Annual benefit of five status nights – what use is this?

[memesweeper]

My year end email is offering me, among other possibilities…

Five Elite Night Credits*

*If you select Elite Night Credits between 1/1/2021 and 1/7/2022, they will be credited toward your 2021 total.

… but I have to make a selection before 7 January? This makes no sense — why would I want elite credits for a previous year? And why tell me I could credit them to next year if I select that benefit after July, but prevent me from actually selecting the benefit in July?

[Gianfranco]

Hi the option of choosing 5 elite night credits would be of use if was enough to tip you into Titanium which is valid then for the following year. This is exactly what I did when I re qualified for platinum at 50 nights. I had 20 nights booked in November which when I added the 5 elite nights credits qualified me for Titanium and generated another Annual Gift choice which I am using for 5 X Suite night upgrades . It could also be of use if you are very close to lifetime status .

[memesweeper]

Ah. Not useful to me, but thanks for the explanation.

SNAs look hit and miss … might be a rare example of the charity donation is the best value?

[Matt]

I think you’re getting confused by American style dates – 1/7/22 is the 7th of January.

I’ve also used my annual choice at 50 nights this year to get the 5 extra nights, to tip me over to Titanium. If that doesn’t apply to you then it’s a fairly useless choice. The SNA apparently can be of use in some hotels (I think more so outside of North America), but I’ve never had any.