Hilton Honors has announced some new customer-friendly adjustments to the program in light of the current pandemic. The real highlight here is that in addition to the extension in place for 2020 free night certificates, now 2021-issued Free Weekend Night certificates will be valid any day of the year and up to December 31, 2022. That is awesome, particularly for those hesitant about travel this year or next year but who feel safer betting on 2022 travel. There are also other bits including an elite status extension and reduced 2021 requirements that stack with rollover nights.
Free Weekend Night Certs stay awesome another year
Ordinarily, Free Weekend Night certificates issued from the Hilton Honors credit cards (like the annual free night that comes with the Aspire card or the free night that can be earned with $15K spend in a calendar year on the Surpass) are only valid on weekend nights (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in most of the world) and only for a year from the date of issue.
However, this year it was previously announced that free night certificates issued from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 would be valid any night of the week and for two years. That was great news.
Today, Hilton announces that Free Weekend Night certificates issued in 2021 will enjoy similar flexibility: they will be valid any night of the week and until December 31, 2022, meaning that everyone will get at least a year to use their 2021 certificates and some cardholders will get significantly more time.
Given that Hilton free night certificates are not category-restricted, this is awesome news. If you have earned any free night certificates since May, you could theoretically stack those with all of the free night certificates you earn next year and those earned in early 2022 for a 2022 trip (and use the certs from 2020 and 2021 any night of the week).
Elite status requirements reduced
Hilton has also announced a 50% reduction in the 2021 elite tier requirements for stays, nights, or base points. Ordinary elite status requirements and 2021 adjustments will be as follows:
| Status level | Nights per year required | Lifetime status requirements | Key benefits | 2021 Requirements |
| Silver | 4 stays, 10 nights or 25,000 base points | N/A | 20% bonus on base points, 2 bottles of water at most full-service properties | 2 stays, 5 nights, or 12,500 base points |
| Gold | 20 stays, 40 nights, or 75,000 base points | N/A | 80% bonus on base points, free breakfast | 10 stays, 20 nights, or 37,500 base points |
| Diamond | 30 stays, 60 nights, or 120,000 base points | 10 years of Diamond status plus either 1,000 lifetime nights or 2 million base points earned | 100% bonus on base points, free breakfast, lounge access | 15 stays, 30 nights, or 60,000 base points |
While Hilton elite status is easy to get via credit card or status match, the reduced requirements here will make it quite easy to earn based on stay activity as well. Making the path easier yet is the fact that all nights earned in 2020 will roll over to 2021. In other words, staying 15 nights this year and 15 nights next year can combine to earn Diamond status in 2021 (which will be valid for the rest of 2021 and all of 2022). That’s not a bad deal for someone who is not interested in picking up the Hilton Aspire card.
Status and expiration extensions
Hilton has also announced that those members who were set to downgrade in status in 2020 or 2021 will keep their status through March 31, 2022. Furthermore, no points will expire until December 31, 2021. That should give members plenty of time to get some activity that keeps points alive.
Milestone and elite status gift reductions
In addition to the reduced elite requirements above, 2021 Milestone benefits will begin at 20 nights (rather than the usual 40 nights). Members will earn 10,000 bonus points after 20 nights and each 10 nights after that (with the standard 30K bonus points still coming at 60 nights).
Additionally, Diamond members who stay 30 nights in 2021 will be able to gift Gold status to another member (this ordinarily requires 60 nights). Those who stay 60 nights in 2021 will be able to upgrade that to Diamond status (normally requires 100 nights).
Bottom line
This is all positive news for Hilton Honors members as it means that it will be easier than ever to earn elite status and additional benefits. Furthermore, free night certificates earned this year and next year will continue to be more valuable than usual. In my opinion, the strength of those free night certificates significantly improves the value of both the Hilton Honors Aspire and Hilton Honors Surpass cards given that either could help you put together a nice 2022 trip with certificates earned this year, next year, and the following year.
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[…] 12/29/20: Belatedly added news that Hilton free night certs issued in 2021 will be valid any day of the week and through Dec 31 2022. Details here. […]
I’m getting conflicting information about the free night for any week night. Some CS said it is good till the expiration of my free night certificate and some booking agent said it is only good till 12/31/2020 and then revert back to week end only. Just curious if anyone had tried to redeem for next year during mid week?
Do I keep the certificate even if I cancel the credit card?
Yes. Once the certificate is issued, it’s yours.
The free night certs issued prior to May 2020 remain extended till 8/31/21 but did not get any additional extension with this announcement. Do I get it right?
What about unexpired free night certificates issued prior to May 1, 2020? I thought I saw somewhere that they were also extended past their expiration date but now I can’t seem to find any information on that. I have one certificate that was issued on September 30, 2019, with an expiration date of September 30, 2020. Any idea as to whether it has been extended? Thanks!
These are AMAZING moves on Hilton’s part. Just to clarify, base Points earned in 2020 from credit card spend do not roll over to 2021, just base Nights. Correct? Either way, this opens up a great path to Diamond status with the Surpass card. The +3 through January will be an added bonus. Let’s hope the 12x grocery comes back. Here’s where 2020 stands right now.
(edit) Image removed. Earned 66,000+ points this year.
Also, if you earn Diamond in 2021, it is good through the end of 2022, correct?
Update, I can confirm this works to achieve Diamond status. Unexpectedly had an opportunity to put $15k spend on the Surpass card in the first week of January (totaled my wife’s car). Still had the +3 promo active so got 6x points on $15k spend or 90k points. Today I got confirmation emails with “Free Night Certificate” (not just weekends) good for 24 months and upgrade to Diamond status until 31-Mar-2023.
This is a great opportunity if you are a Surpass card holder going for the $15k FN anyway.
Now on to repeating for P2. Might need to look at the timing of when to hit $15k spend if all of the FN certs in 2021 are good for 24 months from when issued.
Great article Nick!!!
Is my math correct? With the Surpass at 22x, you just need $2700 in Hilton stays to get Platinum until 2022/3? Or $10k in supermarket, gas and restaurant. With the Aspire, you’d have to try not to be Platinum q status with Hilton.
Their motto should be: Hilton: If you are not Platinum, you are nothing.
That’s great! Looking at applying for the Aspire soon. Do you need to stay by the end of 2022 or just book the stay by the end of 2022 with these?
Have to stay by the expiration date.
Will I then keep my Diamond status until 2022 even if I cancel my Aspire?
Yes
A table of when issued and when expire would be helpful!
Also, I had a free night that I had to cancel, I think they gave me 50k points in my account but I can’t seem to find a good way to get points history on Hilton. Is there anyway to verify this?
I second this request. And it would be nice if the table covered every single type of certificate for all of the major hotel brands as well.
IHG we are all watching here! Hilton is being really generous here but one thing I wish they would do is also extend the certs that expire August 2021. They gave us a short extension on those but I wish I could use mine later in 2021.
C’mon IHG! 🙂