As 2020 (finally) comes towards a close, it's time to begin strategizing 2021 travel. I expect work travel will be significantly reduced through most, if not the whole year, so I'll need to be even more particular about any travel I do have to maximize my points earnings and statuses.
Hotels
1. Hyatt
Of the 3 major US-based hotel chains, Hyatt has the smallest footprint. However, I value their reward points the most. Hyatt just announced 2021 status qualification requirements will be cut in half, so I'll definitely be planning to stay with Hyatt as much as possible (I already have 9 Hyatt nights booked for our Honeymoon - fingers crossed that we can go!).
I've been able to take advantage of Hyatt's fixed award chart to stay at some incredible properties (like the Park Hyatt Tokyo pictured below). And any point shortfalls I can supplement by transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earning status with Hyatt is quite valuable as well and you'll earn milestone rewards along the way. The standard thresholds for status (noted below) will be halved in 2021, but no changes have yet been announced to the milestone tiers in between.
20 nights: 2 Club Lounge Access Awards
30 nights (Explorist): 1 Free Night (Cat 1-4) + 2 Club Lounge Access Awards
40 nights: 5,000 bonus points OR $100 Gift Card
50 nights: 2 Suite Upgrade Awards
60 nights (Globalist): 1 Free Night (Cat 1-7) + 2 Club Lounge Access Awards + Free Breakfast
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Some of the important updates for 2021 that have been announced so far:
Status held as of March 31, 2020 is extended to February 28, 2022
All points expiration has been paused until June 30, 2021
Any rewards expiring in 2020 have been extended through December 31, 2021
The 2020 planned implementation of peak and off-peak award pricing has been postponed until 2021
2021 Status qualifications cut in half to 30 nights for Globalist
2. Marriott
Marriott is the largest hotel chain in the world, so it's always great to have status since there's probably going to be a Marriott where you're going if nothing else. In 2021, Marriott will be my second go-to if a Hyatt isn't available or if Marriott is running a promotion. I don't think Marriott points are as valuable as Hyatt points, but having Marriott's Titanium status can be very rewarding. For example, both Gwen and I received free breakfast at the Ritz Kyoto each day of our stay and could choose between the traditional Japanese breakfast or one of the best breakfast buffets we've ever had (Andaz Maui's breakfast is pretty amazing too).
Japanese Breakfast at the Ritz Carlton Kyoto
Marriott hasn't yet announced any changes for 2021 qualification, but I expect they will follow suit shortly and likely cut their requirements in half.
3. Hilton
Hilton is typically my last choice for a couple of reasons:
I don't feel I get much additional value in being a Diamond member vs. Gold. Gold gets you free breakfast and in my experience Diamond has really only gotten me some extended late check-outs and room upgrades that I might not have gotten as a Gold member.
You can buy Diamond status by holding the Hilton Aspire Credit Card (annual fee $450). So, if I really wanted status and couldn't get it by staying enough nights, I could simply just purchase the highest status level. There's no way to purchase the highest status with Hyatt and Marriott.
Hilton has an option to achieve Diamond status with 30 stays (OR 60 nights). So, usually I'll target Hiltons for any single night stays, and target other hotel chains for stays of 2 nights or more.
Hilton has already announced the requirements in 2021 will be halved AND any nights from 2020 will rollover. I had 9 nights in 2020 so I would need just 21 additional nights in 2021 to achieve Diamond, although I'll still be aiming to just stay 15 single nights to achieve Diamond next year.
Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Some of the important updates for 2021 that have been announced so far:
Status earned in 2019 has been extended through March 31, 2022
All points expiration has been paused until December 31, 2021
2021 Status qualifications cut in half to 30 nights or 15 stays for Diamond
Diamond members can gift gold status to someone else (normally requiring 60 nights)
Diamond members will be able to gift gold status to someone else in 2021 after staying 30 nights (normally requiring 60 nights)
All weekend night certificates can now be used any day of the week
Certificates issued before May, 2020 are valid through August 31, 2021
Certificates issued between May 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 are valid for 24 months
Certificates issued January 1, 2021 and after are valid through December 31, 2022
Airlines
1. United Airlines
As I'm based in Chicago, my loyalty has always been with United since they can get me to the most destinations on direct flights. I don't anticipate that changing so any travel I do take in 2021 will likely be with United. Here are some notable changes to the program to keep in mind for the coming year:
Status that would normally expire January 31, 2021 is extended to January 31, 2022
PlusPoints that would normally expire January 31, 2021 are extended to January 31, 2022
Status qualifications are reduced for 2020 - Premier 1K thresholds are 9,000 PQP + 24 PQF OR 12,000 PQP only (a 50% reduction from standard thresholds). Note that if you already had status through January 31, 2021, your status is automatically extended through January 31, 2022. Qualifying again in 2020 will earn you additional PlusPoints
Status qualifications are reduced for 2021 - Premier 1K thresholds will be 13,500 PQP + 36 PQF OR 15,000 PQP only (a 25% reduction from previous thresholds)
If you hold status at the end of 2020, you'll get an automatic PQP deposit in 2021 for 25% of the PQP only requirement based on the status you have. That means for Premier 1K, you'll get 3,750 PQP for free in 2021
Through Q1 of 2021, the first 3 trips premier members take will earn double PQP, with a 300 PQP minimum (general members will earn 1.5 PQP). This means, if you booked 3 cheap one way segments, you could earn 900 bonus PQP. I'm currently looking at knocking this out in a day since I don't foresee any other travel coming for me through March 2021
2. American Airlines
I typically only fly American when it's the only option available, but here are some important changes American has announced so far:
Status that would normally expire January 31, 2021 is extended to January 31, 2022
Upgrades that would normally expire January 31, 2021 are extended to July 31, 2021
Status qualifications are reduced for 2020 - Executive Platinum thresholds are 60,000 EQMs OR 60 EQSs + $9,000 EQDs (down from 100,000 EQMs OR 120 EQSs + $15,000 EQDs). Note that if you already had status through January 31, 2021, your status is automatically extended through January 31, 2022. Qualifying again in 2020 will earn you additional systemwide upgrades
Status qualifications are reduced for 2021 - Executive Platinum thresholds are 80,000 EQMs OR 95 EQSs + $12,000 EQDs (down from 100,000 EQMs OR 120 EQSs + $15,000 EQDs)
Any flights taken from October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 will count toward 2021 status qualification
EQD requirement can be waived for all status levels except Executive Platinum if you spend $30,000 on a co-branded credit card
Executive Platinum thresholds are reduced to 120,000, 160,000, and 200,000 EQMs (down from 150,000, 200,000, and 250,000)
In Summary
Check for updates to program changes for 2021 - most qualification thresholds have been reduced
With limited travel, focus on the programs which provide you the most value
Keep an eye on the expiration dates for any free night awards or points
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