what benefits with Diamond Select?
Jul 20, 2022, 7:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 318
what benefits with Diamond Select?
I am not very familiar with the Best Western Program, so I looked at its member benefits online.
The way I understand it ,there actually has no benefit difference between a blue member and Diamond Select member, except a diamond select gets more bonus points per dollar spent. It also claims member get exclusive rate but I did not see any rate difference before and after I logged in. The rate stays the same.
Am I missing something? It seems to be a boring program and no appealing benefit to stay loyal.
Please enlighten me, thanks,
The way I understand it ,there actually has no benefit difference between a blue member and Diamond Select member, except a diamond select gets more bonus points per dollar spent. It also claims member get exclusive rate but I did not see any rate difference before and after I logged in. The rate stays the same.
Am I missing something? It seems to be a boring program and no appealing benefit to stay loyal.
Please enlighten me, thanks,
Jul 21, 2022, 10:14 am
#2
formerly PrePress420
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SFO, Seat 2J
Posts: 423
I am a diamond select. Exclusive rates mean that you will be charged less than someone just coming in or making a reservation on the phone who is not at BW rewards member.. however, Priceline for example can offer cheaper rates than the hotel itself. So you might want to investigate them for the better rate.
Free upgrades are no longer a given and not even advertised on Best Western site as they used to be. That was one of the advantages I liked. Also, I stayed a lot on the road and would accumulate enough points to get free nights.
If you're looking for the best rate I would check out Priceline just to compare. Best Westerns are independently owned and I can assure you the quality varies from hotel to hotel.
Free upgrades are no longer a given and not even advertised on Best Western site as they used to be. That was one of the advantages I liked. Also, I stayed a lot on the road and would accumulate enough points to get free nights.
If you're looking for the best rate I would check out Priceline just to compare. Best Westerns are independently owned and I can assure you the quality varies from hotel to hotel.
Jul 23, 2022, 6:30 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
Neither Best Western, nor Choice, nor Wyndham are programs for people who seek status benefits.
They're programs for people who want to accumulate points to use, among other things, in many small towns (including just outside many national parks) where there are no other points program hotels other than the above.
Along Norway's western fjords, the only point hotels are in the Best Western and Choice programs.
Around many national parks in the US, the closest points hotels are either Best Western and/or Choice and/or Wyndham. Only two Best Westerns near Bryce Canyon NP in Utah, only Choice and Wyndham in Port Angeles WA near Olympic National Park.
They're programs for people who want to accumulate points to use, among other things, in many small towns (including just outside many national parks) where there are no other points program hotels other than the above.
Along Norway's western fjords, the only point hotels are in the Best Western and Choice programs.
Around many national parks in the US, the closest points hotels are either Best Western and/or Choice and/or Wyndham. Only two Best Westerns near Bryce Canyon NP in Utah, only Choice and Wyndham in Port Angeles WA near Olympic National Park.
Jul 24, 2022, 4:16 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Italy
Programs: Accor Gold, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond , Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,484
All the world is Diamond select with Best Western even spending 3-4 nights per year at the hotels of this chain …
their status élite worth less than the supermarket membership card …
their status élite worth less than the supermarket membership card …
Aug 3, 2022, 8:33 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 14
I have Diamond Select through a status match and the only thing it seems to change is how many points you get. Most BW don’t even mention your status. I had one that gave me a water bottle at check in, I think because of the status (all he said was “oh you get a water bottle”), but that’s it as far as recognition.
Oct 9, 2022, 10:32 am
#8
formerly PrePress420
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SFO, Seat 2J
Posts: 423
Since the pandemic technically ended, haha, I am now being offered my choice of bottled water or a bag of chips from the gift store / snack bar. But it doesn't hurt to ask because you never know who's at the front desk
Mar 6, 2023, 7:04 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,593
This is my second year as Diamond Select member, i have never enjoyed any benefit with my status. No gift, no welcome drink, I have to beg for an early checkin to accommodate my 3 y.o who still needs to take a nap after lunch. So far, I have never got any room upgrade.
I have to stay at the BOA Hotel BW Signature in Lille in May, i am not expecting anything special.
I wrote an email to prepare my stay, asking about an upgrade. I have been told the usual... "it's a very busy period, we'll see what we can do upon checkin"
This is probably the worst loyalty program ever...
I have to stay at the BOA Hotel BW Signature in Lille in May, i am not expecting anything special.
I wrote an email to prepare my stay, asking about an upgrade. I have been told the usual... "it's a very busy period, we'll see what we can do upon checkin"
This is probably the worst loyalty program ever...
Mar 6, 2023, 9:47 am
#10
formerly PrePress420
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SFO, Seat 2J
Posts: 423
If you can, call the hotel directly two days before, the day before, and the day you plan to arrive. These are independently owned and upgrades are a matter of choice of that hotel. And not call the best Western corporate number. Emails are okay but often their fruitless. I always call at least once to follow up especially the day before. And if I am worried about that particular hotel I call the morning of my arrival.
Mar 7, 2023, 4:50 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I have seen some Diamond upgrades to higher floor rooms and maybe somewhat larger junior suites/family rooms at times. But even where there are options to upgrade, BW hotels seem to be generally the opposite of generous with upgrades.
I have been checked in earlier than the official check-in times, but that hasn’t seemed to have much or anything to do with status.
I had long chalked up the BW program’s status benefits to be as weak as IHG status benefits; but IHG has improved with status benefits while BW remains where it has long been.
I have been checked in earlier than the official check-in times, but that hasn’t seemed to have much or anything to do with status.
I had long chalked up the BW program’s status benefits to be as weak as IHG status benefits; but IHG has improved with status benefits while BW remains where it has long been.
Mar 7, 2023, 5:05 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Neither Best Western, nor Choice, nor Wyndham are programs for people who seek status benefits.
They're programs for people who want to accumulate points to use, among other things, in many small towns (including just outside many national parks) where there are no other points program hotels other than the above.
Along Norway's western fjords, the only point hotels are in the Best Western and Choice programs.
They're programs for people who want to accumulate points to use, among other things, in many small towns (including just outside many national parks) where there are no other points program hotels other than the above.
Along Norway's western fjords, the only point hotels are in the Best Western and Choice programs.
Choice and BW properties in Norway — and the rest of Scandinavia — are better with regard to status benefits than Choice and BW properties in the Americas.
In Norway, I mostly redeem points for Choice, BW, Radisson, and Scandic hotels. There are two Marriott options across the country — which is to grow to three options when Tromso comes online. There is at least one Hyatt option in the country, that being in Bergen.
Apr 3, 2023, 12:27 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,457
Apr 7, 2023, 3:41 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,593
FINALLY !
booked a BW Signature hotel in Lille (France) and contacted them for an upgrade. The girl only answered « let’s see upon availability on arrival day » with not much attention to my status.
I cancelled the booking and took another BW in Lille (better). The hotel offered to upgrade me even if it’s a month in advance.
Some hotels just don’t care. Hopefully there are still some good BW paying attention to loyal members
booked a BW Signature hotel in Lille (France) and contacted them for an upgrade. The girl only answered « let’s see upon availability on arrival day » with not much attention to my status.
I cancelled the booking and took another BW in Lille (better). The hotel offered to upgrade me even if it’s a month in advance.
Some hotels just don’t care. Hopefully there are still some good BW paying attention to loyal members
Apr 18, 2023, 12:39 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,457
FINALLY !
booked a BW Signature hotel in Lille (France) and contacted them for an upgrade. The girl only answered « let’s see upon availability on arrival day » with not much attention to my status.
I cancelled the booking and took another BW in Lille (better). The hotel offered to upgrade me even if it’s a month in advance.
Some hotels just don’t care. Hopefully there are still some good BW paying attention to loyal members
booked a BW Signature hotel in Lille (France) and contacted them for an upgrade. The girl only answered « let’s see upon availability on arrival day » with not much attention to my status.
I cancelled the booking and took another BW in Lille (better). The hotel offered to upgrade me even if it’s a month in advance.
Some hotels just don’t care. Hopefully there are still some good BW paying attention to loyal members
