Hilton Honors News

Sara Rathner, Meghan Coyle, Kevin BerryMay 27, 2021
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May 27, 2021 - Hilton Extends Expiration Dates, Free Night Certificates and Elite Status

Hilton was one of the first hotel chains to announce generous policy changes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that let customers keep their points and free weekend night certificates active.

In normal times, Hilton Honors points expire after 12 months of account inactivity. Now, points currently in your account won't expire until at least Dec. 31, 2021.

If you have one of the co-branded Hilton credit cards from American Express, you may have earned a free weekend night reward. Terms apply. And Hilton just announced fresh changes and extensions to those certificates:

  • You now can use them any day you choose: Unexpired free weekend night rewards can now be used any night of the week (not just on weekends).

  • You have longer to use them: Generally, these free rewards expire 12 months from their issue date, but Hilton has announced it is extending the dates for these certificates:

    • Certificates issued before May 1, 2020 (which were set to expire Aug. 31, 2021) are now valid until Jan. 3, 2022.

    • Certificates issued between May 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020 are valid for 24 months from the date they were issued.

    • Certificates issued between Jan. 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021 will expire on Dec. 31, 2022.

    Hilton also announced generous elite status extensions for up to two years. If your elite status was due to expire in March 2020, it will be extended through March 2021, while any status earned for 2020 will now expire in March 2022.

    Oct. 27, 2020 - Hilton Extends Benefits, Lowers Qualification Requirements

    Hilton Honors announced several changes today to their loyalty program in light of the ongoing travel issues and restrictions faced by customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably, Hilton is reducing the status qualification requirements in 2021 by 50%. This is in addition to the previously announced benefit that allows guests to automatically roll over all their 2020 nights into the 2021 year to speed up the qualification process. Based on Hilton's normal elite status chart, this means you can earn Hilton status in 2021 with the following:

    • Silver: Five nights, two stays or 12,500 base points.

    • Gold: 20 nights, 10 stays or 37,500 base points.

    • Diamond: 30 nights, 15 stays or 60,000 base points.

    Several other changes have also been made, including:

    • Status extension until March 31, 2022. This applies to elite status members who were going to be downgraded in 2020 or 2021.

    • No points will expire until Dec. 31, 2021.

    • Lowered thresholds: Both Milestone Bonus Nights (now 20 nights) and Gifting Status Nights (now 30 nights) thresholds have been reduced.

    • Extended credit card benefits: Bonus points will continue to count as base points now through Dec. 31, 2021, and 2021 Free Weekend Night Reward certificate expirations will be extended to Dec. 31, 2022, and be valid for any night of the week.

    Aug. 25 - Bonus Points and a Free Night Certificate for Hilton AmEx Cardholders

    Hilton Honors American Express cardholders who have been members since at least July 7, 2020, can add the "Perfect Match" offer to their card. You will earn 1,000 Hilton Honors points when you spend $1,000 on your card from the time you complete enrollment through December 18, 2020. The maximum number of bonus points you can earn through this offer is 30,000 points. After you spend $5,000 during the promotional period, you'll also earn a Free Night Certificate, which is valid for the next 24 months. Terms apply.

    May 1 - AmEx Cards Offering Extra Rewards, Statement Credits in New Categories (Limited Time)

    These changes will apply for a limited time:

    • Through July 2020, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card will earn 12 Hilton Honors points per $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets.

    • From June through August 2020, U.S. restaurant purchases made with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, including takeout and delivery, will qualify toward the $250 Hilton resort credit benefit.

    • Any bonus points you earn on all Hilton American Express cards that post to your account between May 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will be considered base points, meaning they’ll count toward elite tier qualification and lifetime Diamond status. Usually, bonus points don’t count for this purpose.

    Terms apply.

    All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.

    How to Maximize Your Rewards

    You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for:

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