Instant Gold membership for Visa Signature cardholders
Jun 9, 11, 2:58 pm
#77
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I'm starting to wonder why I bother being actually loyal to Hilton. I had 21 stays last year putting me solidly in the range of HHonors Gold. For a while there was joking that anyone could be HHonors Gold but now it seems as this isn't a joke but a reality. My brother who is already HHonors Silver through a comp, despite one Hilton stay on the year, who's loyal to Hyatt uses his Hyatt Visa Signature card and is now the same level as me. What do I get out of the deal? 5,000 points that are pretty close to worthless. I know I'm complaining and I'm probably in the minority on being upset by this, but I'm upset by this.
Jun 9, 11, 3:17 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,378
I'm Gold already, entered my CC number and got the 5,000 HH points... which is fine. But I agree with these guys:
Right on. Like a DEQM season, this is the kind of elite-flation that ultimately ruins programs. How are actual loyal, repeat customers supposed to feel when eighty million Visa cardholders (requirements for a Visa Signature card: fog a mirror) achieve equal status with this Rosie Ruiz play? And hotel staff can't tell which Gold guests earned it and which stole it, so they'll probably look at everyone like they stole it. It degrades the value of the tier in everybody's eyes.
The silver lining for me is that I'll remain Gold though 2013, however worthless it may be, with my stays through early July. No need to push to to 16-stay mark; I can change my August-December lodging plans from Hilton and stay wherever I want.
I'm starting to wonder why I bother being actually loyal to Hilton. I had 21 stays last year putting me solidly in the range of HHonors Gold. For a while there was joking that anyone could be HHonors Gold but now it seems as this isn't a joke but a reality. My brother who is already HHonors Silver through a comp, despite one Hilton stay on the year, who's loyal to Hyatt uses his Hyatt Visa Signature card and is now the same level as me. What do I get out of the deal? 5,000 points that are pretty close to worthless. I know I'm complaining and I'm probably in the minority on being upset by this, but I'm upset by this.
The silver lining for me is that I'll remain Gold though 2013, however worthless it may be, with my stays through early July. No need to push to to 16-stay mark; I can change my August-December lodging plans from Hilton and stay wherever I want.
Jun 9, 11, 4:42 pm
#79
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, ClubCarlson Gold
Posts: 309
I really don't understand why folks obtain status and then neglect it. I guess you'll have it while you regain it next year, but you could be enjoying the Gold benefits the rest of this year as well.
Jun 9, 11, 5:18 pm
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,378
What I don't understand is why HHonors lures all these hordes of people in with comped or easy-to-score elite status, then disappoints them with crap redemption value and erratic on-property benefits delivery. Like the wireless companies, they're obsessed with acquisition but do almost nothing about retention, although it is markedly cheaper to retain a loyalist than replace one.
Jun 9, 11, 5:44 pm
#81
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,560
Do we know for sure what the definition is of a "qualifying stay" to meet the 3 stay requirement?
I was thinking of using hhonors points to take advantage of some of the "point stretcher" opportunities in Asia this summer? Will these stays count? The rules say you have to pay with your signature Visa upon check out, which makes me worry that reward stays don't count, as you are not "paying" for anything?
Or does Hilton charge taxes, etc. on reward stays which could be put on the Visa, or would I have to buy other incidentals to trigger the Visa payment requirement?
Or do they require three actual paid stays?
I was thinking of using hhonors points to take advantage of some of the "point stretcher" opportunities in Asia this summer? Will these stays count? The rules say you have to pay with your signature Visa upon check out, which makes me worry that reward stays don't count, as you are not "paying" for anything?
Or does Hilton charge taxes, etc. on reward stays which could be put on the Visa, or would I have to buy other incidentals to trigger the Visa payment requirement?
Or do they require three actual paid stays?
Jun 9, 11, 5:48 pm
#82
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,245
I think it's really sour grapes for folks to complain about this promotion. The gold status is only good for a couple of months. I think the promo is all about swaying people to stay at Hilton properties if they have a choice -- and for that, it's a smart promo. I for one, am switching my hotel stays to Hilton properties over the summer. That's business Hilton would not have otherwise earned.
Unless you work in Hilton marketing, any moaning about this promo diluting the benefits of Gold or making upgrades harder is not based on data points. Elite-flation?
Unless you work in Hilton marketing, any moaning about this promo diluting the benefits of Gold or making upgrades harder is not based on data points. Elite-flation?
Jun 9, 11, 5:56 pm
#83
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Do we know for sure what the definition is of a "qualifying stay" to meet the 3 stay requirement?
I was thinking of using hhonors points to take advantage of some of the "point stretcher" opportunities in Asia this summer? Will these stays count? The rules say you have to pay with your signature Visa upon check out, which makes me worry that reward stays don't count, as you are not "paying" for anything?
Or does Hilton charge taxes, etc. on reward stays which could be put on the Visa, or would I have to buy other incidentals to trigger the Visa payment requirement?
Or do they require three actual paid stays?
I was thinking of using hhonors points to take advantage of some of the "point stretcher" opportunities in Asia this summer? Will these stays count? The rules say you have to pay with your signature Visa upon check out, which makes me worry that reward stays don't count, as you are not "paying" for anything?
Or does Hilton charge taxes, etc. on reward stays which could be put on the Visa, or would I have to buy other incidentals to trigger the Visa payment requirement?
Or do they require three actual paid stays?
Jun 9, 11, 6:05 pm
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,378
Of course the strategic intent of the promo is to get people to apply for Visa Signature cards so they, too, can outflank the intended program structure. Good for Visa; bad for HHonors loyalists; in the long run, bad for HHonors itself.
Jun 9, 11, 6:09 pm
#85
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,245
A "stay" is defined as the total number of consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, whether or not a guest checks out and checks back in again. The term "stay" under these Terms and Conditions does not include any stays of the following nature: wholesale/tour operator packages; contracted airline crew rates; travel agency discount rates; packages exclusively for Las Vegas Hilton casino player card holders; Team Member Travel rates, Hilton Family Travel Rates; complimentary or barter rooms; Reward Stays (as defined herein); NET Group rates; Series Group or IT Group rates; contracted Entertainment or Encore rates; third party websites bookings (irrespective of rate paid); and "opaque" channel bookings where the brand is unknown at the time of purchase. HHonors points may not be earned for ineligible stays or during ineligible stays, including without limitation, folio charges incurred during ineligible stays. If at least one night of the Member's stay is consumed with the use of HHonors Rewards points, the entire stay is considered a "Reward Stay" and no HHonors points may be earned, except that if Member is using Room Upgrade Rewards, any money spent on the original reservation will earn points and/or miles consistent with these Terms. Participating hotel will determine whether incidental charges incurred during either or those stays are eligible for points, except that Points will not be earned for incidental charges at Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Homewood Suites by Hilton®, and Home2 Suites by Hilton®.
Jun 9, 11, 6:12 pm
#86
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,245
I don't let marketing programs infuriate me. High unemployment and child mortality infuriate me.
Jun 9, 11, 6:25 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, HHonors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 2,499
Do we know for sure what the definition is of a "qualifying stay" to meet the 3 stay requirement?
I was thinking of using hhonors points to take advantage of some of the "point stretcher" opportunities in Asia this summer? Will these stays count? The rules say you have to pay with your signature Visa upon check out, which makes me worry that reward stays don't count, as you are not "paying" for anything?
Or does Hilton charge taxes, etc. on reward stays which could be put on the Visa, or would I have to buy other incidentals to trigger the Visa payment requirement?
Or do they require three actual paid stays?
I was thinking of using hhonors points to take advantage of some of the "point stretcher" opportunities in Asia this summer? Will these stays count? The rules say you have to pay with your signature Visa upon check out, which makes me worry that reward stays don't count, as you are not "paying" for anything?
Or does Hilton charge taxes, etc. on reward stays which could be put on the Visa, or would I have to buy other incidentals to trigger the Visa payment requirement?
Or do they require three actual paid stays?
Jun 9, 11, 7:30 pm
#89
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 943
Jun 9, 11, 7:36 pm
#90
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 943
I agree with this. Those who have a choice may jump to Hilton, but outside of FT and someone with actual travel plans in the near future, how many non-travelers are going to go out of their way to extend the status when they don't need to stay at a hotel? I suspect many people will let it lapse.
