SPG to Virgin Atlantic to Hilton …. an interesting opportunity

Because most frequent traveller currencies can either be converted into a different one, or can be earned by converting something else, there are always odd opportunities that get thrown up. Sometimes you can do a conversion which you logically would not expect to be possible. This is one of them.

In general, a golden rule of airline programmes is that you cannot convert OUT of them. Pretty much every hotel and car hire programme lets you convert INTO airline miles, but very rarely the other way.

The main exception is Hilton HHonors. There were once quite a few airlines that let you convert into Hilton miles, but they have gradually been chipped away. American quietly stopped publicising its link last year (although for a time you could still do the conversion if you knew the link, and perhaps you still can). Virgin is, I think, the last major airline offering a conversion into Hilton.

The rate isn’t bad either. Take a look here. Virgin miles can be converted into Hilton points at the rate of 1:2 (minimum 10,000 Virgin, and in multiples of 5,000). The most expensive Hilton redemptions are generally 50,000 points – that will get you any Conrad or Hilton, plus most Waldorf-Astoria properties outside of peak season.

100,000 Virgin miles would get you an Upper Class return to the US West Coast. However, you would be paying £500+ in taxes and charges for that redemption. For a lot of people, converting those into 200,000 Hilton Hhonors points and getting 4 nights worth, say, £1200 in the new Conrad New York hotel or one of the Conrad resort properties would be a lot more attractive.

Now ….

When it comes to converting hotel points INTO airline miles, the most attractive rate is offered by Starwood Preferred Guest. The usual transfer rate is 1:1, but you get a 25% bonus if you convert 20,000.

You can therefore do the following transfer:

• 20,000 Starwood Preferred Guest to 25,000 Virgin Flying Club
• 25,000 Virgin Flying Club to 50,000 Hilton HHonors

In many cases, you would actually gain value by doing this! A top end Starwood Category 7 redemption runs to 30,000 – 35,000 SPG points per night. However, you only need to convert 20,000 SPG points to Hilton via Virgin to have enough for any property in the Hilton group portfolio bar a handful.

The main reason to do this would be if you were travelling somewhere with minimal SPG coverage but a decent Hilton option. It is an interesting trick worth keeping in your mental arsenal of redemption opportunities.

(PS. For completeness, I should add that Virgin also lets you convert miles into Priority Club points for Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental redemptions. The rate is poor, though at 1:1. You would need to convert 50,000 Virgin miles to get 1 night at an InterContinental, compared to just 25,000 miles for a night at an equivalent Conrad.)