In this morning’s newly updated guide to COVID-19 cancellation policies, we added the various elite status extensions and 2020 shortcuts added for each program. In updating the section on Choice Privileges, I noticed something that Stephen pointed out to me we hadn’t previously covered: In addition to extending current status through the end of 2021, Choice is increasing the elite status of all Gold and Platinum members by one level for 2020 with the option to keep that elevated status in 2021 with 5 nights from June 1st to the end of 2020.
Again, Choice is extending status through the end of 2021 even if you have no stays this year. For example, if you have Gold status (which one could get via the Choice Privileges Visa), your status will remain at least gold until the end of 2021.
However, Choice is temporarily bumping that status up a level (to Platinum Elite in this example) for the rest of 2020. If you stay 5 nights between June 1 and December 31, 2020, you’ll keep Platinum elite status through the end of 2021. If you do not, you’ll go back to Gold on January 1, 2021 and keep Gold through the end of 2021.
I find this a really interesting promotion in that they are promising an extension with no activity but giving members a chance to get a taste of the next level up and the ability to keep it with a pretty low bar to meet. Granted, Choice Privileges doesn’t exactly have exciting program benefits. Still, higher status gives some small incremental benefit and it sometimes begets higher status when you can match to another program down the road.
The key benefits of the increased status (Gold members become Platinum and Platinum members become Diamond) are in terms of bonus earn on paid stays:
- Gold members (ordinarily requires 7 nights) earn a 10% elite point bonus
- Platinum members (ordinarily requires 15 nights) earn a 25% elite point bonus
- Diamond members (ordinarily requires 25 nights) earn a 60% elite point bonus
Platinum and Diamond members also get Avis Preferred Plus status and extra rollerover nights, though I don’t know that rollover nights will be useful this year. Still, the ability to get Platinum or Diamond status and potentially keep it through the end of 2021 with only 5 nights this year might be attainable for those who will travel again at some point this year.
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[…] Choice Privileges bumping status up +1 for 2020 (extend w/ 5 nights) by Frequent Miler. […]
Has anyone had any luck status matching to Platinum, and then getting bumped up to Diamond?
Thanks for this post. Choice emailed me this information today. One thing that I was unaware of that, for me, deflates this elevated status is that my points expire on Dec. 31, 2020. I’m new to Choice’s program and feel this is a really quick expiration date for points that I acquired only this spring.
I think you’re misunderstanding the email: they are pausing point expiration until then, so if your points were scheduled to expire tomorrow they wouldn’t expire until December 31, 2020.
The program policy is that points expire if you have 18 months with no activity (but buying more points, transferring from Amex, or earning or using points should reset that clock) — so if you’ve just earned points this spring, those are valid for 18 months from your last activity (likely the end of 2021 or early 2022).
Here’s the relevant policy and source:
As long as you are an active Choice Privileges member, your points never expire. You must, however, complete at least one qualifying activity every 18 months to maintain an active account and to retain your accumulated points. Choice Privileges points are forfeited in accounts that have no qualifying activity during the previous 18 consecutive calendar months. However, to better accommodate member needs during the pandemic, we’ve paused points forfeiture through December 31, 2020.
https://www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges/faq
Ah, thanks for the clarification. That policy feels much better (and more logical)!