Dilution of Diamond Force (with points)
Jun 21, 2011, 5:33 pm
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,421
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Hello mnredfox,
Thank you for your message to Hilton Reservations and Customer Care. It is my pleasure to assist you today with your Diamond reservation inquiry.
I apologize for the inconvenience. Please be aware that the Diamond Special Arrangements will no longer apply for hotels that are participating in the Expanded Rewards. There does have to be a standard room available but with the premium rooms, it cannot be used for the stated reason above.
We appreciate this opportunity to assist you and thank you for your continued loyalty! If you have any further questions or concerns, please let us know.
For immediate assistance, please click on the link below for the contact number of the HHonors Service Center nearest you:
http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/...t,HeadCustomer.
How are we doing?
xxxxxxxxxxx
HHonors/Diamond Coordinator
Customer Care Email Department
Hilton Reservations and Customer Care
www.hiltonworldwide.com
*****************
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Jun 22, 2011, 8:18 pm
#63
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: Hhonors Diamond United Gold
Posts: 12
In case anyone didn't know (I didn't) I was told by the Diamond desk today that if you need a "diamond force" expedited they can only do it if the reservation is for a date 10 days or less out from today's date. If you're in that time frame you will get a response back within 48 hours. Outside of that time frame it will take 5-7 business days.
She also confirmed that if hotels have premium rooms available with points you cannot do a "force". Otherwise if it is not an extreme demand date and even if the hotel is sold out she did confirm that you can use a "force" for a reward stay. I had heard different answers from CSR's before but I don't think they were trully diamond CSR's. Now if this actually happens......that's a different story.
She also confirmed that if hotels have premium rooms available with points you cannot do a "force". Otherwise if it is not an extreme demand date and even if the hotel is sold out she did confirm that you can use a "force" for a reward stay. I had heard different answers from CSR's before but I don't think they were trully diamond CSR's. Now if this actually happens......that's a different story.
Jun 23, 2011, 1:22 am
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,421
I can't believe more Diamond's are enraged with this change. Perhaps it's all because most diamonds these days don't do much stays and are of the Surpass kind....
Jun 23, 2011, 1:31 am
#65
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Here there everywhere
Programs: AF Frequence Plus Rouge pour toujours, BAEC Gold, HHonors Diamond, BW Rewards Diamond
Posts: 1,041
Or maybe most Diamonds have since become Golds and moved the bulk of their hotel spend elsewhere (read: SPG).
UTA
UTA
Jun 23, 2011, 9:39 am
#66
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: AVL
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, Bonvoy LT Plat, TSA vilifier extraordinaire, Once upon a time... US Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 1,310
Jun 23, 2011, 10:04 am
#67
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
I'm enraged. Still formulating my angry letter. Maybe I'll do it this weekend while doing my DEQM mileage run to ORD.
Jun 23, 2011, 12:22 pm
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: Honors Lifetime Diamond, BAEC Gold
Posts: 67
I think it is annoying, and worth getting annoyed about.
Although technically the diamond force with points remains, and if a hotel is sold out we can still technically 'force' a standard room (will be great to see if this happens in reality), this new change means that we have to wait until a hotel which offers a room above a standard level for points is full before we can use the force.
The reality I can see... and this is happening...take the Cavaleiri where Diamonds have made special arrangements for a long time...now they may be sold out of every room, except a suite which today they are offering for a million HHonors points, and until that's sold (unlikely?) we cannot force a room.
Once rolled out worldwide, this does significantly reduce the Diamond benefit above Golds.
Although technically the diamond force with points remains, and if a hotel is sold out we can still technically 'force' a standard room (will be great to see if this happens in reality), this new change means that we have to wait until a hotel which offers a room above a standard level for points is full before we can use the force.
The reality I can see... and this is happening...take the Cavaleiri where Diamonds have made special arrangements for a long time...now they may be sold out of every room, except a suite which today they are offering for a million HHonors points, and until that's sold (unlikely?) we cannot force a room.
Once rolled out worldwide, this does significantly reduce the Diamond benefit above Golds.
Jun 23, 2011, 2:17 pm
#70
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Chapel Hill, NC - UA Nobody (sigh)/0.925MM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 3,510
) and in that time I've used a DSR exactly twice (both times at the Cavalieri).I only burn points on international destinations (and have no plans to return to the Cavalieri any time soon). I'll only be enraged if I ever have to use a DSR when I'm overseas and I get asked for gobs of points when no standard rooms are available. And based on my past experience, I'm not too worried about it.
Jun 23, 2011, 2:49 pm
#71
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 362
I'm not enraged because this probably won't have much effect on me. I've been Diamond for the last nine years (on points thank you very much ) and in that time I've used a DSR exactly twice (both times at the Cavalieri).
I only burn points on international destinations (and have no plans to return to the Cavalieri any time soon). I'll only be enraged if I ever have to use a DSR when I'm overseas and I get asked for gobs of points when no standard rooms are available. And based on my past experience, I'm not too worried about it.
) and in that time I've used a DSR exactly twice (both times at the Cavalieri).I only burn points on international destinations (and have no plans to return to the Cavalieri any time soon). I'll only be enraged if I ever have to use a DSR when I'm overseas and I get asked for gobs of points when no standard rooms are available. And based on my past experience, I'm not too worried about it.
. Enraging does not solve these issues anyway, just like enraging over devaluation of the points last year did not solve anything.
Jun 23, 2011, 7:27 pm
#73
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
United listened to people getting enraged over the completely fubar new boarding order and changed it back to the original system (zones instead of rows).
Jun 23, 2011, 9:12 pm
#74
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
Well, I just wrote my inquiry letter to the Diamond Desk. I want to hear it from them before I start berating them on this change. This is the email:
I have recently heard quite a disturbing rumor that I would like to get clarification on. I have heard that with the introduction of Premium Room Rewards, the Diamond Desk will no longer be able to submit Diamond Special Arrangements for standard room rewards at hotels with no standard rooms available if there are Premium Rooms available for redemption with HHonors Points.
For example, if the Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri had no standard rooms available for points redemption but did have an Imperial Room available for a higher than standard amount of points, the Diamond Desk could not submit a Diamond Special Request for a standard room.
Is this rumor true?
For example, if the Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri had no standard rooms available for points redemption but did have an Imperial Room available for a higher than standard amount of points, the Diamond Desk could not submit a Diamond Special Request for a standard room.
Is this rumor true?