Why Hyatt is My Favorite Hotel - Part 2

Yesterday I spoke about the ease with which you could book a Hyatt award stay by transferring Ultimate Reward points into your Hyatt Gold Passport account.  Today. I want to discuss the benefits of the Hyatt Gold Passport program. 

First of all, it is very easy to obtain entry level status in the Gold Passport program.  The only thing you need is a Chase Hyatt Visa card.  The annual fee for this card is $75/year.  The card comes with a sign up bonus of two free nights at ANY Hyatt worldwide.  That is a great deal!  If you already have Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum status when you sign up, in addition to your two free nights, you get two confirmed suite upgrade certificates.  The suite upgrade certificates are good for paid stays up to 7 nights. All you have to do is book the least expensive eligible room, then call the Gold Passport line and they will confirm your upgrade. Pretty Suite! Eligible room rates can usually be discounted rates like AARP or AAA discount, but rooms booked through a third party like Travelocity may not be eligible.  If you already have Gold Passport Diamond status when you sign up, your two free nights are in a suite.

I got my Platinum status by signing up for a Milepoint Premium membership for $59.  One of the sign up perks of membership was instant Hyatt Platinum status for a year.  Once the Platinum status posted to my account, I applied for the Hyatt card and received the two free nights and suite upgrade certificates.

For your $75 annual renewal fee you will receive one free night in a category 1-4 Hyatt property.  That by itself is a great value. 

IMHO, Hyatt treats their elites better than any other major Hotel chain.

After 5 qualifying stays or 15 eligible nights in a calendar year, you will enjoy automatic upgrades to Platinum membership that lets you experience a premium level of benefits and rewards.

• Achieve rewards faster with a 15% point bonus when choosing points
• Enjoy a preferred room including rooms on higher floors or larger rooms, based on availability upon arrival
• Receive the confirmed bed type at check-in
• Stay connected with complimentary in-room Internet access
• Expedite check-in at a dedicated area for elite members
• Ensure a room is always available with our 72-hour guarantee
• Extend your stay until 2:00 p.m. with a late check out request
• Book reservations through an exclusive Platinum line

After 25 eligible stays or 50 eligible nights in a calendar year, you will experience the Diamond level of membership and have access to their most elite benefits and awards.

• Achieve rewards even faster with a 30% point bonus when choosing points
• Enjoy the best room available upon arrival, excluding suites (some properties may offer you one)
• Receive exclusive access to the Regency Club or Grand Club lounge featuring complimentary continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres.
• Enjoy daily complimentary full breakfast in hotels without a club lounge
• Treat yourself to a suite upgrade at the time of reservation four times annually on paid room nights
• Receive a special welcome point bonus or food and beverage amenity during each stay
• Receive a nightly room refresh
• Receive the confirmed bed type at check-in
• Stay connected with complimentary in-room Internet access
• Expedite check-in at a dedicated area for elite members
• Ensure a room is always available with our 48-hour guarantee
• Extend your stay until 4:00 p.m. with a late check out request
• Book reservations through an exclusive Diamond line
 

Hyatt upgrades are usually easier if you email or fax a request ahead of time.  One trick I have found is to visit a site like Trip Advisor.  Usually there is someone on Trip Advisor complaining about their stay.  Someone, (usually the hotel manager) will respond concerning the guests problem.  You then have the name and usually some contact information on the hotel manager.  I will then use that information to make my requests.

Hyatt also has something called a Diamond Challenge.  If you know that you are going to have some paid stays coming up, you can call and request a Diamond Challenge. You must have equivalent status with another hotel chain. The easiest one to get is Hilton by virtue of spending $40,000 on your Citibank Hilton card.

The challenge is for a 60 day Trial Diamond offer (you receive temporary Diamond Status)

You must complete 12 qualifying nights to maintain your Diamond Tier status through the following year.

Eligible nights must be completed at any Hyatt Hotel & Resort worldwide, Hyatt Place or Hyatt Summerfield Suites within 60 days of enrollment

The challenge 60 day period will start on the date of your enrollment and only qualifying nights that are completed after your enrollment will be included

Usually it takes 24 hours for your temporary Diamond Tier level to appear on your Gold Passport account

You will also receive 1,000 bonus points on the first six (6) eligible nights within 60 days. Maximum 6,000 bonus points may be earned. Maximum one trial tier per member

Diamond 30% point bonus will be awarded for all stays during 60-day trial membership period when you chose points for your stay

After you complete 12 eligible nights during our promotion period, Diamond 30% point bonus will be awarded for all eligible stays when you have chosen points for your stay.

Having status with multiple hotel chains increases your chances of being able to book award stays and receive complimentary upgrades.  It can be very easy to obtain status for big spenders as both Starwood and Hilton provide mid tier status just for credit card spending.  Once you have status with one, it becomes easier to obtain it with another.

If you like what you've read, please click the +1, then join others and follow me by adding your name to our subscription list at the top of this page.

About THE POINTS DOCTOR

THE POINTS DOCTOR is Bruce J. Wilderman DDS of Artistic Expressions Dentistry. Dr. Wilderman has a practice limited to Cosmetic Dentistry, serving patients of the Philadelphia Area since 1986. He and wife of 40 years have enjoyed traveling the world in first class since 2012 for little or no money with the points and miles they have earned from the credit card companies. Dr. Wilderman with his 10+ years of experience in the field of miles and points would love to teach you how to do the same. You may reach him at ThePointsDoctor@gmail.com.