A short while back, I shared information about Best Western’s Diamond Status Match. Reader Frederick reached out to me to share his interesting experience leveraging Best Western’s generous status match in order to ping pong his free Hilton Gold status into Hilton Diamond status. I’m merely sharing his experience and it’s up to you how you use this information; YMMV of course.
Getting Hilton Gold status: Of course you can obtain Hilton Gold status [the hard way] by completing 20 stays at Hilton properties in a calendar year. Or you can get Gold status for free and instantaneously via a number of credit cards such as some co-branded Hilton credit cards (AmEx Hilton HHonors Surpass Card & Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card).
The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN both offer free Hilton Gold status just for being a card holder as well as a number of other valuable benefits.
Status Match Hilton Gold to Best Western Diamond: Best Western will match any hotel loyalty program to their top tier to Best Western Diamond and it’s a super-fast process via a quick email to StatusMatch@bestwestern.com (full details on the status match can be found here). Frederick sent over a screenshot of his Hilton Gold account and was matched to Best Western Diamond very quickly.
Status Match Best Western Diamond to Hilton Diamond: Hilton seems to have an on-going status match promotion to their top-tier Diamond status; however, they now require proof of a stay at your other hotel’s chain. So Frederick suggested booking 1-night at a Best Western and staying there or showing proof of an upcoming stay and submitting a screenshot of the booking email (he indicated to me that it was a refundable rate).
Frederick’s experience with the match is interesting, and I wonder if results are typical or he just got lucky? In my experience, I specifically remember matching to Best Western Diamond with Diamond. Data points and discussion are welcome.
I matched to BW Diamond in 2012 and can’t remember what I used but I definitely wasn’t top tier anywhere else at the time.
My mom just did this and it worked. Hilton matched her to Diamond from Best Western Diamond. She did have an actual stay at Best Western this year.
Am I reading it correctly that the Hilton Diamond match status is only good for 90 days unless you do 8 stays?
@Carl-
It should be good until at least March 2017. No stays required to be Diamond until then…unless Hilton changed their terms recently
@Frederick – Maybe I ended up the wrong place somehow.
For the next 90 days, get a taste of the elite life with Hilton HHonors.
We’ll match your elite status with any other loyalty program.
You’ll also have the opportunity to extend your status match through March 31, 2018, when you stay with us over the next 90 days. If you’re matched to Gold status,
you’ll just need to complete 4 stays. If you’re matched to Diamond, you’ll need 8 stays.*
@Frederick – This came from the BW Diamond to Hilton Diamond link above (ongoing status match promotion).
@Carl-
I do see that when I click on the link. I know when I matched it definitely didn’t say that and just matched me until March 2018. My guess is Hilton RECENTLY updated their terms. Darn!
Here it an article that TPG posted today about Hilton HHonors
http://thepointsguy.com/2016/07/hilton-now-requiring-stays-for-status-match/?utm_source=milesfeed.com&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=MilesFeed.com
Awesome idea to use status to gain even better status! Especially without actually having to pay for any rooms to qualify (ok, maybe 1 Best Western night). I used my Hilton Diamond (earned from credit card spend) to get Kimpton Inner Circle status.