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Update: In October 2021, Marriott further extended Free Night Awards and the pause on point expiration. See this post for full details.
Great news for Marriott Bonvoy members. Marriott is — once again — extending the validity of both Free Night Awards and the expiration of Marriott Bonvoy points.
As the pandemic drags on, Marriott is recognizing that many travelers are still hesitant to book both flights and stays. So, it's nice that Bonvoy members will have added time to redeem both free nights and points.
Previous Marriott Bonvoy Extensions, COVID-19 Developments
This isn't the first time Marriott has made changes to the Bonvoy program as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February 2021, Marriott made changes to elite status requirements and temporarily reduced rates for stays booked with points. Marriott's most recent announcement includes changes to how long you have to redeem points and free nights before they expire. Here's what Bonvoy members need to know about the policies related to the validity of their points and free nights.
Marriott Bonvoy Points, Free Night Awards Validity Extended
Marriott is extending the validity of Bonvoy points yet again. Typically, Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. However, Marriott is pausing expiration until March 31, 2022. The previous extension kept Bonvoy points valid until August 1, 2021. So, this means members have an additional 8 months to generate activity or use your expiring points. Generating Bonvoy activity can now be as simple as ordering Uber Eats thanks to a new partnership between Marriott and Uber. Update: Points expiration pause has been further extended through December 31, 2022.
Free Night Awards are also getting an extension. Any Marriott Free Night Awards that were set to expire in 2020 or before January 2, 2022, are included in this round of extensions. The expiration date on these Free Night Awards will be extended until January 3, 2022. Update: These Free Night Awards have been further extended through June 30, 2022.
The changes made to the validity of both Bonvoy points and Free Night Awards include points and free night awards earned from stays, co-branded credit cards, and other promotions.
Related: Top Picks for Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Free Nights
The Bottom Line
This is fantastic news for Marriott Bonvoy members. As vaccination rates continue to climb and cases fall in the United States, travelers are slowly returning to roads, airports, and hotels. However, there are still quite a few travelers who aren't ready to get back on the road.
Thankfully, Bonvoy members that aren't quite ready to resume their travels won't need to worry about their points or free night awards expiring anytime soon. With this most recent round of changes to points and free night awards, Bonvoy members won't see any points expire until December 31, 2022. And free night awards will remain valid until June 30, 2022.
Were you concerned about the validity of your points or free night awards? Do these most recent changes offer any peace of mind?
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Why don’t you update your software to stop telling my points are going to expire this month if you know this?
Please contact our support team to get it resolved:
https://awardwallet.com/contact
Very welcome news!
I was waiting for this.
Good that this info arrived some months before the beginning of July!
Now I hope to use my certificate before the end of the year!
Is this extension automatically applied to your account? Or you have to reach a Marriott representative to ask for extension?
In addition, I’m wondering if this applies to US region only or world wide BonVoy members
The extension should be automatic. And Marriott’s release doesn’t say anything about it being limited to U.S. residents/members. So, the extension should be available to all Bonvoy members worldwide.
This is such a wonderful and much-appreciated extension from Marriot Bonvoy. It takes some of the pressure off during these already challenging times. Being able to extend both the free nights and points was a smart way for Marriot to show its customers that they understand and are working with us. I always appreciate with a company shows it’s putting its customers’ needs first.
As a reward program is intended to incentivize customers to remain loyal, this is definitely one way to achieve that objective given most of its members have not been traveling very much over the past year. Once the travel restrictions are loosened and the general public feel safe to travel again, every travel business will be in a mad dash to capture that business. So rather than only fighting for business then, Marriott is doing what they can now to retain their loyal customer base.
Classy move by Marriott, this kind of flexibility will buy loyalty from patrons down the road. May be a good time to pick up a Marriott credit card or 2 for the annual free nites.
I think Marriott had to do this to keep folks excited about traveling with them. When they bought SPG and then rebranded to Bonvoy they were expecting a lot. Then Covid hit and their strategy become evolutionary vs. revolutionary.
Hope they will also extend elite status as well!!
Good news from Marriott, I don’t plan on taking trips until 2021.
I hope more programs follow suit. I have some points that were already extended to end of june, but i’m still too afraid to take a trip. Fingers cross that they will extend again!
Thanks. While I appreciate Marriott’s extending both points and certificates. It would be nice, if they would also consider following Hyatt’s lead last year and offer to deposit the full point value of the certificates into a member’s Bonvoy account.
This is good news. Though I probably could make use of my free nights, it’s nice to know that I don’t have to worry about it for a few more months.
Some of the other programs haven’t been so generous and I can now focus on not letting those nights go to waste.
Yes, so we can now hope those less generous programs you mention feel a bit of heat from this Marriott move.
I find this to be very generous of Marriott to allow us this flexibility in redeeming the free nights. With travel down significantly due to Covid many of us are sitting on multiple free nights and nowhere to go. This will definitely push me towards Marriott in the future.
Extremely happy with Marriott’s decision to extend the expiration deadline. Best move they have made in a long time.
I think it’s very good what Marriott Bonvoy does.
It’s seeing the reality of what’s going on and generating expectations for the future.
It gives people some peace of mind.
It would be nice if many companies in other Rubros followed suit.
Thanks a lot.
Hopefully we do not have to continue postponing our plans due to COVID and we can enjoy the Marriott facilities.