Now Extended: Eligible Free Night Awards & Point Expirations
Jan 22, 2021, 2:54 pm
#181
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,053
I agree that Marriott has set expectations given two extensions so far. But I'm not sure the odds are any better than 50/50. I think it would make sense for Marriott to extend validity of multi-night travel package certificates... those were "paid for" with points and the member clearly intended to use them for a week-long stay. But one-night credit card certificates don't seem to me to be the same... a member might have one-or-two of them and maybe would use them more opportunistically. The problem is that by the time COVID-19 is over a member may have accumulated two or three years worth of one-nighters from credit cards, and maybe more from attaining Titanium status, potentially 4-6 nights. I don't think Marriott, or the member, had expectations of banking up that many one-nighters that could be rolled together into an extended stay.
Jan 23, 2021, 8:02 am
#182
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,865
I agree that Marriott has set expectations given two extensions so far. But I'm not sure the odds are any better than 50/50. I think it would make sense for Marriott to extend validity of multi-night travel package certificates... those were "paid for" with points and the member clearly intended to use them for a week-long stay. But one-night credit card certificates don't seem to me to be the same... a member might have one-or-two of them and maybe would use them more opportunistically. The problem is that by the time COVID-19 is over a member may have accumulated two or three years worth of one-nighters from credit cards, and maybe more from attaining Titanium status, potentially 4-6 nights. I don't think Marriott, or the member, had expectations of banking up that many one-nighters that could be rolled together into an extended stay.
Jan 23, 2021, 9:09 am
#183
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
I suspect the cost of keeping the certs active is less than the cost of losing a credit card customer. If they can't extend until after the pandemic, perhaps they can offer some sort of conversion. Otherwise it may not make sense for many to keep these credit cards open at the moment.
Jan 23, 2021, 1:47 pm
#184
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Carlsbad,CA USA
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanuim/Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 1,534
I canceled my Bonvoy card for that exact reason. In my account now, I have a 5night Cat 6 travel Package a 40k FNA, 2- 25K FNA, and 1-35K FNA and did not need any more right now. No travel plans to at least this summer so hope they do extend.
Jan 23, 2021, 8:21 pm
#185
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 6,134
Doesn't Chase offer a no AF version of Bonvoy card? I guess it might make more sense for some to cancel and reapply later for another SUB if one wants the Bonvoy card in the future than downgrade to the no fee card now and upgrade later.
LAX
LAX
Jan 23, 2021, 11:51 pm
#186
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
A cancelled reservation, sadly, does not constitute points "activity", even if nixed by Marriott due to Covid-19.
Marriott Bonv°y has compensated for such situations by pausing expirations.
Similarly, the 1 August 2021 resumption of expirations does not constitute "activity" either.
You can ascertain your most recent points activity on the app or website. If prior to 1 August 2019, all points in the account will disappear on the expiration resumption date this August.
To keep them alive if inactive since Aug 2019, you should figure out how to generate some inexpensive points activity within the next 7˝ months.
Marriott Bonv°y has compensated for such situations by pausing expirations.
Similarly, the 1 August 2021 resumption of expirations does not constitute "activity" either.
You can ascertain your most recent points activity on the app or website. If prior to 1 August 2019, all points in the account will disappear on the expiration resumption date this August.
To keep them alive if inactive since Aug 2019, you should figure out how to generate some inexpensive points activity within the next 7˝ months.
Jan 24, 2021, 5:35 am
#187
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Jan 26, 2021, 2:38 pm
#188
Company Representative, Marriott Bonvoy
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 690
That's a good question - Marriott says that a redemption stay is considered Qualifying Activity, but doesn't specify award vs certificate redemption.
Hi lowfareair,
A redemption stay is qualifying activity regardless if you're using points or a Free Night Certificate.
Thanks,
Robert V.
Social Media Liaison
Feb 1, 2021, 3:42 pm
#189
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 39
I was issued 2 x 60K certificates for my RC Card in August 2018 and had them extended for a year in August 2019 to August 2020 (I believe). They were automatically extended until 1/31/21 due to COVID but expired yesterday. I was not able to use them and member services refuses to extend them. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do given 2020 was a wash? Am I SoL? For what it's worth, the customer rep hung up on me when I explained the logic and I'm extremely offended.
Last edited by flyintheback; Feb 1, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Feb 1, 2021, 5:04 pm
#190
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 39
I was awarded 2x60K certificates in 2018 from my Ritz Card. They were extended once in 2019 to 2020 and then the automatic COVID extension kicked in. They expired yesterday and CS refuses to extend them even though 2020 was a wash. They even hung up on me. What should I do here?
Feb 1, 2021, 9:00 pm
#191
Company Representative, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 1,089
I was awarded 2x60K certificates in 2018 from my Ritz Card. They were extended once in 2019 to 2020 and then the automatic COVID extension kicked in. They expired yesterday and CS refuses to extend them even though 2020 was a wash. They even hung up on me. What should I do here?
Unfortunately, Free Night Awards with an original expiration date prior to 2020 will not be eligible for the additional extension.
Best Regards,
Christina Z
Specialist, Social Media
Marriott International
[email protected]
Feb 1, 2021, 10:37 pm
#192
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,272
I was awarded 2x60K certificates in 2018 from my Ritz Card. They were extended once in 2019 to 2020 and then the automatic COVID extension kicked in. They expired yesterday and CS refuses to extend them even though 2020 was a wash. They even hung up on me. What should I do here?
Feb 2, 2021, 3:37 am
#193
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
I was awarded 2x60K certificates in 2018 from my Ritz Card. They were extended once in 2019 to 2020 and then the automatic COVID extension kicked in. They expired yesterday and CS refuses to extend them even though 2020 was a wash. They even hung up on me. What should I do here?
Feb 11, 2021, 10:33 am
#194
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,865
I have 2 certs issued June and July '20 which effectively have a ~3 week and ~9 week extension. I realize I'm probably not going to use these as well as the 2019 issued certs by the end of July, I expect at least these will be extended though?
Last edited by escapefromphl; Feb 11, 2021 at 11:08 am
Feb 11, 2021, 11:02 am
#195
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,166
While I appreciate that Marriott extended our certificates till the end of July this year, I think we can all agree that the global situation won't be significantly better by then for most of us to be able to travel safely and economically.
Hopefully Marriott will agree and grant us another extension...I think it is really fair to expect another extension when the end of the tunnel is still nowhere to be seen.
Hopefully Marriott will agree and grant us another extension...I think it is really fair to expect another extension when the end of the tunnel is still nowhere to be seen.