One of the consequences of this move may be that some big SPG account holders better rush on the following or otherwise revise their plans about this: transferring SPG points into AA miles, then into HHonors to get to the next Million Mile threshold at AA while still being able to get free hotel stays.
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This game is not as much fun as it used to be: 2008/2009 Frequent Flyer Program Fleecing Award goes to Delta Airlines
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, UA 1K, MR Plat, HH/SPG Gold
Posts: 17,820
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelexpert
At least Marriott significantly increased the Platinum bonus to make up for the devaluation.
True, and they did actually alter one program fundamental (dumping the "Anytime" awards) in our favor. But still...when it was announced, a lot of people swore off Marriott. Whether a bluff or not, I don't know...
The sad part about this one is that I've been mostly complementary of HHonors in recent years for what I consider a high quality of treatment for HH Gold status. (I'm still, for the most part, pleased with my HHonors stays.) I'm hopeful that there will be some category correction in our favor in December. This move is so mindblowingly bad otherwise, it just seems like they have to throw us a bone.
Programs: DL Plat (frmr NW), IHG PC Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Slvr, Choice Priv Gold, National Emrld Exec
Posts: 1,424
Quote:
Originally Posted by wharvey
I am curious... what place is that?
All the programs are devaluating their program.
ALL - I don't really think so. The lower end is actually improving a bit. IHG has been giving away points like candy (if you follow the famous thread in thier forum) for some time now. They have actually been improving their program a bit by offering points and cash style reward nights and a somewhat miserly points for flights option. My upgrade success rate at HIEX and Staybridge as a Plat is better than what I've been getting as a diamond this year. (Just be careful about staying in a regular HI.)
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Since we at FT are probably the most intense travelers and revenue generators for travel suppliers, we probably have more power than we realize.
I am starting this thread to demonstrate to HHONORS that going ahead with devaluing our points when the economy has plummeted and business travel is in a slump makes no logical sense.
If hotel rates were rising, Hilton would be pressured by its owner franchisees to increase the rates they get when providing reward space. Since rates are plummeting, there cannot be such pressure, and Hilton is obviously making this change to enhance its own profitability at the expense of its most loyal customers.
Over the past several years, Ms. Travelexpert and I have consistently been giving Hilton 120 nights each year.
So I'll start out making a commitment to decrease my Hilton business to zero if possible. On occasion, Hilton may be the best option--but I'll seek out alternatives moving forward if the new award chart is implemented next January.
I'm with you...I've been gold for several years and they've always been my tertiary program...with the current devaluation and no free night for me...then can kiss my arse goodbye!
This program has lagged behind the others for so long it's not even funny...now this...
Programs: AA CK/EXP/3MM, BA Gold, PC Ambassador, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,433
I admit I haven't spent a lot of time studying this but at first blush it doesn't seem so bad- isn't it somewhat a function of which/how many properties become L7? And isn't the impact muted by the reduced elite award levels?
I admit I haven't spent a lot of time studying this but at first blush it doesn't seem so bad- isn't it somewhat a function of which/how many properties become L7? And isn't the impact muted by the reduced elite award levels?
Actually, some (many? most?) of us read the email and webpages as "every hotel will jump one category" : all "old L5" currently at 35,000 will become in the new & improved ranking system L6 at 40,000, and so on. Plus some hotel will change category depending of their individual qualities.
I am happy with Hilton. I like Starwood, however, I travel to very random places that doesn't have Starwood properties...which leaves Marriott....I refuse to indirectly fund the Mormon church...so that leaves Hilton.
The only reason I am still with Hilton is that Starwood and Hyatt hotels in London (where I have a majority of my stays) are almost prohibitively more expensive than the Hilton hotels there. I might as well stay at Holiday Inn hotels in London, though, as they aren't really worse than the Hilton hotels there. So I am currently considering that. Diamond recognition at the Hilton hotels I usually stay at (London) is almost non-existent. The points devaluation makes it significantly less attractive to suffer through the stays at London Hilton hotels just to use the points at some point in the future in one of the nicer Hilton hotels.
I'll probably requalify for Diamond this year as I am only a few stays away, then burn all my points before the changes to the HHonors program and hope for some Diamond recognition when burning the points and then take all my business to Hyatt/SPG/Priority Club from next year.
Like attorney28, I travel to London several times a year and stay for up to two weeks at a time. I currently have two stays at Hilton London properties booked next month--I will probably keep these stays--but will be looking at changing my frequent stay habits next year--Keep it up Hilton, and other programs will prosper.
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, UA 1K, MR Plat, HH/SPG Gold
Posts: 17,820
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richelieu
Actually, some (many? most?) of us read the email and webpages as "every hotel will jump one category" : all "old L5" currently at 35,000 will become in the new & improved ranking system L6 at 40,000, and so on. Plus some hotel will change category depending of their individual qualities.
The FAQ explicitly stated it: the default is that the entire system moves up 1 category. Your 175k Cat 6 costs 225k in 2010. Your 150k Cat 5 goes up to 180k.
We need the special December/January list of category changes to come out to determine whether a large number of properties gets moved back to 2009 levels.
This is the one hope I'm holding out: logically, it makes sense that all Opp, 1, and 2 hotels would move up one level to 1, 2, and 3. But today's 4, 5, and 6 hotels should only move up based on their merits, demand, revenue, etc. My hope is that it was easier to first announce the categories and the new Cat 7, and we'll get a full list in December/January that shows most mainline Hiltons - the 4's, 5's, and 6's most common throughout the system - are set back to the proper level.
I would consider switching, but not because of devaluation. The cost per night has gone up over the past five years, so I am still getting about the same number of free nights vs. the number of nights I stay. The extra free day is a nice gesture from Hilton though. However I would stay because of the lack of consistency and no real recognition between gold / diamond.
If you wanted this to really work then have people fax in their receipts from other properties. A few people saying they'll switch is sends a message. Dropping a stack of $1m of receipts from Diamond members giving their business elsewhere will get much more attention.
The FAQ explicitly stated it: the default is that the entire system moves up 1 category. Your 175k Cat 6 costs 225k in 2010. Your 150k Cat 5 goes up to 180k.
Actually, I was under the impression that some here were still clinging on the hope that the FAQ chart was just incredibly badly designed and that they just intended to show the two redemption & level charts. But I think they are extremely optimistic.
Quote:
Is this a naive, wishful hope?
I'd say if it was the case, and the devaluation wasn't extreme, they wouldn't throw us a free night for nothing... If most high-end properties get to stay at the same level, which would be logical in the current economy, it would be a small degradation, and the free night would be... too much. A free night for a 5% decrease is overcompensating to all people not getting 20 free night a year, which I guess is most diamond members.
