Hilton Honors has been offering a status match program for some time now. Although this was a historically generous offer, it has since been devalued somewhat. Qualification for status is now based on nights rather than stays, and there’s no more instant Hilton Diamond- applicants will only receive Hilton Gold for the duration of the 90-day challenge.
Hilton has tightened the T&C of its status match offer once more.
Status matches will only be offered from selected loyalty programs.
According to LoyaltyLobby, Hilton Honors is now only matching status from selected programs. Here’s the updated terms and conditions from the Hilton Honors status match website:
| “Acceptable forms of status validation include a screenshot of your current and active account status. Acceptable forms of stay validation include a screenshot of your recent reservations or hotel receipt, redacting any personal information other than your name and membership number. We accept .jpg files only. Please do NOT send us any personal information (including your phone number, address, social security number, date of birth, user name, passwords, or credit card information). Only elite statuses from another hotel loyalty program that are listed in the status dropdown menu are eligible for status matching.” |
Hilton will match status from the following programs:
- Marriott Bonvoy
- IHG Rewards Club
- World of Hyatt
- Best Western Rewards
- Choice Privileges
- Le Club Accor Hotels
- Radisson Rewards
- Wyndham Rewards
Oddly enough, there is still an option to select “Other” and manually key in a loyalty program that is not found on the list.
With this change, you’ll no longer be able to request a status match from a program like GHA, which grants Black status (its highest tier) to Citi Prestige and other World Elite Mastercard holders.
| Edit: Here’s a potential workaround. Best Western hotels offers a “Status Match, No Catch” program that matches your elite status with any other program. You can try to match GHA Black to Best Western, then to Hilton |
Visa Signature/Infinite fast track to Hilton Gold still available
If a status match doesn’t work for you, remember that the Visa Signature/Infinite fast track offer is still running till the end of the year.
All you need to sign up for this offer is a Visa Signature/Infinite branded card (there are many available at the $30,000 income level, such as the Citi Rewards Visa and the DBS Altitude). After registering, you’ll be able to earn Hilton Gold status with 2 stays or 4 nights, a steal given the usual 20 stay/40 night requirement.
Hilton Honors Gold status gives you complimentary breakfast at all Hilton properties and room upgrades as well so it’s a pretty nifty status to have.
Concluding Thoughts
Hilton is matching most major loyalty programs, so from that point of view the status match hasn’t changed that much. However, it does affect those who were planning to match from GHA, as well as anyone who held Shangri-La Golden Circle status.
Remember, you can get instant Hilton Gold status if you’re an AMEX Platinum Charge cardholder, which you retain so long as you hold the card.
Gosh! I already felt lucky that I went for the instant match to HH Diamond with 90 day challenge , doing a few mattress runs to complete the challenge BEFORE they pulled ‘instant matching’ just weeks ago.. Now not just no more instant matching but GHA no longer a qualifying status……
I’m going to be cherishing my Diamond status even more so now… thanks to you and Andrew! 🙇🏻♂️🙇🏻♂️🙇🏻♂️
updated the post-> GHA match to best western match to hilton. done.
According to StatusMatcher, someone in 2018 submitted credentials of GHA Black, but was given Best Western Diamond, not Diamond Select, and the former got matched to HH Gold.. Actually… thinking back.. I think maybe my GHA Black from Citi PMC wasn’t granted HH Diamond match/ challenge.. If I recall correctly, GHA Black got matched to Wyndham Diamond, which then got matched to HH Diamond… I think! 😰 Also.. if not wrong.. didn’t I read somewhere that HH no longer gives Status Match to Diamond, but instead to Gold, but with a tighter challenge to Diamond, compared to before? I’m confused… Read more »
no diamond for sure, but at least you can get gold out of it. good second prize.
Phew, got my Diamond and managed to keep it until next year.
Got the diamond for 90 days challenged and managed 30 nights stay. I am good till end of next year. Very generous benefits, really appreciate it.