How I Use Hotel Elite Status Without Earning It

A few years ago, I stretched to reach Hilton Diamond status,. Since then, I’ve come to realize I can get the hotel elite status I need without meeting requirements for nights or spending. Instead, I maintain automatic Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, and Hyatt Discoverist status using credit card benefits. I still appreciate hotel elite status but no longer earn it the hard way.

Why I Stopped Chasing Hotel Elite Status

I earned Hilton Diamond status in December 2023 and enjoyed the benefits through 2024, but I found it wasn’t that much different from the Hilton Gold status I get automatically with my Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.

I realized that Hilton Gold status was good enough for me and haven’t attempted Diamond again since. I still get space-available upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit as a Gold member. I’ve also had no trouble getting early check-in and late checkout as a Gold member, and have received more consistent upgrades as a Gold member than I did when I had Diamond status.

What It Would Take To Earn Status

Without my credit card benefits, I’d have to spend a lot more money and nights with particular hotel chains to get status.

Earning Hilton Gold status requires staying 25 nights, 15 stays, or spending $6,000, and Marriott Gold Elite requires 25 nights. Hyatt Discoverist status is more approachable at 10 nights or 25,000 base points. I haven’t come close to achieving any of those requirements this year, but I have status anyway with my cards.

Those requirements are achievable with frequent business travel or hotel chain loyalty. But I spread my hotel stays across various brands and often pay with points instead of cash. I wouldn’t want to book extra nights, choose a specific hotel chain, or stay at a more expensive hotel just to reach a status threshold when I can get the same status as a benefit of having a particular card.

Credit Cards Give Me Elite Hotel Benefits

I use 3 credit cards to get elite status with Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt: the Platinum Card^® from American Express (enrollment required), Hilton Surpass card, and The World of Hyatt Credit Card. The status I get with the cards isn’t the main reason I have them, but it’s part of each card’s overall value.

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Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum card reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and elite status.

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum card reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount — all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

As High as 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, the Platinum Card^® from American Express is a top choice.

The card offers premium perks like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and several annual card credits. The Amex Platinum card is easily worth the annual fee for frequent travelers who use the lounges and travel credits, and hard to justify for those who won’t.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far): Get access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags).

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. Effective January 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts^® bookings will require a minimum two-night stay to be eligible for the $600 Hotel Credit.
• With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 08/2026.
• $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
• $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card^® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
• $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 60+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to The Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Whatever the occasion, choose from our two signature collections of premium hotels, curated to inspire and excite you when you book through Amex Travel™: Fine Hotels + Resorts^® is a collection of over 1,900 luxury hotels that are destinations unto themselves and the Hotel Collection includes over 1,400 upscale hotels in desirable destinations.
• $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card^®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Amex Platinum card gives me the broadest hotel benefits with Hilton Gold status, Marriott Gold Elite status, and elite-like perks when I book with Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection.

From just this card, I get these benefits:

Hilton Gold Status

• No resort fees on reward stays
• 80% points earning bonus on stays
• Fifth night free on reward stays
• Space-available room upgrades
• Daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast
• Late checkout when available

Marriott Gold Elite Status

• 25% bonus points on stays
• Enhanced room upgrade, when available
• Priority late checkout (up to 2 p.m.)

Fine Hotels + Resorts

• Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
• Daily breakfast for 2 people
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Noon check-in (subject to availability)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• A unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit)

The Hotel Collection

• Room upgrade at check-in (subject to availability)
• Noon check-in and 4 p.m. checkout (subject to availability)
• $100 credit for qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities

The Amex Platinum card offers up to $600 in prepaid hotel credit ($300 semiannually) for bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection.

Enrollment is required for some benefits, and a 2-night minimum stay is required for The Hotel Collection’s benefits.

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Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Welcome Offer

Earn 130,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.

130,000 points + Free Night Reward

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $650

Annual Fee

$150

APR

19.74%-28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
• 6x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
• 4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases

Cons

• $150 (rates & fees)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 130,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with benefits like an 80% Points earning Bonus on Stays, daily food & beverage credit or continental breakfast (varies by brand & region), space-available room upgrades at select properties, and more.
• Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card. That’s up to $200 in statement credits annually.
• Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 4X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of U.S. Online Retail purchases.
• Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. With Hilton Honors Diamond status, enjoy benefits like: A 100% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi at select properties, Daily food & beverage credit at select brands in the U.S. and complimentary continental breakfast at select brands outside of the U.S., Space-available room upgrades at select properties, and Executive lounge access at select properties.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• $150 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

The Hilton Surpass card overlaps somewhat with the Amex Platinum card, because both give me Hilton Gold status. I had this card before I got the Amex Platinum card, but I’ve kept it because I stay at Hilton properties often enough to take advantage of its benefits:

• 12x points on Hilton hotels and resorts
• Up to $200 in Hilton statement credits annually ($50 per quarter)
• Free night reward after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year

It also offers an upgrade to Diamond status after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The World of Hyatt card offers a fast track to Hyatt elite status, an annual free night, and up to 9x points per $1 on Hyatt stays.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

The World of Hyatt card offers a fast track to Hyatt elite status, an annual free night, and up to 9x points per $1 on Hyatt stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Up to 60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$840

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.49% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The World of Hyatt Credit Card makes your Hyatt stays more rewarding and helps you get coveted World of Hyatt elite status faster. This card is a must-have for any traveler who regularly stays at Hyatt hotels, or even for anyone who’s able to take advantage of the card’s annual free night certificate.

When you factor in all the benefits the World of Hyatt card offers, it’s easy to see why it is one of the best co-branded hotel credit cards on the market.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
• 2x points per $1 at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit, rideshares, and fitness clubs/gym memberships
• 1x point per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $95 annual fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
• Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
• Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
• Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
• Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
• Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
• Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
• Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

World of Hyatt

With the World of Hyatt card, I get Discoverist status, which includes:

• 5x base points at Hyatt hotels and resorts and a 10% bonus on eligible purchases
• No resort fee on free night awards
• Upgrade to a preferred room within the type booked (when available)
• Late checkout (up to 2 p.m.)

The card also offers an annual free night certificate for a Category 1-4 hotel.

Hotel Status Perks Add Value

I don’t value hotel status perks enough to go out of my way to earn status, but getting automatic status from my cards has been a great way to enhance my stays with room upgrades, food and beverage credits, and flexibility with early check-in and late checkout. The bonus points from higher earning rates also help me get to free nights faster.

Room upgrades are a significant benefit, and it’s rare that I don’t get some sort of upgrade. I don’t usually get a huge jump, like a regular room to a suite. Still, I almost always get a preferred room within the category I booked, such as a higher floor or a better view than I might get otherwise.

For example, when I stayed at Thompson Houston on a Fine Hotels + Resorts booking, I got upgraded to a high-floor room overlooking downtown Houston and Buffalo Bayou Park.

Food and beverage credits offer direct savings. At many Hilton properties, I get $15 per adult per night ($30 total). It’s usually not enough to cover a full restaurant breakfast, but it can be enough for a coffee and light breakfast. At the Hilton Garden Inn Cocoa Beach, I got a food and beverage credit for $10 per adult per night ($20 total), and the on-site restaurant offered $10 breakfast selections for Gold and Diamond members to match.

Although I like a nice upgrade and savings on food, I get the most value from early check-in and late checkout. These benefits allow me to get settled in a little earlier or extend my vacation by a few hours. Early check-in is an official benefit of Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings, but not with Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, or Hyatt Discoverist status. Still, I’ve found that an early check-in is often available anyway.

Late checkout is even more valuable, because it gives me the luxury of a slow morning and more time to enjoy the hotel’s amenities. At Hilton Garden Inn Cocoa Beach, we spent our last morning on the beach and had our room until 1 p.m. to shower before we got on our way.

The rewards value is also useful because I earn more on stays with status or credit card benefits:

• Bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection with my Amex Platinum card earn 5x Membership Rewards points.
• I earn a total of 30 points per $1 with Hilton when I pay with my Hilton Surpass card (10 as a base member, 8 more with Gold status, and 12 with my card).
• When I pay for Hyatt stays with my World of Hyatt card, I get 9.5 points per $1 (5 as a World of Hyatt member, 0.5 with the 10% Discoverist bonus, and 4 with the card).

The Biggest Benefit Is Flexibility

With midlevel status with Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt, I’ve got three of the largest hotel chains covered. There’s a good chance that anywhere I’m going, there’s a hotel where I can get elite status benefits.

That flexibility is valuable, because I can choose the hotel with the best location, price, redemption value, or amenities without worrying about hitting an annual night threshold or sacrificing elite benefits. And with benefits for Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, I can access elite benefits with additional hotel chains and independent properties while still getting perks that add value.

Status Isn’t Free, but It’s Still Worth It

I get hotel status and elite-like benefits with my credit cards, but each of the cards I use to get them has an annual fee. The Amex Platinum card is the most expensive at $895 annually (rates & fees), and I pay $150 for the Hilton Surpass card (rates & fees) and $95 for the World of Hyatt card.

If hotel status was the only benefit of each of these cards, I’m not sure it would be worth it. But I get enough value from each card’s broader benefits to more than offset the fee each year — so the hotel status is just icing on the cake.

With the Amex Platinum card, I use thousands of dollars in annual credits, including the up-to-$600 prepaid hotel credit, up-to-$200 annual incidental airline fee credit, and lifestyle credits for Resy, lululemon, Uber, digital entertainment, and more. Some benefits may require enrollment.

The up to $200 in annual Hilton credits ($50 per quarter) alone is more than enough to offset the $150 Hilton Surpass card fee, and the free night certificate I get each year with the World of Hyatt card offers plenty of value to justify the $95 annual fee.

Bottom Line:

Hotel elite status is a valuable perk, but I probably wouldn’t pay an annual fee just for status. Each of these cards offers value beyond status.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed having Hilton Diamond status, but I’m not sure I’ll ever try to earn elite hotel status again. I can get most of the hotel perks I care about automatically just by holding cards I’d want to have anyway, and I don’t have to worry about meeting annual stay or spending requirements.

The automatic elite status I get from my credit cards allows me to get room upgrades, food and beverage credits, and flexibility with check-in and checkout times. I don’t get all of the benefits on every stay, but the perks are great when they’re available.

More importantly, I like the flexibility of choosing hotels based on what works best for each trip rather than being locked into a particular hotel chain so I can earn enough nights and take advantage of status benefits. That’s worth more than a higher elite status tier.