Hilton HHonors - From 848,300 Points to 700

Today I called the Diamond Desk and cashed in 848,300 points for three ALON's, two TEEN's, 2 GLON's, and 1 GLONP. I was short so Hilton gave me 2000 gratis miles. I can't predict my travel pattern so I will use whatever I can in the next year and if I can't use them or give them to relatives, I can re-deposit them, However, this whole ordeal seems like a complete waste of time. It's actually complete nonsense. I'm almost embarassed about making the telephone call, but I was protecting my well earned mileage. Would I have done something so ridiculous for a 5-10% hike, probably not, but for a 75% jump, the answer is obviously yes.

I don't know how everyone else feels, but these frequent flyer programs are doing the exact OPPOSITE of what was initially intended, build loyalty and encourage travel. In my business we bend over backwards for our best customers, Hilton (Delta, Starwood, etc) on the other hand, has us bending over...just waiting for another surprise.

I cashed in 100,000, of which I'll apply a 10K bonus, so reduced my 150,000 pt balance down to 50,000, but should get back to 60,000 when I send in the award cert.

I agree - this has been a major hassle; will I be able to knock out a 6-day trip to a GLON property ? Who knows ? Guess I'll re-bank in a year if I can't.

Point devaluation is to be expected over time in any program, and a 10-, maybe even 20% devaluation would be acceptable, although I find it a sad irony in this day and age where Greenspan is literally worried about DEFLATION, HHonors decides to do a massive DEVALUATION of points. I thought this happened only in an INflationary spiral (devaluation of the dollar, devaluation of points). Duh - guess I missed econ 101 that day.

Clearly, massive, disproportionate "re-setting" of the formula with 50-75% devaluations that happen tonight indicate poor management of point structure amd, indeed a sense of disrespect to members who blindly and faithfully earn along with hope of a future reward, and such mis-managent and disrepect actually becomes a major DISincentive to stay loyal and build points. Seems HHonors had no compuction about taking those dollars from their affinity partners when they *sold* the HHONORS points, but now - payback time - HHONORS "radically re-sets" the value of the points on the other end of the equation, the consumer side. Shameful.

Kudos - Hhonors - you just caused one massive flush of points from those "in the know" who frequent flyertalk, and will now feel the wrath of the significant MAJority who had no clue HHONORS was about to gut their point balance with an indefendable and (IMO) inexcuseable devaluation of their points. I dare say the big shake-out is yet to come when HHONORS members try to use 100,000 and 150,000 points balances, years in the making, and find out they are still 50,000 and more short all of a suddon. And imagine the timing - instead of waiting for Aug/Sept to do this, HHONORS managed to do it just prior to summer vacation time. Go figure.
Slothful way to run an affinity program, and I admit I am grateful now that I've flushed these points; will now go out of my way to avoid this chain once I expend this cert. Who needs the poke in the ribs these days ? Chains like Omni and 6-Continents are begging for our hotel business. I will now shifting my entire business to starwood and just needed one last prod from HHONORS.

[This message has been edited by ILUVCITIBANK (edited 05-31-2003).]

Cancelled my Hilton AMEX last week, cashing in 350,000 today, not going to consider Hiltons for my company's future conferences. The changes really put Hilton at the back of the pack IMO on awards. Back to Marriott, where I was before Hilton. Aloha.

ILUVCITIBANK wrote:
"Seems HHonors had no compuction about taking those dollars from their affinity partners when they *sold* the HHONORS points, but now - payback time - HHONORS "radically re-sets" the value of the points on the other end of the equation, the consumer side. Shameful."

Some of the losers are United MP members who, the the Chap. 11 frenzy, rushed to convert miles to points before Hilton cut off UA transfers. I was lucky to have missed the deadline or I might have done the same. (Lucky that is only of UA avoids Chap. 7).

And HHonors cut off the Delta transfers too.
I just have the feeling in the long run that Hilton will pump one of those 50,000 point givaway for like 5 stays at all their properties this year or next, like The Sheraton.

Already Hilton lowered their bottom line rates. I had a brilliant weekend stay for (ready everyone) Triple AAA $49.00 at HGI, Renton, WA from the Hilton.com website! Breakfast, H20 and $5 pantry all included!! Unheard of! Don't tell the poor people about those rates! :-)

SHADO

I find this whole points devalution hysteria some what interesting. The reality is that Hilton has bumped the award from 150,000 to 175,000 points. The 100,000 award was a special promo and it was going to go back up to 150,000 at some point anyway. Poor planning on Hiltons part to initiate a rise in the number of points and the ending of the special promo at the same time. Last year most people on these boards earned 50,000 bonus points plus all their regular points on 4 stays. Got upgraded to Gold (which carries a 25% bonus) for a simple phone call. Received another 2500 for calling in a code and half a dozen other promos that they may or may not have been able to accomplish. On top of that they gave months and months to redeem those points for those same discounted awards and a whole year to use the award and if you can't they'll let you put the points back in your account. So we have all these people claiming they will leave Hilton forever and are canceling their Hilton Credit Card, etc..
It's like claiming you will never buy bread again because the cost of bread went up $.25. I remember when you could get 4 loaves for a buck. Now all you see is bread that is $2 to $3 a loaf. Have these same people decided to never eat bread again and that they will never shop in that grocery store again?
I for one am thankful for all that Hilton has done for me the last couple of years. They have hooked me as a loyal customer (I'll be Diamond in 2 weeks). I guess if enough people that got free Gold leave or quit using the Hotels that means it will be that much easier for me to get an upgrade.

I enjoyed a free trip to Australia and a 6 night stay this past year. Managed to accumulate another 250,000+ points
Not to mention the 10,700 airmiles I've had added to my airmiles account the past 12 months.
Thank you Hilton.


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"A day without Points/Miles is like a day without SUNSHINE"

Agree with Superd. Hilton has been very, very good to my family. In less than two years we accumulated 1.1 million points at low cost and have redeemed 980,000 of them, all for exactly where and when we wanted to go.

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

Some of the losers are United MP members who, the the Chap. 11 frenzy, rushed to convert miles to points before Hilton cut off UA transfers. I was lucky to have missed the deadline or I might have done the same. (Lucky that is only of UA avoids Chap. 7).

</font>

Well I sure am not among the "losers" after moving 700,000 points.

In stockmarket parlance I think it is called "spreading the risk". This way if UA does go belly up I have 7 weeks of luxury hotel stays that does not go down with them.

UA still has to meet 6 monthly performance deadlines between now and Nov, and with SARS etc, that is not a gimme by any means really. Hope they make it, but after Ansett, I spread my risk where possible. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I agree with LLM that Hilton has been very, very good to me, however the following statement by superd1 seems completely wrong:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Superd1:
The 100,000 award was a special promo and it was going to go back up to 150,000 at some point anyway.</font>

These 100k VIP-onlyawards have been around for many years. Special promo? Can you provide any support for that spin on the matter?

IMO Hilton gave enough warning of the rates going up. What's the difference Hilton versus many of the major airlines also increasing reward redemptions? If alot of people believe that Hilton is the only hotel raising rates, I doubt it. I for one stay with Hilton and enjoy my rewards.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I These 100k VIP-only awards have been around for many years. Special promo? Can you provide any support for that spin on the matter?</font>

The length of time they offer a promo has nothing to do with the fact that it is a promo. Logical analysis should reveal to you that the stays at hotels for 150,000 points were not 50% better than stays at top line hotels in Hawaii. as a matter of fact they were frequently not even remotely as nice as the Hawaii hotels. Bottom line the rate went from 150,000 to 175,000 for most stays and those properties that went from 100,000 to 175,000 are not inferior to the other properties. The parties over and those that wanted to had a ton of time to cash in their chips before the rules changed. I have 340,000 points today and I'll have 340,000 points tomorrow. I'll still have my Hilton Amex and I'll still be staying at a brand that has treated me very well. Quiting over the point adjustment is plain silly.

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"A day without Points/Miles is like a day without SUNSHINE"

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Superd1:
I find this whole points devalution hysteria some what interesting. . . .Last year most people on these boards earned 50,000 bonus points plus all their regular points on 4 stays. Got upgraded to Gold (which carries a 25% bonus) for a simple phone call. Received another 2500 for calling in a code and half a dozen other promos that they may or may not have been able to accomplish. On top of that they gave months and months to redeem those points for those same discounted awards and a whole year to use the award and if you can't they'll let you put the points back in your account. So we have all these people claiming they will leave Hilton forever and are canceling their Hilton Credit Card, etc..
I for one am thankful for all that Hilton has done for me the last couple of years. They have hooked me as a loyal customer (I'll be Diamond in 2 weeks). I guess if enough people that got free Gold leave or quit using the Hotels that means it will be that much easier for me to get an upgrade.

Thank you Hilton.
</font>

Amen

While forgoing the 500 Miles I have earned 25 point/$ for 7 months in 2002 and 20 points/dollar for most of this year.

Was able to rescue 20,000 miles form United, combine two 5000 mile chunks from Delta by using a Mutual Account.

Must say did my share of profile updates to earn 1000 points a quarter.

Not everyone qualified last year for the points and points programs but there were plenty of opportunities and special promotions to earn an equivilent bonus.

My calculation is on the Premium Week

Was 195K now 240K that's an increase of 23 %

Since I have been recently earning a premium of approximately 20 point per dollar instaed of the 15 points per dollar that's a 33 % premium on the points salary to pay a 23 % premium on the points purchase. Last year the preimum was 67 % with the Points and Points Program

Current Balance 605,000 Points Used 540,000
Total Lifetime 1,145,000

It means the difference of getting three free weeks or twoo free weeks and a long weekend.

I did the math in another post comparing Mariott (without the points and points premium):

You will eventually roll up from 10 to 13 points per dollar spent at Marriott - Let's assume and average of 12. compared to Hilton's 15 for Diamond

Using 40,000 HH @ 7 Days the new rate for Hilton's top tier or 280,000

And Mariott's 225,000 A17 for 7 nights

225,000/12 = $ 18,750 spent to get a free week at top tier Hotel without blackout at Marriott

280,000/15 = $ 18,667 spent to get a free week at a top tier Hotel without blackout restritctions -

I am sure if you ran the numbers with Starwood we are talking about pennies

[This message has been edited by FC_Dave (edited 05-31-2003).]

Do you live at Hiltons? How does one earn so many points so fast?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by littleleaguemom:
In less than two years we accumulated 1.1 million points at low cost and have redeemed 980,000 of them, all for exactly where and when we wanted to go. </font>

Superd1,

You are really making an unfair analogy of the point escalation. You point out the GLONP award is only going up by only 25,000 points but ignore the fact the regular GLON award has gone up in cost from 100,000 to 150,000 and the ALON has been increased a whopping 75%. This is after the elimination of airline-hotel packages at the end of last year.

My spending in past five months since details leaked of Hiltons plan: December I spent 700,000 points on two airline-hotel GLO9 awards. This included four airline tickets to South Africa and two six-night hotel stay certificates. Yesterday I asked for and received two ALON awards. Total cost for all the awards was 900,000 points. If I was to make same transaction tomorrow it would cost: One million points for the four airline tickets alone, 300,000 points for the two six night hotel certificates and 350,000 points for the two ALON awards. If I did not utilize my awards in a timely manner it would have cost me 65% more for the awards tomorrow.

I am Diamond and I admit that Hilton was very good to me in the past. The only stays I have or will have with Hilton this year or in the future will be award stays. I was thankful Starwood comped me Platinum as a Diamond and I will show my loyalty to them as long as they demonstrate the same loyalty to me. I commend Hilton for the transition period in allowing most awards, but I also remember vividly how they eliminated some awards with little or no notice.

Remember the adage “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”. It was the Who, who sang, “We won’t get fooled again”.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gordon is A Liar:
[B]Do you live at Hiltons? How does one earn so many points so fast?

Hilton credit cards
Diamond 50% bonus
Hilton promo points

It is possible.

It's not just the VIP awards that have gone up dramatically...

One Scandic I want to stay at went from a Opportunity level hotel to a level 4. This means that at the worst rate on the old chart it was 10k points/night. On the new chart it's 30k/night. That's a 300% increase. Now, add in the fact that I stayed at this hotel once already for 3 nights for 25k points (SO5 award). With the new chart it's now 90k points, making an even higher percentage increase.

I agree that Hilton has treated us well, but the percentage increase on some of the awards/hotels is REALLY drastic.

I agree that Hilton gave ample warning that there would be a devalution, yet I don't feel it was a just decision. I too redeemed a ton of points for assorted rewards, but my problemis the hour long wait time phoning the Diamond Services line. Anyone else experience long wait times today?

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HHonors Diamond
Hyatt Passport Diamond
Starwood Platinum
AA Executive Platinum

Looking at the New Rewards vs Old Rewards I noticed that only the 6 night certs are going up the larger amount. When using points for a shorter period of time it's about the same amount before and after the change. Seems to work better for me because they are also allowing Pointstretcher for 1 and 2 night stays on weekdays which was not available before. I usually seek out pointstretcher dates and plan a getaway to my favorite places at these cheaper less crowded times and now that will be easier without the day of week restrictions. I even found some hotels going down in point level that I have visited or would like to visit. Looks like I'll save points sometimes and spend more at other times. Oh well, no big deal to me.

750,000 Hilton HHonors points redeemed.

I'm just gold and will probably just make gold again this year. And, yes, I joined other flyertalkers in a frenzy of point redemption. I checked out BlondeBomber's spreadsheet again this morning to make sure that I had gotten all the awards I knew I could take. Any other award I order this year will either be a one day weekend with no point requirement change or totally unexpected.

And you know, it's OK. If I travel and I get some good out of it, fine. There are plenty of people in high tech that have had to take pay cuts, commute farther or just plain not found a new job after layoffs.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by worksalot:
Looking at the New Rewards vs Old Rewards I noticed that only the 6 night certs are going up the larger amount. When using points for a shorter period of time it's about the same amount before and after the change.</font>In general you are correct, but a lot of hotels seem to be moving to higher categories -- particularly the Scandics.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bigdaddyjoker:
I agree that Hilton gave ample warning that there would be a devalution, yet I don't feel it was a just decision. I too redeemed a ton of points for assorted rewards, but my problemis the hour long wait time phoning the Diamond Services line. Anyone else experience long wait times today?
</font>

You're kidding right? You wait to the last possible day and expect there won't be a backlog of others trying to get out the same door at the same time?

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"A day without Points/Miles is like a day without SUNSHINE"

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cyberg:
You are really making an unfair analogy of the point escalation. You point out the GLONP award is only going up by only 25,000 points but ignore the fact the regular GLON award has gone up in cost from 100,000 to 150,000 and the ALON has been increased a whopping 75%. This is after the elimination of airline-hotel packages at the end of last year.
I am Diamond and I admit that Hilton was very good to me in the past. The only stays I have or will have with Hilton this year or in the future will be award stays. I was thankful Starwood comped me Platinum as a Diamond and I will show my loyalty to them as long as they demonstrate the same loyalty to me.</font>

Well we each have our own perspective. The good news is that the fewer Diamonds staying at Hilton the more likely I'll get an upgrade. So I guess I'll just say thanks and leave it at that.

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"A day without Points/Miles is like a day without SUNSHINE"

SUPERD1:
First off, no I wasn't kidding with my comment. After reading your posts on this topic I have a question for you. Since you claim to have accumulated over 250k+ points, why are you still a Gold? My comment regarding the long wait time was a question to others who had been trying to get through. As a Gold member you should not be using the Diamond Services line, so why would you even have the need to put your 2 cents in ont he comment I made? I may be new on this site, but that doesn't mean I need to be insulted by the likes of you. try be constructive with your comments.

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HHonors Diamond
Hyatt Passport Diamond
Starwood Platinum
AA Executive Platinum

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bigdaddyjoker:
SUPERD1:
First off, no I wasn't kidding with my comment. After reading your posts on this topic I have a question for you. Since you claim to have accumulated over 250k+ points, why are you still a Gold? My comment regarding the long wait time was a question to others who had been trying to get through. As a Gold member you should not be using the Diamond Services line, so why would you even have the need to put your 2 cents in ont he comment I made? I may be new on this site, but that doesn't mean I need to be insulted by the likes of you. try be constructive with your comments.

</font>
Point accumulation does not usually equate to status. I have noticed a lot of very skilled point accruers in this forum, but, in order to make Diamond, you still have to stay 28 times or 60 nights. I am sure Superd1 will be able to explain how he got all the points.
I am neither upset nor thrilled with the changes that HH has made. All I know is that this is a "perk" that was offered by Hitlon to their valued customers. What is offered can be taken away or altered. From where we, the customers stand, we have the choice of giving our business to somebody else. I like Hilton and as long as the conveniences and multitude of locations are compatible to my business trips, I will always be a Hilton person. Should they decide to continue to give me points and allow me to redeem them for stays or toher goodies, I will always be grateful. I am a diamond and will take advantage of what comes with being one. If it gets to the point where other properties are treating their VIP's better, I can decide to stay or leave. It is my choice and it always will be, just like the points and rewards they give is theirs, thus, their right to make changes.

I have cashed in 550,000 HH points. I have 10285 points left. I have stopped using my AMEX Hilton Card. I have signed up for the SPG 5 stay - 50,000 point promotion for the pacific Asia region. I intend to move over to Starwood and transfer my Hilton AMEX to Starwood AMEX.

I have to protect my interests as a traveller who needs to receive value and as a traveller who hates rule changes.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bigdaddyjoker:
SUPERD1:
First off, no I wasn't kidding with my comment. After reading your posts on this topic I have a question for you. Since you claim to have accumulated over 250k+ points, why are you still a Gold? My comment regarding the long wait time was a question to others who had been trying to get through. As a Gold member you should not be using the Diamond Services line, so why would you even have the need to put your 2 cents in ont he comment I made? I may be new on this site, but that doesn't mean I need to be insulted by the likes of you. try be constructive with your comments.</font>

My, my aren't you just a little on edge? I have never called the Diamond desk. My comment was along the lines that it is not realistic to expect to call the Diamond desk or any other line at Hilton yesterday for redemption and expect that you wouldn't have to wait. I actually didn't notice that you were a new member. I don't look at how many post someone has posted as I think it has nothing to do with anything. I could tell you how I earned all the points in question without being a Diamond but with your attitude I think I'll skip it. BTW in 2 weeks I will get to use the Diamond desk.

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"A day without Points/Miles is like a day without SUNSHINE"

I have to say that although I was disappointed with the increases, I received lots of help from the Diamond Desk to snag an ALON for the HWV in September. As of May 15th, I was about 18,700 point short, with all my stays and points posted. (No travel in May.) Ms. YFLY had a small account with 9,000 or so points. We combined into a HH mutual fund and had access to the combined points in 2 days. The next day I purchased another 9,000 and was comped 700 to get to the ALON level. On the this same call they found availablilty for the week I wanted. Not bad, I thought.

Hmm.. should I be worried about the fact that my account hasn't been deducted for cashing in for GLON & GLONP awards yesterday?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hauteboy:
Hmm.. should I be worried about the fact that my account hasn't been deducted for cashing in for GLON & GLONP awards yesterday?</font>

No. The system was down for most of yesterday and so e-mail msgs requesting awards were sent to the SC rather than being auto deducted - for some requests that were received early in the day. Give 'em until the end of the week to issue these awards and I'm sure you'll see a debit to your account. That's what I'll be doing anyway. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Gordon is A Liar:
Do you live at Hiltons? How does one earn so many points so fast?
</font>

Ha, ha, no, although I just got back from the ES at Disneyland. I'm only (earned) gold and got my points from stays, EWDRC, INTU, CNTU, Hilton Amex and Visa (sign both spouses up for both), CO/UA/DL transfers from non-flight activity (remember Ozstamps find of the 10,000 bonus DL points? Then there was that free Delta Amex with the signup bonus and UA gives out miles just for being alive), Mypoints, profile updates, automileonline and just did a mutual fund because husband lost his status. Once I was on the phone with HH and the rep laughed, "You are signed up for every promo we have."

Alas, lots of these goodies are gone now, just like the bargain ALONS, but I still have August and next Easter at HWV to look forward to. My in-laws are all joining us for ALONs at the HWV in August, mostly with points I told them how to get and some on certs I donated. Thanks to the early notification, all these amateurs were able to come up with their ALON points way before the deadline.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by littleleaguemom:
Alas, lots of these goodies are gone now</font>Including, for the sake of any newbies reading your excellent summary of the many ways to pump up one's balance, Delta transfers. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Seems like the party's over now.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by IMStill4Travel:
Seems like the party's over now. </font>

It is not over. Rather, we are just going to have to sober up for a while until the next one begins.

My glass is half full..............

The biggest losers are those that accumulated these points slowly by hotel stays alone (as opposed to charging for your daily cereal). The "cost" of that accumulation is a lot more than use of CCs (discretionary or limited opportunity spending vs. essential spending). For most in that category, the size of the increase might mean never being able to get the ALON or GLON or waiting for another 2-5 years.

Very few people can get into these multi-hundred thousand balances with hotel stays alone (the 50k giveaway notwithstanding).

The use of the HH card as an affinity card (as opposed to a hotel loyalty card) has skewed the value of the program towards affinity card usage. Not to say HH and the people using CCs are not benefitting from it but do not expect people to stay loyal to a chain for hotel stays for that reason alone.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by venk:
The use of the HH card as an affinity card (as opposed to a hotel loyalty card) has skewed the value of the program towards affinity card usage. Not to say HH and the people using CCs are not benefitting from it but do not expect people to stay loyal to a chain for hotel stays for that reason alone.</font>

True, but this is more so for Starwood. I was formerly earned gold with them but won't have a single paid stay all year because I have so many Starpoints from savings bonds to use in Italy where the rates are out of sight. Especially with them allowing you to upgrade award stays with points, why pay?

I cashed in the big amount on may 31.
1,100,000 points. A wedding in Los Cabo 11 rooms. I have 28 points left.

I've earned a lot through the 50k promos and I don't event travel for business. But..I think HHonors has been way more generous than Marriott in the point earning category through cc's. I'm trying to get to 75K on Marriott for next april kauai stay and I'm 9k short as of now. The only way I can do this is through the Visa Marriott cc which is PAINFULLY slow. 1 point per dollar. Geez. We have a flooring purchase for the house for about 5k that will help but it's really a S L O W process compared to the 3 pts per dollar that HH Amex gives. Marriott is so stingy with any bonuses too.

I cashed in 300K just like a lot of others. I can't believe the vaules went up so much. If only the perks for Diamonds increased as much (like SPG's Suites even on award stays) maybe I would give HH some nights this year. The only nights they are getting from me now are when SPG either doesn't have a hotel in the area or SPG's rate is too high.

Bigshaker

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Superd1:
I find this whole points devalution hysteria some what interesting. The reality is that Hilton has bumped the award from 150,000 to 175,000 points. The 100,000 award was a special promo and it was going to go back up to 150,000 at some point anyway. Poor planning on Hiltons part to initiate a rise in the number of points and the ending of the special promo at the same time....
</font>

This was never a "special promo." It was part of the VIP program. It has been probably the only award untouch in the 10+ years that I been with Hilton.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by idahost:
Today I called the Diamond Desk and cashed in 848,300 points for three ALON's, two TEEN's, 2 GLON's, and 1 GLONP. I was short so Hilton gave me 2000 gratis miles. I can't predict my travel pattern so I will use whatever I can in the next year and if I can't use them or give them to relatives... </font>

Once awarded, is it allowable to give them to relatives?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Superd1:
Well we each have our own perspective. The good news is that the fewer Diamonds staying at Hilton the more likely I'll get an upgrade. So I guess I'll just say thanks and leave it at that.

</font>

Hey, where's the Aloha? What happens if there are no diamonds, golds or any other members. There won't be any Hilton for you to upgrade to. The point is that people feel that they are getting ripped off here. If enough people walk, there won't be a Hilton.