Back in 2017, Hilton Honors introduced the concept of Diamond status extensions for select members. This has been suspended during the pandemic, given that status has been automatically renewed for the past couple of years. However, it’s expected to return in 2023.
In this post:
Hilton Honors’ generous Diamond status extension
As noted by Executive Traveller, Hilton Honors will be bringing back its Diamond status extension as of 2023. This will be available for those with Diamond status expiring on March 31, 2023.
Specifically, select Hilton Honors Diamond members are able to request a one-time status extension that’s valid for a year in which they’re not otherwise able to qualify. In order to be eligible for this:
- You need to have earned Diamond status for at least three years, though the years don’t have to be consecutive
- You need to have racked up either 250 elite qualifying nights (paid or award) or have accumulated 500,000 base points since joining the program
This offer isn’t yet live, but I’ll be sure to post again when it is. It goes without saying that this is a generous offer — there’s not another program that lets loyal members extend their status by a year at the time of their choosing, based on their own travel patterns.
Of course you’ll want to be strategic when using this, since it’s a one-time benefit. This isn’t just a blanket Diamond status extension for everyone, like we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic.
In fairness, Hilton Honors Diamond status is easy to earn
While this is a great initiative for rewarding loyal members, I’d note that Hilton Honors Diamond status is pretty easy to earn in the grand scheme of things:
- You can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status simply for having the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express (review)
- You can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status by spending $40,000 in a calendar year on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review) or Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (review)
- Hilton Honors has a status fast track promotion, where you can earn Diamond status when you stay 12 nights within 90 days
- Through the end of 2022, Hilton Honors is offering double elite nights on all stays, making it easier to qualify for status
The information and associated card details on this page for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
Hilton Honors is bringing back its Diamond status extension program. With this, loyal Diamond members who meet certain criteria can get a one-time status extension at a time of their choosing. With status having been extended for everyone the past couple of years, there has been no need for this.
If you could benefit from this for 2023, stay tuned, because this functionality will be back soon.
Any eligible Hilton Honors Diamond members plan to use this extension in 2023?
If a tree that costs $0 and gives minimal benefits falls in the forest - does anyone hear it?
Hilton Diamond status is a joke, everyone has credit card Diamond status and in the us they never upgrade you. So I truly don’t care if they have this Diamond status extension or not.
Oft repeated but nonsensical statement. Really. I have explained the following multiple times, but here we go again.
Just because everyone has an elite status does not mean that everyone takes full advantage of it. The only people that can...
Oft repeated but nonsensical statement. Really. I have explained the following multiple times, but here we go again.
Just because everyone has an elite status does not mean that everyone takes full advantage of it. The only people that can make the most of the status -- earned either through a credit card or the "hard way" or both -- are those that actively patronize the program because they are the ones who earn enough points to be able afford award stays, which is what the game is all about.
Anyone with status in a program who does not earn significant numbers of points in that program's currency is not very competitive. 'Occasional' credit card HH Diamonds or Golds are no threat or match to those that actively patronize the program. That is why despite Hilton making it easy to earn its Diamond status through a credit card, there is no evidence that the status has been 'diluted', statements as above claiming that it has been notwithstanding. That is actually the genius of it: status matters only if one takes advantage of it by spending a significant amount of real money at Hilton hotels, which means that the chain wins whenever people go out of their way to stay at the chain's hotels thanks to their status ("Give them status and they' come!"). If they do not actively patronize the program, then there is no harm done because they and their status do not matter.
Now you know why your statement is nonsensical, and it's you that is a joke, Jake.
G'day.
As a 20 year Diamond (still without DFL!) this last year has not re qualified us yet but the double nights and miles should do the trick possibly with 13 nights in PPT upcoming and some in-transit stays.
Hope this is not needed but as a non-American there is only one way to qualify - the hard way. So it looks possible this will be the only way if something goes wrong.
Bummer because until 12/31/2022, all bonus points earned through any co-branded AMEX HH credit cards will continue to count as both base points and redeemable points, likely to try to increase the size of the membership of its highly exclusive DFL status, which is not exactly easy to attain...
I really hope Marriott does this with titanium
Cue the Lifetime bragging rights ;)
Envious, are you?
Bragging about having lifetime status with a program where top tier is available for a net $0 CC in perpetuity is the height of stupidity.