As airlines and hotels start to ponder ways to keep travelers’ loyalty while they’re stuck at home, the first response was obvious: extend any existing elite status an extra year. But what about people who don’t have status already, like me? I’m a mere Hyatt Explorist hoping to reach Globalist status in 2020. (Check out my complete guide to World of Hyatt for more information about the different tiers and benefits.)
Some of the credits I’ve earned already have been with my World of Hyatt credit card issued by Chase, which normally earns 2 tier-qualifying nights with each $5,000 spent in a calendar year. It would take $150,000 to earn all 60 tier-qualifying nights needed for Globalist status, although the card already comes with a few free credits each year, and of course I’m also earning some nights the hard way with my head in a bed.
Beginning now (April 15) through June 30, 2020, Hyatt and Chase are increasing the number of tier-qualifying nights you can earn. World of Hyatt credit card members can get three tier-qualifying nights instead of the usual two for every $5,000 they spend. That’s one bonus night. In addition, legacy Hyatt Credit Card members (with the old Hyatt logo and a darker grey) can earn two tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent. Normally the legacy card does not earn any nights.
Unclear what spend counts? Imagine a meter that keeps ticking up as you spend more on your card. When it hits $5,000, the meter resets and you’ll get three tier-qualifying nights added to your World of Hyatt account for 2019.
Now here’s the important part. I’ve confirmed with Hyatt that the eligible period of April 15 through June 30 applies to the date when you reach that $5,000 threshold. If you spent $4,000 before this eligible period and then spend $1,000 during it, you would reach $5,000 and earn the bonus qualifying night. It’s nice to see the rules are written in a way that takes into account prior spend and gives some people a small boost.
Second, Chase is offering new card members some extra perks. Beginning April 15 and through June 30, 2020, new World of Hyatt card members will automatically receive 10 tier-qualifying nights instead of the usual five. The World of Hyatt credit card already includes complimentary Discoverist status each year, and you’ll be closer to earning Explorist status after reaching a total of 30 tier-qualifying nights. Approved new card members will continue to receive the current bonus offer of up to 50,000 World of Hyatt points.
I view both of these offers as a nice bonus to encourage people to stay engaged with the World of Hyatt program and its co-branded credit cards, especially as some people are cutting back on spending and few if any are booking hotel rooms.
However, I also think Hyatt still needs to think about what it will do to adjust the tier qualification requirements for 2020. A couple extra bonus nights isn’t going to be enough to help someone like me earn Globalist status when I am still 40 nights away from my goal with no sign of travel picking up in the near future. I’m not impatient — there are plenty of valid posts telling people it’s too early to complain — but it is something that still needs to be addressed at some point.
