The new World of Hyatt Visa Credit Card from Chase is worth the upgrade for most, but not everyone.
The new card offers the following benefits:
- 4 points per $1 spent with your card at Hyatt hotels
- includes most on-site restaurants and spas
- 2 points per $1 for:
- local transit and commuting (taxis, mass transit, tolls and ride-share service)
- restaurants
- cafes
- coffee shops
- airline tickets purchased directly from the airline
- fitness club and gym membership
- 5 elite qualifying nights just for having the card
- 2 additional qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on the card
- 1 free night each year (category 1-4) on your cardmember anniversary.
- 1 additional free night each year (category 1-4) if you spend at least $15,000 on card
- Discoverist status for as long as you have the card, Explorist status if you spend $50,000 or more on the card in a calendar year
- 40,000 bonus points for new sign-ups (those who have or have had the old Hyatt Visa card during the last two years are not eligible) after spending $3,000 on the card within three months of opening account
- 20,000 additional bonus points for spending a total of $6,000 on the card within six months of opening account.
- Annual fee = $95
If you only hold on to the card to obtain the the complimentary anniversary night each year (a free night at a category 1-4 hotel), there is no need to upgrade. Why pay $95/year when the old card has an annual fee of $75/year? But for those who actually stay at Hyatt hotels, the upgrade makes sense.
Three Reasons I’ll Upgrade
If you stay at Hyatt hotels with any frequency, upgrading to this new card makes a lot of sense. I have not used my old card in a long time. Why earn three points per night at a Hyatt when I get the same points (with more flexibility) using my Chase Sapphire Reserve card? But now I’ll earn four points dollar for Hyatt stays. I use Hyatt points all the time for cash + points bookings, so the extra points will be appreciated.
Second, the five elite nights just for opening the card may save me from a mattress run later in the year. Last year, a mattress run was not necessary. This year, I’m already at 35 nights with only 20 to go. I don’t think I will need the extra nights because of all the travel I’ve done this year, but I love the flexibility. It may well come in handy in future years. Earning two additional nights for each $5K on the card provides even more help in ensuring that I re-qualify for Globalist status each year.
Lastly, putting $15K on the card will not be too difficult. The extra free night is icing on the cake, but I’ll take it. My wife like Santa Barbara, even if the property is dumpy…
How To Upgrade
Current cardholders can upgrade to the new World of Hyatt card by calling 1-800-436-7941. Eventually, the ability to upgrade will be available online. Cardholders will receive a 2,000 miles sign-up bonus for upgrading the card. That’s hardly anything to get excited about, though is worth the $20. You cannot hold both the old and new card simultaneously.
CONCLUSION
For the extra $20/year, I’ll certainly upgrade my Hyatt Visa credit card for extra benefits described above. For frequent Hyatt guests, this upgrade is a no-brainer. But even for the less loyal Hyatt guest who is able to put at least $15K on the card each year, the new World of Hyatt Visa makes sense for the extra free night and bonus earnings on several categories, some of which do not overlap the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve.
I’m not really seeing an incentive to upgrade… why not just cancel and apply for the new card since 5/24 doesnt apply?
Same question as Evan. That’s my plan. I cancelled 7/1 and plan to re-apply on 8/1.
It’s possible to cancel and re-apply, but I have some (irrational, perhaps) fear that Hyatt will deny the bonus.
When asked about this, Hyatt said–
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE current cardholders take the upgrade route. There’s a lot of benefit in doing it this way. For example, members can keep their current account number.
That’s a green light, I suppose.
upgrade is also not good i it also reset the anniversary date that further delay a free night award & possibly pay another AF
I’m told it does not reset the anniversary night.
No, I think your fear is very reasonable given Chase’s new stinginess. I’ll find out next month!
Their account number argument is very weak. Who cares unless you have your Hyatt card set for recurring charges which would have been a terrible idea on the old card?
Re-applied 8/1. Approved!
Isn’t the main reason not to cancel and reapply to avoid eyes on one’s accounts in this climate of Chase shutdowns?
Where do we use the points for airline tarvel? Is it 1 to 1..
From Chase, you can transfer to United, Singapore, British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic, or Flying Blue.
I love that you don’t have affiliate links and constantly push credit cards. But why do you use Lucky’s links?
Is it that obvious? Since I didn’t have my own I figured I’d just try to help a friend out.
That’s cool. Not obvious, I hovered over the link to see.
Lucky’s link? How lame.
The telephone number to upgrade is missing a digit. Can you please include the missing digit?
Fixed. Thanks.
Matthew,
if i don’t have a bank account in US can i apply for this credit card?
Do you have a U.S. social security number?
I just upgraded my card. Very disappointed in Hyatt and Chase. I was told by Chase that if I upgraded (rather than cancel and re-apply for the 60k point bonus) I would receive credit for all of my year to date spending towards qualifying nights. I chose this route because my YTD spending on the Hyatt card was over $100k. Well, when my statement updated this was not the case. Contacted Hyatt, but nobody has been helpful. Huge disappointment.