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Hilton jumped first, by extending status by a year for everybody, even those who failed to re-qualify during 2019. Unsurprisingly (for me at least), Hyatt has done pretty much the same thing…

Elite Status Extension

Status and benefits will be extended for all existing elite members. There will be no need to re-qualify in the usual way. This means that whatever your status was on 31 March, 2020 – whether Discoverist, Explorist or Globalist – you will automatically receive an extension until 28 February, 2022.

Of course you are still free to qualify for a higher level of status during 2020, but good luck with that…

More Time to Use Rewards

Hyatt offers its members something called Milestone Rewards. These are the perks that one normally would associate with elite status, but are instead given out based on the number of nights spent during a calendar year:

All unused Free Night, Suite Upgrade or Club Lounge Access awards with expiration dates between 1 March, 2020 and 31 December, 2020 will be extended until 31 December, 2021. This extension will also apply to existing awards and awards that may be earned throughout this year with a 2020 expiration date. (such as the free night for reaching 30 nights, which would normally expire after 6 months)

More Time to Use Points

Hyatt is suspending the forfeiture of points through 31 December, 2020. As a reminder, Hyatt’s policy is that points will be forfeited if a member’s account is inactive for 24 months.

Postponing Award Chart Changes

This was announced previously by Hyatt. But the introduction of Peak and Off-peak award pricing has been postponed until March 2021. Click here for my original post on the matter.

In addition, the annual award category changes that were due to take place in March were also cancelled.

The Bottom Line

I have always had more confidence in Hyatt than other hotel chains… when it comes to doing the right thing for its most loyal members. The interesting question now is whether Marriott and IHG will follow suit…