One of the main reasons I’ve been a big fan of Hilton Honors Gold was that it was just so easy to renew, if you had the right card. For the past six years, it was possible to access Gold status if you held a Singapore-issued Visa Infinite card.
Back in the day, it came in the form of instant complimentary status – no stays required. In fact, the initial version of the offer just required the first six digits of the card number to unlock, so after some time it became pretty easy for just about anyone with decent research skills to get free Gold status.
Along the way they wised up and became more stringent with card checks, later also changing it to a fast track offer requiring members to clock either 4 nights or 2 stays within 90 days in order to secure the Gold status.
Unfortunately, it seems like the Visa Infinite fast track offer has not been renewed for 2018 (addendum: Based on tips in the comments, according to VI Concierge it has indeed been extended for 2018 and will soon be back in the system). How can one get on board now, if your existing status is due to expire (or you simply want to join the club)?
I’m personally set till Mar 2019, but expect to drop to near-nothingness then so I figured it’d be useful for me to keep myself updated on potential options…
Standard fast track options
The official option currently offered by Hilton is their Status Match programme. If you have existing elite status with any other chain, you can be matched to Gold or Diamond for 90 days. This gets cemented into a year’s status (I believe it’ll last till March 2020) after completing 4 or 8 stays for Gold/Diamond respectively.
For those without existing hotel elite status, you’ll need to explore other options, though.
One interesting thing to note is that the Visa Infinite fast track page is still live right now. If you’re feeling up to it, you can give it a go – I was able to get past the card number check to proceed to the registration page, so it seems vaguely possible that it might still work?
I personally wouldn’t bet on it – but if you’ll be staying 2n/4d in the next 90 days I guess it’s worth trying, should you have no other option available to you.
Creative fast track options
For the creative (or those without a Visa Infinite card), just a simple Google search for “hilton gold fast track” will net additional options in the form of fast track offers meant for employees of various organisations. In practice, no form of identification is required to register for many of these offers.
If you’ve more thoughts or experience with status match / fast track offers, do feel free to share them in the form of comments!
Adjustments to programme from Apr 2018
In related news, more changes are afoot for the Hilton Honors programmes starting this April. The official Hilton representative on FlyerTalk summarises it quite succinctly:
Easier Way to Earn More Points
Beginning April 2018, all members will continue to earn Points the way they always have, while enjoying new elite tier bonus rates for Silver (20 percent), Gold (80 percent) and Diamond (100 percent) members.
Milestone Bonuses (Unlimited!)
Hilton Honors members will earn 10,000 Bonus Points on every tenth night, once they reach at least 40 nights in a calendar year. The more you stay, the more you earn. And there’s no cap. Diamond members will also receive an additional bonus at 60 nights in one year – a 30,000 Bonus Points reward.
Elite Rollover Nights
Starting this year, Silver, Gold and Diamond members can rollover qualifying nights earned beyond their current elite tier requirements to count towards their elite tier status the following year. It’s time to make every stay count!
Gifting Elite Status
The gift that keeps on giving. Members who stay 60 or more nights in a calendar year will also have the ability to gift Gold status to their favorite travel partner. Stay 100+ nights and that gift gets upgraded to Diamond.
I could attempt an analysis on the changes, or I can save myself a whole bunch of time and link to a pretty thorough breakdown on View from the Wing:
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2018/01/08/hilton-introducing-faster-elite-points-earning-roll-nights-gifting-status/
The TL;DR version? It’s great news if you’re an actual road warrior who’s earned his gold/diamond status. No major changes if you’re a matched (undeserving) Gold/Diamond member (like me). If you’re a basic/silver member, though, you actually lose out due to the removal of double dipping option.
In the US, a platinum Amex card automatically gives status with SPG, Marriot, Hilton, and Ritz. Same for you?
I believe we get SPG and Hilton Gold at least (the former can be matched for Marriott and Ritz). However the annual fee is S$1700+ over here so the value proposition is a lot lower…
I used the Visa Infinite Concierge yesterday and the lady said that the Hilton Fast Track is still on for 2018. They are in the midst of adding it back. Nonetheless, the link by Louis seems to be the correct one.
That’s brilliant news! Looks like I won’t have to go through that whole battle with my conscience about using fast track offers I’m not actually eligible for. 😉
Hi Louis, do you actually know how the term “2 stays” is determined? If i stayed at a hilton property this month for one night, and stay again at the same property next month for one night, does it constitute 2 stays?
Yup, that would qualify (as long as both are done within 90 days after registering). A stay is basically clocked when you check in / check out. You can’t cheat the system by trying to stay back-to-back nights, even if you try to check out and check in again. Ok to switch properties, or have gaps in between the nights to clock multiple stays. E.g. Hotel A on 10 Jan, Hotel B on 11 Jan = 2 stays Hotel A on 10 Jan, Hotel A on 12 Jan = 2 stays Hotel A on 10 Jan, Hotel B on 11… Read more »
thanks Louis, your explanation is clear as day. just starting my amateur journey in hotel status.
I signed up on Monday via (https://www.visa-promotions.com/promotions/HiltonHHonors/tnc.jsp) and today when I check the app it said “You need 2 stays to retain Gold”. Guess it’s working even after not being posted on the VI website.
Anybody care to try and see if they get the same result? I got the link directly from the VI concierge. Hope this help guys!:)
I too signed up with the same link yesterday and it now shows ‘4 nights to Gold’ in my account.
Thanks for confirming! Think two independent data points are enough to show it’s pretty safe.
Is a point redemption stay or night count as eligible?
Yep!
Hmm weirdly for mine, I see ‘4 nights to retain silver status’ coz I have Silver from the KF Ascend. I was told by the CSO that this status would not affect the fast track, but I’m not seeing it in the app. I tried to sign up via the link again and it tells me that my HH account is already linked to this promo. I guess that should be safe then …
I have a similar situation. So you didn’t get any email that you signed up for the promo? I can’t see anything in my app either so not sure how to proceed…
In your shoes I’d just email Hilton Honors to check, get their written assurance that the Gold fast track is under way, and then write in again using that written assurance if you don’t get upgraded to Gold after meeting the requirements.
1) I am currently in gold status which got it after staying 4 stays previously, am I egible for this promotion?
2) eligble to point redemption stay as well?
1) Don’t think T&C says anything about this – if you can register successfully, can probably just take it that it works.
2) Already addressed previously in comments – yes.
If I booked a stay before I signed up but the trip is within the signed up period), is it still counted as a stay?
I’m just making a guess here, but I don’t see why not. For a more confirmed reply, you’re probably better off checking with AsiaHHonors@hilton.com directly – they reply pretty quickly!
noted. thank you 🙂
Hi Louis, normally how long it will reflect in my account (2 stays to Gold) in my Hhonors account? Will I receive email confirmation once I signed up?
Sorry, I last did this about three years ago so really can’t confirm the timings…
In your shoes I’d try to screenshot after registration, and/or email Hilton Honors to get confirmation in writing that it’s been successfully registered, if there’s no email confirmation.
p.s. I tried it out and the submission screen states that email will be sent after qualification is completed, so I guess no email confirmation of signup is sent. If you’re looking for peace of mind, really think emailing Hilton Honors is the way to go!
NOted THank you 🙂
Thank you Louis for your advise. I have got my upgrade to Gold.
Do you know any promotion for IHG instant status upgrade as well? Please share.
Not really my area of expertise. Some googling found me this page which appears to allow you to get to Gold after two stays. T&C says it’s for targeted companies, though. You may want to read up more on that.
noted. Thank you so much for your prompt reply
Hi Louis, my gold membership is due to expire in March 2018, should I apply the fast track via (https://www.visa-promotions.com/promotions/HiltonHHonors/tnc.jsp) before or after the expiration?
I’d previously applied before, no issue. Can email them after registering to confirm. That said, you won’t enjoy gold status until you complete the stay(s), though. I previously tried to time it so I clocked the qualifying trip(s) within the first quarter so I could still enjoy gold benefits while requalifying.
If you’ve no plans to do that, since you need to complete it within 90 days, can also just wait till your plans are confirmed before applying?
Thanks Louis 🙂
Hi,
Would you by chance know if I registered now and completed my stay in May, I will get status for 2018, 2019 and it will expire in March 2018?
Hear from you soon!
I assume you meant expiring in March 2020… that’s my understanding, yes. Reading the T&C for the Visa fast track offer…
“Once a member reaches Gold status, the member may keep such status only for the calendar status in which the Gold status was earned and the subsequent calendar year.”
So yup, 2018, 2019, expiring Mar 2020 sounds right!
Thank you!
Hi, I have a hilton account but with 0 points in it. I tried to search for JB Doubletree but there is never a room that is redeemable for 10000 miles. Is this hack dead? I tried without login and there seem to have rooms available at 10000 miles, but once I login it’s not available for miles redemption. Any advice? I am planning to buy points to redeem the room stays so that I can meet the minimum criteria for gold by June 2018. Thanks!
Basically the Hilton booking engine hides redemption rates if you don’t have enough points in your account to redeem. So with 0 points you’ll never see anything while logged in.
Check availability while logged out (like you’ve done) – should not have any problem searching/booking once you get your points.
Louis, I just signed up for the fast track via VISA Signature. There is no confirmation email so I just assume it went through. I have bought a 3 night stay in June for Hilton Tokyo Bay and possible two more Hilton Tokyo stay during that period. I was hoping to get gold status prior to that to boost my chances any upgrades etc. However, I just missed the chance to buy cheap Hilton points – planned to use the points to book two separate stay at Doubletree JB to get my gold status. Do you have any suggestions on… Read more »
I don’t remember getting a confirmation email too, so I think that’s the norm (unfortunately). As for purchasing points from third parties… all I can really suggest is that it’s technically possible (the seller can probably add your account and transfer points over), but also against the program rules, with risk of account termination if they realise. It’s a relatively small amount you’re looking at though so if the seller isn’t a points tycoon, quite possible that it will slip through. You’ll have to source for sellers yourself, though – I’m not really familiar with where to find such dealings.… Read more »
Thanks Louis, I really appreciate your help. I have booked three hilton stays for a total of 7 nights so far in tokyo (goodness, I didn’t know rooms are that expensive in tokyo, cost me average $600 per night). I have never done the USTA thingy, but sure hope to get that 30k points so that i can try to get my gold status before the trip. Btw, hilton tokyo is really weird. I bought a king junior suite executive. Supposed to come with exec benefits but apparently have to pay for additional breakfast – aren’t executive benefit suppose to… Read more »
I’d have thought executive lounge access would get you breakfast – it’s really property-dependent, I’m pretty sure you should get lounge breakfast at least (but perhaps not restaurant breakfast, with wider spread).
If you really can’t get the points in time for whatever reason, DT JB cash rate isn’t that bad, really!
Visa infinite deal is back! August 15 – Dec 31 2018. https://www.visa.com.sg/pay-with-visa/find-a-card/offer-detail.html?offerId=114571
hmm after i registered, i reregister again to check if my registration is successful and it redirected me to Visa site saying application unsuccessful. sad case LOL!
Hopefully can try again in 2019