Hilton HHonors - Lost perks with HH

May I suggest that we start a thread with all lost perks (or gained if you find any)within the last few years:
- 10,000 and 20,000 VIP certificates
- confirmed upgrade certificates
- free night certificate when you first get Gold (10yrs ago!!!)
- 250 points for a stay with an airline connection
- 4,000 points threshold bonus
- not to mention the switch of the best properties from Classic to Premium.

What did I miss? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

One very big gain:
All stays at most resorts, at Bounceback rstes, Hilton Value ( in fact all except the corporate rate) only garnered a maximum of 500 points per stay.
A lot you guys forgot( or dont know) what the program was like 10 years ago.
Mike

Actually, there were quite a few gains in the last few years:

As MIKESILV mentioned, most every rate qualifies now for full credit (10 HH points per $ spent plus elite bonuses) instead of flat 500 points in many locations.

Double dipping on all rates that qualify for HH points credit.

Ability to earn and redeem points not only at Hiltons (some of you may remember when it was limited just to US Hiltons!), but also at Doubletrees, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns, Homewood Suites, etc.

Terrific promos repeated year after year lately (50K points for 4 stays in 90 days).

While there were setbacks and certain "perks" have disappeared, let's be (reasonably) objective and balanced and remember not only losses, but gains as well.

Right, Eugene, the US and Int'l properties were not tied together, so now not only can one earn points at non-US properties, but they can also use them there too!

How about the great point earning credit cards, as well as the recent "50,000 point Gold" promotions!

I'll take 100,000 points for 8 stays = Hawaiian vacation over the Threshold bonus, ANYTIME!!!!!!!!!

A new perq for me is the addition of Camino Real chain in Mexico--just had a wonderful stay in club rooms at Puerto Vallarta on a GLON 6 night stay deal!

Weren't Scandic hotels just added in Scandinavia too!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BlondeBomber:
Weren't Scandic hotels just added in Scandinavia too!</font>

Yes they were.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by DOC 2 BE:
Right, Eugene, the US and Int'l properties were not tied together, so now not only can one earn points at non-US properties, but they can also use them there too!

How about the great point earning credit cards, as well as the recent "50,000 point Gold" promotions!

I'll take 100,000 points for 8 stays = Hawaiian vacation over the Threshold bonus, ANYTIME!!!!!!!!!</font>

Well, let's hope they repeat the promos. Nothing as of yet though!

Also: Not ever getting anyting at an Embassy Suites and the clerk looking at me like it doesn't exist.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eugene:
Actually, there were quite a few gains in the last few years:

Ability to earn and redeem points not only at Hiltons (some of you may remember when it was limited just to US Hiltons!), but also at Doubletrees, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns, Homewood Suites, etc.

</font>

I agree this is fine, but on the other hand, Sheraton expanded to Westin, St Regis, W, and Holiday Inn expanded to Intercontinental.

This is appreciated, but not related to the Program, just the expansion of the chain.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sylvest941:
I agree this is fine, but on the other hand, Sheraton expanded to Westin, St Regis, W, and Holiday Inn expanded to Intercontinental.

This is appreciated, but not related to the Program, just the expansion of the chain.

</font>

Sylvest,

I don't disagree with you on those accounts, but the Hilton expansion of properties has been several fold greater than those that you have listed above.

Now, you may not be able to enjoy most of their exansion as the new properties are mostly US located; however, with the addition of the Scandic properties, that will most certainly change.

Moreover, the Intcont'l, W, Westin, chains are at the high end of the spectrum. Further, as I am sure you know, Starwood, has cut back on the number of properties it had in and around Paris, to a meager 2 or 3 from perhaps 8, in the past couple of years, so your point is not exactly accurate.

Anyway, I wish for Hilton and its associated brands, to further expand in Europe!

Where is Adam to discuss all this here.

We need to have a Hilton HHonors official to get the right answers.

I have not seen hide nor hare of him on this board lately.

Too bad Starwood is always there to help in that forum but no Hilton help lately.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by nwelite:
Also: Not ever getting anyting at an Embassy Suites and the clerk looking at me like it doesn't exist.</font>

FWIW, my (limited) experience at Embassy Suites was just the opposite - upgrade to an executive suite (3 rooms), bag of goodies brought to the room, etc.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sylvest941:
I agree this is fine, but on the other hand, Sheraton expanded to Westin, St Regis, W, and Holiday Inn expanded to Intercontinental.

This is appreciated, but not related to the Program, just the expansion of the chain.

</font>

You are right, although if you look at your own examples, you'll see that other chains (Sheraton and Holiday Inn) expanded towards the more expensive brands, with limited number of properties added. Hilton chain expanded to mid-range spectrum of new brands, with more than a thousand additional properties added (most of them in the US though, so many travelers in Europe like yourself have less opportunities to take advantage of it).

While technically those changes/additions are not related to program rules, they made HH program so much more attractive for many cost-conscious travelers (leisure and business alike).

Also, I can't believe nobody has mentioned guaranteed lounge access (or free breakfast) for Gold and Diamond members (I believe it has been added to the rules in the last 3 years or so). I know that in some properties it could be a pain to get them to comply to the rules, but personally I have not experienced that in the last two years.

One more thing - remember, that until 2 or 3 years ago, it required not 4, but 7 stays in a calendar quarter to get a threshold bonus (5,000 points at the time).

Can we then conclude that HHonors is just perfect?
Then, why so many complaints when bonuses are withdrawn???
Mr Hilton, please, remove the "Points & Miles"...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sylvest941:
Can we then conclude that HHonors is just perfect?</font>

Nope, we can't. But what we can, IMHO, is (quoting my own earlier post in this thread) "be (reasonably) objective and balanced and remember not only losses, but gains as well".

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sylvest941:
Can we then conclude that HHonors is just perfect?
Then, why so many complaints when bonuses are withdrawn???
Mr Hilton, please, remove the "Points & Miles"...</font>

No, but if you are going to just try and draw up a list of benefits that have been removed also look at what gains there have been. Of course people are going to complain when things are removed, they arn't going to complain about benefits added are they.

Dave

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Dave Noble:

No, but if you are going to just try and draw up a list of benefits that have been removed also look at what gains there have been. Of course people are going to complain when things are removed, they arn't going to complain about benefits added are they.

Dave</font>

I just hate the Gold Status that my wife and I earned last year (until 4/2003), not to mention the 100,000 bonus points we each netted from those promotions! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I agree that the easy 50K were a nice promo. But the 50K is only worthwhile if you can apply it towards a VIP award (like ALON). Otherwise, the 50K will net you 2 - 2.5 nights in an average property.

I think that the Starwood free weekend nights is on par with the HH 50K promotions. The 2 free weekend nights after 5 nights can prove far more valuable than the 50K HHonors points. The only downside to this promotion is the short timeframe for redemption.Also, Starwood ran free weekends twice last year, and currently are running it again this year. Hilton has been very quiet on the promotion front this year.

I sent an email to HHonors, to complain about the recent changes. I provided a real world example comparing the number of stays required to earn a free weekday night in a midlevel property, factoring all current bonuses. Assuming a $70 one night stay at a Hampton, or Four Points, and redeeming at an Executive Level, or a Starwood Level 2. The stays required for Starwood were 4.1 per free night. With HHonors the stays required were 5.3 before the recent changes, and 7.8 after the changes. The loss of 1,250 points per stay, has reduced the total point earned by nearly 50%.

As much as I appreciate the generous promotions HHonors have run in the past. It is a shame that they are dismantling what was the best program in existence. It is fast becoming the equivalent of Marriott Rewards, with a handful of airline miles.

&lt;edit to correct grammar&gt;

[This message has been edited by MagicMan19 (edited 03-25-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MagicMan19 (edited 03-25-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by DOC 2 BE:
I just hate the Gold Status that my wife and I earned last year (until 4/2003), not to mention the 100,000 bonus points we each netted from those promotions! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>

I stand corrected. People will still complain about benefits added. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Dave