Should you upgrade to the new Hyatt credit card? You can earn 50,000 points and earn lots of free nights. But should you upgrade?
Steve sent me a Facebook message asking if he should upgrade to the new Hyatt card:
I’m looking forward to you recapping these Hyatt credit card changes. I am wondering when I get the 5 qualifying nights … is it at renewal? If it is and my renewal already happened this calandar year, can I still get 2 nights for every $5,000 in spend?
I’m excited about this new Hyatt credit card… I’m already at 30 nights….. if I upgrade and put some spend on this I might actually make Globalist again!
Let’s take a look at who should and shouldn’t upgrade.
Should You Upgrade to the New World of Hyatt Credit Card
The bonus on the old Hyatt card was 2 free nights or 40,000 points if you applied after June 29, 2017. The current bonus for the Hyatt card is 50,000 points.
You can earn 25,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Plus an extra 25,000 points when you spend another $3,000 in the first 6 months of opening your account.
World of Hyatt credit card perks:
- 4 points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels
- 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops
- 2 points per $1 spent on airline tickets
- 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, taxis, mass transit, tolls, and ride-share services
- 2 points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1 point on all other purchases
- Free Discoverist status ((free premium Wi-Fi, upgrades, late checkout,)
- 1 free Category 1-4 hotel night on your card anniversary
- 1 free Category 1-4 hotel night after spending $15,000 in your cardmember year
- 5 free qualifying night credits each calendar year
- 2 qualifying night credits every $5,000 spent on your card
If you already have the Hyatt card you also get:
- Free Discoverist status
- Upgrade to Explorist when you spend $50,000 a year
- 3 points per $1 spent at all Hyatt hotels
- 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets and car rentals
- 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else
- A free night at any Category 1 to 4 Hyatt
- Price protection and return protection
Differences Between the Hyatt Cards
Both cards have similar benefits but there are some differences between the Hyatt cards.
In a nutshell, for $20 more a year the new World of Hyatt card gives you:
- 1 extra point at Hyatt hotels
- 2 points on fitness club and gyms
- 5 qualifying nights towards elite status
- 2 qualifying nights with every $5,000 you spend
- 1 Category 1-4 hotel night after spending $15,000 a cardmember year
But you lose:
- 2 points on car rentals
- Explorist status after spending $50,000 in a calendar year
- Price Protection & Return Protection
Who Should Upgrade
If you want to keep or earn Globalist status, it could be worth it to upgrade to the new World of Hyatt card. Here are some examples of when you should upgrade to the new Hyatt credit card.
1. You Stay 50 Nights at Hyatt Each Year
If you come close to reaching Globalist each year but fall short by 5 nights, upgrading to the new Hyatt credit card makes sense.
Because you’ll get 5 elite qualifying nights each year current Globalists will only have to stay 50 nights a year to maintain their status. While new Globalists will only need 55 nights.
Pro-tip: You get the 5 elite nights with a few days upon upgrading. Getting a new card?
2. You Pay for Your Hotels With Your Hyatt Card
Pay all your Hyatt hotel charges on your card and earn Globalist status faster.
Award nights count towards elite qualifying nights. So the more Hyatt points you have, the more free stays, and the quicker you reach Globalist status.
The new card earns 4 points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels. As a World of Hyatt member, you earn 5 points for every $1 spent at Hyatt so you’ll earn 9 points per $1 on Hyatt hotels.
Let’s say you’re going to stay 47 nights at Hyatt hotels and each hotel only costs $100 a night. Paying with your Hyatt credit gets you 42,300 points. With 40,000 points you get 8 free nights at a Category 1 hotel like the Hyatt Regency North Dallas, Park Hyatt Chennai, or Hyatt Regency Kathmandu.
With 47 paid nights and 8 free nights, you’ll have 55 qualifying nights a year. Add those to the 5 qualifying nights a year you get from the Hyatt card and you’ll be a Globalist.
Pro-tip: You save both points and money when using Points + Cash. Plus you’re
3. You Spend a Lot
If you spend a lot you can earn Globalist status through spending. You get 2 elite qualifying nights with every $5,000 you spend and there’s no limit on how many nights you can earn.
Spend $137,500 to earn 55 elite qualifying nights and with the 5 free nights from the card, you’ll be a Globalist. If you’re renewing your Globalist status, you only have to spend $125,000.
The more stays you have, the less you have to spend to earn qualifying nights.
For someone like Steve with 30 elite qualifying nights, after the 5 nights from upgrading his card, he can requalify for Globalist by spending $62,500.
If you’ve stayed 20 nights at Hyatt, if you spend $87,500 with the 5 nights from the card, you’ll have 60 nights. Existing Globalists would only need to spend $75,000.
So you could earn Globalist status with as little as 20 nights and $75,000 in spending.
Pro-tip: Be careful about the type of spending you put on your card because you don’t want Chase to shut you down.
4. You Want More Suite Upgrades
Because you can spend your way towards more elite nights, if you want more suite upgrades you should upgrade to the new Hyatt card.
You earn an extra suite upgrade at 70, 80, 90 and 100 nights. Spending $237,500 earns you 100 qualifying nights (95 on spend + 5 from the card) and 8 suite upgrades.
Got 60 stays? You only need to spend $25,000 to earn another suite upgrade or $100,000 for 4 more suite upgrades.
5. You Want More Free Nights
Not a big spender? you can still earn lots of free nights.
You get a free night after spending $15,000 by your anniversary date. If you use your Hyatt card, you’d also earn 6 elite qualifying nights because you earn 2 nights for every $5,000 you spend.
If you earned at least 2x points on that $15,000 spend, you’d have 30,000 points.
So for $15,000 of spending, you get:
- 1 free Category 1 to 4 night
- 6 elite qualifying nights
- 30,000 points (assuming an earn rate at 2x) or 5 free Category 1 nights
Who Shouldn’t Upgrade
1. You Rarely Stay at Hyatt Hotels
If you rarely stay at Hyatt hotels upgrading to the new card it might not be worth upgrading. But you have to do the math to see if it’s worth paying an extra $20 in yearly fees
2. Spending $15,000 is a Stretch
The new card gives you a second free night when you spend $15,000 a card year. Who doesn’t like a free night, right?
If you don’t have $15,000 worth of expenses in your cardholder year, you’ll spend $150 to spend $15,000.
It might not be worth it unless you use your free night at expensive hotels like the Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara, Andaz Costa Rica, or Park Hyatt Saigon.
How to Upgrade
1. Call Hyatt
If you want to upgrade to the new World of Hyatt card, you can call Chase at 800-436-7941.
Pro-tip: Remember to ask about the 2,000 points to upgrade.
2.Online
You can upgrade online.
Questions
1. Is There an Upgrade Bonus?
There is a 2,000 point upgrade bonus when you upgrade by September 30, 2018, and make one purchase.
2. How Long Do I Have to Wait to Upgrade?
You can upgrade your card immediately.
3. Will My Credit Card Number Change?
Your credit card number will remain the same.
4. Do I Get a New Card?
You’ll get a new card (with your old number) with a new CVC (Credit Card Verification code aka 3 digit code).
Pro-tip: Ask Chase to expedite your card.
5. Can I Still Use My Old Card?
You can use your old card until you receive and activate your new card.
6. When Does Spending Count Towards Elite Nights?
After you upgrade to the new Hyatt card, all spending on your card counts towards earning elite nights.
7. Will I Lose Existing Free Nights?
You won’t lose any existing free nights if you upgrade your card.
8. Does My Anniversary Date Change?
Your anniversary date may change. Read about my experience upgrading and what you need to know after you upgrade your Hyatt card.
Pro-tip: If you recently renewed your card, you’ll have almost a year to spend $15,000 to earn another free night.
Conclusion
Trying to decide if you should upgrade to the new Hyatt credit card? If you stay at a lot of Hyatt hotels or spend a lot, it makes sense to upgrade.
When you upgrade, you can reach Globalist status faster because you get 5 qualifying nights and get 2 qualifying nights for every $5,000 you spend.
But if you rarely stay at Hyatt hotels or can’t spend $15,000 to earn a second free night, you should keep your Hyatt card.
Are you going to upgrade to the new Hyatt credit card?
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Michael
Thursday 25th of October 2018
Upgrading resets the 2-year clock for new signup promo qualification. The new card looks great but better off canceling the old card after 2 years from getting it and applying for the new one to get the signup bonus.
Debra Schroeder
Saturday 27th of October 2018
Hi Michael,
Great point. We know this now. When the card first came out, everyone was told our anniversary date wouldn't change. However, they did. :( I referenced this in my post - https://www.travelingwellforless.com/what-you-need-to-know-after-upgrade-hyatt-card/