Airlines Deals Hotels

American and Hyatt make big changes to their partnership

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The partnership launched back in 2019 with status matches and join earning, and I’ve been earning both currencies whenever I fly or stay ( woot woot ) along with taking advantage of two status matches to Platinum Pro courtesy of my Globalist status. That is changing in a big way and in its place will be the ability for AA members to use miles for Hyatt free nights and earn Hyatt elite status as a choice reward. For Hyatt members, they will have the ability to choose various AA perks as well as status as a milestone reward. NOTE THESE AREN’T PERKS ADDED, but rather they must be chosen en lieu of other benefits. Like why would you choose Hyatt Explorist status over System Wide Upgrades on American

Notably:

These are some of the new perks/benefits that take effect next year ( at different times based on the elite status year ) and the benefits, by in large, are just choices added to the Milestone categories or Choice rewards.

  • American
    • members can use miles for Hyatt free nights at 40k Loyalty Points ( cat 1-4 cert ) and 125k Loyalty Points ( cat 1-7 cet ).
      • 25k AA miles for the cat 1-4
      • 65k AA miles for the 1-7

Personally I think these aren’t great uses of AA miles so wouldn’t do either

  • American
    • members will earn Hyatt status
      • 100k Loyalty Points you can choose Discoverist as a choice reward
      • 175k or 250k you can choose Explorist Status as a benefit choice

I don’t think I’d choose either of these as benefits as either

  • Hyatt
    • members will earn Gold and Platinum status
      • 70,80, 90 nights you can choose AA Gold as a choice reward
      • 100 nights = you can choose AA Platinum as a choice reward

The only one on this list that that is worthwhile would be the 100 night gang where you can choose AA Platinum as a benefit.

Remember that card spend counts toward AA loyalty Points and the World of Hyatt personal card earns 5 elite nights just for having it and 2 nights every $5k you spend, the business version earns 5 nights for every $10k spend. If you spend $200k on the hyatt business card you’d get 100 nights at Hyatt, earn Globalist + AA platinum and that’s without staying at any Hyatt hotels. Would I choose this… probably not unless I had a ton of spend and a huge cache of points elsewhere.

Per Hyatt/American Airlines

New Rewards Coming Soon for AAdvantage® and World of Hyatt Members

Members who link their AAdvantage® and World of Hyatt accounts can choose from several benefits at every level:

  •  AAdvantage®:
    • Starting January 2, 2025, AAdvantage® members can unlock the ability to redeem miles for World of Hyatt Free Night Awards:
      • Category 1–4 Free Night Award: At 40,000 Loyalty Points or the AAdvantage Gold® level, AAdvantage® members unlock the ability redeem miles for a World of Hyatt Category 1–4 Free Night Award.
      • Category 1–7 Free Night Award: At 125,000 Loyalty Points or the AAdvantage Platinum® level, AAdvantage® members unlock the ability redeem miles for a World of Hyatt Category 1–7 Free Night Award.
    • Beginning March 1, 2025, World of Hyatt awards will be a choice within AAdvantage® Loyalty Point Rewards:
      • Discoverist status: AAdvantage® members unlock World of Hyatt Discoverist status at 100,000 Loyalty Points to take advantage of preferred rooms, +10% Bonus Points on eligible purchases, 2 p.m. late checkout and more.
      • Explorist status: AAdvantage® members can choose World of Hyatt Explorist status at the 175,000 and 250,000 Loyalty Points Reward levels respectively to enjoy upgraded rooms, +20% Bonus Points on eligible purchases, 2 p.m. late checkout and more.
      • Category 1–4 Free Night Award: At the 400,000, 550,000 and 750,000 Loyalty Points Reward levels respectively, AAdvantage® members can choose a World of Hyatt Category 1–4 Free Night Award.
      • Category 1–7 Free Night Award: At the 1M, 3M and 5M Loyalty Point Reward levels respectively, AAdvantage® members unlock the ability to choose a World of Hyatt Category 17 Free Night Award.
  • World of Hyatt: 
    • Beginning January 1, 2025, AAdvantage® rewards will be a choice within the World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards at almost every milestone — from seat upgrades to status upgrades:
      • Preferred Seat Coupons: At 20 and 30 nights or 35,000 and 50,000 base points respectively, World of Hyatt members can choose two (2) Preferred seat coupons on American Airlines flights.
      • Main Cabin Extra Seat Coupons: At 40 and 50 nights or 65,000 and 80,000 base points respectively, World of Hyatt members can choose two (2) Main Cabin Extra seat coupons on American Airlines flights.
      • Gold Status: At 70, 80 and 90 nights respectively, World of Hyatt members will get the choice of AAdvantage Gold® status, valid for the full status membership year.
      • Platinum Status: Starting at 100 nights, World of Hyatt members will get the choice of AAdvantage Platinum® status, valid for the full status membership year.
    • Starting January 1, 2025, World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members can unlock the ability to redeem World of Hyatt points for AAdvantage® Status for a Day:
      • AAdvantage Gold® Status for a Day: For 5,000 World of Hyatt points, Explorists or Globalists can enjoy complimentary upgrades when available, one free checked bag, priority check-in, a 40% mileage bonus and more.
      • AAdvantage Platinum® Status for a Day: For 8,000 World of Hyatt points, Explorists or Globalists can enjoy complimentary upgrades, two free checked bags, priority check-in, a 60% mileage bonus and more.
      • AAdvantage Platinum Pro® Status for a Day: For 12,000 World of Hyatt points, Globalists can enjoy complimentary upgrades, three free checked bags, priority check-in, an 80% mileage bonus and more.

What do you think?

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1 Comment

  • Edward November 1, 2024

    Do you think the Status for a Day thing would give you the OneWorld Status as well? Like if I needed to bring checked luggage and wanted to also check out some biz class lounges in Asia, would it be worth it? Is that even an option?

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