Even though it may feel like the U.S. is returning to normal, the travel industry is still on its head. Fewer business trips, an increased desire to drive versus fly and ongoing, inconsistent COVID-related rules — like varied mask requirements — might have changed the way you travel. On a global scale, the COVID-19 pandemic is still hurting the broader travel industry. Many countries are still closed to tourists.

Because of that, many hotels have changed (and continue to change) their rewards policies, including extending expiration dates to help welcome customers back — whenever they're ready.

If you have free night certificates waiting in your account or points in danger of expiring, here are the changes major hotels are making that you need to know about.

Hilton

Hilton was one of the first hotel chains to announce generous policy changes to let customers keep their points and free weekend night certificates active.

Usually Hilton Honors points expire if you don’t have any activity in your account every 12 months, but Hilton has extended the expiration on all points until Dec. 31, 2022, and moving forward, points won't expire until you've gone 24 months without account activity. All qualifying nights earned in 2021 will also rollover into 2022.

If you have one of the co-branded Hilton credit cards from American Express, you may have earned a free weekend night reward. Unexpired free weekend night rewards can now be used any night of the week (not just on weekends). Expiration on all free nights earned in 2021 has been paused until the end of 2022, with nights earned in 2022 expiring 12 months from their date of issuance.

Nights earned between July 1, 2020, and the end of 2020 now expire 24 months from their date of issuance (Dec. 31, 2022, is the last eligible date).