[ARCHIVE to 2014] Hilton Honors Diamond VIP Status: Is It Really Worth It?
Nov 4, 2004, 9:19 am
#91
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Programs: Amex Centurion - BA Silver - IHG Diamond Elite - HHonors Diamond - M&M
Posts: 2,013
Is It Worth Going from Gold to Diamond?
I am Gold with 80k base points and about 280k points.
Will probably have another few stays towards the end of the year but not necessary all at Hiltons.
Assuming I was thinking of using my points for a vacation next year to somewhere nice, hot & far far away should I be thinking of making a little more effort to get another 20k base points to make Diamond?
pmcg
Will probably have another few stays towards the end of the year but not necessary all at Hiltons.
Assuming I was thinking of using my points for a vacation next year to somewhere nice, hot & far far away should I be thinking of making a little more effort to get another 20k base points to make Diamond?
pmcg
Nov 4, 2004, 9:26 am
#92
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: The shape-shifting urban sprawl that is El Lay. FT member #71.
Programs: UA Gold & MM; DL & AA credit card dirt status; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Fool's Gold
Posts: 4,690
It's a heck of a lot easier to get awards, if you are Diamond.
Nov 4, 2004, 9:31 am
#93
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: RST
Programs: Delta Diamond; Hilton Diamond; Accor Gold
Posts: 4,839
20k = $2,000!
That is a big effort. Might as well spend that money on a vacation. Unless you need to spend that much for hotel rooms before the end of the year, I suggest that you not spend that much for Diamond. Seems like a significant investment!
That is a big effort. Might as well spend that money on a vacation. Unless you need to spend that much for hotel rooms before the end of the year, I suggest that you not spend that much for Diamond. Seems like a significant investment!
Nov 4, 2004, 9:39 am
#94
Suspended
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Originally Posted by fromYXU
20k = $2,000!
That is a big effort. Might as well spend that money on a vacation. Unless you need to spend that much for hotel rooms before the end of the year, I suggest that you not spend that much for Diamond. Seems like a significant investment!
That is a big effort. Might as well spend that money on a vacation. Unless you need to spend that much for hotel rooms before the end of the year, I suggest that you not spend that much for Diamond. Seems like a significant investment!
Nov 4, 2004, 9:45 am
#95
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: HHonors Silver
Posts: 4,030
Agee, but don't forget that 20k base points with very little effort is 40k+ total points, especially if you have the ability to control your bookings; e.g. book online & pay with a Visa card.
In my experience it's usually a little difficult to get to 80k base points without also coming close to Diamond in terms of nights and/or stays. Can we assume that this isn't the case for the OP?
In my experience it's usually a little difficult to get to 80k base points without also coming close to Diamond in terms of nights and/or stays. Can we assume that this isn't the case for the OP?
Nov 4, 2004, 9:56 am
#96
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: RST
Programs: Delta Diamond; Hilton Diamond; Accor Gold
Posts: 4,839
Originally Posted by pdhenry
In my experience it's usually a little difficult to get to 80k base points without also coming close to Diamond in terms of nights and/or stays. Can we assume that this isn't the case for the OP?
Nov 4, 2004, 10:01 am
#97
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Programs: Amex Centurion - BA Silver - IHG Diamond Elite - HHonors Diamond - M&M
Posts: 2,013
Originally Posted by fromYXU
20k = $2,000!
That is a big effort.
That is a big effort.
Perhaps I should have put the question better and said "is it worth spending another $750 or so for the status?"
On another question if I was to take an end of year stay say for 27-31st December would that definately count for my 2004 Base Points or might my Base Points be zeroed before this stay was to credit?
pmcg
Nov 4, 2004, 10:04 am
#98
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Programs: Amex Centurion - BA Silver - IHG Diamond Elite - HHonors Diamond - M&M
Posts: 2,013
Originally Posted by pdhenry
In my experience it's usually a little difficult to get to 80k base points without also coming close to Diamond in terms of nights and/or stays. Can we assume that this isn't the case for the OP?
pmcg
Nov 4, 2004, 10:30 am
#99
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: EWR
Posts: 681
Originally Posted by pmcg
Correct, I only have 13 stays and 22 nights.
pmcg
pmcg
1. diamond desk makes getting ANY award stays possible, even at the last moment.
2. upgrades, some hotels r more miserly than others and will not grant golds all their stated benefits. being diamond removes any ambuigity of what u should get.
lastly, i dont know how much individual hotels value golds, but i've had them go the extra mile for me and show me how much a diamond is valued.
Nov 4, 2004, 11:01 am
#100
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MSP (Mahtomedi, MN, USA) - Delta hub captive, Marriott Gold, US Mint Silver, CVS Red
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Posts: 1,482
$750? no question
Originally Posted by pmcg
I would guess that I will spend about another £700 GBP ($1250 USD) before the end of the year at Hiltons.
Perhaps I should have put the question better and said "is it worth spending another $750 or so for the status?"
On another question if I was to take an end of year stay say for 27-31st December would that definately count for my 2004 Base Points or might my Base Points be zeroed before this stay was to credit?
pmcg
Perhaps I should have put the question better and said "is it worth spending another $750 or so for the status?"
On another question if I was to take an end of year stay say for 27-31st December would that definately count for my 2004 Base Points or might my Base Points be zeroed before this stay was to credit?
pmcg
if you intended to travel once a month or more and have hilton options that work for you on those trips, I think the $750 is well spent. Especially if you earn the $750 doing something you enjoy (a unplanned trip to somewhere you enjoy, not just for the purpose of earning the points but also to have fun)
you could easily get more than $750 of value when you go to use that 280k points, being diamond compared to gold. never mind the benefits you will see as a diamond during your stays during the upcoming year of your new diamond status.
Nov 4, 2004, 12:32 pm
#101
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: TVC
Programs: HH Diamond, NWA
Posts: 218
It's a minor factor compared to the others mentioned, but don't forget diamond would also get you an additional 25% point bonus on your stays next year. As much as you appear to stay, it's another reason to consider it.
Nov 4, 2004, 12:39 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
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Originally Posted by pmcg
On another question if I was to take an end of year stay say for 27-31st December would that definately count for my 2004 Base Points or might my Base Points be zeroed before this stay was to credit?
Nov 4, 2004, 3:30 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
Why not just call HHonors and ask them for a challenge or something? It's a little late now, but surely with that kind of spending pattern I think they'd be willing to bend a little.
Nov 4, 2004, 4:07 pm
#104
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Programs: Amex Centurion - BA Silver - IHG Diamond Elite - HHonors Diamond - M&M
Posts: 2,013
Originally Posted by BigLar
Why not just call HHonors and ask them for a challenge or something? It's a little late now, but surely with that kind of spending pattern I think they'd be willing to bend a little.
Maybe something to do with me being UK based as I feel that I'm talking a different language to them when I contact them about this.
pmcg
Nov 4, 2004, 4:28 pm
#105
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MSP (Mahtomedi, MN, USA) - Delta hub captive, Marriott Gold, US Mint Silver, CVS Red
Programs: "We've been starving, and sitting on a ham sandwich the whole time."
Posts: 1,482
no way...
diamond match is not going to happen
most brands will not give away their top status, it just makes no sense. one step down from top, yes. but top, no.
most brands will not give away their top status, it just makes no sense. one step down from top, yes. but top, no.