HHonors earning style preferences.

[straitman]

I normally have my HHonors preferences to Points and Fixed Miles which suits me well as most of my stays are only one or two nights.

I now have 2 stays in Fiji that are longer and more expensive than my norm.

As I see it I am better changing my style preferences to Points and Points.

On the surface Points and Variable Miles seems better but as I read it neither Qantas or Virgin participate and AA don't participate in this part of the world.

Am I reading this correctly and is this really the best way to go :?:

 

[serfty]

Neither QFF nor Velocity participate in the "Points and Variable Mile" aspect of the HHonors double dip. Qantas will earn you 1000 points per and you can earn 2000 velocity points per stay until the end of the month.

As far as regions go, AA participate in any Hilton family hotel stay, whether in Fiji, Oz or Nigeria!

For a stay where the pre-tax spend is likely to be greater than USD500 then AA might be a way to go.

http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en/earn-use-points/hotel/earning/index.html

Note that you can earn 2000 velocity points per stay until the end of the month with the MOST VELOCITY POINTS promo.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Neither QFF nor Velocity participate in the "Points and Variable Mile" aspect of the HHonors double dip.

AA participate in any Hilton family hotel stay, whether in Fiji, Oz or Nigeria!

For a stay where the pre-tax spend is likely to be greater than USD500 ...

Was busily checking my AA account and yes I received the full miles credit on Variable miles to my AA account for my last stay > $500 at HSP

 

[anat0l]

I think the "regions" you read when you find the web page about Points and Variable Miles on Hilton mean the airline partners as sorted by home region, not that, for example, you can only claim Points + Variable Miles on AA if you have a Hilton stay in the Americas (or only Points + Variable Miles on SQ if you have a Hilton stay in the Asia Pacific).

Useful to keep in mind, however I rarely have a stay which is > $500.

 

[Cynicor]

Yes, you are correct. I change to points and points for closer to 1k stays now, as I don't think the Hilton points are even worth 0.5c now. Depends on what redemptions you have in mind.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I don't think the Hilton points are even worth 0.5c now. Depends on what redemptions you have in mind.

It's really got confusing now. With Hiltons "enhancements" to their point rewards, their lack of multi x bonuses like we used to get and the recent exchange rate drop means a whole new ball game.

I haven't even attempted to work a new point worth, but now it seems we may have to work out the better value......HH points or airline points.

My current HH stategy is to set the "My way" bonus to points and fixed miles (VS) for stays up a pre-tax value of US$500. VS gives 1000 points per stay. Over US$500 to points + variable miles. VS give 2 miles per US$1. If I need the VS miles back to HH points for any reason, the exchange back is 1 VS mile = 2 HH points, so very close to break even with the 5 HH bonus points that would have been earned if points and points were originally selected.

If you assume VS or AA miles = HH points in value, (which I don't believe do at all. I value the miles higher than HH points) then you may wish to change the earn to point + points for stays between US$200 and US$500.

With AA, you only get 1 mile per US$1 and you can't transfer back if needed. I guess it depends on the worth of AA to VS miles then, as to which is better. AA is probably easier to use but I have no idea on the value of VS compared to AA. Someone may like to give an opinion on that one perhaps?

The VA bonus appears good just now, but in checking VA reward flights compared to VS rewards, VS seems to be a better proposition. Mind you, that depends on the redemption. If VA continue to have domestic J redemption promos, then VA may be preferable.

 

[k3nnis]

I normally credit my Hilton stays to VS...

 

[serfty]

It's really got confusing now. With Hiltons "enhancements" to their point rewards, their lack of multi x bonuses like we used to get and the recent exchange rate drop means a whole new ball game.
...

I don't believe it's that confusing,
I have been doing this for 8 years now and it was more of a challenge when needing to select between various myway options as a Gold/Diamond. At least with Diamond nowadays that's rolled into one.

Indeed, the rest of your post shows how you have straitened things out for your needs.

Currently the VA bonus is quite good, but I have varied options regularly over the years depending upon my perceived needs.

 

[Cynicor]

I agree with SERFTY. It's not necessarily confusing, but you need to decide on the new worth of an HH point. This post inspired me to determine the value of my next redemption (i.e. about to book), and oddly enough I will get 0.7c/point and 1.4c/point value for the first 5 and second 5 days respectively, or just over 1c/point value. Might change my earning prefs quickly again!

At 1c/point vs QF2-2.5c (in my mind), the $500 turning point is still in play.

Next- 1 night redemptions at Conrad SIN, required semi-frequently to ensure connections. New cost is 60 000 points a night, no change year round. Current room cost with promo (able to find frequently) is about 220AUD/night. Value is now only 0.37c/point. I admit that this could increase to 0.40-0.43ish but this makes the HH sweet spot closer to $650ish.

My notes on this- you need to build in a fudge factor for the lack of multi-night discounts. I know there is the stay 5 pay 4 bit but you lose a lot of flexibility. The new sweet spots are 5 and 10 nights rather than 4+.
My chosen hotel above has only changed costs for 2 months of the year (doubled in cost)

P.S. Hilton Honors Standard Room Rewards Pricing is the address for determining current peak rates/normal rates etc.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

but I have varied options regularly over the years depending upon my perceived needs.

Over the years? :shock:

Heck, I vary them regularly over the weeks...............As for straighening things out for my needs, I thank you for your implied confidence. I wish I had the same confidence .

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This post inspired me to determine the value of my next redemption

The thing that probably bothers me the most is.........I actually understand what you are writing :shock:. My psychoanalyst may need to see me in the morning!

PS.......thanks for the link