Marriott announced that Free Night Awards that were originally supposed to expire in 2020 or that will expire before July 31, 2021, will have their expiration date extended to August 1, 2021.
Effective December 11, 2020, members who currently have a Free Night Award (FNA) that had [has] an original expiration date in 2020, or which will expire before July 31, 2021, as part of their cobrand credit card benefit, annual choice benefit, promotions or travel package will be able to redeem it through August 1, 2021. Free Night Awards with an original expiration date prior to 2020 will not be eligible for the additional extension. Members do not need to take any action. The system will automatically update your Account with these extensions on December 11, 2020.
In addition Marriott had previously said they wouldn’t expire any points due to account inactivity until February 1, 2021. That’s been extended to August 1, 2021 as well.
Hotel occupancy rates – the percentage of rooms filled at those hotels that are in fact open – remain stalled at 50%.
So I have a package category 1-4 for seven night stay that was set to expire 1/31/2020 that is going to be extended to 08/01/2020 now along with all my free night awards? woo hoo! I’ve been dreading trying to call them to ask for an extension but they’re being nice about it and doing them anyway, this is awesome! I must say, they’ve done two or three things I’ve read about during the pandemic that have REALLY upped my opinion of them, this is the best because I also have a half dozen nights from card benefits and have several cards set to renew soon, by the time the pandemic is over, between the points from bonuses and accumulated fna’s, I’m taking a long, well deserved vacation! Hoping a change in leadership will get this dang virus gone soon so we can all start moving again!
thanks Gary!
“Free Night Awards with an original expiration date prior to 2020 will not be eligible for the additional extension.”
How can anyone still have a free night award with an expiration date going back in 2019?
This is confusing.
@JL, yeah I’m confused as well. I suppose if one called to get their 2019 expiry cert to get extended, it might be one that qualifies. That’s the only thing I can think of.
JL / BC – see here: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/marriott-travel-packages-expiring/
Original expiration still shows on all my certs online
just called Marriott Platinum line – they knew nothing about this extension and said check back in a week or two as they have no official instructions and can not manually do a reservation for check in beyond current certificate expiration date
Warning: with all certificates call in as soon as they post over following credit card anniversary and get the certificate number. Keep good records including confirmation and cancelation numbers. It has been my experience when you cancel a Marriott certificate reservation it often does not repost to your Marriott account with manual intervention by phone agent
Occupancy among open hotels may be 50% but RevPAR has to be down by a lot more than that given big-city pricing at the moment
What about the 50% elite night from the past year? Are we going to get it this year?
I have Ritz card, am I going to get the automatic platinum status if I get American express Honor card?
Thanks.