Marriott Bonvoy has just become the latest program to announce plans to extend elite status, and more. Let’s take a look at the details.
In this post:
Marriott Bonvoy extends elite status by a year
Marriott Bonvoy will be extending status earned in 2019 by 12 months. Rather than your current status expiring in February 2021, it will now instead expire in February 2022. This applies at all elite levels — Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador. The extended year of status will count towards lifetime status in the Bonvoy program.
While Marriott is extending everyone’s status by 12 months, you’ll still have to pass 50 elite nights or 75 elite nights to be able to select Choice Benefits. That’s because those are tied to elite nights, rather than to status as such.
For those who don’t yet have status but who want to earn it this year, Marriott hasn’t yet announced specifics of how they’ll lower requirements. That’s fair enough, since I think it makes sense for programs to wait and see how the situation evolves.
However, Marriott does acknowledge that they “will continue to monitor and evolve program requirements as necessary.”
Marriott is extending elite status by 12 months
Marriott Bonvoy extending suite night awards
Marriott elite members can select Choice Benefits when they pass 50 elite nights and 75 elite nights in a calendar year. The most popular Choice Benefits are Suite Night Awards (SNAs), and those usually expire at the end of the year.
Marriott will be extending all SNAs with expirations of December 31, 2020, by 12 months. That means you’ll have until the end of 2021 to use existing SNAs.
Marriott suite night awards are also being extended
Marriott Bonvoy extending free night awards
Marriott Bonvoy members with any active free night awards (whether part of a credit card benefit, annual Choice Benefit, promotion, or Travel Package), expiring in 2020, will have the expiration of those extended to January 31, 2021.
So while it’s not a full 12 month extension, it’s not an insignificant extension for many members either.
Free night awards are being extended by 12 months
Marriott Bonvoy pausing points expiration
Marriott Bonvoy is pausing the expiration of points until February 2021. At that point, points will only expire if your account has been inactive for at least 24 months.
Marriott is pausing points expiration
Marriott’s flexible cancellation policy
Marriott is also continuing their practice of having a flexible cancellation policy:
- Guests with existing reservations for any future arrival date, including pre-paid rates, are allowed full changes or cancellations at least 24 hours prior to arrival through June 30, 2020
- Guests with new reservations for any future arrival date, including pre-paid rates, are allowed full changes or cancellations at least 24 hours prior to arrival through June 30, 2020
Marriott continues to have a flexible cancellation policy
$10 million worth of stays for healthcare workers
Marriott, American Express, and Chase, are partnering to provide $10 million worth of hotel stays for healthcare professionals leading the fight against COVID-19 in the United States.
The initiative is called “Rooms for Responders,” and will provide free rooms in some of the areas most impacted, including New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington, and Newark.
Bottom line
It’s good to see these initiatives from Marriott. For Marriott Bonvoy members, you can expect your current status will be extended by 12 months, and the same is true for any SNAs that are currently issued.
In fairness, Marriott is following in the footsteps of both Hilton and Hyatt, which have also extended elite status by a year.
Are you happy to see Marriott extending elite status by a year?
Marriott Bonvoy is the best
Very generous by them
Alittle confused on night stays I am platinum. Do I still need to stay 50 nights in 2020 and 50 nights in 2021 to maintain platinum? or just 50 nights in 2021 to maintain status by Feb 2022?
Essentially no requirements in 2020 but need to hit requirements in 2021 to keep status in 2022?
Do free stays granted to healthcare workers count towards your annual night count?
All this talk of extensions but still the Marriott customer support team (poorly named) refuses to acknowledge lifetime platinum status earned in the SPG program and GRANDFATHERED into Marriott program. It isn't rocket science guys. 500 nights and 10 years at platinum is GRANDFATHERED. Who you counted platinum 10 years or 20 years ago is irrelevant as the platinum status was earned in SPG. Sure hope CEO Arne reads this and orders his incompetent staff...
All this talk of extensions but still the Marriott customer support team (poorly named) refuses to acknowledge lifetime platinum status earned in the SPG program and GRANDFATHERED into Marriott program. It isn't rocket science guys. 500 nights and 10 years at platinum is GRANDFATHERED. Who you counted platinum 10 years or 20 years ago is irrelevant as the platinum status was earned in SPG. Sure hope CEO Arne reads this and orders his incompetent staff to stop nickel and diming his best customers. Hilton and Hyatt are enjoying the business they have driven away!
A free year of ambassador status is just amazing. Marriott does an amazing job to treat their top elites with top tier suite upgrades. Others like hilton and hyatt only offer basic suite upgrade most of the times.
I hope Singapore Airlines extends expiring miles. I have 400K expiring and was planning on spending and I don't want to pay the extension fee, but may have no choice. Anyway paid extension on the last 2 months for other expiring miles. I'm happy with Marriott. I'm almost at my 50 nights with staycations.
@Ben (Lucky) here's one for you - any idea if they're extending the expiration of (already once extended) legacy nights and flights certificates? I have one expiring in July that isn't looking terribly useful right now.
Due to illness, last year I was unable to travel much. So just days ago, they changed my Titanium status to Gold.
This year, from January to second week of February, I earned 20 nights already. Any trip since middle of February has now been cancelled so far.
Wrote to them whether there is a chance to at least be downgraded only one level (to Platinum), since after the crisis is over, I...
Due to illness, last year I was unable to travel much. So just days ago, they changed my Titanium status to Gold.
This year, from January to second week of February, I earned 20 nights already. Any trip since middle of February has now been cancelled so far.
Wrote to them whether there is a chance to at least be downgraded only one level (to Platinum), since after the crisis is over, I am about to basically live in hotels September and October (fingers crossed). I really want that Lounge access, makes a big difference for me...
Nope, no exceptions...
Gold is useless for me (and I get it through my Amex Centurion anyway). I wrote to them that under these circumstances, I will move all my nights to Hilton, since I am Diamond there (and I really should look into Hyatt).
So Marriott lost a loyal customer. Wonder when they will realize that I will not be the only one.
Jay Jay
Why aren’t you lifetime Platnium with Marriott
Everyone who has already (or almost) re-qualified in 2020 for 2021 status should email DAVID FLUECK at [email protected] and CC [email protected] demanding that Marriott rollover any nights accumulated in 2020 for 2021 to 2021 for 2022 status. If they refuse, vote with your feet and go to Hyatt.
I’ve already hit 50 nights this year for renewal of my platinum status in 2021. I travelled quite a bit in January and February. Does that mean I get credit for an extra year as a platinum?
Doesn’t seem fair that now everyone gets the same benefits I get when I actually hit 50 nights and earned the status. Not saying this is wrong but there should be an additional incentive for People like me...
I’ve already hit 50 nights this year for renewal of my platinum status in 2021. I travelled quite a bit in January and February. Does that mean I get credit for an extra year as a platinum?
Doesn’t seem fair that now everyone gets the same benefits I get when I actually hit 50 nights and earned the status. Not saying this is wrong but there should be an additional incentive for People like me who earned the status despite the circumstances. We should be rewarded with status for an extra year - through 2022.
China Macau HKG and Taiwan member received their status extension PRIOR to downgrades, the rest of us are not so lucky a big middle finger from BONVOY. I moved my stays away after Bonvoy did the double downgrade when their reps had given info to the opposite. not a company I can trust anymore nor one that treats members equally! :(
So why the preferential treatment for China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan on free nights???
Extending FNA to January 31 is not much of an extension.
@FNT Delta Diamond
Yeah, would like to know about that too, re-qualified my platinum status last Saturday... may consider switching my upcoming stay to Hyatt properties if it’s not
Right now more than ever, Hilton is the dominant hospitality company that the others are imitating, like DL is the dominant airline that the others are imitating. In that analogy, Hyatt would be like United, and BONVoY would be like the dAArk side.
G’day.
Haha dAARk side
That’s funny
Glad to see a relatively straightforward extension of status. This is a good proactive move for Marriott
@lucky
Thanks for all you do. Do you have a sense of 2020 spend will therefore apply to 2022 ambassador status?
Marriott only cares about Southeast Asia because a disproportional amount of their revenue is coming from there, thanks to all the Marriott-managed hotels in Southeast Asia. Most Marriott hotels in North America, Latin America and Europe are NOT managed by Marriott, except for some of the high-end brands like St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton. But even then Ritz-Carlton is increasingly managed by franchisees or third-party management companies.
Thanks Lucky for getting it clarified.
I hope Marriott would make the policy for rest of the world the same as for Greater China now that the rest of the world is being hit much harder with not even the sight of peaking when China is returning to normalcy, but they have till end of 2021 to use their certs... and we only have up to end of Jan 2021... Not quite fair.
Situation...
Thanks Lucky for getting it clarified.
I hope Marriott would make the policy for rest of the world the same as for Greater China now that the rest of the world is being hit much harder with not even the sight of peaking when China is returning to normalcy, but they have till end of 2021 to use their certs... and we only have up to end of Jan 2021... Not quite fair.
Situation changes rapidly and drastically, Marriott needs to rethink their FN policy for the rest of the world.
Quick update -- the free night award info I was given was incorrect, and the post has now been updated to reflect the current situation. This is that free night awards will be extended through January 31, 2021.
I just received the Marriott email about extending status and points expiration. There is no mention of extending SNAs or CC free nights.
Just quickly scan other blogs sites - nobody has mentioned about the FN certs would get 12 months extension - that includes the usual "insider" TPG's site. Their article on today's announcement is just like the CEO's letter, about Status and Points, nothing to do with FN certs.
Specifically TPG's article gave the SAME policy on FN extension, i.e. Only to Jan 31, 2021, as before when we all received the email from Arne...
Just quickly scan other blogs sites - nobody has mentioned about the FN certs would get 12 months extension - that includes the usual "insider" TPG's site. Their article on today's announcement is just like the CEO's letter, about Status and Points, nothing to do with FN certs.
Specifically TPG's article gave the SAME policy on FN extension, i.e. Only to Jan 31, 2021, as before when we all received the email from Arne a couple weeks ago.
Until the 12 months extension on FN cert is in writing, on BonVoy website, I am afraid nobody can count on that, even "it is directly from a Marriott spokesperson.)
@hank,
That is exactly my question as well. I just hope the spokesperson Lucky talked to, has not confused the Greater China policy with the policy for the rest of the world.
With this become a GLOBAL PANDEMIC, and Europe / US are much harder hit, why Marriott would still not give the rest of the world the same treatment to Greater China when the region has largely recovered to a semi-normal situation?
@Lucky
Thanks...
@hank,
That is exactly my question as well. I just hope the spokesperson Lucky talked to, has not confused the Greater China policy with the policy for the rest of the world.
With this become a GLOBAL PANDEMIC, and Europe / US are much harder hit, why Marriott would still not give the rest of the world the same treatment to Greater China when the region has largely recovered to a semi-normal situation?
@Lucky
Thanks for telling us the info is from a verbal communication but not anything found officially on the Marriott site.
Do you mind to get your contact to clarify the FN extension policy now is applied globally? and WHEN can we get an official posting on Marriott website to confirm this new status?
Many thanks if you could do the above.
@ miafll -- Yeah, I apologize, I had that info in writing, but the spokesperson emailed me a bit ago to confirm he was mixing up the Greater China policy with the policy for the rest of the world.
Will the extended 1 year of status count towards lifetime status calculation ?
@ HA -- Yes, it will count towards lifetime status. Updated the post to reflect that.
Like Marriott had an option. Sad that they are followers like UA and AA on the airline industry.
Ben (Lucky) says:
April 8, 2020 at 2:19 pm
@ miafll — This is directly from a Marriott spokesperson.
lucky you are wrong on the FNA part, the website site states FNA will be extended January 31, 2021
Looks like the Platinum Challenge and subsequent Titanium status I earned was not extended.
I've prequalified for platnium with 67 nights so far this year, will that extend into 2022? Or am I out of luck?
@ Lisa -- It would be valid through February 2022 as usual, but not beyond that. Maybe there will be some sort of promo or reward for those who qualified this year, but that hasn't been announced yet.
why this page https://marriott-re-2019ncovc.com/ still show this:
Free Night Award (FNA): Members who currently have an active Free Night Award (FNA) expiring in 2020 as part of their credit card benefit, annual choice benefit, promotions or travel package will be able to use it through January 31, 2021. (Exception: Members in mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan the Free Night Awards will be extended 12 months into 2021 from the date of expiration).
They still haven't extended my free night certs from credit cards. They both expire this Nov/Dec. My husband's (he's titanium) were extended.
@ Deborah -- I would give them some time, I'm sure they'll get around to it.
@Lucky: Thanks for the clarification.
Marriott could easily rollover earned 2020 nights to 2021 for purposes of 2022 re-qualification, just as Delta did with miles earned in 2020. I still have to spend $20,000 in 2021 for 2022 ambassador status. Rolling over nights recognizes loyalty without actually costing them anything since the $20,000 threshold remains.
@Lucky. A week ago my wife's status changed from Platinum to Gold. Will it revert back to Platinum? Thanks.
@ Daniel B. -- It won't. Status that was recently downgraded was because people didn't requalify. This extension is for those who did qualify for status for this year.
Any word on if this will count toward lifetime status? I assume not, but here's to hoping!
Crickets from AA...
Yes, I am on a 291-night stay.
On Marriott site, the new CEO's letter dd Apr 8th, has NOT mentioned any FN extension.
Can you please update your write up by providing an official link? As what is now is all just about the status extension.
@ miafll -- This is directly from a Marriott spokesperson.
If you had Platinum status from the Ritz card in 2019 will that be extended? Or, is it only if you are Platinum after the downgrades that took place last month?
@ Brent -- It's based on the status you have right now, which was earned in 2019. So if you were downgraded a few weeks ago, that status isn't being extended.
I just re-qualified for ambassador status with $22,000 and 114 nights. This sucks for me. I will have to contact Marriott to see if they will roll-over my 2020 nights to 2021 for 2022 re-qualification.
@ FNT Delta Diamond -- Wow... do you literally live in hotels?
I have 4 of 7 nights package certificates to be expired in June - I wonder if they can extend those?
@ SamFromQueens -- Based on my understanding those are being extended as well.
did hyatt decide to extend TSU, did you get clarification on that?
@ Jim -- I did get clarification, and as of now they aren't extending those.
Will the extended elite status count for “years elite” status, I wonder?
Marriott needs to extend unexpired 2019 and 2020 Credit Card Free Night Certificates to Dec 31st, 2021, not just until Jan 31st, 2021.
Free night awards are being extended by 12 months as well. I'll update the post to reflect that.
free nights from cc？
I may have missed it... but any details on extending free night rewards (as a tier Choice award or from their branded credit cards)?