UPDATE 6/1/2013 – the deal is now over.
It is still possible to get instant Hilton Gold status through the following method. I tested it this morning and it is still alive. The terms say you must be a Visa Infinite cardholder and the offer expires May 31, 2013.
1.Log in to your account (or create one if you don’t have one)
2. Go to this address generator to create a valid Australian address.
3. Change your profile to the Australian address.
4. Go to this website and create a credit card number. Click “Generate a Credit Number” and choose “Visa – Chase Manhattan Bank“. Don’t worry, you’re not generating an actual credit number someone owns. Replace the output with “4119 45xx xxxx xxxx” and hit generate.
5. Now go to the Visa Infinte landing page and enter the credit number from step 4.
6. Log out and log back in, you will have Gold status now. The benefits are here. You can now change your address back.
Tip of the cap to Fatwallet
This is dead in case anyone else decides to try..
Any other good deal for the Hhonors?
Its not working anymore. Last step going to Visa Cant enter card no.
@Andrew – yes, you are correct. The top line of my post was updated to the following : UPDATE 6/1/2013 – the deal is now over
My Status is reverted back to blue from gold. 🙁
Both mine and my husband’s 100000+ points were gone yesterday, and showed up again this morning. Scared me! I have a up coming trip this Sep. I guess that Hilton system got a problem yesterday.
My 100000+ points are gone, but gold status is still there. Does this happened to anyone?
Sylvia – my points and status are still intact
Founders Card members get a free hilton gold upgrade as part of the member benefits
I had done this with great success back in April. Now, in looking at my HH account I am back down to Blue. Will have to wait for the next great offer I guess !!!
My account was closed, they said it is an illegal account.
My status expired quite recently as well.
i got the gold status using the method a few weeks ago. but now i am downgraded back to blue. did anybody have the same experience? can we do anything about it? thanks.
They took the website down now….It is over.
Hi it’s asking me to call a number has this expired now?
@Midge – yes expired
I used the instructions supplied. (Very clear and easy to follow – thanks.) I won’t be booking travel until some time in July-2013. Will I still get gold status then? Do I have to book through Hilton or can I do it through a travel agent/service?
Thanks so much! It worked for me. It took about 20 minutes before it switched to gold but it did work. 5/30/13.
Just tried and it worked! Thanks!
hi i,m a diamond, my daughters are in auz, with credit cards so did it for them correctly , and they became gold, many thanks
worked for me! thanks
Hi, It wont accept any of the credit card generated numbers, any ideas???
@Victoria – go through the instructions again. Hundreds have got it to work.
Thanks!
Thanks very much for posting…it worked for me but what happens if I change my address back will it revert??
@Savannah – it will not revert. I’ve done it personally and still have the status.
Worked like a charm!
Still works. A little sketchy, but it will be helpful for my European travel coming up!
Did not work with Safari, but okay using Chrome. Had to wait 48 hours but status eventually changed from Blue to GOLD.
Thanks for the tip.
Thanks Jason! That worked exactly as described. Wish I had asked for clarification sooner…
where it states “Replace the output with “4119 45xx xxxx xxxx” and hit generate.” what specifically is the 4119 supposed to replace? i keep getting “invalid card message”
@scooby – choose “Chase Manhattan Bank” and click “generate”. in the top right it will have the first four digits shown then xxxx xxxx xxxx. Replace the first four digits with 4119 and the the next two ones (that show xx) with 45 and click generate again.
Worked like a charm. Thank you.
Sweet, this still works – took effect instantly! Thanks 😉
Worked for me. But, it was not instantaneous for me. It took about 2 days for the account to update.
Can anyone kindly suggest. How can I order a card to be sent over to me now?
@scot – I think we got updated to Gold. This is what I did:
1. Login to HHonors.
2. Click on “Personal Information” on the left panel.
3. Click on “Send me a membership card” hyperlink under “USERNAME AND PASSWORD”.
4. You should see your Gold membership card.
I verified this by creating another dummy account with Blue status. Then, I login into that dummy account and clicked on “Send me a membership card” link. I saw Blue card (instead of Gold)!
Hey! Worked for me. After I completed the process and logged back in it was still on blue. Five mins later couldn’t resist so I logged in again and whoa ! It had turned to Gold. I did the same last year too and had some amazing benefits at Hilton KL, Conrad Singapore, Hilton Syd, Hilton Dxb, Waldorf Berlin. Many thanks to Jason for informing us about this offer. Hilton Glasgow next week. Time to have fun!
@raj – glad to hear !
I got the same You’re just 0 points away from Diamond Status”
Guess it means I updated to Gold?
Thanks Mel for your reply.
I did login into my account after the successful verification on Visa Infinite landing page:
https://www.hiltonhhonors.com/landingpages/VisaInfiniteGold.aspx
Current Status: Blue
BUT, i saw this under my name:
“YOUR HHONORS BENEFITS
You’re just 0 points away from Diamond Status — see the benefits you’ll receive
Learn more”
It says “0 points away from Diamond Status”. Does that mean my status has been updated to Gold?
Thanks again!
5/7. not working.
Just worked fine for me – 5/7. You need to login into your account on the Credit card entry page. That step is missing from the directions. Then kill that window and login to your account.
Hey guys,
I tried on 5/6/13 and it doesn’t seem to work anymore. Is anyone else having the same problem?
Hopefully this is not dead.
Thanks!
amazing guys!
many thanks
I was so disappointed to see that as an amex platinum this Gold status fo Hilton was gone at the end of Dec 2012
guys, you put a smile on my face :+)
PS: it did not work on the Visa infinite page from my Mac, (timed out)
I had to go on safari on windows
(hope this helps)
:+)))
worked well
5/2/13
btw do they send an actual card by mail?
@kanor – i didn’t receive one my mail
I did this last year & my status changed to Gold immediately. It was supposed to last until 3/2014. But about a month ago they dropped me back to Silver. So I tried this trick again and it does NOT work this time. Stuck on Silver.
I’ll be damned . . . . worked like a charm 5/1/13.
Took about 5 minutes for my status to change from Blue to Gold.
Ooops, put it in wrong box! haha
Worked instantly 30 Apr 2013
Amazing!
Hmm only get invalid card number… any clues… still blue
Does everyone who’s done this have points already in their accounts? Just want to make sure the points aren’t wiped out!
@jimmy – I did this over a month ago and all my points are intact. That was my experience, ymmv
Thank you!!! Followed your instructions. Worked instantly for my account. 4/23/2013.
Thank ya sir. Worked instantly. Good on ya as they say down under right? Shrimp on the barbie!
@Bill – glad to hear mate!
I finally got it to work this morning (4/21/13). The Chase Manhattan Visa number wouldn’t work, but I finally got a Visa Infinate # from China to work, and used the Australia address…
@Marcy – thanks for the report
Got it to work 4/20. Apparently wasn’t ipad compatible.
Anyone else still getting the time out error?
@cj – clear cookies and try again
Did it this morning – worked instantly!
Yay it worked, forgot to change country to Australia!!
Tried 3-4 times on 2 different accounts, doesn’t work. Verifies it etc.., but after 36+ hours still on blue??
I got the confirmation..but when I logon to Hilton again, I am still blue…how Long does it usually take ?
@Jeannette – it was instant for me, others are stating it takes a few hours. a few brave souls actually called.
Awesome- Thanks
Not working. Keep getting invalid card number message. Tried 20+ times including changing settings to allow all 3rd party cookies.
Still work instantly on 04/15/13. Thanks.
I had the same problem. Invalid card number
April 14th, 2013….I just did it and it worked. No problems whatsoever! Thanks…
Worked for me on 4/14/2013
I think they are on to this. Every cc number I generate is invalid. Bummer. Anyone want to send me a number I can use?
@kit – follow the instructions exactly as in the post – should work
thanks jason- i called hilton and they said “yeah you’re already registered for the visa infinite promo” i said i
“it’s still showing silver”
he changed it for me. I logged out and back in and im gold now!
Worked for me!
Yeah i am still silver status. I got the congratulations on the visa landing page.
Kristi- do you put in real name??
Did everything described above and got gold status on Infinity page but when logged back into Hilton, I am still blue. Timetable when it’s suppose to change? Thanks!
@john – usually instant but may take a few hours
I got this message” We experienced a temporary technical difficulty. Check your entry and try again.” I try on google chrome and internet explore. Can anyone help?
4/13 tried it / nothing changed
Ignore that last comment. I figured it out and it worked.
This is a stupid question, sorry. Do I put my real name the generator
Still working beautifully on 4/13/13
i am getting message wrong card no. ? pl help !
@j – go back and follow the instructions again. It works.
To those getting session errors: make sure your browser is allowing third party cookies. I had to change my browser’s settings to allow them, and it worked.
I’m also only getting session time out messages?
Worked instantly! THANK YOU!!
Still get just session time outs. I tried all browsers…any suggestions?
@jeanette – try back, people are still reporting it working this morning
It worked for me!
Just tried it and worked like a charm – 4/12/13. Thanks!
Awesome! Thank you for sharing 🙂
@lisa – you’re welcome
This worked instantly for me and my wife…thanks for the clear step by step instructions….couldn’t be any easier to get Gold!
It works for me! I checked next day, and saw that my status is gold.
This work around states it only works if you have a Visa Infinite card though. I have a free Hilton AE card and that won’t work – correct?
@matt – correct AE won’t work
Thank you, I also did this last year and was just downgraded to Silver ,but I was able to do it today and it worked instantly.4/6/13
Brilliant! thanks
Check this morning 4/6/13 – saw that my status is gold – it worked!!
thank you ,i have register it and received a congratulation shown. but i still log in my account see the status is blue. i wanto to know what is the reason,if i should wait for a few days?? thankyou
@Draper – Just did this 4/5/13 – status still saying silver – will give it a few hours and see what happens – hope it goes through!! heading to Rome this summer and the perks from gold status will come in very handy!!!
Thanks! I did this last year and was just downgraded to Silver but I was able to do it again and it worked instantly!
worked instantly 4/4/13
tried today and it worked. But I don’t see free breakfast at benefit page, did anyone get free breakfast with gold status? thanks!
I did this trick in 2012, when only the first 6 digits of the Visa Infinite was required. Am Gold until March 2014.
Surprised this trick has lasted so long. Not as valuable anymore since the Hilton devaluation. Not really much incentive to stay at Hiltons anymore.
I did it a year ago and am still Gold. Over the last two weeks, I got upgraded on a points stay to a suite and also on the return trip where I was paying, got upgraded to suite.
I thought my status would change back to blue this year, but it has not.
@Maza: Yup, tried it today and it worked. I’m guessing @Mjc111’s post is related to today’s date.
Has anyone else tried this today Monday, 4/1 and had any issues? @Mjc111’s post is scary and I don’t want to jeopardize my HHonor points.
It’s a beautiful thing. One of the top 2013 blogger posts (so far).
My son just did this on my account today and now Hilton deleted all of my points! Not good!
True…95% of my balance is from credit card signups anyway (Hilton+BoH+BoA) so none of those points have been attained by using the gold status, so I’ll stop worrying.
🙂
Thanks.
Amazing, it took all of 5 minutes, thank you.
CB
I don’t know what HHonors is doing…I got Gold status via something like this in 2011 and I’m still Gold…
Im gold now, took a few hours for some reason to update but it worked, thanks sooo much!
Wow Jason ! This is sweet stuff. Like Daper, I did the same stuff earlier today, and it didn’t show up the upgraded status (I was Blue earlier). But I checked just now (about 8 hours after what I thought was a failed attempt), and it shows the status as GOLD.
But, a question – It says “Based on nights earned this year, your 2014 tier would be Blue.” Does this mean that in 2013, I will be Gold, and the status will revert to Blue if I didn’t meet the nights required for retaining Gold status? Thanks again !
@Aniruddh – yes, you would get status throughout 2013 and would be Blue in 2014 if you don’t requalify.
Worked fine for my wife’s account. I’m already Gold through the Citi Hilton Reserve Visa. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Did it all, site said congrats but logged to my hhonors account and status is still silver. Tried again and got error that i am allready enrrolled. But statud did not change. Left address with australia little longer just in case. Anything I missed?
@daper – sounds like you did everything right
It amazes me that so many people do this trick, which is a lie, knowing that it is easily exposed. What would your reasoning be if Hilton called you and asked about an address you had for less than 5 minutes? And if you then forfeited all of your Hhonors points would you then have the nerve to complain? No sympathy here if you’re caught.
What about the one we got/did it last year, when will it end? Mine still show Gold status but wonder if I should repeat again now just to extend it.
Lol. Forgot to include the question, it being- What do I do now? I know not to call Hilton (obviously) but I wouldn’t want to be penalized in the future either.
@Jay – hey Jay, why do anything? Sometimes hotels have targeted extensions. I’m an SPG Platinum though I never stayed at the chain (shrugs shoulders)
Think I may have been the one who created one of the threads on FW! lol. This has come full circle.
…
I have a question that nobody (so far) has been able to answer. When I did this trick in early May last year, I got Gold till about April,2013. Now, about a week ago, I received a new card in the mail saying that my Gold status has been extended to May,2014.
…Say what?!?
Pleasantly surprised but also WARY that this’ll come back to bite me in the ass somehow.
I kept getting session time out errors in Safari. Tried it in Crome and it worked like a charm. Thanks!!
Session time out errors
How long is status good for? Just this year or through 2014?
@Dale – it looks like through this year.
Based on nights earned this year, your 2014 tier would be Blue.
To maintain Gold status in 2014, you need 40 more nights.
Ha! Awesome.
Beautiful many thanks !!!
How long is it good for? Not the offer, the gold status. Thanks
Works
Thanks for the guide.. just did it
can you change your address back to US after you have gold status and retain the gold status?
@mike – yes
I keep session time out errors or application unavailable at this time messages. Anyone else?
Is it still until end of may? Traveling in june
You have to register by the end of May. It doesn’t expire then so you should be fine.