am the only one of the three of us that has status with Hilton (lowly Silver for me), so maybe that is why I was not targeted for this promotion.

Any other data points out there?

If it is anything like the free SPG Gold thing that US did to me, BEWARE!

One lovely day I received a Gold SPG card because of my US status (which was only Silver at that time). Woo hoo!! I am getting something for nothing! Long story short, US ends up getting your SPG (or whoever) points for your stay and you get nothing!! :mad: When I finally wised up and called SPG to ask where the heck all my points were, they told me that all of my points went into a different SPG number than my original one and that this account credited US. :td::td::td::td:

It was a sneaky move by US, but I learned my lesson.

ALWAYS look a gift horse in the mouth -- especially when said horse is of the US variety!

Oh, and apparently the Gold status with Hilton is of little use as well. Just go have a look at the Hilton board here.

Long story short, US ends up getting your SPG (or whoever) points for your stay and you get nothing!!

I thought that the offer with SPG forced the customer to accumulate US DM Miles instead of Starpoints. If the Starpoints were being banked into a different account, I feel that would be against the T&C of the overall *wood brand, and shouldn't have happened.

I never noticed any points in my DM account that might have come from my stays at the hotels. I did make sure to cancel that SPG number, however, and now all points that I earn are mine, mine, mine! ^

Oh, and apparently the Gold status with Hilton is of little use as well. Just go have a look at the Hilton board here.

I'm a HHonors Gold and I disagree. Gold gets you access to the Executive Lounge and if that's not available you get a free breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Also, I usually get upgraded to a suite at the Hampton Inn.

HHonors Gold is much more valuable than SPG Gold, which US gave away for free last year.

Unless you stay at the NY Hilton in which case you usually get squat, except for some continental breakfast certs. I got more upgrades as a US Silver on a business route than as a HH goLD

Yes, rec'd the same offer yesterday, but it was comarketed with UA MP. It was a nice offer but I was already upgraded to HH Gold last year.

These are tricky offers. Before you use your new HHGold, check your old HH #. Often this is a new offer and hence a new #. Result: you now have (unknowingly) 2 accounts, you shred your old card, forget the number start using the new card and number only tofind out that you "lost" your previously acquired points. If you are lucky they will reinstate these or merge accounts, but don't count on that.

My wife just got a complimentary HH Gold account and she has not traveled in any form for 5 years. No airline, hotel, etc. So, I'm befuddled at how they sent her this. I'm more befuddled because people like her(who got HH gold for nothing) will be stealing my upgrades at HH properties.

No comparison to SPG Gold. That's more like HH Silver.

Result: you now have (unknowingly) 2 accounts, you shred your old card, forget the number start using the new card and number only tofind out that you "lost" your previously acquired points. If you are lucky they will reinstate these or merge accounts, but don't count on that.

No
I received this too.
I called HH and they closed my old number and transfered all points to the new Gold #. In fact they offered me to keep either number.
I have already had my old points credited to my new account number on line.
This may be a legitimate opportunity? I am impressed to the point where I will forego Hyatt on my next opportunity and try this out.

No comparison to SPG Gold. That's more like HH Silver. Not for long.......

Wow, what is it with US and Gold Giveaways... :p

This is a great deal for those that get it assuming no strings attached - HH Gold actually means something (not that US Gold doesn't).

Now I know how all of the US3's felt back in February/March when the other great gold giveaway (GGG) happened. :(

How timely. Read this thread at work and came home tonight, in the mail is a HHonors Gold VIP card thanks to my UA status.
I've put in my wallet right next to my also complimentary SPG gold card. ;)

My wife just got a complimentary HH Gold account and she has not traveled in any form for 5 years. No airline, hotel, etc. So, I'm befuddled at how they sent her this. I'm more befuddled because people like her(who got HH gold for nothing) will be stealing my upgrades at HH properties.


I know - it's very frustrating! Although we could now get better benefits at Hiltons than before, I'm still very tempted to switch as much of my travel away from them as possible. Two years ago, I called and asked for a Gold Challenge since I was going to be doing a lot of travel and potential Hilton stays in a short amount of time - no go, said the CS desk, Gold status is too *precious* and their challenges are targeted. A while after that, I was going to be one stay (and some nights/points, of course) away from making Gold within a 12 month window, and I absolutely couldn't just add another night somewhere, so I called CS again about a comp, and still no go. Now I see exactly how "precious" Gold status is. More *wood and Hyatt properties for me in the future....

now, if US would bump me up to Plat or CP in recognition of my Hilton Diamond status, that would be worthwhile!

Regarding the comments about the dilution of Hilton Gold. I don't see it as a huge problem - I don't think people are losing out on upgrade opportunities because there are more Golds - except for the really primo properties MAYBE. Anyway, Gold is worthwhile. I was Gold for a couple years and got plenty of upgrades, including at the Waldorf in London. The bonus points help build your point balance quicker too.

Got one yesterday too. Why? I have no idea. I have no status on USAirways with my piddling 12-15 flights a year and have only stayed in a Hilton once (earlier this year, which is when I joined HHonors). But it may come in handy at a Hampton Inn.

Following the instructions on the letter, I called HHonors and asked them to keep my old number active while upgrading it to the Gold VIP level.

I just got one two while coming home from my final mattresses run to get hilton gold on fast track! :mad: I also have no status on US those that recently got upgraded should see if they can push there luck and get upgraded and drive the true elites to marriott (just kidding).

We have complimentary Gold (US used to do that automatically for HH but went down to Silver) but frankly I prefer SPG or the Marriott. Got some Hilton stays coming up but I donn't sleep better in a bigger room, a good bed is more important to me.

Good to know that some people were able to merge accounts. I lost mine, loosing several free nights.

Anyone know what the rule/criteria is for this? I am US CP this year (already), was G last 2 years, and Plat the year before, but I never seem to get the hotel upgrade offers... :(

I thought that the offer with SPG forced the customer to accumulate US DM Miles instead of Starpoints. If the Starpoints were being banked into a different account, I feel that would be against the T&C of the overall *wood brand, and shouldn't have happened.

When SPG did this a few years back, I called them and had them change to starpoints without an issue.