Bits: Hilton status match working, 30%-50% off non-flight Avios redemptions inc wine

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News in brief:

Hilton status matches working OK

I wrote about Hilton HHonors offering to match your status in another existing hotel programme last week.

The good news is that Hilton is now processing the matches successfully. I sent in a screenshot of my IHG Spire Elite status and my account was upgrading to Diamond. This is the first time that I have ever had top tier Hilton status, albeit that the extra benefits over Gold are not huge.

The main one, apart from better upgrades, is guaranteed club lounge access. Click here to see Hilton status benefits in full.

I also sent over my wife’s Accor Platinum status. This account shows no stay activity. She got a slightly bizarre response that said a) she could have a match if she verified the telephone number on her account (?) and then said b) she can’t have a match but if she sent a statement showing stay activity with a competitor she would get a ‘fast track’ offer. I have no interest in a Fast Track challenge for her – I may well wait until nearer the 11th January deadline for matches and simply re-apply.

Hyatt, on the other hand, has had an about-turn on its own status match. After offering Diamond to anyone who showed top tier status with a competitor, they are now restricting it to SPG Platinum members only. Everyone else will only receive Hyatt Platinum which only requires five stays to earn anyway – the list of Hyatt Platinum benefits is here.

Hyatt hasn’t even processed this for me yet, despite sending me an acknowledgement of receiving my match request. This will cost them some business as I would have moved my upcoming Istanbul trip to the Park Hyatt if I had been able to use a guaranteed Diamond suite upgrade.

30% to 50% off some avios.com ‘non flight’ redemptions

If you move your Avios points from British Airways Executive Club to avios.com, using ‘Combine My Avios‘, you can advantage of some interesting non-flight bargains.

Full details are here.

There are some wine selections reduced by 30%, quite a few ‘experience’ or ‘pampering day’ vouchers and a few annual memberships. These include the RHS, English Heritage, Tastecard, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and the National Trust for Scotland.

The biggest discounts are on spa days, helicopter rides, indoor karting, indoor skydiving and supercar driving, all reduced by roughly 50%.

These offers run to 14th December.

How to earn Avios points from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways BA Amex American Express card

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points, such as:

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital On Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios:

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus:

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

(Want to earn more Avios? Click here to visit our home page for our latest articles on earning and spending your Avios points and click here to see how to earn more Avios this month from offers and promotions.)

Category

Hilton Honors

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Daz says:

7 Dec7 December 17:18

Accors Platinum matched today to diamond

Got HHonors gold in Oct 15 through an Etihad promo, so this might have helped and I have stays on both my Accors and HHonors.
Jason says:

7 Dec7 December 19:20

Spire elite matched to Diamond this evening. Got gold with a challenge at Hampton Corby, for 4 nights, whilst there was a 5000 pt bonus per night.
Spire elite achieved from IHG premium credit card.
harry says:

7 Dec7 December 19:40

Speaking as a wino buff, they look well over-priced even with 30% off.

Thanks but no thanks lol
Globetrotter7 says:

7 Dec7 December 20:20

Also got Diamond after sending in my proof of IHG spire status. Very pleased!
Fenny says:

7 Dec7 December 20:40

Another Accor plat to HH Diamond match. I was HH Gold to the end of this year and had 2 Accor stays on my statement from last April.

As ever, HfP comes up trumps.
@mkcol says:

7 Dec7 December 21:36

Accor Platinum got me HHonors Diamond (upgraded from Gold)

Interesting in the email that they say they’re not offering status match for Accor…
“Thank you for contacting Hilton Worldwide and sending the information requesting Hilton Honors tier match.
We are very thrilled to know that you are considering to travel with our Portfolio of Brands allowing us the opportunity to earn your loyalty. Although we are currently not offering to match tier status for Accor hotels, after carefully reviewing your account and given your loyalty, I am happy to upgrade your account to our elite Diamond Tier expiring in Mar 2017. Please allow 24-48 hours for the upgrade to reflect on your account online.
Once upgraded, the Diamond tier status requires a minimum of 30 stays or 60 nights each calendar year to extend for additional years moving forward. Thank you for taking the time to reach out and we look forward to welcoming you & your family to Hilton in the near future. Happy Holidays!”
JG says:

8 Dec8 December 04:03

I have Accor Plat earned through 60+ stays last year and will re-qualify again in March the same.

Sent evidence of this including PDF of point history.

Got told I didn’t provide enough evidence and if I do, they might consider a challenge. I have asked for clarification/re-consideration but if denied that would be a shame as I am willing to try another brand for 2016/17. Their loss!
- scottnothing says:
  
  8 Dec8 December 07:42
  
  Sorry to hear that. I also requested a match with Accor Platinum to Hilton Diamond yesterday which was granted overnight.
  
  I sent a PDF of my Accor card but no proof of stays at Accor (of which I only have 2 stays / 3 nights over the past year). In the cover email I said that since attaining Gold (via a Fast Track offer earlier this year) I had been redirecting stays to Hilton and would continue to do so. Perhaps that swayed them in my case, but it looks like they are not being very consistent! My Hilton activity shows 10 stays / 20 nights.
  - Simmo says:
    
    8 Dec8 December 07:58
    
    Sent in my details yesterday from Accor and got told to resend in the details in pdf format (which I did originally yesterday) seems very hit and miss!
    
    “We’re happy to help you reach a higher tier with HHonors! Please reply with a copy of your detailed competitor stay and night activity for the last 12 months as a .doc, .jpg, or .PDF attachment and we will review your HHonors account for a potential complimentary upgrade.”
    - JG says:
      
      9 Dec9 December 03:20
      
      I have now been upgraded!
      
      I guess they have a lot to process and hit the wrong button.
      
      5 nights booked in Colombo over Christmas look forward to trying Hilton Diamond!
      - Scottnothing says:
        
        9 Dec9 December 15:35
        
        Glad to hear it!
        
        It sounds like they are giving most people that push-back / express their disappointment the benefit of the doubt.
        
        Hilton lounges are going to be very busy through to March 2017!
      - Alan says:
        
        9 Dec9 December 23:12
        
        Indeed – Hyatt on the other hand have backtracked on their original offer and don’t seem willing to budge, which will cost them some stays I was planning on pushing their way.
    - Simmo says:
      
      10 Dec10 December 11:08
      
      I’ve now been upgraded also.
      
      Should be useful for Malta next week, and Hilton Phuket next year.
R.R. says:

8 Dec8 December 10:45

Hi, just to say massive thanks for your articles, and particularly this one as it earned me Diamond status now.
I was aware that I have not stayed a single night with Accor Hotels (Platinum tier) and when was asked to produce my stay with them i was convinced I would be rejected, but hey ho I got a great news this morning and I am very grateful for your direct input.

Happy Tier Matching