Today's announcements include major Marriott Bonvoy updates. Marriott will also be extending elite status, points and free night certificates to suite upgrades. Let's get into the details.
Marriott Bonvoy extended elite status through February 2023
We saw last year that most loyalty programs extended elite status by one year because of the pandemic. Marriott is doing it again. All 2021 status will be extended by Marriott Bonvoy for an additional 12 months, up to February 2023. This applies regardless of whether the status was acquired in 2019 or 2020. It also applies to all elite levels Silver-, Gold-, Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador. This extended year of status counts towards lifetime Bonvoy status.
Marriott will extend everyone's status by 12 month, but you still need to complete 50 elite nights or 75 elite night to be eligible for Choice Benefits. Because they are linked to elite nights and not to status, these Choice Benefits can be used. It is easier to get than usual, because Marriott gave members elite nights equaling 50% of their status tier earlier this year as a way to give them a jumpstart on requalifying.
Marriott Bonvoy extends elite status for one year
Marriott Bonvoy Suite Night Awards Extended through June 2022
Marriott Bonvoy suite-night awards (SNAs), which were due to expire December 31, 2021, are extended for six more months through June 30, 2022. Even certificates that were previously extended will be extended once more, provided the expiration date is not set for 2021.
Marriott Bonvoy Suite Night Awards are being extended
Marriott Bonvoy extended free night award through June 2022
Marriott Bonvoy free-of-charge night awards (FNAs), which include those issued via credit cards, will again be extended. The expiration dates for those originally scheduled to expire between January 3, 2022 and June 29, 2022 will now be June 30, 2022. This extension will be automatically updated in December 2021 by the system.
Marriott Bonvoy offers free nights
Marriott Bonvoy points will not expire until December 2022
Marriott Bonvoy will further halt the expiration date of points until December 31, 2022. Points will not expire after 24 months of inactivity. This should not affect loyal members who have participated in the program but it is good news for occasional Marriott guests.
Marriott Bonvoy points expiration date will be extended
Marriott Bonvoy offers more flexibility with its free night award
This is a permanent positive change to Marriott Bonvoy. You can now combine FNAs (free night awards) with up 15,000 Bonvoy points to book a higher-priced property.
This means that if you have a certificate for a free night valid at property costs up to 50,000 points you can redeem the certificate and 15,000 points to stay at property prices up to 65,000 point. You could only stay at properties that were within the points price range for the certificate. However, you couldn't pay extra to stay at more expensive properties.
Soon, you'll be able top off the Marriott Bonvoy free nights
Here's my take on the Marriott Bonvoy Extensions
Hilton Honors, a major hotel loyalty program worldwide, became the first to extend its status by one year in September. It was impossible to predict if other programs would match. I think we now know.
I am not surprised that Marriott Bonvoy would do this. Marriott is the largest hotel group in the world, with members in many countries, including Australia, Thailand, and others. Travel opportunities have been limited over the past year. Additionally, credit cards are not as widely available outside of the United States.
It's a completely different story in the United States.
Marriott Bonvoy has deposited 50% of the elite night requirements for a tier in account accounts earlier this year. This was applicable to all members.
You can earn up 30 nights of elite status per year in the United States with Marriott Bonvoy credit card
I have earned 68 elite nights as a Titanium member, which ordinarily requires 75 elite night. This is just for being a Titanium member and having the right credit cards. Although I can imagine that many American members are requalifying easily, this extension is representative of the global situation.
These extensions likely reflect the uneven recovery of demand
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy will extend its status for an additional year, increase suite night awards and free nights by up to six months, and extend points expiration by one year. You can also earn up to 15,000 points to redeem a free night award to book a higher-priced hotel starting in 2022.
This is a great achievement, especially considering that travel in many countries has remained largely out of bounds. Some members may think that is unfair, but I did my best to achieve status this year. Sometimes, however, that's how it works out.
The bigger development however is Marriott Bonvoy's introduction of dynamic award pricing.
What do you think of Marriott Bonvoys recent extension of loyalty benefits
