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As of January 1, 2018, free night awards with World of Hyatt will count towards the total number of nights earned towards elite status.
Summary of Changes Coming January 1, 2018
There are two changes that take effect January 1, 2018
- Free night awards will count towards the 10, 30, and 60 nights required for Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist status. *Globalist status can requalify at 55 nights in subsequent years.
- Free nights earned for 30 and 60 qualifying nights/year will be valid for 180 days from issuance instead of 120 days.
Our Take
Hyatt is catching up with other major hotel programs, where award nights count towards elite status. Given Hyatt's comparatively small footprint, this makes obtaining elite status with Hyatt significantly more viable.
The 120 to a 180-day extension on free night awards is a welcome improvement; however, we'd still prefer to have these be valid for 365 days.
It is rare that we get an update that includes all improvements in policy. Typically we get a give and take, but this is all give from Hyatt, and honestly, it is needed.
Source: World of Hyatt
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This is a very nice improvement for Hyatt.
wow! ok this is great news! I didn’t know that this is something with hotels. Since I can transfer to Hyatt from UR, this will be helpful.
One thing, and please tell me if this is in a post, how to get hotels that are prepaid credited? I just stayed at a Marriott and couldn’t get the night credited because it was prepaid? My husband likes booking through Expedia and, even though I hate them (work issues), I let him use them. Can only booking through AAA or American Express travel agent or Chases website get points?
If you book through Expedia or Orbitz type sites you will not get credit for the stay. If you book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal or Amex travel portal you won’t receive credit either. If you book an American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts rate you WILL receive credit. The only way to 100% guarantee that you’ll earn credit is to book directly with the hotel/rewards program.
This is a great change!
My new free night does not have the extension on it even though it was just earned.
If it was earned in 2018, I’d suggest reaching out to Hyatt for support.
This change is late in arriving but still welcomed.
Having award nights count towards status makes earning status attainable if someone puts in the effort (including booking for friends and family through your account, etc.) Having only paid nights counting towards status was pretty much impossible for me.
A real enhancement to a loyalty program, for a change. Bravo Hyatt.
This is great news. Especially since Hyatt free nights can be had for relatively few points. It’s such good news that I’m considering switching some stays for my trip in February to a Hyatt. I’ll never make their top status but any status at all can be helpful.
Definitely welcome news
This is a good change but only making it equal to SPG and Hilton etc in that regard.
Good news, but I never stay 60 nights at a hotel
This is a a great move. Will make me consider Hyatt now.
I love a good double -dip!
I’ve been waiting for this for a long time!
Hopefully, next update would bring back 25-stay qualification.
Don’t hold your breath.
about time Hyatt! too bad I’ve been switching loyalty to hilton due to work travels
Music to my ears! I enjoy every Hyatt I’ve ever stayed in!
Most of the hotel chains allow award bookings to count towards status. It is just a shame that the airlines don’t do the same.
Very interesting for those who do a lot of bookings with Hyatt.
Really rare news these days! 99% of the changes in the loyalty programs are always somehow worsening our benefits!
Sometimes there are also positive changes 😉
Must be a blue moon.
finally
Great news! All programs should do this.
Most of them do! Hyatt was a holdout.
Definitely a step in the right direction with positive changes. That does make for a Happy New Year!
It is definitely about time. 60 nights is already hard enough without them all needing to be paid or Points + Cash.
I agree it’s about time for Hyatt to catch up to other programs. However I am sticking to SPG, so much easier to attain platinum status than Hyatt.