Do credit card Diamonds and "real" Diamonds get different treatment?
Dec 22, 2018, 3:56 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,347
I would say that over the last month or two I have had several properties explicitly thank me for my "Lifetime Status" this is something that was NOT happening before, so I think that they did change something in their IT systems of late relating to this. What I would really like to see is them institute a DOUBLE Lifetime status for those of us that have a combination of 2 of the following, 20 years of Diamond, $400k in spend, 2000 nights, to really differentiate us from the rest of the crowd!
Dec 22, 2018, 7:20 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL DM/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,117
The balance does get mentioned more than the Diamond level at check in.
Dec 22, 2018, 8:25 pm
#35
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, UA Million Miler Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,142
Dec 22, 2018, 8:33 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,872
Yes, agree...pulling it out at the FD is just another take on the DYKWIA game...and I've been told leads to some interesting and humorous FD staff mockery once the guest is on their way.
Dec 22, 2018, 8:54 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL DM/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,117
Dec 22, 2018, 8:59 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, UA Million Miler Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,142
Dec 22, 2018, 9:03 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL DM/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,117
Dec 23, 2018, 3:25 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
Also, they became very strict about who visiting the lounge. One of the hotel refused my wife bringing her friend into the lounge as I was not interested in lounge food. Never had this problem at a hotel that doesn't know me, which made me always thought the lounge access was for two with or without me.
Dec 23, 2018, 4:37 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA,CX, BA, Priority Club, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 1,397
Couple days ago, I called diamond desk with my wife (she obtained Diamond via BA), the CS greeted her with thank you for being hilton diamond member...., after she finished, turns to me, the same CS, after pull up my info, greeted with thank you for being hilton diamond VIP.....
This thread peeped my interest as I checked in yesterday and saw my status showed "VIP1" on their screen. The app pre-assign me only one lvl upgrade; during check in, I enquire about "paid upgrade", she just gave me the best available room, largest room available and said it's on the house due to my status.
For info purpose, I was not qualified by 30 stays or 60 nights, but qualified diamond on spend (over 120K points, with 32nights), also have aspire card, as well as over 40K spend on Ascend. Less than 1 mil on point balance.
I dig into history found this thread :VIP2 what does it mean?
But, there was no definite answer....
This thread peeped my interest as I checked in yesterday and saw my status showed "VIP1" on their screen. The app pre-assign me only one lvl upgrade; during check in, I enquire about "paid upgrade", she just gave me the best available room, largest room available and said it's on the house due to my status.
For info purpose, I was not qualified by 30 stays or 60 nights, but qualified diamond on spend (over 120K points, with 32nights), also have aspire card, as well as over 40K spend on Ascend. Less than 1 mil on point balance.
I dig into history found this thread :VIP2 what does it mean?
But, there was no definite answer....
Dec 23, 2018, 11:02 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
Its been discussed before and I had another experience recently in that your point balance on hand is something the front desk sees without needing to dig, and right or wrong it can make a difference. At the moment mine is rather high, which is unfortunate from a devaluation exposure, but last week it got me a 4 pm checkout from an easily impressed front desk clerk. I was prepared to pay up to $50 but never had to proffer the offer.
Dec 23, 2018, 11:29 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Curious, why would the FD be impressed with a higher balance? Their hopes that the points will be spent at their properties?
I've little experience with Hilton, but from prior experience, it wouldn't surprise me if some properties treated matched Diamonds differently than earned Diamonds. MLife comes to mind here, and they don't even bother hiding it. I've heard many times, "oh, that person is matched from Hyatt..." As to the Aspire, the moment I read the terms, I thought any traveler would have to get this in general principle, regardless of any prior relationship or preference for Hiltons.
In my view, best card on the market at present.
I've little experience with Hilton, but from prior experience, it wouldn't surprise me if some properties treated matched Diamonds differently than earned Diamonds. MLife comes to mind here, and they don't even bother hiding it. I've heard many times, "oh, that person is matched from Hyatt..." As to the Aspire, the moment I read the terms, I thought any traveler would have to get this in general principle, regardless of any prior relationship or preference for Hiltons.
In my view, best card on the market at present.
Dec 23, 2018, 12:15 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA/RIC
Programs: HH LTD, AA LTG
Posts: 1,015
No clue, but the few times the FD person made an unsolicited comment IRT my point balance when checking in it was in the 1.5 - 2.5M range.
Dec 23, 2018, 2:03 pm
#45
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Hilton Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 1,266
I think a million or more points catches their eye (if they are looking). FD said to me once “you have a million points. Thanks for your loyalty.” Only time that happened though. Never any comments about LD status.
