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2 Tricks to Get Hyatt Elite Status Without a Hotel Stay

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You get special benefits like free internet, upgrades and breakfast when you have Hyatt elite status.  You can even get discounted and/or waived resort fees and free parking at some Hyatt hotels.

You earn elite status after staying the required number of nights. But you can get Hyatt elite status without staying at a Hyatt, if you know these 2 tricks.

2 Cheap Ways to Get Hyatt Elite Status Without a Hotel Stay Traveling Well For Less

You could get upgraded to an ocean view room at the Grand Hyatt Kauai

 

You’re probably asking, why would you want elite status if haven’t stayed at a Hyatt hotel? Because you might have future vacation plans that include a Hyatt hotel. And getting free internet in your room sure beats having to sit in the lobby on your laptop, tablet, or phone.

Hyatt elite status

Hyatt Platinum

You earn Hyatt Platinum elite status after 5 stays or 15 nights.

As a Hyatt Platinum you get:

  • Free internet
  • Free upgrades (when available)
  • Priority check-in line
  • Late check-out (2 p.m.)
  • 20% discount with My Elite Rate (when available)
  • Confirmed bed type
  • 15% bonus on Hyatt points earned
  • 72 hour room guarantee
Save 20 percent with My Elite rate Traveling Well For Less

20% savings for Hyatt elite members

 

Hyatt Diamond

After 25 stays or 50 nights, you’ll earn Hyatt Diamond elite status.

As a Hyatt Diamond you get:

  • Free internet
  • Free upgrades (when available)
  • Free breakfast
  • Bonus points or a food and beverage welcome amenity
  • 4 suite upgrades each calendar year
  • Priority check-in line
  • Late check-out (4 p.m.)
  • 20% discount with My Elite Rate (when available)
  • Confirmed bed type
  • Nightly room refresh (where available)
  • 30% bonus on Hyatt points earned
  • 48 hour room guarantee
Andaz San Diego french toast Traveling Well For Less

As a Hyatt Diamond, you get free breakfast (up to 4 people) at Hyatt hotels without a lounge

2 Tricks to Get Hyatt Elite Status Without a Hotel Stay

You can get Hyatt Platinum elite status with 0 stays and 0 nights.  That’s right, zero, zilch, none, nil, nada.  Here’s how you can get Hyatt Platinum status without stepping foot in a Hyatt hotel.

1. 1 Click and 120 seconds

When you buy a ticket to Frequent Traveler University Washington, DC, you can get Hyatt Platinum elite status through February 2016.

So you can enjoy free internet, upgrades and discounted rates for more than a year.

FTU Washington DC 2014 Traveling Well For Less

A $149 ticket to Frequent Traveler University Washington, DC, Gets You Hyatt Platinum Elite Status

 

Frequent Traveler University is a weekend conference where you’ll learn how to use your miles and points.

(Of course, you can also learn how to use your miles and points by reading this blog or emailing me with your questions.)

An FTU Washington DC ticket cost $149.  So you’re paying $149 to “purchase” Hyatt Platinum vs staying 5 nights.  In other words, you’re paying $29.80 a night to buy Platinum status.

There aren’t any Hyatt hotel where you can stay for $29.80 a night (taxes included).  Even the Excalibur in Las Vegas isn’t that cheap! (Those pesky resort fees.)

After buying your ticket, email your name and Hyatt Gold Passport number to [email protected].

It will take 4 to 6 weeks for your elite status to reflect on your account.

A list of FAQs about Hyatt Platinum elite status from purchasing a Frequent Traveler University Washington, DC ticket can be found here.

Total Cost: $149

If you’re new to miles and points, this is the easiest way to get Hyatt elite status.  It only takes a couple of minutes and doesn’t require a credit card application.  Plus you get the added benefit of a ticket to FTU Washington, DC.

FTU Washington DC Hyatt Regency Crystal City Traveling Well For Less

Hyatt Regency Crystal City is hosting Frequent Traveler University Washington, DC

 

Kick it up a notch and resell your ticket

You could significantly reduce your cost of purchasing Hyatt Platinum elite status by reselling and transferring your FTU Washington, DC ticket.

You’ll pay a $25 transfer free, but you could recoup up to $124, and you get to keep your elite status.  (Hyatt Platinum status only goes to the original buyer, not the transferee.)

You might even get lucky and someone may pay the transfer fee for you.  But that might not happen because the Frequent Traveler University isn’t sold out.

Total Cost: $25

This is the cheapest way to get Hyatt elite status for someone who’s already into the miles and points game and doesn’t have Hyatt elite status, because they lost it, are maxed out on how many Chase cards they can have, or doesn’t want a hard pull on their credit report.

Match, Set, Score

If you have elite status from another hotel, you can status match to Hyatt Platinum status.  But you should save your Hyatt status match for a Hyatt Diamond challenge where you’ll get more benefits and the rewards are greater (daily breakfast and 4 suite upgrades a year).

With a Hyatt Diamond challenge you can earn Hyatt Diamond status after staying 12 nights in 60 days.  You get Hyatt Diamond status and 4 Diamond suite upgrades while you’re enrolled in the challenge.  So you get to sample what you get as a Hyatt Diamond.

To enroll in a Hyatt Diamond challenge you can call Hyatt at 800-304-9288. Or email [email protected].

2. 5 Minutes and a little more work

You can get Hyatt Platinum elite status from the Hyatt credit card.

The Hyatt credit card gets you 2 free nights at any Hyatt worldwide after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months.  The $75 annual fee is waived.

To make your minimum spending without much effort, you could buy 2 gift cards and:

  • Load your Bluebird card
  • Load your Serve card
  • Convert to Money Orders
  • Load to PayPal

Total cost: $6 to $11.30 depending on the type of gift cards purchased and if you had to convert the gift cards to Money Orders.

This works for anyone, newbie or old timer.  Think of it as 2 free nights at any Hyatt worldwide for $6.

Bluebird American Express Traveling Well For Less

Load your Bluebird with gift cards and get Hyatt Platinum Elite Status

 

What are other tricks or cheap ways to get Hyatt elite status that don’t require a hotel stay?

Disclosure: The Hyatt credit card link is provided as a courtesy. I do not receive a commission on credit cards.

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TTN

Tuesday 14th of October 2014

Found it. Nevermind, I read the MS stuff with the credit card.

Debbie @ Traveling Well For Less

Tuesday 14th of October 2014

Hi TTN,

Glad you found it. Let me know if you have any other questions or need help.

TTN

Tuesday 14th of October 2014

"Load your Bluebird with gift cards and get Hyatt Platinum Elite Status" but no further info. Please explain.

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