Once the world realized the depth and breadth of the pandemic, many airlines and hotels announced they were extending elite status for current elite members. Many hotels and airlines decided to reduce qualification requirements for 2021. Additionally, there are many bonus promotions out there to help travelers earn miles and points quicker. Hilton’s Honors program is offering both, a chance to earn bonus points and easier elite qualification with its upcoming promotion. In fact, you can leverage this promotion to help you earn fast-track Hilton elite status.
Beginning September 8th, Hilton is offering their promotion where members will earn double bonus points and double tier-qualifying night credits. If you are clever, you can leverage this promotion to earn Diamond status with only nine nights! That’s because your nine nights will count as eighteen, qualifying you for Diamond Honors elite status. This promotion runs through the end of the year.
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Hilton Double Rewards Promotion
The Hilton Double Rewards promotion provides members the chance to earn double base Honors points (redeemable for free nights) plus double night credits (for earning Hilton elite status). Under this promotion, members earn an extra tier-qualifying night credit per night and an additional 10 bonus points for every $1 spent on stays. (For stays at Home2 Suite by Hilton and Tru by Hilton, you’ll earn 5 Base Points plus 5 bonus points.)
These are the earnings you will receiver before counting in the bonus you will receive if you’re a Silver, Gold or Diamond Honors member or Hilton cardholder. Leveraging this promotion, you could earn up to 44 points per dollar with each qualifying night’s stay. It works out this way: Earn double points through the promotion (20 points X spent dollar), then earn an extra 10 points per dollar if you’re a Hilton Honors Diamond elite, plus another 14 points per dollar by using the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to pay for your stay.
The Double Rewards promotion runs from September 8 through December 31, 2020. Hilton Honors members who wish to participate must register for the promotion at HiltonHonors.com/doublerewards. The promotion link is not live yet. Once it is, members can log into their account and click onto the ‘My Offers’ link. Then select the Double Rewards promotion from the ‘Eligible Offers’ tab to enroll your account.
There is no maximum number of double points a member can earn under this promotion. One caveat, though, is the hotel bookings must be made directly with Hilton. So, you cannot earn the bonus points if you book through sites like Agoda, Orbitz and Booking.com. A list of ineligible rates can be found under the Hilton Honors Terms and Conditions: Accrual of Points number 3.
Fast-Track Hilton Elite Status
I mentioned that the Double Rewards promotion is ideal for those seeking elite status with Hilton. That’s because with the reduced requirements this year to earn Diamond elite status (18 nights) a status challenge can be met with just nine nights!
Per the terms of the promotion, “the double night credit will count towards Milestone Bonuses, fast tracks, and rollover nights.” Getting a Hilton status challenge is fairly simple for those with any status on another hotel program. Participating in the Hilton status challenge then means one can cut the requirements in half!
The time limit to meet the stay requirements for a status challenge is 90 days. Status earned through this challenge is valid through March 31, 2022.
Hilton Gold status is normally earned after 20 stays, 40 nights or by accumulating 75,000 Base Points in a calendar year. Those 75,000 base points translates to spending $7,500.
Diamond status is usually earned after 30 stays, 60 nights or by accumulating 120,000 Base Points in a calendar year. Those 120,000 base points translates to spending $12,000.
Free Breakfast -DoubleTree Hilton Madrid-Prado
Both Gold and Diamond elite statuses offer the following perks:
Fast-Track Hilton Elite Status Benefits
Benefits of these statuses include benefits such as free breakfast, room upgrades and late check-out. Another often missed (but valuable) perk is elites get the fifth night free when redeeming for award stays. That increases the value of your award redemption points by 25% (giving you five nights for the cost of four!)
RELATED: Review: DoubleTree Hilton Madrid-Prado, A Spanish Stunner
Credit Cards Which Help You Fast-Track Hilton Elite Status
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Gives Cardmembers Diamond Elite Status
In addition, there are a few credit cards which offer a way for you to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status:
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — valid for as long as you have the card
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card — when you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card — when you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
The Upshot
This promotion comes at the perfect time. As the summer draws to an end people can see an opportunity to fast-track elite status with Hilton. Others can see a way to earn a lot of bonus Honors points with the Hilton Double rewards promotion.
Members must sign up before earning, and the promotion only runs through December 31, 2020.
How will use this program to earn (or leverage) your Hilton Honors elite status?
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