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Yesterday, American Airlines and Hyatt announced a new partnership where Elite loyalists of both brands will be able to not only earn points for stays and flights within each loyalty program, but an additional point in the partner’s program alongside those base earnings. That’s a great deal and a win/win as long as you carry some sort of elite status. Let’s break down this new deal.
If you’re flying on American Airlines
- If you’re Discoverist, Explorist, or Globalist you’ll earn a bonus World of Hyatt point for every dollar spent on AA flights
If you’re staying at Hyatt hotels
- If you’re Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, or Concierge Key – you’ll earn a bonus Aavantage mile for every eligible dollar you spend at qualifying Hyatt hotels.
If you’re one of the uber elite AA Concierge Key members, congratulations, you’ll receive comped Globalist status.
This is huge. Globalists not only get free lounge access and breakfast, but upgrades to standard suites. As far as I can tell, its unknown as to whether this Globalist status will coincide with a full fledged, suite upgrade certificates and all, globalist status, or a watered down version. Regardless…it’s a monster perk for Concierge Key members.
Status challenges in both directions.
Each company will extend unique status challenges for their elite members, and the status you’re challenging for will be extended to you during the challenge window.
Unique to this collaboration, AAdvantage Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members, and Explorist and Globalist World of Hyatt members will also have the opportunity to participate in limited time status challenges. Upon registering, these elite members will be able to immediately enjoy their new loyalty benefits in the reciprocal program tier as they work to maintain that elite tier status. AAdvantage elite members will have access to World of Hyatt elite status benefits, including a dedicated check-in area, late check-out upon request, room upgrades and free premium internet. World of Hyatt elite members will have access to AAdvantage elite status benefits such as priority boarding, free checked bags, free preferred seats and more.
When does this happen?
The press release says sometime later this year.
Analysis
It’ll be interesting to see what status challenge parameters ultimately end up being. It would be a major win if Hyatt Elites were able to challenge for AA status without an EQD requirement. This is highly unlikely, but one thing it should be it richer than the status challenges AA usually extend for a price.
As a Hyatt Explorist ( matched from MGM ) this is welcome news. I don’t carry any status with AA anymore, but do travel on them domestically here and there. If I were able to do a challenge with minimal spend requirement to Platinum I’d be interested especially if it fell after July ( the status would last for nearly 20 months then).
No one really loses in this partnership. You can still earn your base currency for flight and stays, but also earn Hyatt or AA points concurrently.
How you could Quad earn
Booking a flight on AA:
- Earn AA miles ( Redeemable and Elite )
- Earn AA business Extra Miles
- 1 pt per $5 spent
- Earn Credit Card points
- 5x flights with Amex Platinum
- 3x ( any travel ) with Chase Ink Business Preferred, Sapphire Reserve
- Earn Hyatt Points
We’re all about juicing every ounce of return on flights and hotels. While we’ve stayed loyal to Alaska the last fews years, it’s become increasingly difficult to solely fly AS metal in the states from LA. With this new partnership, it may end up that we try and status match into AA to have a little bit of status for the times end up on AA flights.
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