Introduction

Hyatt is not one of the largest hotel chains in the world, but have a loyal following amongst frequent travellers. This is because Hyatt has some aspirational properties and that they are great at delivering elite benefits. Their customer service standards are high and their staff offer high levels of service.

You can sign up here:

Membership tiers

There are three levels of membership:

Gold – Entry level after you sign up.  Gold members earn 5 points per US dollar spent at Hyatt properties. Points can be redeemed for free stays or you can add cash to reduce the number of points needed for a stay.

Platinum – After 5 stays (or 15 nights) in a calendar year, Hyatt awards Platinum status. This secures a 15% earning bonus for Gold Passport points. In addition you secure Premium Internet stay when staying at Hyatt. Hyatt also offers 72 hour guaranteed room availability – typically at Rack Rates.

Diamond –  After 25 stays (or 50 nights), Hyatt awards Diamond status – their highest level.  This secures a 30% bonus as well as the Premium Internet offer. Hyatt also offers 48 hour guaranteed room availability – typically at Rack Rates. In addition Hyatt gives 4 confirmed suite upgrades per annum.  Members have a choice of bonus points or a local amenity at check-in – typically 500 or 1000 points depending on the type of property.  Non-resort properties offer a 4pm check-out to Diamond members.  In addition Diamond members secure access to a properties Grand/Regency Club for breakfast and evening snacks.  A full breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant if there is no Grand/Regency Club.  Hyatt is also offering two free United Club passes for one time entry.

Lifetime status is secured after earning 1,000,000 base points – excluding bonus points. Hence a spend of $200,000 is required. You must also have been a status member for 10 years.

Earning points

Points are earned on spend at most properties on most rates when staying at the hotel. You can also earn points for spa and restaurant spend when not a registered guest.

For those not collecting Gold Passport points you can choose airline points or Amtrak credits instead.

Hyatt has a Meeting Planner programme called Planner Rewards which enables earning when arranging a meeting with over 10 rooms associated with the event.

Points can also be earned through stays at MGM properties in Las Vegas. These stays can also earn night stay credits towards elite status, but you cannot double dip with MLife, the MGM loyalty scheme.

Spending points

Points can be redeemed online or via the Hyatt Reservations Centre.

Hyatt divides its properties in to 7 categories and the number of points needed as based on the category in which a property is:

Suites come at higher rates:

For suite redemptions, please note these rules:

Minimum 3-night award stay required at Hyatt, Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Resorts. Award applies to accommodations in the room type category immediately above standard room at Hyatt House. Suite Free Night Awards are not valid at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort , Park Hyatt Sydney, Andaz Tokyo, Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Hyatt Regency Wichita, Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa, Hyatt Manila City of Dreams, Hyatt Santa Barbara, Hyatt Residence Club resorts, Hyatt Place hotels and M life resorts.

Hyatt has a number of all-inclusive properties in Mexico and the Caribbean and they come at a higher redemption rate. Guests greater than 2 in a room require additional Gold Passport points as shown in the chart below:

Hyatt Vacation Club stays require points based on the number of bedrooms required:

• Studio – 12,000 per night
• One Bedroom – 15,000 per night
• Two Bedrooms – 23,000 per night
• Three Bedrooms – 30,000 per night

Points expiry

Points expire after 24 months of no activity on an account

Upgrades using points

An upgrade to Grand/Regency Club is 3,000 points per night

An upgrade to a suite is 6,000 point per night.

Note these rules:

When redeeming Regency Club® or Grand Club® upgrades or suite upgrades at a resort property, you must pay a minimum of the Hyatt Daily Rate deluxe room (such as partial ocean view, ocean view, slope view, etc). At non-resort properties you must pay a minimum of the Hyatt Daily Rate. Suite upgrade awards are not valid at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort , Park Hyatt Sydney, Andaz Tokyo, Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Hyatt Regency Wichita, Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa, Hyatt Manila City of Dreams, Hyatt Santa Barbara, Hyatt Residence Club resorts, Hyatt Place hotels and M life resorts.

Award applies to accommodations in the room type category immediately above standard room at Hyatt House.

Cash and points redemptions

Using the same hotel categories as for Free Nights, it is possible to combine cash with points to redeem a room. These stays count for status and can also have a Diamond Suite Upgrade applied and so are popular and hard to find in some locations.

Airline redemption options

1 airline mile for 2.5 Gold Passport points when exchanging. 5,000 bonus airline miles when converting 50,000 Gold Passport points, giving 25,000 airline miles for 50,000 Gold Passport points.

Some special redemption rates apply:

• 4,000 Aeromexico®/LAN Airlines S.A. kilometers
• 3,200 Air China kilometers
• 3,200 China Eastern Airlines points
• 2,400 Qantas Airways points
• 2,400 Southwest Airlines® points
• 3,000 Virgin Atlantic Airways miles

Other Redemption options

6,000 Gold Passport points can be used for a free days car rental with Avis. This is for an intermediate sized car and the voucher required takes 6-8 weeks to arrive by post having been requested by phone.

You can redeem Gold Passport points for vouchers that be used for dining and spa services at Hyatt Hotels.

UK credit card partnerships

None.

No Amex Transfers

Buying and transferring points

Purchase Points

Purchase Hyatt Gold Passport points to help you earn a free night or room upgrade. Points can be purchased in increments of 1,000, up to 55,000 points per calendar year.

The current price US$24 per 1,000

Give Points

Purchase Hyatt Gold Passport points for friends or family to help the special people in your life earn a free night or room upgrade. Members can receive points in increments of 1,000, up to 55,000 points per calendar year.

The current price US$24 per 1,000

Insideflyer verdict

Hyatt may not have the most properties but hotels such as the Park Hyatt in Sydney, the Park Hyatt in New York and the Grand Hyatt in Shanghai are superb hotels.