Marriott Atlanta Perimeter
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
Brian Cohen·
2019 Novel Coronavirus
··3 Comments·9 min read

Marriott Extends Status and Points For Everyone; Flexible Reservation Policy Updates: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

“It’s been three weeks since I last communicated with you about the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on our business. Sadly, since that time, we’ve all borne witness to how this insidious virus is impacting our families, our communities and our very way of life. What we’re facing is daunting, but I am heartened by the moments of triumph in everyday acts of courage, humanity and love. Although these are trying times for us all, I remain optimistic that our world will thrive once again.”

Marriott Extends Status and Points For Everyone; Flexible Reservation Policy Updates: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

Atlanta Marriott Marquis
The interior of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis hotel in downtown Atlanta. Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

The paragraph you just read was from an e-mail message which was sent to guests and all members of the Marriott Bonvoy frequent guest loyalty program and signed by Arne M. Sorenson — who is the president and chief executive officer of Marriott International, Incorporated — in response to the constantly evolving situation pertaining to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic. “Today, I want to let you know how we’re focused on supporting the communities where our associates live and work. I also want to provide you with an update on our room cancellation policy and Marriott Bonvoy status and points expiration dates.”

The latest information from Marriott pertains to updates with regards to the extensions of the expiration of points and elite level status — as well as improving the flexibility of the booking and cancellation policies of reservations in general.

Status of Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Points and Elite Level Status

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Tampa
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

Your benefits are automatically being extended with no effort or input required on your part as a Marriott Bonvoy member — including:

  • Elite Level Status Extension: The elite level status which you earned in 2019 will be extended to February 2022.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Points Expiration: To provide you ample time to redeem points, the expiration of Marriott Bonvoy points will be paused until February 2021. At that time, your Marriott Bonvoy points will only expire if your account has been inactive for at least 24 months.

Flexibility With Reservations Policies

Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter North Hotel
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Given the unique circumstances of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic, Marriott remains committed to offering you flexible options when booking your reservations by further adjusting its individual policies pertaining to booking reservations — even including reservations with pre-paid rates that are typically more restrictive — which can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival day, as cancellation fee waivers have been extended through Tuesday, June 30, 2020 for guests:

  • With existing reservations for any future arrival date, full changes or cancellation will be allowed without a charge up to 24 hours prior to arrival, as long as the change or cancellation is implemented by Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Please note that any changes to existing reservations will be subject to availability and any rate differences.
  • Booking new reservations for any future arrival date between Friday, March 13, 2020 and Tuesday, June 30, 2020, the reservation will be allowed to be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival date.

Summary

The Westin Dublin
Photograph ©2014 by Brian Cohen.

These policies apply to reservations which were booked through Marriott directly. Guests who booked via online travel agents or other third parties are advised to contact their booking provider for information on their policies and for assistance. These policies do not apply to convention and group business due to the contractual nature of these reservations.

As with recent announcements from such frequent travel loyalty programs as Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, and United Airlines MileagePlus, the team members of Alaska Airlines seem to be doing whatever they can to provide maximum flexibility to you and other customers — as well as members of the Mileage Plan frequent flier loyalty program…

…but is all of this enough to retain your loyalty to the aforementioned membership programs?

See also

This article is the latest in a series pertaining to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus — which is also known as COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV or SARS-CoV-2 — pandemic in an effort to get the facts out with information derived from reliable sources…

…as well as attempt to maintain a reasoned and sensible ongoing discussion towards how to resolve this pandemic.

Other articles at The Gate which pertain to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus include:

All photographs ©2014, ©2015, and ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

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3 Comments

  1. I read through the email that came today and didn’t see anything about free night certificates. Any extensions to those?

    Reply

    1. The Frequent Flier Bonuses blog attributed this to Marriott:

      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).

      Reply

  2. I read on another blog that people were expecting their 2019 status to be extended. That is not what the e-mail said. It clearly said “status EARNED” in 2019. This means that 2020 status will be extended.

    On my account home page, on the same page that it says I am Lifetime Titanium Elite, it says that my Titanium status is good through 2022. Wow, thanks Marriott for clarifying! I actually had an unpublished VIP status before the merger but that was sunset in 2018 in preparation for the merger. Interestingly, the corresponding Marriott unpublished status still exists but that wasn’t extended to us. Still, being Titanium for life is a very good deal and I will always remember, with fondness, some of the highlights of being a VIP.

    I never publicized the VIP status when I had it but now it doesn’t exist any more I don’t feel I need to keep it a secret. To keep a long story short, I earned it by showing how much I appreciated good service when I was a very very frequent traveler.

    Reply

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