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Ask any Globalist member what their favorite perks are, and chances are it's the complimentary breakfast, the guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, or even the waived resort fees. But what most won't even mention is a nifty perk I've taken advantage of many times: World of Hyatt Points Advance bookings.
If you've ever found the perfect award redemption for your perfect travel dates only to realize you don't have enough points in your account, this benefit is for you.
Here's how the Hyatt Points Advance works.
How Hyatt Points Points Advance Bookings Work
World of Hyatt Globalist members enjoy valuable benefits, many of which are prominently featured on Hyatt's website. But the Points Advance Booking benefit is a little-known perk that isn't advertised beyond the World of Hyatt terms and conditions — which I'm quite confident I'm one of the very few people who have read them in detail.
Points Advance Bookings allow Globalist members to secure an award stay even when they don't have enough points for the redemption. If you attempt to book an award stay online without enough points, Hyatt won't let you complete the reservation and will instead suggest purchasing additional points.
Buying points is generally a poor value proposition — unless you're able to pair a buy points promotion with a solid redemption. If you know you'll earn the required points soon, it's worth making a Points Advance booking.
How to Make Hyatt Points Points Advance Booking
To book an award stay without the required points, simply call Hyatt's customer service or — even better — contact your trusty My Hyatt Concierge. They can secure the reservation and lock in the rate available at the time of booking rather than whatever rate may be available by the time you've earned the necessary points.
But there are some caveats.
Caveats to making a Points Advance reseration
First of all, Hyatt Points Advance bookings are only possible when you do not have enough points for the reservation. In other words, if you already have sufficient points in your account, you won't be eligible to use this benefit.
Also, the bill eventually comes due. If points aren't available in your account at least one week before check-in, your reservation may be either canceled or changed to whatever the current cash rate for a standard room is. This could cost you hundreds of dollars, so make sure you either have the points or proactively cancel the reservation at least one week before the check-in date.
If you're hoping to turn an award stay into the suite of your dreams, beware of the fine print. You can't apply your Hyatt Suite Upgrade Award until after the required points have been deducted from your account. If you're concerned standard suites will be gone, make sure to earn or transfer the necessary points as soon as possible, then have your My Hyatt Concierge deduct them and immediately apply your suite upgrade award.
When to Use a Hyatt Points Advance Booking
When I first became a Globalist member years ago and started enjoying everything that came with it, I didn't think I'd get much value from this proverbial points “IOU.” But over the years, I've used Points Advance bookings multiple times while planning my travels. Here are a few situations where they've come in quite handy:
- Just before Hyatt category changes go into effect, allowing me to lock in a lower award rate.
- When planning stays around holidays or major sporting and cultural events, allowing me to secure a room before hotels sell out.
- While waiting for an award stay cancellation to process before my points show up in my account again.
- While waiting on a points transfer from a transferable currency like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards.
- While waiting on a points transfer from a friend or family member, which can only be done once every 30 days and requires submitting a form by email or, incredibly, fax.
- While I wait for my The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees) points to post after a large purchase.
- Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays - 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Member FDIC
- Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
Bottom Line
Hyatt Points Advance bookings can be a valuable tool when you find the perfect Hyatt hotel award stay but don't yet have enough points in your account. The benefit gives you time to earn or transfer the required points while ensuring you don't miss out on the award availability you found.
Points Advance bookings are officially available only to top-tier Globalist members, making them yet another reason frequent Hyatt guests may want to pursue World of Hyatt status.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
