Choice Privileges Status Match: Elite Perks The Easy Way

Choice Privileges is a loyalty program that I don’t talk about all that much, given that the brand doesn’t have that many aspirational properties. That being said, Choice Privileges has a big global footprint, and in some parts of the world (particularly Northern Europe), the program has some of the more compelling properties.

In this post, I’d like to take a look at Choice Privileges’ status match program, which is one of the more readily available ones out there. While not quite as generous as the Best Western Rewards status match, Choice Privileges also has stronger elite perks.

Choice Privileges status match basics

Choice Privileges offers a status match program, whereby the program will match your comparable status with another program, with no requirement to actually stay (so it’s a true status match, and not a status challenge). As you’d expect, there are some terms to be aware of:

• Choice Privileges status matches are once in a lifetime
• Choice Privileges will match as high as Platinum status, so Diamond status can’t be earned with a match
• Choice Privileges will only status match members in the United States, Canada, and Europe
• Choice Privileges status matches are valid through the end of the year if you match between January and June, while they’re valid through the end of the following year if you match between July and December

So if you want to get as much value out of a Choice Privileges status match as possible, there’s merit to matching in July or later, so that status is valid for 18 months.

How to request a Choice Privileges status match

How do you request a Choice Privileges status match? You’ll want to send an email to one of the following addresses:

• For members in the United States and Canada, email Status_Match@choicehotels.com
• For members in Europe, email Status_Match_EU@choicehotels.com

In the email, you’ll need to provide your name, Choice Privileges number, and at least one of the following:

• A copy or photo of your elite membership card with another hotel loyalty program, showing the expiration date
• A copy or screenshot of your current account statement with another hotel loyalty program

As you can tell, there’s no need to actually prove how you earned that status, so hotel elite status earned through credit cards could even be matched. Note that it can take up to 30 business days for a status match to be processed, so if you have any upcoming stays planned, you’ll want to request a match well in advance.

Choice Privileges elite perks & benefits

Choice Privileges has three elite tiers — Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. So, what are the standard requirements to earn this status, and what kind of perks should you expect?

• Gold status ordinarily requires 10 qualifying nights per calendar year, and offers 10% bonus points, room upgrades subject to availability, a welcome gift of bonus points or a drink and snack, early check-in and late check-out subject to availability, and reserved parking
• Platinum status ordinarily requires 20 qualifying nights per calendar year, and incrementally offers 25% bonus points
• Diamond status ordinarily requires 40 qualifying nights per calendar year, and incrementally offers 50% bonus points, and complimentary breakfast (however, as mentioned above, Diamond isn’t available through a status match)

So while I wouldn’t say that Choice Privileges elite status is the most exciting thing in the world, the perks are actually reasonably decent. It’s too bad Diamond status matches aren’t possible, but then again, given the straightforward status match, this is still a good opportunity.

Note that there are some restrictions when it comes to the upgrade benefit:

• Elite upgrades are offered at hotels under the Cambria and Ascend Hotel Collection brands worldwide, and under the Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson Collection, Radisson Individuals, and Park Plaza brands, in North America, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean
• Upgrades are determined by each hotel at check-in, are subject to availability and only apply to the member’s personal room
• Upgraded room types may include suites, recently renovated rooms, rooms on a higher/lower floor, and/or rooms with favored views
• Participation may vary and hotels are not required to upgrade Members’ rooms to any specific type

Bottom line

Choice Privileges has one of the more readily available hotel status matches out there. On a one-time basis, status can be matched up to Platinum, and status is valid either through the end of the same year, or the following year. If you have any Choice Privileges stays planned, there could be merit to taking advantage of this offer.

What do you make of Choice Privileges’ status match promotion?