Hilton Honors Extends Elite Status Again!

Are they extending free night certificates earned in 2020/2021? Is it even worth it to keep the Aspire card at this point?

Wow, I'm surprised by this.

Ben, what's your guess as to the reason here? Most likely explanation is that the recovery hasn't been as strong as hoped/expected, but it's also possible that they are playing offense.

Have you heard anything from WoH about a Q4 promo?

@ Chris -- Those earned in 2020 and 2021 already have extended expirations, though as of now those issued in 2022 won't get an extended expiration. Personally I've found the Hilton Aspire Card to still be hugely valuable, and I've gotten so much value out of the perks in the past year. That being said, I realize that's not the case for everyone.

@ CSR 2.0 -- Great question. There's no doubt that business travel is nowhere close to having recovered, so I'm guessing Hilton Honors doesn't want to lose those business travelers who have seen a huge reduction in travel. That being said, fully extending status is a double-edged sword, since it also largely eliminates the incentive to be engaged in the program for the time being.

I haven't heard anything about a Q4 promo from World of Hyatt, though I'm curious as well, with the current promo ending today. I have to imagine we'll see something, as virtually every other hotel group has a promotion for the fall.

I applaud Hilton for being proactive in this. Interesting I was just about to call as I am sitting on 750K points with no plans to travel in the foreseeable future. I would have liked to see the points expiration extended as far out as status. For me I am not sure I feel comfortable traveling international until 2023. I have plans for 2023. I don't wish to sound like "debbie downer" but these covid mutations are getting a little scary.

Alarming that reduced business travel and restricted leisure international travel is becoming the norm. I spend 20+ nights a year at hotels and am getting status. Glad I left Wyndham for Hilton. Doubletree > La Quinta. Hilton Honors is great.

I think adding the milestone bonuses as incentive for members to stay engaged is the right move.

Hotel programs need to offer better bonuses and promos beyond just extending status. There were several nights I stayed locally this past year just to earn point bonuses.

Let's hope Marriott follows Hilton's lead.

I mean, in many parts of the world, it has not been easy to travel through this year. And if people lose their status this year, not only will they not have an incentive to book with their former chain in the future, but additionally many would surely be incentivised to move to another chain, having been annoyed that their chain didn't recognise long term loyalty.

This why Hilton is the best

What would really help me is extending the free night certificates that are expiring on January 3, 2022!

Lucky,
Do you think Marriott might extend their free nights? I have 3 nights that I haven't been able to use because we still are not traveling due to my high risk kid who is still not eligible for the vaccine. They all expire in Jan 2022.

I only stay at Hilton's a few nights a year... but did get a credit card in 2018 that gave me Gold status (despite ditching the card in 2019). So I'll now have had Gold status for basically five years despite not qualifying for Gold even if I accumulated all the nights I have and will stay! It's an amazing time. Now I just need Hyatt to roll over!

This is the perfect opportunity for Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott or Radisson to say, "Come stay with us and if you do, you'll get this and that." Ignoring the fact that Hilton gives away top-level elite status through its co-branded credit card, there is no point staying with Hilton until the third or fourth quarters of 2022. Someone needs to incentivize customers to actually stay with them by improving benefits. If David Flueck is worth anything he would find a way to actually improve tangible titanium and ambassador benefits. But there real opportunity is a weaker brand like Choice or IHG.

Far better than Hertz, who just cancelled all my points despite two requests to extend them to 12/31/2021 like they so to some elites.

Not a huge loss, just a one day rental, which is why I did not use up the award for a local rental.

Makes sense. While North America and Europe has rebounded travel wise, the Asia Pacific region is just slowly starting to open up. Many travelers are still restricted on where they can go in this region.

Will Hilton offer reduced status match again I wonder? 2021 was 9 nights in 90 days for Diamond, assuming the same pro rata it would be 12 or 13 in 2022?

So do all these rolled over years count towards lifetime diamond qualification (10 years holding diamond)?

I wouldn't be surprised if other hotel brands announce some concessions prior to year end. I doubt the business traveler is going to be hitting the road in 2022 like they did in 2019. Most companies have shifted, road warriors may be like the dinosaur. Less expense on companies means more in the budgets for "C" suite compensation.

While business travel won't completely go away, instead of traveling 100% I wouldn't be surprised if it's curtailed significantly to start. A once monthly trip may become once quarterly instead with Zoom or MS Teams (cough, cough) in between. Consulting practices have shifted also through remote work and are proving just as effective if not more.

Bosses may want bodies on-site, but the work environment for some jobs has dramatically changed.

@Ghostrider - go buy some Hilton points, that'll extend your expiration date for sure! I've done it every year for the past 5 years.

Someone who has continued to travel will earn tier status anyway.

Someone who holds "some" credit card will be granted tier status anyway.

It seems all of these hotels are fighting over the less frequent traveling "swing vote" (so to speak).

It's a race to the bottom . . . and the joke is that tier benefits will continue to be devalued or denied.

Wise up everybody.

Yeah I have this but Diamond

Aspire in 2019, downgraded in 2020
Diamond for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, (part of 2023)... lol
Hopefully that's 4-5 years of diamond status that counts towards lifetime.

I recently called Radisson Rewards. The agent apologised to me that there are no plans to extend current status, so eg I will be demoted down to Silver. I cannot see many Golds remaining though, as travel has also been very affected the first half of this year.

They may be extending the statues, but the perks of these statues haven't been extended. For example, throughout the UK, most Hilton's have their lounge closed temporarily, or for good. So that perk is gone.
Room service? Gone. Cookies at DoubleTree? only at check in now apparently, or maybe the receptionist was just stingy.
Some hotels and their breakfast selection is ... lacking.
Not doing a great job to want me to make the most out of these reduced eligibility requirements, if I am honest.

DM
I am thankful! Thank you Hilton for the extension. It's much appreciated!