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I’ve got some Hilton stays coming up in the next couple of months, so thought I’d ask for a status match/challenge up to Diamond. I already have Gold status thanks to the American Express Platinum card, but fancied having guaranteed lounge access and (maybe) a better upgrade on these trips. Diamond is Hilton Honors top level status and I don’t have top level status with any other hotel programme at the moment, but you used to be able to get a temporary Hilton Diamond status match from IHG Platinum (which I do have) – anyway, it still works fine!

To keep Diamond status beyond the next 90 days, I need to complete 8 stays (stays, not nights). If I did that, I’d be Diamond until 31st March 2019 according to the terms, which seems a year short to me. If you qualify for Hilton status ‘normally’, you keep it for the rest of this year, all of next year, and until the end of March the year after that – ie 31st March 2020. (UPDATE: It’s been confirmed in the comments, by reader Pangolin, that the 2019 expiry date is an admin mistake by Hilton and that matched status will last until 31st March 2020)

Given that I have Gold anyway, I’m not yet entirely sure if I’ll bother to complete the 8 stays  or not – I haven’t been Diamond for a couple of years, so I suppose I’ll see how much I like it these days!

If you want to get a taste of Diamond (or Gold) too, here’s how to do it:

How to request an Hilton Honors Status Match

You need to start out with elite status from one of Hilton‘s competitors. They list the usual suspects, but will definitely consider many other chains such as Best Western or Club Carlson.

In general, Honors will match the competition’s top level status to Honors Diamond (i.e. Diamond, Globalist, Spire, Platinum, etc.) If the competing chain has a relevant mid-tier status, such as Marriott Gold, then this can occasionally be matched to HHonors Diamond, but you might only be matched to Gold. IHG Platinum (and maybe Best Western Diamond) is still getting matched to Diamond.

If approved, HHonors members will enjoy their matched status for a period of exactly 90 days. This can be extended until 31 March, 2020 by completing:

• 4 stays for Gold status
• 8 stays for Diamond status 

Note that these need to be separate stays, not just 4 or 8 nights.

The process of requesting a status challenge is simple. You must fill in the online form with your first name, last name, email address, HHonors account number, and the status you’re hoping to match. You must also upload proof of your competing status, as well as proof of a stay within the past 12 months with that hotel chain.

Meeting the Requirements

8 stays within 90 days is quite ambitious, but is obviously based on the fact that regular Diamond qualification requires 30 stays in a year (so 8/90 is roughly one quarter of the stays in one quarter of the year). This works out well for those who can accumulate many one-night stays, but is quite difficult for those who have less frequent, but longer hotel stays.

It’s worth knowing that Points stays count towards qualifying for elite status. There are several Category 2 hotels in the United Kingdom costing 10,000 Points per night. As regards cash rates, Fridays and Sundays tend to offer the best prices.

Bottom line

Hilton Honors Gold is excellent, and Diamond guarantees executive lounge access on top (when the hotel has one!). With free breakfast being introduced at Waldorf Astoria properties, elite status is arguably more useful than ever. Being able to match and get 90 days status for free (and longer if you meet the stay requirements) is fantastic.

The fact that you can get a Hilton Diamond status match from IHG Platinum (which you can get just by having the IHG Rewards Club Premium Credit Card, costing £99 per year) plus one IHG stay in the last 12 months, makes it very accessible too

Apply for your Hilton Honors Status Match here.

What’s your favourite Hilton/Conrad/etc lounge?