Hilton HHonors - No more free gold

I realize that this post may develop some negative reactions from those who dislike the dilution of gold benefits as they feel if there are too many golds, Hhonors could possibly increase points required for stays, hand out less suite upgrades, and close lounges but I realize that I am greedy and really miss those gold benefits. For those who this upsets, I apologize.

Here is the scenario. Last year I started to enjoy the benefits of gold via the CNTU promotion. But as I said I was greedy and I did not want to pay so much to stay at the Hilton as I travel only for pleasure so my 13 or so stays were done on low Priceline rates, and I still usually enjoyed the benefits of free lounge access (which is why I angled my bids to win Hilton hotels)

Anyhow, knowing that I would be dropped down in status, I called and signed up for AAGU in December as I was elite with AA. No problem. BUT I did not read the website closely as I found out when I received my silver card yesterday that I needed to make 4 stay in 90 days.

Are there any current promotions, or likely to be any this year to help get me back to gold? I realize I could just pay for 16 stays and get gold (for me and my travel plans that would not make economical sense) I am no longer elite with AA, but is there anyway I could do the 4 stays in 90 days and get gold. as 4 Hilton rate stays would not totally break my bank.

If someone would prefer not to discuss it here on this board feel free to email me. Thanks

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by smilee:
I called and signed up for AAGU in December as I was elite with AA. No problem. BUT I did not read the website closely as I found out when I received my silver card yesterday that I needed to make 4 stay in 90 days. </font>

Discussion on the status dilution aside, AAGU should've provided you with an unconditional instant Gold status, provided that the code was properly entered into the system (in the Tier Upgrade area). Four stays was needed for an extra 1,000 bonus miles, but not for the status.

You may want to call HH again and see if they would be willing to rectify this post-factum. If not, do a search in this forum, and you will find a couple threads on the current AmEx promotion which would indeed require 4 stays to get a Gold status upgrade.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by smilee:
Hhonors could possibly increase points required for stays, hand out less suite upgrades, and close lounges...</font>

Are you always this good at predicting the past? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

(Just got back from HWV where they have a special "enhanced" lounge for Golds and Diamonds, and where you can forget about a suite upgrade)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by nsx:
Just got back from HWV where they have a special "enhanced" lounge for Golds and Diamonds, and where you can forget about a suite upgrade</font>

A bit OT, but suite upgrades never were a benefit of being an HH VIP member (Gold or Diamond). Also, at the HWV you should have had an option of getting free breakfast coupons instead of a lounge access - much better choice, IME. FWIW, we were there two weeks ago on ALON, upgraded to the oceanview room on a higher floor and given free breakfast coupons for all members of my family (breakfast coupons there include tax and gratuity).

smilee:

you were right...

...good riddance!

marc (an unapologetic diamond)

You don't need AAGU to get the Gold challenge. I just called and they said 4 stays in 3 months does it. However, since I cannot access my account online, I don't know if you get Gold right away. I suspect not. I did two Gold promos with the 50K points each and thought I had Gold for another year but they say not. So, sadly Silver...

I don't mind AAGU giving out instant gold, but I do wish they would limit it to its intended audience, AA Plats+