Do credit card Diamonds and "real" Diamonds get different treatment?
Dec 20, 2018, 9:24 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
I guess points balance is a way for them to quickly see if someone is "invested" in their brand as they will likely stay in a Hilton brand hotel sometime in the future to use those points.
Does anyone know how far back the front desk can see your stay history? If someone has 500k points that they accumulated a few years ago but only stay at Hilton brands once or twice a year just to keep the balance from expiring, then simply looking at the past year may not be enough.
Does anyone know how far back the front desk can see your stay history? If someone has 500k points that they accumulated a few years ago but only stay at Hilton brands once or twice a year just to keep the balance from expiring, then simply looking at the past year may not be enough.
Dec 21, 2018, 12:18 am
#17
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
Honestly, I believe the answer is no. I make Diamond on all 3 criteria (30+/60+/120+) and have done so for 10+ years. It's rare I even get a thank you for being diamond, and I really can't recall the last time I received a true upgrade at a US property. My one upgrade this year was in Neurnberg. Even the Hilton Tel Aviv let me down, and that is a hotel I stay at 2-3 times a year for 15+ years.... In comparison I stayed at a Hyatt Regency this week. I have no status. I got an upgrade to a comer suite, free WIFI and an offer of a late checkout (4PM) without even asking. Hilton is really starting to suck. If Marriott were to offer a status match equivalent to Diamond, I would take it.
Last edited by timfountain; Dec 25, 2018 at 10:50 am
Dec 21, 2018, 12:19 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA/RIC
Programs: HH LTD, AA LTG
Posts: 1,015
I think it is all about the front desk person, and what they care to look at. As an example, sometimes hotels I have frequented many times, the FD person welcomes me back when check in, other times at the same hotel a different agent will ask me if this is my first time at this hotel.
Dec 21, 2018, 12:45 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL DM/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,117
The bolded part is not accurate. As an example the FD clerk at my stay this week at a HS in San Diego made an unsolicited mention of my LTD status when I checked in. Besides her I have had at least a half dozen others at various hotels mention it as well when I checked in all without any prompting from me.
I think it is all about the front desk person, and what they care to look at. As an example, sometimes hotels I have frequented many times, the FD person welcomes me back when check in, other times at the same hotel a different agent will ask me if this is my first time at this hotel.
I think it is all about the front desk person, and what they care to look at. As an example, sometimes hotels I have frequented many times, the FD person welcomes me back when check in, other times at the same hotel a different agent will ask me if this is my first time at this hotel.
Dec 21, 2018, 2:08 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA/RIC
Programs: HH LTD, AA LTG
Posts: 1,015
Your experience has been very different from mine. In 2 years, LTD has been mentioned once. Instead it's the standard thanks for being Diamond. I've asked a number of properties how the check in screen denotes status and a few have welcomed me behind the desk to see. It just shows Diamond. At the 1 property who mentioned LTD, we ended up having a long conversation, she showed me how she drills down into guests profiles to see if she had any HVCs checking in. That screen shows your rating and also shows the number and list of complaints you've filed. In my case, apparently I had logged 5 concerns over the past 31 years.
This IMO it is the same reason some FDC's who have never met me, instantly welcome me back when I check in while others ask if I had stayed at this hotel before.
I think this is relevant to the OP's question and the topic of this thread. As others have stated, all Diamonds are entitled to the exact same benefits. Some FDC's may take the time to drill down into profiles for any number of reasons, and give a preferred room to someone who has more nights, especially if many are at that hotel or spends more over someone with the same status but not as much hotel activity. Others, most likely most IMO may not give a hoot about any of that.
The secret to getting the best treatment by the FDC IMHO is to live by the golden rule and greet the person who is checking you in with a smile, be polite, and kill them with kindness and respect.
Last edited by isle-hawg; Dec 21, 2018 at 8:06 pm Reason: My spelling and grammer suck!
Dec 21, 2018, 2:41 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL DM/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,117
I totally agree with your second point and as I always do that, it's the reason I've been invited to see the screens and data they have. On the rare occasion when I really want an upgrade, I have pulled the black card out and asked if it would help. Every time, I get the wow treatment and that that is so cool! They also wish they could see that in the system as they would rather give an upgrade to a LTD than anyone else. That in itself tells me a lot.
Dec 22, 2018, 3:31 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bne
Programs: Velocity Gold, AIRNZ Elite, Qantas Silver ,Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,320
In well over 100 stays since I earned LTD, 1 stay recognized it so it's obvious that it's not easily noticed in their system. We've obviously stayed at totally different properties.
I totally agree with your second point and as I always do that, it's the reason I've been invited to see the screens and data they have. On the rare occasion when I really want an upgrade, I have pulled the black card out and asked if it would help. Every time, I get the wow treatment and that that is so cool! They also wish they could see that in the system as they would rather give an upgrade to a LTD than anyone else. That in itself tells me a lot.
I totally agree with your second point and as I always do that, it's the reason I've been invited to see the screens and data they have. On the rare occasion when I really want an upgrade, I have pulled the black card out and asked if it would help. Every time, I get the wow treatment and that that is so cool! They also wish they could see that in the system as they would rather give an upgrade to a LTD than anyone else. That in itself tells me a lot.
Dec 22, 2018, 5:07 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Chiang Mai
Programs: HH Diamond IHG Spire Amb MR PLAT
Posts: 228
Like others have said here. I think being a regular at a property really gets you a bump in treatment.. Im a regular at the Hilton Sukhumvit and Conrad Bangkok and they really do go a little extra for me there.Nice upgrades always a 4pm checkout or later if i need. etc etc
Dec 22, 2018, 7:21 am
#26
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,870
This is incorrect. Within the past year I’ve had FD staff at several properties note Lifetime status at check-in without prompting. This has become more frequent within the past few months and occurs at properties under a variety of HH flags.
Dec 22, 2018, 8:45 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH diamond
Posts: 2,646
I am now a CC Diamond since I don't travel as much any more. But I have noticed no difference from when I was a BIB Diamond vs now. What seems to make the most impact is being a frequent guest at a hotel. When I was Gold (BIB Gold), I got upgraded to a suite at a hotel that I stayed in several times a year for several years. Diamonds didn't even get that upgrade.
I'm not sure they can tell how you acquire your Diamond.
I'm not sure they can tell how you acquire your Diamond.
Dec 22, 2018, 2:28 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL DM/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,117
See my post above - I must be staying at all the wrong properties.
Dec 22, 2018, 2:42 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
IF the property notes lifetime I have been treated very well. if they don't then treated like any other Diamond. This is fine with me.lifetime just means I don't need to qualify anymore. But, I more than meet the qualifications for Diamond each year, at least for now while I travel for work.