Hilton lifetime Diamond status: What it is and how to get it

If you frequently stay at Hilton hotels and resorts, you might wonder what it takes to earn lifetime status.

Interestingly, Hilton Honors only offers lifetime status at the Diamond tier. And since Diamond is the top Hilton elite status tier, it’s not easy to earn lifetime Diamond status, as you can imagine. However, it is possible.

Here’s what you should know about earning Hilton lifetime Diamond status.

How to get Hilton lifetime Diamond status

To get Hilton lifetime Diamond status, you must earn Hilton Diamond status for at least 10 years. The years don’t need to be consecutive, and status obtained through Hilton credit cards counts.

In addition to accruing at least 10 years as a Diamond member, you must also meet one of the following milestones to get Hilton lifetime Diamond status:

• Complete a total of 1,000 nights (paid and reward stays are eligible)
• Earn 2 million base points

If you stay with Hilton Honors 60 nights a year, it would take you almost 17 years to reach the 1,000-night milestone. Qualifying for Hilton lifetime Diamond via base points won’t be easier for many members, though. After all, you earn 10 base points per dollar spent on your room rate and eligible folio charges when you book an eligible rate at most Hilton Honors properties. Assuming you spend $10,000 at Hilton properties (earning 100,000 base points) each year, earning 2 million base points will take you 20 years.

Once you hold Diamond status for at least 10 years and either stay 1,000 nights or accrue 2 million base points, you’ll get an email from Hilton Honors notifying you of your milestone and asking you to validate your account information. Then, Hilton will send you a lifetime Diamond kit that includes a lifetime Diamond membership card within eight to 12 weeks.

Related: Is it worth pursuing lifetime elite status?

Hilton Diamond benefits

Hilton Diamond status offers various benefits, including:

• A 100% bonus when earning base points
• Complimentary in-room and lobby premium internet access during stays at most Hilton brands
• Two complimentary bottles of water per stay at most Hilton brands
• The fifth night free on standard room reward stays of five or more nights (up to four free nights per stay)
• A MyWay on-property benefit per stay
• Upgrades to preferred rooms, including junior, standard and one-bedroom suites, as identified by each property and based on availability at the time of arrival when staying at select Hilton brands

Hilton lifetime Diamond status doesn’t provide any different perks than those afforded to Hilton Diamond members. Members must usually meet one of three requirements — 30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 base points — each calendar year to earn Hilton Diamond status. It’s also possible to get Hilton Diamond benefits by holding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, spending $40,000 on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card within the current or previous calendar year or having Hilton lifetime Diamond status.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Reflecting on my first year as a Hilton Honors Diamond member

Should you pursue Hilton lifetime Diamond status?

Whether you should pursue becoming a lifetime Diamond member depends on your specific circumstances.

For example, suppose you’ve stayed with Hilton over 1,000 nights across your lifetime and have held Hilton Diamond status for eight years. In that case, it may be well worth getting the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card for at least two years to reach the requirement of holding Hilton Diamond status for at least 10 years.

Likewise, if you’ve met the 10-year Diamond requirement and only need a few more nights or base points, it’s likely worth striving to accrue these nights or base points to secure Hilton lifetime Diamond status.

But if you aren’t well on your way toward meeting one or both requirements for Hilton lifetime Diamond status, it’s likely not worth much effort. This is especially true if you’re eligible for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which lets its cardmembers enroll in complimentary Hilton Diamond status. Of course, American Express and Hilton could discontinue this card at any time, but for now, it’s the easiest and most cost-effective way to maintain Hilton Diamond status.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Hilton stays?

Bottom line

If you’ve traveled extensively and primarily stayed at Hilton Honors properties, you may have earned or be close to earning Hilton lifetime Diamond status. This lifetime status is helpful because you’ll still get top-tier elite perks even as you travel less frequently and your annual nights in hotels decrease.

However, you can’t rush to earn Hilton lifetime Diamond status since you’ll need at least 10 years as a Diamond member plus either 1,000 nights stayed or 2 million base points earned. Luckily for award travelers, both paid and award nights count toward the 1,000-night metric.