I’ve increasingly been taking an interest in the Accor Live Limitless (ALL) program. While Accor isn’t the most US-centric brand, it does have a huge global footprint, with over 5,000 properties across more than 50 brands.
I recently did an Accor Platinum status match (thanks to a Bilt promotion), so I’m starting to learn the details of the program. In this post, I want to go over the details of the Accor elite program, including how you can earn elite status, and what the perks are.
While my firsthand experience is limited so far, at first glance, I can’t say that I’m terribly impressed by the elite perks, and they don’t seem to be particularly competitive, on balance. But that’s not to say that the program isn’t worth participating in.
How to earn Accor Live Limitless elite status
Accor Live Limitless has four elite tiers — Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The three entry level elite tiers can be earned through completing a certain number of nights or through spending, while the top elite tier can only be reached through spending.
Here are the annual elite requirements to earn Accor status:
- Accor Silver requires 10 elite nights or 2,000 status points, equivalent to €800 of hotel spending*
- Accor Gold requires 30 elite nights or 7,000 status points, equivalent to €2,800 of hotel spending*
- Accor Platinum requires 60 elite nights or 14,000 status points, equivalent to €5,600 of spending*
- Accor Diamond status requires 26,400 status points, equivalent to €10,400 of spending*
Now, you’ll see the asterisk above next to the amount of hotel spending required to earn a certain number of status points. That’s because stays at different brands earn status points at different rates. At a vast majority of properties, you earn 25 status points per €10 spent, meaning you’re earning 2.5 status points per €1 spent. However, at some limited service brands, you may earn status points at significantly slower rates.
See the below chart (and check the “status points” section at the bottom). The chart otherwise talks about the rate at which you earn points based on your elite tier, and I’ve written separately about how to redeem Accor Live Limitless points, which is super straightforward.
Coming from the United States, we’re of course so used to just being able to earn hotel elite status with credit cards, so earning status with Accor actually takes some effort.
Accor Live Limitless elite benefits by tier
What kind of elite perks should Accor Live Limitless members expect? While you can find a full breakdown of elite perks on this page, let me summarize what I’d consider to be the most valuable perks.
For the most part, I consider the perks to be quite weak, in terms of the upgrade benefit, breakfast benefit, late check-out benefit, etc. Note that all Accor Live Limitless members receive free Wi-Fi and health club and sports facilities access, so those are the benefits just for registering (in addition to being able to accrue points).
Accor Live Limitless Silver perks
Accor’s entry level Silver status offers several incremental perks:
- A 24% bonus on rewards points; so rather than earning 25 points per €10 spent at most brands, you earn 31 points
- Priority hotel check-in, at the desk specifically for elite members
- A complimentary welcome drink; this is a digital voucher delivered through Accor’s app
- Late check-out up to 2PM, subject to availability
The way I see it, the real perks of Silver status are earning more points, plus a welcome drink. I wouldn’t put much weight on the other perks.
Accor Live Limitless Gold perks
Accor’s Gold status offers several incremental perks above Silver status:
- A 48% bonus on rewards points; so rather than earning 25 points per €10 spent at most brands, you earn 37 points
- Upgrade to the next room category, subject to availability
- Early check-in (time not specific) or late check-out (up to 2PM), subject to availability
- Guaranteed room availability, up to three days before arrival
- A welcome amenity, except at BreakFree, ibis, ibis budget, ibis Styles, Adagio Access, greet, and JO&JOE
I’d consider the main benefits of Gold status to be the additional bonus points, plus the one category room upgrade. A welcome amenity is also nice, but I wouldn’t expect much from that.
Accor Live Limitless Platinum perks
Accor’s Platinum status offers several incremental perks above Gold status:
- A 76% bonus on rewards points; so rather than earning 25 points per €10 spent at most brands, you earn 44 points
- Two Suite Night Upgrades, each of which can be used to confirm a one-night upgrade at the time of booking; you receive an extra Suite Night Upgrade for every 4,000 status points earned
- Club lounge access, with the exception of Fairmont Gold Lounges; find hotels with eligible lounges here
- Complimentary breakfast, but only at properties in Asia-Pacific; find hotels that offer breakfast here
- Premium customer care, in the form of access to a dedicated phone line
The confirmed Suite Night Upgrades are interesting, and I’ll discuss those in more detail in a separate post. I also appreciate the lounge access, though keep in mind that Fairmonts are excluded, and many properties don’t have lounges.
Other than that, I’d consider the incremental elite perks here to be quite weak, compared to what the competition offers. The upgrade benefit is otherwise the same as it is with Gold, there’s no guaranteed late check-out, and it’s disappointing that breakfast is only free in Asia-Pacific.
Accor Live Limitless Diamond perks
Accor’s top tier Diamond status offers several incremental perks above Platinum status:
- A 100% bonus on rewards points; so rather than earning 25 points per €10 spent at most brands, you earn 50 points
- Beyond the Platinum club lounge access perk, Diamond members also receive access to Fairmont Gold club lounges
- Beyond the Platinum breakfast benefit of complimentary breakfast in Asia-Pacific, Diamond members receive complimentary breakfast worldwide for weekend stays
- Up to €100 in dining and spa rewards annually, in the form of 10 rewards worth €10 each, which can be used while on property
- The ability to gift Gold status to another member
The additional bonus points, Fairmont Gold lounge access, and weekend breakfast globally, are all nice incremental perks. However, you still don’t get complimentary breakfast on weekdays in most of the world, and you’re still limited to a one category upgrade, if not using a Suite Night Upgrade.
Bottom line
Accor Live Limitless is a program that doesn’t get that much attention in the United States, so I’m having fun taking a closer look at it, now that I have Platinum status. At least on paper, it’s not the most lucrative hotel elite program out there.
On the plus side, I like the confirmed suite upgrades, and it’s nice that Diamond members get access to all club lounges. However, otherwise the program seems to be lacking a bit — there’s no guaranteed late check-out, no upgrade benefit beyond one category (and the limited confirmed upgrades you can earn), and the breakfast benefit is also quite weak.
What do you make of Accor Live Limitless’ elite perks? To those who are Accor regulars, what has your experience been?
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