Marriott Bonvoy Extends Expiration Policies and Free Night Awards Into 2022

The expiration of Marriott Bonvoy points has been paused for a fourth time due to the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic — this time, until Saturday, December 31, 2022, to provide you ample time to redeem points — and at that time, your points will only expire if your membership account has been inactive for a minimum of 24 months…

Marriott Bonvoy Extends Expiration Policies and Free Night Awards Into 2022

…and if you have a Free Night Award which is set to expire between Monday, January 3, 2022 and Wednesday, June 29, 2022 as part of your cobrand credit card benefit, annual choice benefit, promotions, or travel package — you will be able to redeem it through Thursday, June 30, 2022, as that will be the new expiration date effective automatically in December of 2021. No action on your part is necessary. However, certain hotel and resort properties have mandatory resort fees.

Beginning sometime in early 2022, you will be able to combine your Free Night Awards with up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from your membership account, so that you will have greater flexibility with the option to explore even more of the portfolio of hotel and resort properties of Marriott International, Incorporated.

Extension of Elite Status

Additionally all members who earned elite status in 2019 and 2020 and were scheduled to be downgraded in 2020 and 2021 will have their elite status automatically be extended through February of 2023 — although no exact date has been given; so assume that the date is Wednesday, February 1, 2023 — which means that you will continue to enjoy all the Ambassador, Titanium, Platinum, Gold or Silver elite status level benefits to which you have access today for the next 15 months.

For 2021, the $20,000.00 spend threshold for attaining Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status was reduced to $14,000.00. Beginning on Saturday, January 1, 2022, that spend threshold will return to $20,000.00; and the 100 annual qualifying night requirement will remain in place. All monetary amounts are in United States dollars.

Extension of the Expiration of Suite Night Awards

The expiration of Suite Night Awards — which were previously set to expire on Friday, December 31, 2021 — has been extended for another six months through Thursday, June 30, 2022.

Final Boarding Call

Well, at least you will not need to scramble to redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points or use your Free Night Awards, as you now have even more time to plan your travels prior to their new expiration dates.

The first time the expiration of Marriott Bonvoy points was extended was back in June of 2020, when points would not expire until February of 2021. The point expiration date was extended again through Sunday, August 1, 2021 back in October of 2020; and the point expiration date was extended yet again through Thursday, March 31, 2022 back in April of 2021.

After the conclusion of this article are some of the frequently asked questions pertaining to other changes which were previously announced with the Marriott Bonvoy frequent guest loyalty program.

The transition to Flexible Point Redemption Rates in March 2022 — with which redemption rates will more closely resemble the cash rates of hotel and resort properties while simultaneously giving members more flexibility and options to explore even more of the portfolio of hotel and resort properties of Marriott International, Incorporated when redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points for stays — will be covered in a separate article.

In the meantime, do not forget that you can use promotions to extend the expiration of your Marriott Bonvoy points — which include but are not limited to the following offers:

• You can earn eight Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent when you order delivery, get takeout, or dine in at participating restaurants through Sunday, October 31, 2021 — and you must pay for your meal with your linked credit card when you are enrolled in both the Marriott Bonvoy frequent guest loyalty program and the Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy dining program.
• For a limited time, eligible new Marriott Bonvoy cardmembers who apply and are approved can take advantage of acquisition offers — which are the highest and richest points offers ever from Marriott Bonvoy — through Wednesday, November 3, 2021 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. For example, you can earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points and one Free Night Award worth 85,000 points — equivalent to the Category eight standard rate — with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card.
• Earn 1,500 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points per eligible paid stay at participating hotel and resort properties worldwide between Tuesday, September 14, 2021 and Sunday, December 12, 2021 — and you can also earn 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per eligible paid stay at All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy resort properties — but you must register for this promotion prior to your first stay within the promotion period by Sunday, November 28, 2021 in order to participate…that is, if you can even register for what is supposed to be a global promotion, as I cannot register for it at this time.
• Earn an additional 2,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points for every night booked at participating Courtyard by Marriott hotel properties across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America through Friday, December 31, 2021 with the Courtyard 2K Everyday promotion.

All photographs ©2015, ©2017, ©2020, and ©2021 by Brian Cohen.

What was the 50% Elite Night Credits benefit offered in February 2021?

Marriott Bonvoy members who earned Elite Status in 2020 received a one-time deposit of 50 percent of their tier’s annual Elite Night Credit requirement — for example, those members who achieved Platinum Elite status in 2020 received 25 Elite Night Credits in their membership account in February 2021.

Since members already received an extension of their earned 2019 Elite Status through Tuesday, February 1, 2022, the Elite Night Credit deposit helps Members reach the next tier faster.

In addition, these Elite Night Credits will count towards achieving the 2021 Annual Choice Benefit, as well as achieving Lifetime Elite Status. 50 percent Elite Night Credits deposit and remaining 2021 requirements needed to achieve the next tier’s status are based on the 2020 earned status tier as follows:

• Ambassador Elite received 50 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 50 Elite Night Credits and US$14,000 in Qualifying spend in 2021 to re-achieve Ambassador Status through Tuesday, February 21, 2023
• Titanium Elite received 38 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 62 Elite Night Credits and US$14,000 in Qualifying Stay Spend in 2021 to achieve Ambassador Elite through Tuesday, February 21, 2023
• Platinum Elite received 25 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 50 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Titanium Elite through Tuesday, February 21, 2023
• Gold Elite received 13 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 37 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Platinum Elite through Tuesday, February 21, 2023
• Silver Elite received 5 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 20 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Gold Elite through Tuesday, February 21, 2023
• Member tier did not receive Elite Night Credits and will need a total of 10 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Silver Elite through Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Example:
A member who earned Gold Elite Status in 2019 already received an extension of the Gold Elite Status to Tuesday, February 1, 2022. To achieve the next tier up of Platinum Elite in 2021 to enjoy through February 2023, the member will need to achieve a total of 50 Elite Night Credits by Friday, December 31, 2021. This Gold Elite Member will receive 13 Elite Night Credits — 50 percent of the 25 normally needed to requalify for Gold — which means the member will only need 37 Elite Night Credits to achieve Platinum Elite this year.

You already extended the Elite Status that I earned in 2019 until February 1, 2022. How will the 50 percent Elite Night Credits benefit me?

Recognizing the challenges to travel this year due to current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic, the 50 percent Elite Night Credits helps you achieve the next Elite tier faster. The deposit of the 50 percent Elite Nights Credits is in addition to any Elite Night Credit you may have already earned this year. Overall, the extra Elite Night Credits gives you more opportunity to achieve the next Elite tier before the end of 2021, which can then be enjoyed through Tuesday, February 1, 2023.

Who was eligible to receive the 2021 50 percent Elite Night Credits?

Marriott Bonvoy members who earned elite status in 2020 received a onetime deposit of 50 percent of their tier’s annual Elite Night Credit requirement. Members who did not earn Elite Status in 2020 did not receive the 50 percent Elite Night Credits deposit.

I enrolled in the Taste Of Platinum Elite Status Challenge as of December 31 2020. Will I receive 25 Elite Night Credits when you extend the 50 percent ENC deposit?

• If you were in an active Taste of Platinum Status Challenge as of December 31, 2020, you received your 25 Elite Night Credits if the Challenge was completed and earned by December 31, 2020.
• If you are still in your Challenge period and have not completed the Challenge as of December 31, 2020, your Elite Night Credits will be deposited after your earning Challenge period, even if you have completed it prior to the end of the earning Challenge period.

• If you are still in your Challenge period and at the end of the Challenge period, you did not meet the Taste of Platinum Challenge requirements, you will received the Elite Night Credits based on your level prior to enrolling into the Taste of Platinum Challenge after the Challenge period has ended.

I enrolled in the Taste Of Gold Elite Status Challenge as of December 31, 2020. Will I receive 13 Elite Night Credits when you extend the 50 percent Elite Night Credit deposit?

• If you were in an active Taste of Gold Status Challenge as of December 31, 2020, you received your 13 Elite Night Credits if the Challenge was completed and earned by December 31, 2020.
• If you are still in your Challenge period and have not completed the Challenge as of December 31, 2020, yourElite Night Credits will be deposited after their earning Challenge period, even if you have completed it prior to the end of the earning Challenge period.

• If you are still in your Challenge period and at the end of the Challenge period, you did not meet the Taste of Gold Challenge requirements, you will received the Elite Night Credits based on your level prior to enrolling into the Taste of Gold Challenge after the Challenge period has ended.

What is the reduced spend threshold for achieving Ambassador Elite Status in 2021?

For 2021, we’re reducing the US$20,000 spend threshold for attaining Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status to US$14,000. If a member reaches 100 Qualifying Nights and US$14,000 in qualified spend during 2021, they will achieve Ambassador Elite status. During 2022, the qualified spend requirement for Ambassador Elite status will return to US$20,000.

What benefits were extended for Members during 2020?

For all Marriott Bonvoy Members:

• 2020 Elite Status: Members who earned Elite Status in 2019 received an extension of their Elite Status to February 1, 2022.
• Suite Night Awards: Elite Members who had Suite Night Awards (earned in 2019 as part of the 50- and 75-Night Annual Choice Benefit) with an expiration date of December 31, 2020 were extended to December 31, 2021.
• Elite Night Credits: In July 2020 we gave you a head start toward earning status by depositing 50% of the Elite Night Credits into your Account based on your 2019 earned Elite status tier.
  

Who was eligible to gift Platinum Elite Status in 2020?

Members who earned Ambassador Elite Status in 2019 and achieved 100 Elite Night Credits in 2020 were eligible to gift Platinum Elite Status to one individual, e.g. friend or family member. This Platinum status will continue through February 1, 2022. This was an exclusive opportunity offered for 2020 only to Members who earned Ambassador Elite status in 2019 and achieved 100 Elite Night Credits in 2020. You must have selected this choice by December 31, 2020.

When will my year of 2020 Elite status be applied to my account so I can track my path to Lifetime Elite Status?

In a normal year, members receive their tenure year of Elite status in one of two ways: In Q1 (when we run our annual renewal and downgrade processes to assess the member loyalty activity in the prior year) or if they achieve a higher Elite level, their tenure year for the higher level is applied upon achievement.

During July 2020, when we extended the Elite Status that members earned in 2019 until February 2022, members also received their 2020 year of Elite status. Also note, if you achieved a higher Elite level during 2020, your 2020 year for the new, higher level was applied at the time of achievement.

If you maintain the same Elite level for 2021, your 2021 year of Elite status will be applied to your account in January 2022. If you achieve a higher Elite level during 2021, your 2021 year for the new, higher level will be applied at the time of achievement.

Examples:

• A Member achieved Platinum Elite in 2018, enjoyed the status in 2019 and re-achieved Platinum Elite by staying 50 nights. They received their 2020 year of Platinum status in Q1 2020.
• A Member achieved Platinum Elite in 2018, enjoyed the status in 2019 but they did not stay enough nights to renew their Platinum Elite status and downgraded to Gold Elite in Q1 2020. They received their 2020 year of Gold status in Q1 2020.
• A Member achieved Platinum Elite in 2019 and enjoyed the status in 2020. They received their 2020 year of Platinum status in July 2020 when we extended Elite status.
• A Gold Elite Member achieved Platinum in April 2020; the Platinum year of Elite status for 2020 was applied upon achievement.