Hilton HHonors - VIP Award Stays after lost status

Hello! I am currently a Hilton Honors Gold Member (downgraded from Diamond as of 3/2012). I am not traveling for work at this time, so will not have enough nights/stays to maintain gold status beyond expiration next March 2013. A couple of questions:

1) If I book an award stay as VIP gold for say June of 2013, will the hotel honor the points/status at the time of the stay in June 2013 (gold expires 3/2013)?

2) Will I drop to Silver or Blue? I will have a few nights here at there in the next 12 months, but not enough to maintain gold (unless I do a credit card or other route?)

Points are deducted at time of booking. Book before you lose status to maintain the discounted room rate. HHonors Benefits are due for status at time of stay.

Hello! I am currently a Hilton Honors Gold Member (downgraded from Diamond as of 3/2012). I am not traveling for work at this time, so will not have enough nights/stays to maintain gold status beyond expiration next March 2013. A couple of questions:

1) If I book an award stay as VIP gold for say June of 2013, will the hotel honor the points/status at the time of the stay in June 2013 (gold expires 3/2013)?

2) Will I drop to Silver or Blue? I will have a few nights here at there in the next 12 months, but not enough to maintain gold (unless I do a credit card or other route?)

2) HH does not have a soft landing. What ever status you earned in the previous year will be your status the following year. I dropped from Diamond for many years to Silver and only because I'm an HGVC owner. Would have Blue otherwise.

All you need is 4 stays or 10 nights in 2012 to stay as Silver. You could also get the Hilton HHonors American Express with no annual fee and complimentary Silver status for as long as you have the card. I have had this card for years and love how it helps bump my points earning that much more. I'd be happy to refer the card for you if you send me your e-mail address in a personal message.

Thanks everyone for the tips. Any advice on a last HH hurrah? I have looked at various European cities--London, Paris, Rome for a last HH stay, but we have a 5 year old, so family occupancy in the rooms is an issue (this also generally rules out dream drips like Bora Bora or Maldives due to airfare)? So far the best bang for the HH point buck domestically seems to be Manhattan. Would love to do Disney/Orlando, but the point math doesn't seem to work. If anyone has any hidden Hilton properties with good point value rates, let me know.

VIP rates are for ANY elite level Silver and higher. So if you drop to Silver, you can still book a VIP discounted rate. If you have at least 4 stays this yr, you will be Silver.

When you check in, your status AT THE TIME OF CHECK-IN determines your benefits. If you are Silver or Blue when you check-in, that is the VIP benefit level you will receive. It does NOT matter what your level is when you book.

If you have a HHonors AMEX, you can also book a AXON award, 125K for 4 nights in a Cat 6 hotel, 145K for a Cat 7 hotel. These are bigger discounts over the VIP awards for the same category hotels. You don't have to be a VIP elite. All you need is the HHonors Amex card.

If you have a HHonors AMEX, you can also book a AXON award, 125K for 4 nights in a Cat 6 hotel, 145K for a Cat 7 hotel. These are bigger discounts over the VIP awards for the same category hotels. You don't have to be a VIP elite. All you need is the HHonors Amex card.

If you have the Amex card you are Silver member by definition (one of the Cards perks - useless but still a perk).

Thanks everyone! sounds like getting the AMEX is the way to go. Funny when I was traveling, I didn't have the card (worked for government, had to use government credit card). I'm sure I will use the points in the near future, but looking for the right trip

When you check in, your status AT THE TIME OF CHECK-IN determines your benefits. If you are Silver or Blue when you check-in, that is the VIP benefit level you will receive. It does NOT matter what your level is when you book.



That is not consistent with my experience. My status changed between the time I booked and the time I checked in, though my status went the other way as the OP and was higher by the time I got to the hotel. Out of the blue I received an apology that my status was not "treated as it should be" because I was a silver when I booked but a Gold when I arrived. I didn't get any additional perks, but the comment was appreciated.

That is not consistent with my experience. My status changed between the time I booked and the time I checked in, though my status went the other way as the OP and was higher by the time I got to the hotel. Out of the blue I received an apology that my status was not "treated as it should be" because I was a silver when I booked but a Gold when I arrived. I didn't get any additional perks, but the comment was appreciated.

I would say time of check-in if you ask me.

That is not consistent with my experience. My status changed between the time I booked and the time I checked in, though my status went the other way as the OP and was higher by the time I got to the hotel. Out of the blue I received an apology that my status was not "treated as it should be" because I was a silver when I booked but a Gold when I arrived. I didn't get any additional perks, but the comment was appreciated.
That apology is quite telling. It says that they knew you should have received more benefits, but didn't for some reason. And that they still weren't giving them to you. I'm assuming this was after check-in, otherwise they should have fixed it then.

My guideline would be that the benefits you receive should be based on your status at the time of the action. e.g. Booking benefits at time of booking. Stay benefits at time of stay(check-in usually, though some like elite bonus points would be at check-out).

If, like above, you have gained status, you might want to make sure you receive the benefits of your current, higher, status.