Hilton corporate says:
Originally Posted by
Jailer
Although Hilton HHonors has not raised reward costs since June 2003, we have been committed to offering various opportunities to earn even more points through the Points/Points earning style, as well as earning opportunities through our co-branded credit cards, car rental, and shopping/dining partners. As such and in order to continue to remain competitive, the decision was made to increase the cost of hotel rewards without taking away the earnings opportunities currently in place.
Hilton HHonors is committed to continuing to grow our program and benefits to all of our most loyal customers and in order to do so, we have to manage how the program is structured accordingly.
This is another way of saying we have to negate the value of the extra points earned through credit cards, dining, etc. The whole exercise has become a charade: earn "even more points," then move the goal posts so more points = same points.
Why not step off the point inflation treadmill by giving up "printing more money" / handing out more points?
In other news... on the heels of all this terrible HHonors news... I got an email this morning from these guys offering me a 30-day complementary subscription to USA Today online "as our way to thank you" for being a valued Hilton HHonors member.
I don't know whether to be amused or insulted. I've never thought less of this program.