Master List: Extensions On Hotel Free Night Certs, Elite Status & Points Expiration
Each major hotel chain is providing various types of extensions on hotel free night certs, elite status, awards, point expiration, etc. In this resource, we want to give you all of the relevant information on what the brands are doing. We will cover free night awards, elite status, and points expiration changes and extensions. Each will be addressed brand by brand.
Hilton
Hilton published its first policy regarding changes amid the COVID-19 outbreak back on March 12. A lot has changed since then. They increased that to allow for flexible changes to bookings, even those sold as ‘no refunds’ or ‘advanced purchase, no change’ rates. Here’s where things stand with Hilton brand hotels.
Elite Status
Hilton was the first hotel chain to extend elite status. On March 25, 2020, they published new policies here. Anyone with status was set to expire in March 2020 had their status extended to March 2021. Anyone who earned status for the 2020 year will hold it through March 2022. This applies to all levels of Hilton Honors status.
Free Night Certificate
Your hotel free night certificate from Hilton will not expire on the original date in 2020. All free night awards have been extended. The new expiry date is August 31, 2021 for any awards previously issued. Free night awards you will receive later this year (May 1-December 31, 2020) will be valid for 24 months. Additionally, free night certificates that were for “weekend nights” are now valid for any night. Lastly, if you have resort credits from the Hilton Aspire Card, you can apply these to US restaurant purchases, including takeout and delivery, from June 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020. See more info here.
Point Expiration
No points will expire in 2020. Any points set to expire in 2020 will now expire after January 1, 2020. Expect them to make future announcements on this, because many people still won’t be traveling by that date.
Hyatt
World of Hyatt, the loyalty program of the Hyatt hotel chain, has also extended hotel free night awards, their elite status expiration dates, and extended points for members. Their policy was updated April 3, 2020 and is found here. It’s also important to remember that Hyatt had planned changes to award categories for numerous hotels, but they’ve delayed this in the wake of COVID-19 upending the world of travel.
Elite Status
Whatever status you held on March 31, 2020 will be extended. This applies regardless of status level. Your status level will be extended to February 28, 2022. These should be live in your World of Hyatt account by now.
Free Night Certificates
Along with your hotel free night awards, Hyatt is extending Suite Upgrade and Club Lounge Access awards previously expiring in 2020. They’re also careful to note “This includes existing awards and awards that may be earned throughout this year with a 2020 expiration date.” They are extending the awards automatically to now expire December 31, 2021.
Point Expiration
Hyatt points do not expire. The only way to lose points is if your account is inactive for over 24 months. At that point, points are forfeited. Hyatt is suspending these account forfeitures and losses of points for all of 2020.
IHG
IHG and its chain of hotels also extended benefits, since no one is traveling. Their policies are found here. Rather than only status, IHG also reduced the effort required to qualify for awards and elite status for next year.
Elite Status
IHG extended status levels for all members. Your current status is now valid through January 2022. On top of that, they’ve also reduced the requirements for earning status this year, in case you want to qualify for a higher level of status with IHG Rewards Club next year.
Free Night Certificates
IHG divided their hotel free night certificates into 2 groups. Free night awards set to expire before March 31, 2020 were extended to December 31, 2020. Free night awards received after that will expire after 18 months from the date received.
Additionally, those at the highest level (Ambassador) will receive a 3-month extension on weekend night awards. IHG is contacting these members directly.
Point Expiration
Points only expire for those on the lowest tier: Club. Points expire after 12 months of inactivity, but IHG has paused all expirations in 2020.
Marriott
Marriott hotel group and its Bonvoy awards program also made extensions. Their policies are listed here. This comes on the heels of Bonvoy also recently increasing the number of elite night credits you can earn each year from credit cards.
Elite Status
Bonvoy status earned in 2019 and valid for 2020 will be extended. Rather than ending in January 2021 as planned, your status level will be extended automatically, expiring in February 2021.
Free Night Certificates
Any hotel free night awards and / or suite night awards you hold will be extended. Free night awards set to expire in 2020 now are valid through January 31, 2021. Suite night awards for Platinum and Titanium Elite members are now valid until December 31, 2021.
Point Expiration
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity. However, no points will expire until February 2021. This should give people time to actually use their points.
Final Thoughts On Hotel Free Night Certs, Elite Status & Points Expiration
It’s good to see hotel chains making moves that are friendly to customers. No one is traveling right now. Letting points, hotel free night awards, and other perks expire during this time would be a bad move on their part. These moves will earn them goodwill with their customers going forward. People will remember how businesses treat them during this pandemic. Did your brand throw us under the bus, or did you make customer-friendly moves, so we want to use your services again in the future when travel is possible? Right now, these hotel chains are doing the right thing. Customers should remember that.
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[…] It is getting ridiculous to keep track of all the changes lately! Master List: Extensions On Hotel Free Night Certs, Elite Status & Points Expiration. […]
Marriott seems to be the lone standout for most ungenerous award. Extending mere months to January 31, 2021 is just plan stingy.
yes, it does seem to be hedged on looking good while hoping they still go unused.
Shockingly, Agoda didn’t automatically extend Agoda Cash. Mine was deposited into my account in March and expired a month later at the start of borders closing. Has anyone else had an issue with Agoda?
I’ve never used Agoda, sorry. If you learn anything new, I’m interested, since I want to know who is and isn’t friendly to customers right now.
Any information regarding extensions on Choice Hotels or Wyndham Rewards points?
Good post.
I am here for the back link 🙂
Any idea on the expiration date extension for Radisson Hotels’ nightly certificates for $10K credit card spend?
Matt – “In addition, e-certs earned using the Radisson Reward Visa card, that are scheduled to expire between March 1 and July 31, 2020, can be redeemed through June 30, 2021.” The details are here – https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/covid-19 Sounds like you’ve got more than a year from now to use those certs.
Regarding Hyatt club lounge certificate, is it going to be extended?
Yes, as mentioned in the article: “Along with your hotel free night awards, Hyatt is extending Suite Upgrade and Club Lounge Access awards previously expiring in 2020”.
Just emailed them yesterday, and I was told that all suite and club upgrades will be extended till 12/21.
@ Ryan
I just checked my account today ( 5/7/2020) , it said club access upgrade to expire 2/28/2021. Am I missing something? Please guide me on this, much thanks.
All I can tell you is what’s posted here – https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/info/coronavirus-statement?icamp=woh_wohmemberupdates_slot_2_en_Andaz-Capital-Gate-Abu-Dhabi-P159-Andaz-Lounge-Lifestyle_apr20
If yours looks different, I’d contact them on twitter.
I wish somebody could get National Car to extend their rent to get one free coupon. Which is due to expire June 12. They have a very too bad so sad attitude which does nothing to retain my business. Funny thing is one of the coupons I earned was late February right before we went shelter in place. Not sure how I’m supposed to use them on day 53 of shelter in place. But, national doesn’t seem to care. I wish a person with power could make them understand they’re going to lose future business over something that could easily be extended.
Yep, people will remember how companies treat customers during this time (at least I hope they do).
I honestly am shocked they did this. Enterprise is extending it. I earned a certificate late February and could have rented a lot cheaper from another car rental. But, when I valued the ability to do one way rental with the certificate I chose to do National. There is no way I am going to forget this when it comes to booking future travel. Plus my employer allows us to choose who we use as long as the rates are comparable. So whereas I used to choose National for the perks -that will not be happening any more. If I was an executive of National I would be embarrassed. They will not be able to walk this back. Hopefully others will add their comments to Twitter. They seem to care about their tweets clearly more than providing customer service.
Hey Devin. Not sure how much this will help, but here you go. 🙂 https://milestomemories.com/national-car-rental-free-rental-day-extension