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…but it is not what you think!
For a great many years, I was a Delta Air Lines Diamond Medallion. And for most of those years, I really enjoyed the status. Almost everyone at Delta treated me so well and appreciated my loyalty to the airline. I was also nearly guaranteed First Class upgrades and so much more. Today, the Medallion program is not what it once was and I am now “just” a Gold Medallion and will remain so thanks to my Million Miler status. I am not ever, unless the program changes, going for Delta Diamond again.
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What I did go for this year, and likely many more years, is Hilton Diamond status. I just reached it by spending over $40,000 for the year on my Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. For me, the perk of earning Diamond via spend is a no-brainer as I earn 6x points at both gas stations as well as grocery store purchases. Now sure I could just “buy” Diamond status with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * but it does not have the bonus spend categories I like the most.
Why am I continuing to reach for this? While Hilton’s loyalty program is not as good as it once was, especially domestically (the breakfast offering is a total joke), where Hilton does shine is outside the USA. That is where the bulk of my higher-end hotel stays occur.
I find that most times, as a Hilton Diamond, I am offered some kind of suite upgrade as well as all the other perks like free fast wifi, lounge access and more. Requests like early check-in or late check-out are usually not a problem and I am appreciated for my loyalty with the hotel chain – all things that matter a lot to me.
Plus I am, long term, working on my lifetime Hilton Diamond status and would like, by the time I am fully retired, to have this in place to go along with my lifetime-ish Delta Gold status and Skyteam elite plus for overall better travels.
Do you hold top Hilton status each year like me? Do you find value in the chase? Do you find another hotel chain more valuable for your stays? Let me know. – René
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please visit this link.
*(All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
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I also do what you do. The diamond status is also great overseas.
Been a Hilton Diamond for 7 years now. The Diamond status is fair in the U.S. but “upgrades” to very good in Europe. As you state, in Europe it seems more appreciated and what cannot be argued is the abundance of Executive Lounges. (Note: In London almost every higher end Hilton property has one!)
I still don’t understand that if Hilton can require certain brands to offer breakfast and the Embassy’s to offer an evening reception (although drastically reduced from what it once was)…why can’t they require the lounge for Hilton properties and above in the US? I actually know people who went for the Surpass card instead of the Aspire because they checked into it and saw that virtually no properties have EL’s. Yet, Hilton proudly advertises the EL as a perk of Diamond status. Perhaps the most specious benefit of all time. Maybe time Hilton to re-think just what your highest tier should actually deliver?
Same for the Marriott program. Overseas is much better for upgrades, perks etc. Not going for Diamond this year and keeping Platinum with more time spent on Southwest vs Delta.
Is there any airline program that is as good as the Delta Diamond Medallion used to be before the pandemic?
Also, for those of us who have been loyal for so long and gained lifetime status level through the million miler programs, how do we not start from zero with other airlines?
As for credit cards programs, many corporate travelers such as myself use corporate credit cards which means the points and loyalty goes to the employer.
“Is there any airline program that is as good as the Delta Diamond Medallion used to be before the pandemic?”
That’s fairly subjective. There are people who swore allegiance to other airlines long before the pandemic and couldn’t have cared less about Delta. I know some people who’ve loved American, Untied, and Southwest since last century. Everyone gripes and moans about their preferred airline changing a loyalty program — and many just stick with it. I know some people loved Alaska’s program, though that just changed. It might be pursuing.
“Also, for those of us who have been loyal for so long and gained lifetime status level through the million miler programs, how do we not start from zero with other airlines?”
Go for a status match. Search for “(Airline X) status match.”
Hey Rene!
I love Hiltons in general but am gold b/c of my Amex platinum unaffiliated card. Which really
Rocks for me!!!
I also like Radisson Blu abroad !
I am now forever a Platinum delta with 2026
As my last year as a Diamond.
I’m REALLY going to miss my GUs more than anything!!! May have to start again perhaps another year lol depends upon many variables !
Still hoping remaining Platinum will be pleasant
Cheers!
I tried Hilton Diamond for a few months through a trial offer. Other than the ability to select a room from the app, I found myself wishing that I was staying in a Marriott because of their 4:00 p.m. late checkout which I always got with Marriott and rarely got with Hilton.