Earlier this month, American Express has announced some exciting improvements on both the personal and business Platinum charge cards. I’ve been an Enhanced Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN cardholder for almost 4 full years, and I’ve always found it to be beyond “worth it†to continue paying the annual fee on my business Platinum. Aside from the sign-up bonus and valuable card-member perks, a Platinum card can be your secret weapon to acquiring tons of hotel status via status matching.
Starwood Gold Status & Hilton Gold
By default, having an American Express Platinum Card gets you Starwood and Hilton Gold Status. Simply call the number on the back of your Platinum card, and ask for the agent to apply the instant gold status to your Starwood account. Benefits of SPG gold include bonus points, a welcome amenity, and late check-out.
You can then ask the same agent to activate your Hilton gold status as well. My favorite Hilton gold status perks include the free breakfasts and room upgrades!
Marriott Gold Status
With the recent news of the Starwood & Marriott merger, you can now link your two accounts together for an instant status upgrade. Your Starwood gold status instantly gives you Marriott Gold. You can also now use co-branded Starwood, Marriott, or Ritz Carlton credit cards interchangeably at properties and receive reciprocal earnings-benefits.
Best Western Diamond
You can then match your Hilton gold status 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. Some noteworthy perks of Best Western diamond status are room upgrades and a welcome recognition gift.
Match Best Western Diamond to Hilton Diamond?
Some reports state that you can use your Best Western Diamond status to match to Hilton Diamond (YMMV). Hilton seems to have an on-going status match promotion to their top-tier Diamond status for 90 days, with the option to extend until 2018 after completing some stays. However, they now require proof of a stay at your other hotel’s chain.
Club Carlson Gold
If you have elite status with Accor Hotels, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Marriott or Starwood, take a screenshot of your online account statement that shows your status and send an email to goldpointsplus@carlson.com and include your Club Carlson account number. Hilton Diamond gets you Club Carlson Gold status. Some benefits of Club Carlson gold status are early check-in, late check-out, and 35% bonus on points.
Choice Hotels Platinum
Choice Hotels is now also offering status matches (only up to Platinum, and for US members only). You can match your Best Western Diamond status to Choice Hotels platinum.
A status match can be requested by emailing Status_Match@choicehotels.com with the following information: Full name, Choice Privileges member number, & proof of elite status in other hotel program (screenshot/copy of your other program’s loyalty card with expiration date or copy of your other program’s current statement).
Hyatt Diamond
We’ve seen Hyatt offer status matching to their top-tier Diamond status several times this year. Hyatt Diamond status is one of the most valuable hotel status to have in my opinion, so being prepared to match when (if?) the window opens up again is golden.
M Life Status
Hyatt and M Life are partners and offer instant status matching. The chart below shows what M Life Rewards tier you can match to based upon your status with Hyatt. M Life Platinum status comes with pretty valuable perks in Las Vegas (skip the taxi line, discounted hotel rates, free aquarium entrance, etc.)
Borgata Black Label
The Borgata casino in Atlantic City recently joined the M Life portfolio and is offering free top-tier Black Label status to M Life Gold or higher. Benefits include a free night, $100 match play, free parking, free lounge access, etc. You have to match in person to take advantage of this offer.
Bottom Line
There’s a ton of value in having an AmEx Platinum card, even just from a hotel-status point of view. Having status across many hotel chains offers more opportunities for a better travel experience. Of course, the status match offer and terms can change at anytime. I recommend learning about other people’s experiences with status match requests at StatusMatcher.com to see what offers are active.
What other hotel programs have you status-matched to?
I would not apply for the personal platinum for only 40K. I would wait for a 100K bonus or get Ameriprise version.
Once you have Borgata Black you can take it to Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, the Tropicana, and Ceasars, and at different times they offer status matches. Especially if you havent been a customer in a while. See you in Atlantic City Angelina!!
You have awesome suggestions about doing all those matches!
One other way to get Hilton Top tier is their Citi Reserve card. You initially get Gold and then top tier at $40k spend. While a little harder than your idea it’s still a great option.
I’ve seen Hilton offering a match challenge to top tier as well. You get status and then have to do 8 stays to keep it.
Hi wondering if you have any promo code to offer any member status uppgrade on hotels loyalty program etc.
Best Regards
Robin