Hilton is offering those with a US-issued Signature Visa credit card instant HHonors Gold status through August 31, 2011. If you stay three times by August 31, 2011, your Gold status will be extended through March 2013.

For those that are already HHonors Gold or Diamond members, registering for the above offer will earn you 5,000 bonus Hilton HHonors points (which will post in 1-2 weeks).

While Hilton’s top tier status isn’t all that great, they have one of the best mid tier elite programs, with upgrades to club rooms on a space available basis. Actually, one of the major problems with the HHonors program is that there’s not enough differentiation between their top tier and their middle tier.

Posted on June 8th, 2011 by lucky
Filed under: Great Deals, Hilton, Hotels | 38 Comments »

  1. June 8th, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    sbe said,

    Not working. I got an error code.

  2. June 8th, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    joediver said,

    Same here……ERROR

  3. June 8th, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    rudedude said,

    Worked fine for me. My account instantly reflected Gold.

  4. June 8th, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Dan said,

    Worked for me. I just signed up. Thanks Lucky!!!

  5. June 8th, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    joediver said,

    Tried again….Works now

  6. June 8th, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    D said,

    I used a different browser, after I got the error message, and it worked fine w/the second try.

  7. June 8th, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    BrianR said,

    I had the same problem … it failed on FireFox … but worked on Chrome

  8. June 8th, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    chitownflyer said,

    Lucky, the fact that Hilton’s Gold status is so good is quite an advantage as you do not have to complete as many stays or nights to keep the status. It is aimed at Marriott’s program to compete with their Gold and Platinum levels that require fewer nights but similar benefits. The best benefits of Gold(and Diamond) are seen at international locations where the hotels tend to reward their elites with good upgrades and service.

  9. June 8th, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    DFW said,

    Ben,
    Where did you see that current Gold/Diamonds will get 5K HHonors points? I didn’t see that in the FAQS or Terms and Conditions.

  10. June 8th, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    gatortv said,

    Perfect! Worked right off the bat. Great tip! Love it.

  11. June 8th, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    Erik said,

    Sweetness. Just canceled this weekend’s HIX for an Embassy Suites. Discovered Embassy Suites in Flagstaff, AZ includes cooked-to-order breakfast for all guests regardless. Nice.

  12. June 8th, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Jill said,

    Wonder if this would work for an authorized user card? Also, if you previously fast-tracked to Gold this year and have already completed the requirements, would you receive the bonus points?

  13. June 8th, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    DiscoPapa said,

    Awesome, thanks Lucky! Why I don’t stay at Hiltons too much anymore (PC and Hyatts these days), it’s always nice to get a free breakfast.

  14. June 8th, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    Biggles209 said,

    Do you have a link for the 5,000 bonus points for Gold and Diamond? I can’t find that anywhere!

  15. June 8th, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    David said,

    Biggles209: After you enter your info, it says that you are already a Gold, and they will give a one-time 5K bonus.

  16. June 8th, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    Instant Hilton HHonors Gold membership for those with Signature … | My Gold Fix said,

    [...] See the article here: Instant Hilton HHonors Gold membership for those with Signature … [...]

  17. June 8th, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    Biggles209 said,

    Interesting. I was already a Gold – but with no stays this year. And I took screenshots of all the signup stages. And I still can’t find it!

  18. June 8th, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    Geronimo said,

    Note that the promotion specifies using the VISA Signature card for the stay. Sounds like using the Hilton AMEX (a natural choice) won’t count.

  19. June 8th, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    Simon said,

    I do not see in the T&C anywhere that you need to pay with your Visa Signature card?

  20. June 8th, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    calvinoeh said,

    I just tried this with a non-US issued Visa signature and it works!! status shows immediately on my hilton page.

    Thanks Ben!!

  21. June 9th, 2011 at 12:36 am

    Ofer said,

    It says rigth after you get the gold status that “To extend your Gold membership through March 31, 2013, simply complete three stays using your Visa Signature card by August 31, 2011″

    If that is enforced or not, we shall find out later :)

  22. June 9th, 2011 at 3:10 am

    Sean M. said,

    FWIW, this worked with my Canadian issued card also.

  23. June 9th, 2011 at 4:44 am

    Free Hilton Gold Status Through August 31 and 5000 HHonors Points for Current Gold and Diamond Members - View from the Wing said,

    [...] a little late to this party since others have mentioned this several hours ago, but you can sign up for instant Gold [...]

  24. June 9th, 2011 at 5:27 am

    Hilton HHonors Gold Status and 5,000 Points for Visa Signature Card Members - Deals We Like said,

    [...] One Mile at a Time Hilton Honors is giving special treatment to Visa Signature Credit Card Members (for example, [...]

  25. June 9th, 2011 at 6:32 am

    dmodemd said,

    Awesome! I entered my info, it said I was already elite and I would get 5000 points in 1-2 weeks. Thanks for the tip, Lucky!

  26. June 9th, 2011 at 8:30 am

    chitownflyer said,

    For those having the Hilton AMEX, the simple solution is to book 3 cheap mattress runs (single night stays) paid with a Visa Signature on the weekends for $60-$70 a night at Hamptons or Hilton Garden Inns. Then you have Gold status on the cheap. The Gold status becomes very useful, if you are booking international Hilton branded properties.

  27. June 9th, 2011 at 9:32 am

    Free Hilton Gold Status with Visa Signature Card | said,

    [...] bottles of water, snack items and more.Also, if you already have Hilton status, Per Ben at One Mile at a Time, “For those that are already HHonors Gold or Diamond members, registering for the above offer [...]

  28. June 9th, 2011 at 10:12 am

    ct said,

    It seems to work for other people’s accounts as well. I used my Visa Signature card number to upgrade mine and my mom’s accounts. An easy way to make new friends…

  29. June 9th, 2011 at 11:31 am

    Jennifer said,

    I was not Gold previous to this promotion. As shown on FTG, I did it twice, with two different Visa Sig. cards, about five minutes apart. On the second try it said I would get 5000 bonus points since I’m already a “Gold.”

  30. June 9th, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    Peter said,

    It took me 3x to get it to actually take.

  31. June 9th, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    Antonio said,

    I just stayed at a Hilton last night. Let’s hope that stay ends up counting toward the three!

  32. June 9th, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    gbtrotter said,

    FANTASTIC! My status changed instantly on registering and I’m already booked for three stays in the next 30 days, including one tomorrow night at a full service Hilton for $80: well worth GOLD status until 2013. Thanks Ben!

  33. June 9th, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    rich (arizona) said,

    I find it amusing that I can gain Hilton status while using my Visa Signature Hyatt card but I’ll take it.

  34. June 10th, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    Brewer said,

    You don’t actually need to pay with the visa signature card on your three stays. The terms and conditions only state: “By completing three qualifying stays at any participating hotel and resort in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio by August 31, 2011, Member will retain HHonors Gold Elite status through March 31, 2013.”

  35. June 11th, 2011 at 3:01 am

    Free Hilton HHonors Gold Status | Million Mile Secrets said,

    [...] free Hilton HHonors Gold Elite status until August 31, 2011 just by signing up here (hat tip to Lucky & Gary).  All you need is a Visa Signature Credit [...]

  36. July 13th, 2011 at 5:56 pm

    Victoria said,

    anybody know if you can use a promo rate night in order to qualify? Like a bed and breakfast deal? Also it says 3 qualifying stays. Does that mean 3 separate nights? Because if you try to qualify for MVP gold fast track they require 4 stays or 9 nights…

  37. July 13th, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    Nick said,

    @Victoria, I’m guessing as long as you book through Hilton.com and its a paid rate you’re good. A stay is any number of consecutive nights at the same hotel. So if you want to get 2 stays from a 2 night trip you need to check into 2 different hotels.

  38. August 3rd, 2011 at 9:02 am

    Instant Hilton HHonors Gold plus free night and bonus miles for airline elites - Frequently Flying said,

    [...] gave me instant Silver and then Gold after four stays, and just recently Visa Signature cardholders were granted instant Gold (or 5,000 bonus points if you were already Gold and had the Signature card). Anyway, it seems like [...]

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