Feb 17, 2021, 6:13 am
Last edit by: coleslaw
Will my 2021 awards get extended?
All official announcements to date have said that awards issues in 2021 would not be extended. Unofficially, based on anecdotal evidence in this thread, people have been able to get their Cat1-4 and Cat1-7 awards expiring in 2021 extended to end of January 2022. Reports are that this extension can/will only be done on request and during the month of expiration. Some Globalists have reported being able to get their concierge to exchange their expiring awards for points (10k for 1-4 and 20k for 1-7).
Summary of award types and expiration:All official announcements to date have said that awards issues in 2021 would not be extended. Unofficially, based on anecdotal evidence in this thread, people have been able to get their Cat1-4 and Cat1-7 awards expiring in 2021 extended to end of January 2022. Reports are that this extension can/will only be done on request and during the month of expiration. Some Globalists have reported being able to get their concierge to exchange their expiring awards for points (10k for 1-4 and 20k for 1-7).
- New card bonus: 6-month
- Bonus Journeys 2021 Promo: 6-month
- 30 nights (milestone cat 1-4): 6-month
- 60 nights (milestone cat 1-7): 6-month
- Brand Explorer: 12-month
- CC $15k: 12-month
- CC annual FN (cat 1-4): 12-month
- Other CC FN: typically 12-month
Through to the end of 2020, Hyatt had a policy of extending awards issued in 2020 to have an expiration date of 12/31/21. The awards were initially issued with the standard expiration date (see above) and then a batch process ran periodically (roughly every two weeks) to update the expiration dates to 12/31/21. The last batch update ran in the first week of January 2021 to update the expiration dates of awards issued in the last weeks of 2020 (per Hyatt's official expiration date extension policy).
Awards issued in 2021 that were issued before the batch ran to update the 2020 awards were also updated to expire on 12/31/21. This could have been by design (i.e. Hyatt wanted to update the 2021 awards too) or just a byproduct of how the 2020 award update process was set up (i.e. it was easier to update everything that was issued since the previous batch ran rather than try to separate 2020 vs. 2021).
Hyatt may at some point choose to update awards in 2021 to expire on 12/31/21. But they also may not. The unofficial communications so far - i.e. reports from Twitter/Customer Service reps - have been that they will not be updating them. There has been no official announcement either way - but the default assumption should be that awards will not be extended. It's all conjecture until there is an official announcement.
Here is a response to a FlyerTalker's (hoipolloi's) question to Hyatt on whether 2021 awards will be extended:
Originally Posted by Hyatt Consumer Affairs Department
Thank you for taking the time to provide recommendations and feedback regarding our guest loyalty program, World of Hyatt. This feedback allows us to enhance member experiences. I want to thank you on behalf of Amy and let you know we’re continuously monitoring the situation, as it is very fluid. However, at this time, we do not have any extensions for awards earned in 2021, as we are seeing that our members are able to redeem them. Should this change, we will adjust as soon as possible.
Hyatt further extends expiration of awards plus more
May 17, 2021, 5:29 am
#226
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I asked recently... on April 29 I was told "At this time, we do not have plans to adjust the expiration period for awards earned in 2021"
May 17, 2021, 5:57 am
#227
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
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Would be nice, but not expecting them too. Hyatt has been more than generous on earning rules this year (and assuming if you have these expiring, it's because you probably benefitted from double nights in Q1, right?)
May 17, 2021, 11:58 am
#228
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
Discussion here: Hyatt further extends expiration of awards plus more
Bottom line: no one knows yet. I certainly hope Hyatt does extend the certs considering they are still issuing 6 month certificates while travel continues to remain heavily restricted while Marriott continues to extend certs issued in 2019 and 2020. Others here don't necessarily agree.
-FlyerBeek
Bottom line: no one knows yet. I certainly hope Hyatt does extend the certs considering they are still issuing 6 month certificates while travel continues to remain heavily restricted while Marriott continues to extend certs issued in 2019 and 2020. Others here don't necessarily agree.
-FlyerBeek
May 17, 2021, 12:13 pm
#229
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
I would think Hyatt probably just extends everything to end of year. Another extension looks unlikely at this point. Hyatt's rates have not changed with the postpone of the peak/offpeak. For most people, we get a full summer to burn the FNs.
Use them before you lose them.
Use them before you lose them.
May 17, 2021, 4:00 pm
#230
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
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-FlyerBeek
May 17, 2021, 4:52 pm
#231
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Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
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I would perfectly be okay with that, but still very skeptical it will happen. Extending everything until the end of 2021 would allow certs issued in early 2021 to not expire ahead of certs issued in early 2020 - which currently doesn't make much sense to me. Also, international travel in many places should be less restrictive by late 2021.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
So it is not much loss for Hyatt to extend those. Hyatt may just extend those on a case by case basis.
May 19, 2021, 9:57 am
#232
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,203
Hyatt updated their COVID updates pages on May 18, but made no change regarding the extension of free night awards earned in 2021. Hyatt is being really stubborn
May 19, 2021, 1:41 pm
#233
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Sure hope Hyatt does, I have 7 Cat 1-4 certificates expiring at various times in 2021 and family is not yet ready to travel....
May 19, 2021, 2:05 pm
#234
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
At this stage, if they're not going to extend them, an official statement would be nice (rather than waiting until the proverbial last minute). I know, we shouldn't assume anything is happening...but it's still annoying not to have a statement given the situation elsewhere.
Could be IHG is having problems getting its occupoany rtae up while Hyatt isnt, could be Hyatt sees the vast majority of its members have been having stays (pts,certs or $) while IHG isnt getting much action.
Last edited by craz; May 19, 2021 at 4:36 pm
May 19, 2021, 2:19 pm
#235
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 829
Exactly. Why would Hyatt need to come out and announce there is no change in policy? No announcement = business as usual. The only certs affected here are the cat 7 that were earned before June this year, plenty of places to use them for domestic getaway.
May 19, 2021, 6:17 pm
#236
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,203
To provide members with certainty so that they use it at the crappy Hyatt Place in Canada or wait to use it at a desirable one abroad
May 19, 2021, 6:21 pm
#237
Join Date: Sep 2020
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It’s also worth remembering that you can use the carts for other peoples stays. If you personally can’t travel for whatever reason, and since travel is quickly recovering, consider whether friends or family could make better use of them than you can.
May 19, 2021, 6:23 pm
#238
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,203
but they have responded to multiple individuals (and made clear on their website) that they did not intend to make any further extensions. This is about as much certainty or confirmation as you’re going to get. I don’t think you should wait for a press release along the lines of “for realz, we’re serious about what we’ve told you already” before making plans for your cents.
It’s also worth remembering that you can use the carts for other peoples stays. If you personally can’t travel for whatever reason, and since travel is quickly recovering, consider whether friends or family could make better use of them than you can.
It’s also worth remembering that you can use the carts for other peoples stays. If you personally can’t travel for whatever reason, and since travel is quickly recovering, consider whether friends or family could make better use of them than you can.
May 20, 2021, 3:56 am
#239
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
?? Why does Hyatt or any program have to come out and say what they wont do? I assume that if they dont say they are extending them further then they arent. And just cause IHG extended theirs doesnt mean Hyatt has to or is a meanie if they dont.. Could be Hyatt wasnt sure what theyd do and didnt want to say no further extension and then extend them with all those who used them screaming unfair, or to say OK another extension and then see the #s say its not needed
Could be IHG is having problems getting its occupoany rtae up while Hyatt isnt, could be Hyatt sees the vast majority of its members have been having stays (pts,certs or $) while IHG isnt getting much action.
Could be IHG is having problems getting its occupoany rtae up while Hyatt isnt, could be Hyatt sees the vast majority of its members have been having stays (pts,certs or $) while IHG isnt getting much action.
(Heck, even a "Just this once, we'll convert those certs to 10k points as a matter of policy if you're based in the following countries" would probably handle most of this. FWIW the country where people are most likely to get stuffed under the current policy is probably India, since things seemed to be in hand until March [so plenty of time to hit 30 nights for the year between the double night credits and carry-over credits from the late 2020 promo before all hell broke loose, and Hyatt has a respectable footprint there] and I don't think you can reasonably expect folks to be eagerly "out and about" for a bit there even if the official numbers drop off.)
May 20, 2021, 11:53 am
#240
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Posts: 24,153
I feel like you missed the part where I said "an official statement would be nice" (emphasis added), not "is required". "Employees have said a bunch of things through informal channels" is not the same as "something will not happen", and as I've noted elsewhere there are some odd-and-end variable points that would make this desirable in countries where lockdown policies have been on-and-off at various times.
(Heck, even a "Just this once, we'll convert those certs to 10k points as a matter of policy if you're based in the following countries" would probably handle most of this. FWIW the country where people are most likely to get stuffed under the current policy is probably India, since things seemed to be in hand until March [so plenty of time to hit 30 nights for the year between the double night credits and carry-over credits from the late 2020 promo before all hell broke loose, and Hyatt has a respectable footprint there] and I don't think you can reasonably expect folks to be eagerly "out and about" for a bit there even if the official numbers drop off.)
(Heck, even a "Just this once, we'll convert those certs to 10k points as a matter of policy if you're based in the following countries" would probably handle most of this. FWIW the country where people are most likely to get stuffed under the current policy is probably India, since things seemed to be in hand until March [so plenty of time to hit 30 nights for the year between the double night credits and carry-over credits from the late 2020 promo before all hell broke loose, and Hyatt has a respectable footprint there] and I don't think you can reasonably expect folks to be eagerly "out and about" for a bit there even if the official numbers drop off.)
Whatever a front line employee says I take it as if it was a FTer saying it = its worthless and only their thoughts, now if that employee says I received a message saying ____-________ , thats something else as its not their opin