This is totally absurd. Hilton should just suspend their programme entirely. There really is no point being elite since you get nothing of value at any tier. Free internet is a tired benefit that all of the major chains offer, and don't get me started on their bonus pesos. Given the steady devaluation of points over the last decade, Diamond should get a 200-300% bonus, Gold a 100-200% bonus, and Silver a 50-100% bonus. Either that, or they should consider revaluing their hyperinflated currency. Wishful thinking (I know!). I cannot think of a single reason for anyone to remain loyal to Hilton save for the fact that you get 100-500 airline miles w/ each stay. Big whoop!!!
Okay, now you may pile on.
__________________
Thanks for nothing, Horton. Clearly, you didn't give a hoot.
Suffering in the age of DAArth PAArker and UScAAre.
huh?
you've lost me. When booking a reward stay you either book it or you don't.
If there was no availability and your 48 hr diamond guarantee was not working why didn't you speak with a supervisor?
I have no clue what 'working on it means'.
When making your request on 7/18 why didn't you just book the reward stay?
seems like an odd situation.
Hmmm, that's not odd at all. Every time I did a Diamond Force on reward stay, they always told me that they will check with the hotel and get back to me in the next 48 hours. Usually I would get an email back within 12 hours saying that I got the room. One time I got an email within 10 minutes. But they always have to "work on it" offline for a bit. Those were the days. The last 2 times I called, they told me since there were premium rooms available, they won't even attempt to contact the hotels. I guess now I don't even have to try anymore! Less work for me!
This is totally absurd. Hilton should just suspend their programme entirely. There really is no point being elite since you get nothing of value at any tier. Free internet is a tired benefit that all of the major chains offer, and don't get me started on their bonus pesos. Given the steady devaluation of points over the last decade, Diamond should get a 200-300% bonus, Gold a 100-200% bonus, and Silver a 50-100% bonus. Either that, or they should consider revaluing their hyperinflated currency. Wishful thinking (I know!). I cannot think of a single reason for anyone to remain loyal to Hilton save for the fact that you get 100-500 airline miles w/ each stay. Big whoop!!!
Everyone should post something on the Hilton HHonors facebook page about this. I did and got an email from a rep (they looked up my account) they told me they would forward my comments to the Management of HHonors. Power in numbers.
Here is what I posted
" Just one more slap in the face to HH Diamonds. The new T&C on July 19 cutting the Diamond force for reward nights and giving more perks to Gold's. The Diamond force was the one benefit to Diamond status that made it worth keeping. It's been one slap in the face after another since 2009. What is the difference between Diamond and Gold other than the 50% instead of 25% bonus points and an additional 1000 (or less) points? Sure points are nice, but your top competitors keep adding REAL benefits to their top tier, Hilton Keeps taking away theirs and given more to the mid tier?!?!? "
Seems to me that you should be happy / not happy with your own status and benefits rather than not being happy that Hilton extends very good benefits at its Gold level. I understand that there is always some frustration if there is a change in T&C, but the suggestion is to keep the focus there and not worry about others. You could have made all the points you wanted without referring to the Gold benefits.
Programs: UA P, Delta SL, US SL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, IHG PL AMB, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 819
Makes perfect sense that they do not allow Diamond Force for award stays. When you get a Diamond Force you normally end up paying rack rates, but for an award, the hotel gets maybe $20 bucks.
Makes perfect sense that they do not allow Diamond Force for award stays. When you get a Diamond Force you normally end up paying rack rates, but for an award, the hotel gets maybe $20 bucks.
It's not as simple as that at all. The amounts paid vary a lot. I don't think the Cavalieri gets $20 a night!
The point is, there's very little left to make Diamond a really special tier. I was looking at Hyatt, my first time looking at another brand and they offer four guaranteed suite upgrades for stays up to 7 days each. That is very good.
The whole upgrade fiasco, suite/no suite or garden view just adds salt to the wound.
They give Gold away to every Tom, Dick & Harry and they bundle Diamond with some credit card. I pity the poor Gold who actually earns the tier, what a fool!
Indeed, I am beginning to feel like more a fool to keep renewing Diamond.
Location: MSP (Mahtomedi, MN, USA) - Delta Diamond, HH Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, CVS Red, US Mint Silver
Programs: "We've been starving, and sitting on a ham sandwich the whole time." http://tinyurl.com/DLsammich
Posts: 1,445
Quote:
Originally Posted by kanerf
Makes perfect sense that they do not allow Diamond Force for award stays. When you get a Diamond Force you normally end up paying rack rates, but for an award, the hotel gets maybe $20 bucks.
I'm sure they get some sort of prevailing per-night rate figuring all rooms in the property (whether occupied or not, so vacant rooms would bring down the figure) over a period of time - the same historical month of the year, the entire quarter, entire year, etc...
The idea that a high end property would get $20 a night on award stays is absurd.
They give Gold away to every Tom, Dick & Harry and they bundle Diamond with some credit card. I pity the poor Gold who actually earns the tier, what a fool!
Like us Canadians who don't have the credit card option available?
I was looking at Hyatt, my first time looking at another brand and they offer four guaranteed suite upgrades for stays up to 7 days each. That is very good.
At Hyatt, the guaranteed suite upgrade requires that a Junior Suite be available at the time of booking
This program has turned into a sad shell of its former self...
What is next on the chopping block? AXON/GLON? Free breakfasts? Executive lounges? They have cut so much in such a short period of time that none of these would seem to be off the table.
Programs: DL KM, HH Diamond, IC RA, Hyatt Diamond, NA EE
Posts: 13,892
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vuelos
I made a request on 18July and they were working on it. When I called yesterday to check on the status was denied due to new rule
Quote:
Originally Posted by little_dc
Everyone should post something on the Hilton HHonors facebook page about this. I did and got an email from a rep (they looked up my account) they told me they would forward my comments to the Management of HHonors. Power in numbers.
Here is what I posted
" Just one more slap in the face to HH Diamonds. The new T&C on July 19 cutting the Diamond force for reward nights and giving more perks to Gold's. The Diamond force was the one benefit to Diamond status that made it worth keeping. It's been one slap in the face after another since 2009. What is the difference between Diamond and Gold other than the 50% instead of 25% bonus points and an additional 1000 (or less) points? Sure points are nice, but your top competitors keep adding REAL benefits to their top tier, Hilton Keeps taking away theirs and given more to the mid tier?!?!? "
Seems to me that you should be happy / not happy with your own status and benefits rather than not being happy that Hilton extends very good benefits at its Gold level. I understand that there is always some frustration if there is a change in T&C, but the suggestion is to keep the focus there and not worry about others. You could have made all the points you wanted without referring to the Gold benefits.
I agree with this. I'd rather complain about the loss of benefits to Diamonds, than about Gold members getting "too much".
This program has turned into a sad shell of its former self...
What is next on the chopping block? AXON/GLON? Free breakfasts? Executive lounges? They have cut so much in such a short period of time that none of these would seem to be off the table.
Whatever saves money for blackstone . Long term loyalty is not their goal - only immediate profits.
The only language they understand is $$$. Don't encourage them by spending your money at Hilton.
They treat diamonds as captive audience and give gold away like candy to create a perception of benefits. But don't count on anything of value to last.
