World of Hyatt will count award stays towards elite status on January 1, 2018. This is fantastic news! In addition, they’ve extended the validity date on free night awards. Keep reading to find out more and how to earn more Hyatt points.
World of Hyatt to Count Award Stays Towards Elite Status
Photo courtesy: Andaz Maui
Starting January 1, 2018, your free night stays will count towards elite status through World of Hyatt. So you can earn stay credit when you use points to stay for free at any Hyatt hotel worldwide.
This is awesome news and means that along with Hilton, Marriott, and Starwood, you can earn elite status on award nights.
Free Night Awards Valid Longer
World of Hyatt also announced that the free night awards you earn after qualifying stays or earning points are valid longer starting January 1, 2018.
You can double dip free nights! Starting January 1, 2018, you can use points to qualify for stays. This means that you can earn additional free nights when you’re staying on points.
Free Night After 30 Stays or 50,000 Points
You can earn a free night in a Category 1 to 4 hotel when you stay 30 nights at Hyatt or earn 50,000 base points in a calendar year. These awards expire after 120 days.
On January 1, 2018, these free night awards will expire after 180 days. So you’ll have an extra 60 days to use them. Sixty days may not seem like a lot but it gives you a bit more flexibility.
Free Night After 60 Stays or 100,000 Points
When you stay 60 nights or earn 100,000 base points in a calendar year, you earn a free night in a Category 1 to 7 hotel. Like the free night after 30 stays or 50,000 points award, this expires in 120 days.
Starting January 1, 2018, you’ll have 180 days to use your free Category 1 to 7 hotel award.
How to Earn More Hyatt Points
Because your free nights at Hyatt will count towards elite status, here are a few ways to earn more Hyatt points.
World of Hyatt Card
You can earn 30,000 bonus points with the World of Hyatt credit card after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Because free nights start at 5,000 points, this means you’ll earn 6 free nights at Hyatt. And those 6 nights will count towards elite status.
Here’s how to earn more Hyatt points when you use your Hyatt card:
- 4 points per $1 spent at all Hyatt hotels worldwide
- 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased from the airline, car rentals, fitness membership, and local transit
- 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else
World of Hyatt Business Card
You can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card.
Earn additional World of Hyatt points from spending:
- 4 points per $1 spent at all Hyatt hotels worldwide
- 2 points per $1 spent on your top three spend eligible categories each quarter through December 31, 2024 then your top two categories.
- 2 points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pro-tip: You earn 5 elite qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year on the World Of Hyatt Business Credit Card.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. These cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Buy Hyatt Points
One of the easiest ways to get more Hyatt points is to buy them. Hyatt sells points for 2.4 cents a point in 1,000 increments. So you can buy 1,000 points for $24.
Should you buy points? Read my post, the only time you should buy hotel points to find out when you should buy points.
Conclusion
I’m pretty excited about these two new changes at World of Hyatt on January 1, 2018. Free stays will count towards elite status. And that free night awards earned through stays or points are valid for 6 months. But mostly, I’m thrilled that free night awards will count towards elite status.
Now’s a good time to make sure you’re earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points. If you aren’t subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule you should think about getting a card that earns Hyatt points like the Hyatt card.
Or a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to Hyatt .
I’m heading to Asia in January and can’t wait to start earning elite status when I pay with points.
Which Hyatt hotel are you staying at on points to earn elite status?
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