Hilton HHonors - Husband & Wife Diamond Members

Amongst all the threads discussing percentages of Diamond members, length of continuous Diamond membership, and so on, I haven't seen a thread (I did search) regarding Husband & Wife Diamond Members.

My wife and I are both in that position - each of us qualifying individually.

Out of idle curiousity are there any other FT members in a similar situation?

We're planning some reward redemption shortly; if we both turn up at check-in and hand over two Diamond cards would we immediately be whisked off to the presidential suite :) or stuck in a standard room? :(

Anyone who has a joint account (no longer issued but grandfathered for existing accounts) has two Diamond (or whatever the appropriate level might be) cards.

Anyone who has a joint account (no longer issued but grandfathered for existing accounts) has two Diamond (or whatever the appropriate level might be) cards.In the case of a joint account (which my wife and I have), the two cards have the same account number on them. In the OP's case, they would have different account numbers. Still, I doubt it would make any difference in service versus a single Diamond card. Certainly there is no official recognition of "Double Diamond" status that I know of. Of course, as with any random front desk person, YMMV.

what a perfect opportunity to try diversification

What do you do when it is a paid stay? Battle Royale in the lobby for who gets the points / stay credit? :)

My husband and I have a "mutual account" which is the term for the grandfathered in program for husband and wife memberships.

Even though it was my travel originally that gained us the Diamond status - now mostly I am treated as a second class citizen by Hilton.

Originally the online Hilton system would let us choose who's name to make a reservation. So depending on who was traveling we could book appropriate reservations. After some kind of online system upgrade, my husband's name was automatically made as the default name and I can no longer make online reservations in my name. I can no longer even add my name as the second guest in the room without using the notes section.

An additional problem arises when you might want two rooms at a property that is sold out without the "Diamond Force" (though this is now outdated as well) I wanted two rooms and asked the Diamond desk to reserve one in each name as we were each supposed to be considered a Diamond member. I was only able to reserve one because we only had one account.

So the benefits of a mutual account are no longer of much value. The status I earned was without consultation turned over to my husband's name and I am treated like a leech. So much for rewarding frequent stays.

Hopefully Hilton will come up with some reward soon for Diamond members. I am expanding to other companies but there are not enough Sheraton's in the small towns I visit and the Marriotts in small towns are not always as nice as the Hamptons. They are gaining though since Hampton keeps insisting on serving egg colored hockey pucks for breakfast!

I've been a Hilton Diamond member for almost 10 years now - they have reduced benefits each year. This post has made it more obvious to me that I need to move on to something better.

My husband and I have a "mutual account" which is the term for the grandfathered in program for husband and wife memberships.

Even though it was my travel originally that gained us the Diamond status - now mostly I am treated as a second class citizen by Hilton.

Originally the online Hilton system would let us choose who's name to make a reservation. So depending on who was traveling we could book appropriate reservations. After some kind of online system upgrade, my husband's name was automatically made as the default name and I can no longer make online reservations in my name. I can no longer even add my name as the second guest in the room without using the notes section.

An additional problem arises when you might want two rooms at a property that is sold out without the "Diamond Force" (though this is now outdated as well) I wanted two rooms and asked the Diamond desk to reserve one in each name as we were each supposed to be considered a Diamond member. I was only able to reserve one because we only had one account.

So the benefits of a mutual account are no longer of much value. The status I earned was without consultation turned over to my husband's name and I am treated like a leech. So much for rewarding frequent stays.

Hopefully Hilton will come up with some reward soon for Diamond members. I am expanding to other companies but there are not enough Sheraton's in the small towns I visit and the Marriotts in small towns are not always as nice as the Hamptons. They are gaining though since Hampton keeps insisting on serving egg colored hockey pucks for breakfast!

I've been a Hilton Diamond member for almost 10 years now - they have reduced benefits each year. This post has made it more obvious to me that I need to move on to something better.

Well you do sound a bit bitter about it but to say the benifits of a mutual account "are no longer of value.." is quite a bit of an overstatement isnt it?.:rolleyes:

Despite your diappointment, can you name any other lodging program which still alllow spouses to combine stays in order to acquire a higher status?
I am fairly sure HH did not design the "mutual account" for individual members who could qualify by themselves. In that case I put it to you it... would it not be pretty silly to form a mutual?

As far as your the name on the account.... it is a problem, when my wife stays alone but personally I think she finds it just a minor inconveinence in order to acquire my status... besides you could always ask HH to designate you as the member main member..... its really not that difficult.

Alternately there is really nothing stopping you from opening your own HH account, then you wouldnt feel slighted at all and could do your own Diamond force. ( personally... I have no problems with HH restricting that, really you cant expect to have everthing can you:))

Fine if you are disappointed in the HH program but to say the mutual account is no longer of value (to you perhaps) ... but I bet tons of current members would jump on the opportunity to open a HH mutual.

Question: Did you know mutual members can get credit for three rooms at the same time?

mike

Question: Did you know mutual members can get credit for three rooms at the same time?


I can't even get credit for two rooms with our mutual account. When my wife stays at a Hilton in her name with our mutual account number, the stay credit and points do not post automatically. I have to call HH Diamond Desk every time to have the stay and points posted.

When we have two rooms on family vacations, one in my name and one in my wife's name, I only get my folio posted for points and credit. When I call Diamond Desk, they tell me that I can have the points from the room in my wife's name but not the stay credit. I'm told 'no 2 stays for the 2 rooms', kind of like having 2 rooms in my name only.

So, what are the rules? And why do the Diamond Desk agents not know about the credit for two rooms, let alone 3 rooms?:confused:

The last Diamond Desk agent I talked was surprised that I even had a mutual account with the same account numbers. she told me that we should have had different account numbers.:rolleyes:

Indeed my wife and I have two completely separate HHonors accounts - not a 'joint account' or a 'mutual account' - both Diamond status.

My original enquiry does appear to have raised some interesting related issues!

My original enquiry does appear to have raised some interesting related issues!

Ya think? :)

Maybe a change of title is appropriate, as the OP's only two posts seem to be on topic.

I can't even get credit for two rooms with our mutual account. When my wife stays at a Hilton in her name with our mutual account number, the stay credit and points do not post automatically. I have to call HH Diamond Desk every time to have the stay and points posted.

When we have two rooms on family vacations, one in my name and one in my wife's name, I only get my folio posted for points and credit. When I call Diamond Desk, they tell me that I can have the points from the room in my wife's name but not the stay credit. I'm told 'no 2 stays for the 2 rooms', kind of like having 2 rooms in my name only.

So, what are the rules? And why do the Diamond Desk agents not know about the credit for two rooms, let alone 3 rooms?:confused:

The last Diamond Desk agent I talked was surprised that I even had a mutual account with the same account numbers. she told me that we should have had different account numbers.:rolleyes:

The problem here is that most DD CSR'S are not aware that Mutual accounts exist.
When my wife stays by herself even though she uses a somewhat different surname the stay always post, you might want to check with HH to make sure her booking name is EXACTLY the same as listed on the account.

Now getting stay credit for the second room, even if booked in her name is A little trickier if you notice I said MAY get credit in the other thread and perhaps I should have done so in this one also.

First thing one needs to do is to MAKE TWO OR THREE SEPARATE RESERVATIONS WITH AT LEAST ONE ROOM IN YOUR SPOUSE/PARTNERS NAME

No matter what, only one room is going post on hilton.com ( you can try as much as you want with the front desk....its not gonna work) but that is not really a bad thing:)

So now you have to call into the DD to get the missing credit and you will get two possible scenarios:
a) a CSR who will attempt to post the missing stay as a separate stay... then you will get the additional night/stay credit plus miles and even rental car partner.
PLus in the above case you can/will get the third room attached to the above.

It also worth knowing that if both mutual partners stay in separate properties on the same night then there is no problem getting the third room points.

b) a CSR who will try to combine the two folios .. in that case you will not get additional nights/stays/miles etc. and the third room.

I have been successful in getting case a) most of the times I have tried this whether is 'techincally against the rules' I am not sure.


mike

I was originally upset that I just missed the 'mutual acct' cut-off, but after reading this post, it seems not too bad, especially if you don't ever have to worry about needing a few points for a reward, which we never have. And with 2 seperate accounts, we get 2 stay and up to 4 room charge credits for more than 2 rooms

As far as us 'duking it out' in the lobby, that doesn't ever happen because;
a. I'm the 'keeper of the points'; my dh doesn't know cr@p about points, I make all his ressies according to what program we need stays/points in: and
b. we've never stayed in a hilton property together that I wasn't using one of our points for a reward stay!

Hi. I qualified as a diamond first in 2005 and then my husband qualified in January 2007 due to a one year assignment in NOLA (and stay at the nice HGI there). So for 2007 and until next month (when I drop to Gold) we were both diamonds.

His diamond status continues til April 2009 and I became an IC Royal Ambassador last November.

One subject GDIW brought up kind of rubs me. As GDIW stated we used to be able to add a second name to a reservation on line, my wife and I (joint account) often arrive on different flights, because I am the primary the room is in my name, I always have to call to add her name to the room. A few times I have forgotten and occasionally a front desk clerk would not give her a key, luckly she got me on my cell and I talked her in, what a pain. Also in expensive cities I sometimes will share an ES room with one of my salesmen, again I have to call to add his name because again, if he gets there first no key. Does anyone know why we cannot add a name on line?

My husband and I are currently both HHonors Diamond. We have been since 2006 (not the mutual account discussed above). We've generally gotten great rooms without producing multiple Diamond cards at check-in (I did produce my card once to push the upgrade when checking in first on a reservation in my husband's name).

The double status benefits us the most when we travel with a set of our parents or other family members. We each make a personal reservation, then hand over the 2nd upgraded room to our travel companions.

I think the mutual account is fantastic.^ and when we have 2 rooms we just transfer the balance of the second room to the first room and always get our points.
also when staying with a second room we always get the upgrade for both rooms. I wish all the other programs were as generous:cool:
I dont know what all the whining is about re this fantastic benefit.

I believe that if you are a Diamond HiltonHonors member and purchase an HGVC timeshare, they will add your spouse to your account. A Diamond desk rep. mentioned this to me after we purchased our timeshare. You have to be somewhat persistent, since HGVC and Hilton Honors don't seem to communicate very well....

My husband and I have mutual diamond cards like BXIAN's, because of our status with the HGVC timeshares. We have a two room award stay coming up at the London Park Lane. The reservation lists one adult in each room with our 14 yr old son listed as sharing one of the rooms. Since we both have diamond cards, is it likely that both rooms will be upgraded? What about lounge access? Breakfast? BTW, both rooms are reserved in my husband's name because his is the first name on the diamond account. Should we contact the hotel ahead of time to ask for the upgrade?

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

nonutrix

Originally the online Hilton system would let us choose who's name to make a reservation. So depending on who was traveling we could book appropriate reservations. After some kind of online system upgrade, my husband's name was automatically made as the default name and I can no longer make online reservations in my name.

I agree that that is annoying.

What I do is simply make the reservation online in my name, then email one of my HHonors contacts and ask that the name be changed on the reservation from mine to my spouse's.