2 stays from Diamond? How strict?
Dec 9, 2016, 6:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Midwestern US
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 5
2 stays from Diamond? How strict?
I need two more 'stays' to retain my Diamond status. Are they stringent or are there allowances if you are 'this close'. Alternatively would I have to book two stays somewhere close to home to simply 'tick the box' and therefore, retain Diamond?
Dec 9, 2016, 6:15 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: KEWR
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat, National Exec, GE/Nexus
Posts: 501
Why tempt fate. I am 1 stay away and thus will book somewhere soon for $87 all incl. Not worth the potential aggravation for a lousy amount.
Dec 9, 2016, 7:16 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Midwestern US
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 5
Agree, their program is not great and if I weren't so close, I wouldn't even bother. Thinking of taking the Marriott Platinum challenge in January to move. Marriott's food and exec lounges are so much better!!
Dec 9, 2016, 9:17 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
Many people on here say they only need 1 stay.
If you want the status, then make a few reservations and stay. If it's truly not important, don't worry about it.
Dec 9, 2016, 9:32 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,570
Strange...this is one area (lounges) where it seems like these two brands are fairly similar. I've been a Gold/Plat/Diamond in both of these for 15+ years.
In the U.S./Canada: mostly barebones lounges. 95% of the time, exactly what you'd expect: bagel in the morning, little finger-food morsels in the evening. Pay for your booze. While this is perfectly fine with me, I've rarely been in a location where it was a big differentiator between Marriott and Hilton (or Sheraton for that matter).
Internationally, definitely better lounges, but true for both brands. Gets a lot more individual...here it absolutely could be a differentiator, but it could go either direction - a given city having a great Marriott lounge (Vienna) or a great Hilton lounge (HKG, Conrad).
If I were only 2 stays away living in the U.S. with access to easy/cheap stays, I'd finish off Diamond so at least you have the option next year, even if your main goal is to chase Starriott status. Also, if you *ever* do any kind of "resort" stay, you'll be glad you have HH. Wouldn't shock me to see Starwood Platinum benefits at resorts disappear at some point in the future, thanks to Marriott...
In the U.S./Canada: mostly barebones lounges. 95% of the time, exactly what you'd expect: bagel in the morning, little finger-food morsels in the evening. Pay for your booze. While this is perfectly fine with me, I've rarely been in a location where it was a big differentiator between Marriott and Hilton (or Sheraton for that matter).
Internationally, definitely better lounges, but true for both brands. Gets a lot more individual...here it absolutely could be a differentiator, but it could go either direction - a given city having a great Marriott lounge (Vienna) or a great Hilton lounge (HKG, Conrad).
If I were only 2 stays away living in the U.S. with access to easy/cheap stays, I'd finish off Diamond so at least you have the option next year, even if your main goal is to chase Starriott status. Also, if you *ever* do any kind of "resort" stay, you'll be glad you have HH. Wouldn't shock me to see Starwood Platinum benefits at resorts disappear at some point in the future, thanks to Marriott...
Dec 9, 2016, 1:55 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: No. California
Programs: UA MP HH LTD
Posts: 2,040
Dec 9, 2016, 5:19 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: STL
Programs: DL GM, Hilton Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 62
Haha! Maybe I'm a bit of a jerk, but my opinion on stuff like this is that it should be a "no waivers, no favors" policy. There's a published and very clear requirement, so why should a hotel have to bend the rules because someone is "close?"
Dec 11, 2016, 3:13 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,043
Do the stays if you want the status. "Day-use only" rates also qualify as "stays" if your nearby hotel offers that as an option (usually cheaper). Category 1 or 2 hotels as awards are also a good option.
Dec 11, 2016, 11:12 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,567
Dec 11, 2016, 4:00 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,043
The other irony is wanting shortcuts to status, whilst presumably knowing that if everybody else is taking the same shortcut, lounges, etc. will be heaving and upgrades will be few and far between...
Dec 11, 2016, 4:33 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
It's not really ironic, no. The credit card status with spend, status matches, etc., are all calculated business decisions where they've weighed the cost/benefit. One might note that Hilton has, anecdotally, been pretty tight on phony or circuitous status matches, meaning that it's using them for what it at least perceives to be legitimate opportunities to poach customers from competitor chains. I think (know) they're smarter than a lot of people on here give them credit for.
Dec 12, 2016, 2:37 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
If they were going to give it with 29 stays then they would reduce the requirement from 30 to 29.
If you have 29 stays and feel bitter about status being "given out like candy", then - why didn't you stop at 20 and stay elsewhere, or why didn't you get the candy yourself since it's apparently so easy?
If you have 29 stays and feel bitter about status being "given out like candy", then - why didn't you stop at 20 and stay elsewhere, or why didn't you get the candy yourself since it's apparently so easy?