Advice Needed - Mileage Run?
Dec 13, 2022, 9:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 10
Advice Needed - Mileage Run?
I am HH Gold and only 7 nights away from Diamond. I would need to stay 4 nights before year end as they have a double night bonus. It would cost roughly $750 all in to stay 4 nights. I travel for work maybe 20 nights per year. I am just thinking is it worth it to do a mileage run to earn Diamond. My biggest benefit would be executive lounge access and the 100% bonus points on stays. Need some help on how to think about this! Thanks!
Dec 13, 2022, 10:06 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: Hilton credit card Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,653
I am HH Gold and only 7 nights away from Diamond. I would need to stay 4 nights before year end as they have a double night bonus. It would cost roughly $750 all in to stay 4 nights. I travel for work maybe 20 nights per year. I am just thinking is it worth it to do a mileage run to earn Diamond. My biggest benefit would be executive lounge access and the 100% bonus points on stays. Need some help on how to think about this! Thanks!
The difference in points earned between gold and diamond is 20% (Gold earns 80%, Diamond earns 100%). Let's say you spend $5000 on hotels next year; that's an extra 10000 points, worth maybe $40.
The hotels where you travel may not have an executive lounge. Even if they all do, would you value the lounge at $35 a night (which is what you would be paying with your $750 mattress run)? I would not.
I am assuming that you are not in the United States; if you were, you could get a credit card for $450 that confers Diamond status.
Dec 13, 2022, 10:40 am
#3
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: 13,047
$750 for 4 nights is a relatively expensive way to earn night credits. I don't think that the difference between Gold and Diamond status is worth that much. (unless you really need a "Diamond year")
Is there nowhere relatively near that is cheap on points? You could take advantage of 5th night free to do a 5-night award stay and get 10 elite nights, 3 of which will roll over to 2023.
Is nights the nearest Diamond threshold? Or are you also in the vicinity on stays or points? Look at those options as well.
Is there nowhere relatively near that is cheap on points? You could take advantage of 5th night free to do a 5-night award stay and get 10 elite nights, 3 of which will roll over to 2023.
Is nights the nearest Diamond threshold? Or are you also in the vicinity on stays or points? Look at those options as well.
Dec 13, 2022, 10:42 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 10
Ok first. thanks for the reply. Second... i need to get my eyes checked as I saw Gold at 50% not 80%. Agreed at 80% makes no sense. Thank you again!
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I live in the NE USA so things are pricey. Will not go forward... will stay at Gold which is fine by me! Thanks for the reply
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I live in the NE USA so things are pricey. Will not go forward... will stay at Gold which is fine by me! Thanks for the reply
Last edited by cblaisd; Dec 13, 2022 at 2:56 pm Reason: merged poster's two consecutive posts
Dec 13, 2022, 9:44 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,612
Ok first. thanks for the reply. Second... i need to get my eyes checked as I saw Gold at 50% not 80%. Agreed at 80% makes no sense. Thank you again!
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I live in the NE USA so things are pricey. Will not go forward... will stay at Gold which is fine by me! Thanks for the reply
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I live in the NE USA so things are pricey. Will not go forward... will stay at Gold which is fine by me! Thanks for the reply
But if you decide that you really want it remember Amex Aspire is $450 and gets you Diamond plus other benefits if it is a "Diamond Year" that you want as another poster put it... You will be looked down on by some here (I think it is considered a "cereal box" prize by some) but Diamond is Diamond. I have been Diamond by stays for about four years (covid lower level requirement helped)
Dec 13, 2022, 10:10 pm
#8
Formerly doc4science
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: CMH/DSM
Programs: United Airlines Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 562
I agree with others who say don't bother. And you seem to also agree.
But if you decide that you really want it remember Amex Aspire is $450 and gets you Diamond plus other benefits if it is a "Diamond Year" that you want as another poster put it... You will be looked down on by some here (I think it is considered a "cereal box" prize by some) but Diamond is Diamond. I have been Diamond by stays for about four years (covid lower level requirement helped)
But if you decide that you really want it remember Amex Aspire is $450 and gets you Diamond plus other benefits if it is a "Diamond Year" that you want as another poster put it... You will be looked down on by some here (I think it is considered a "cereal box" prize by some) but Diamond is Diamond. I have been Diamond by stays for about four years (covid lower level requirement helped)
Dec 14, 2022, 10:27 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SW Florida
Programs: DL Gold, HHDiamond, IHG Plat Regular Joe Everywhere Else
Posts: 538
I have the Aspire card and can attest to it paying for itself easily. I use my FNC's on hotel rooms that cost more than $450 a night. Used 2 of them last summer in Jackson, WY and saved over $1k during peak season.
Dec 14, 2022, 2:01 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,255
If you are stay 20 nights a year at Hilton you may want to look into the Hilton Aspire either way. Its 450 but you will get 14x on spend, 250 airline incidental credit and a free night. Those benefits alone make it worth the annual fee, especially at 20 nights. Not to mention the resort credit if you ever stay at them. Diamond status would just be the added bonus
Dec 16, 2022, 11:53 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SW Florida
Programs: DL Gold, HHDiamond, IHG Plat Regular Joe Everywhere Else
Posts: 538
If you are stay 20 nights a year at Hilton you may want to look into the Hilton Aspire either way. Its 450 but you will get 14x on spend, 250 airline incidental credit and a free night. Those benefits alone make it worth the annual fee, especially at 20 nights. Not to mention the resort credit if you ever stay at them. Diamond status would just be the added bonus
Dec 17, 2022, 3:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 2
Ok first. thanks for the reply. Second... i need to get my eyes checked as I saw Gold at 50% not 80%. Agreed at 80% makes no sense. Thank you again!
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I live in the NE USA so things are pricey. Will not go forward... will stay at Gold which is fine by me! Thanks for the reply
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I live in the NE USA so things are pricey. Will not go forward... will stay at Gold which is fine by me! Thanks for the reply