Club Carlson Now Offers Free and Easy Elite Status Matches

I receive compensation for content and many links on this blog. Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Barclays and Capital One. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. I do not write about all credit cards that are available -- instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Terms apply to the offers and benefits listed on this page.


Club Carlson has a formal status match program and it’s super easy to get them to match your status.

Here’s how to get them to match your status:

Here’s what we’ll need from you to process this request*:

Send us your full name
Club Carlson membership number
Name of other frequent guest program
Membership number and tier level of the other frequent guest program
Copy of your membership card from the other frequent guest program (PDF or JPG files only)

Submit by email to statusmatch@carlsonrezidor.com (please include “Status Match” in the subject line)

A response is promised within a week.

Note that they aren’t asking for an online statement to even demonstrate stay activity in the program with which you have status. So presumably free hotel status, such as Starwood Gold or Hilton Gold that comes with the American Express Platinum card or Hilton Gold via the Citi Hilton Reserve Card would suffice provided you have a membership card to send them (although even without a card I’d still suggest submitting a screen shot showing your status, and mentioning the program didn’t send you your membership card — which could be a frustrating reason you’d want to switch).

Club Carlson is offering to upgrade status to their first two elite tiers, but not to their top tier Concierge level. Gold status of course also comes with their co-brand credit card for US members.

One thing I really like about Club Carlson elite status is the ability to transfer points for free to any member without need for them to be a family member or living at the same address.

I’m not a huge fan of Club Carlson properties generally, especially in the U.S. But there are places where they’re the best option, and the program itself offers really strong value if the hotels can work for you. They also have a strong double dip program.

The chain is in the process of being sold to the parent of Hainan Airlines but they’re expected to remain independent.

(HT: Live from a Lounge)

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Editorial note: any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Comments made in response to this post are not provided or commissioned nor have they been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any bank. It is not the responsibility of advertisers Citibank, Chase, American Express, Barclays, Capital One or any other advertiser to ensure that questions are answered, either. Terms and limitations apply to all offers.

Comments

  1. Gold is absolutely worthless. Never get upgraded (even asking), always told sold out but rooms are available for sale.

    Customer service at Radisson Blu hotels is atrocious, have to tweet at Club Carlson all the time, no welcome gifts, Radisson Blu Oslo room was only prepared for 1 person. General attitude of staff is that you’re bothering them.

    Waste of time.

  2. We stayed at a Carlson Blu in Brussels and it was terrible. We’ve never received such poor service at any hotel anywhere, and we’ve stayed at some crap holes in the US. Now, compared to the Carlson Mayfair in London it was a completely opposite experience. Everyone there was wonderful, and we were upgraded to a wonderful corner room. Carlson died for us when they eliminated their 2for1 award promo for CC holders. And the increase of all of their London, Paris, and Amsterdam properties was the nail in the coffin.

  3. I get upgraded fairly often in Europe. Properties vary in quality, but quite a few of them are really high standard. They still have good deals in EMEA if you look for them. I think they are a good chain to have as part of “portfolio”.

  4. They want a copy of a real card. I send the Hilton Diamond card they let you download from your account. They replied that need a real card with my name on it, or screen shots of the actual account information.

  5. Hilton Diamond = CC Gold

    Was upgraded quick and easy. Then while checking my account I noticed I had some CC miles that had just expired, so I replied to the status match email and asked if they could do anything about my expired miles, and they instantly reinstated them for me. They also sent me a copy of the terms that explains they expire after two years of no activity.

  6. Card???? I am Delta gold, never got a card. Hilton gold, never got a card. IHG platinum, never got a card. Marriott gold, never got a card. None of my status was from stays, do you not get cards when you get it from credit cards?

Comments are closed.