In 2021, Hyatt elites maintain their status from 2019/2020 but Hyatt’s milestones disappoint and sadly, my prediction from four years ago becomes reality.
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Hyatt Milestone Disappointment
As travel begins to restart, I consulted My Hyatt Concierge regarding some issues with my account. Principally, my Category 1-7 certificate was missing. This is one of the single-most valuable benefits of elite status with Hyatt, and frankly, it puts it long past any other program as a result.
Other chains grant the same “suite upgrade at check-in subject to availability” that Hyatt Globalist features, but few deliver as consistently as Hyatt has for me. Marriott offers confirmed suite upgrades in advance of a stay, but not up to 28 nights as Hyatt does in its (4) confirmed suite upgrade awards for up to (7) nights each.
The value of the Category 1-7 Certificate stands alone and is worth up to $1400 depending on where it is redeemed and if a suite is granted on that redemption. (The Park Hyatt New York comes to mind)
However, when I called in to discuss the issue my questions were answered with the most disappointing reality. The 60-night milestone hadn’t been achieved in the prior year, so while Globalist status holders weren’t dropped down to a lower tier like Explorer or Discoverist status, milestone benefits that weren’t achieved based on the night thresholds, were and were not awarded as Hyatt saw fit.
World of Hyatt Milestone rewards benefits are as follows:
- 10,000 bonus points
- 5,000 bonus points or $100 Hyatt Gift Card
- Free Night Award (Category 1-4)
- Free Night Award (Category 1-7)
- (4) Suite Upgrade awards (to a standard suite)
- (4) Club Lounge Access Awards
Sadly, I Predicted This Four Years Ago
I found the separation of status and status rewards incredibly disappointing and oddly difficult to understand. How could one have status without the benefits? The benefits are the only reason a traveler would a little more money, a few more nights in a Hyatt over another chain in a better location for less money.
Hyatt press relations had messaged at the time that wasn’t really a separation, that those who had earned the status would enjoy the benefits. They had claimed that there were no instances that they could find at the time in which one could earn the status without earning the benefits. In Hyatt’s defense, they viewed the milestones, which are progressive, as an opportunity to garner benefits en route to a higher status.
I pointed out in this post that there was at least one way that it was false from the start, then I found others. Last year COVID-19 hit, status was extended, and while I had assumed that since many milestones were in my account that they all were. Silly me. It’s not Hyatt’s responsibility to ensure that I understand what is and is not included when they extend my Globalist status complimentarily. However, this seemed like a pretty big shortfall.
On Balance, Still Better
When compared with shocking programs like IHG (who had a devaluation so bad they have now walked it back – twice!) or Marriott Bonvoy that’s so bad loyal customers use the program’s name as a derogatory verb, Hyatt looks like a bright shining star.
In truth, it is, That’s why I hold them to a higher standard. When I really garner the most value from my points with Hyatt I find experiences to be dramatic, exceptional, and incredible. Not all of them are, there are misfires with any business interaction, but generally speaking premium experiences with the brand is among the best in the world.
Conclusion
Nitpicking over the perks that were and were not bequeathed following the pandemic year may seem petty. It’s certainly a “first world problem” but this is a site built on these sorts of issues. It’s important too, as we all consider what loyalty looks like now and in the future, as to how chains we love, love us back. In the end, Hyatt was well within the terms of the program to take away this associated benefit. However, just as I thought separating status from benefits was wrong at rollout four years ago, I think it has the same ill-conceived effect now in practice. Either you want your elites to remain elite which they only do for the benefits they receive, or you don’t.
What do you think? Should Hyatt have reissued Category 1-7 certificates for Globalists? Should benefits be separated from status?
Wow, what a whiney, misguided post. If I’m reading correctly, your status was grandfathered by Hyatt because of the pandemic (or at least the requirements were reduced allowing you to easily qualify).
Most of the benefits were extended t0 you (point bonus, free breakfast, club access, room upgrade if available at time of check in, free parking on award stays) but the tier threshold bonuses remained tied to nights stayed. Mind you, they can also be achieved by credit card spend alone. And yet, that’s “disappointing” to you.
@BC – “Nitpicking over the perks that were and were not bequeathed following the pandemic year may seem petty. It’s certainly a “first world problem” but this is a site built on these sorts of issues.” I acknowledge this quite clearly.
Do you think that benefits and status should be separated?
Um, Hyatt does explain this. I’m not even a Globalist and I’ve known this for months. Just to confirm I didn’t hear it in an odd way, Googling (Hyatt reduces status requirements) gives a Hyatt PR as the first result that says ” The reduced criteria do not apply to earning tier status via Meetings & Events or to Milestone Rewards and Lifetime Globalist.” and their COVID-19 FAQ as the second result includes this information as well.
Also Googling for results in March/April 2020 for (Hyatt extends status) shows many blogs specifically covered the milestone carveout at the time, including VFTW, OMAAT, LoyaltyLobby, and others.
Yes, it would be great if Hyatt included it, but those have a very tangible cost to renewing them (vs elite benefits that I’m imagining only have a cost-per-stay attached). If I’m being honest, I’d expect a busy business traveler who just happens to be a 60 night Globalist pre-COVID wouldn’t realize it, but I’m surprised that a points blogger who is a top-tier Hyatt elite didn’t pick it up.
I ‘get’ the disappointment but in reality you’re asking for something for nothing: you kept the status without having achieved the threshold ( and fair enough under the unique circumstances) but want the unearned perk as well? Maybe asking too much…
@ Kyle — Have you alway been so good at predicting the past?
Is this article for real? Hyatt made it clear if you didn’t make the nights, you don’t get the milestones. They let you keep your status. What more do you want from them?
Every writer on this blog has an unrealistic sense of reality. The display of entitlement is ghastly.
This post is a joke.
I read this post and now lost 5 minutes of life I will not get back. Hopefully you all see now why years ago Jeff Smisek said elites have a false sense of entitlement. To. an extent, it has to be frustrating for these companies to give so much and then get slammed. Hyatt is an EXTREMELY. GENEROUS company. If you do not see it that way you have gotten lose in your own world of false expectations.
This post and Ben’s post(s) whining about not getting suite upgrades is exactly why loyalty programs hate “us” and yank benefits. Hyatt was very upfront from the beginning the status extension was just that: an extension of 2020 status. IMO Hyatt has been incredible generous. Most of us including myself got to keep Globalist status for three years staying less than half the nights needed. How in the world is that disappointing?
Ben’s post I at least get – suites are a part of the T&Cs, they were being sold, and the two properties in question both don’t exactly fit the Hyatt service ethos.
This post…just makes me SMH.
I’m already at 70 nights for 2021, due primarily to the generous Q4/Q1 double night carryover. Hyatt is a freaking shining star right now.
Hyatt has been extremely generous. You embarrass yourself with this ridiculous post!
I have to say that I agree with everyone else on this – no nights, no certs. The rollover of the status got you the standard benefits and given the reduced requalifying threshold in place for 2021/2022, I’m glad that milestone rewards are tied to nights.
Wow Kyle, this is a stretch. This is like someone that got an operational upgrade to business off a $398 fare to Europe and complained that there were F seats available and they should have been moved there as well.
Not really, many of the other milestones were automatically loaded, just not this one.
I’m getting really sick and tired of Kyle’s constant whining.
Everyone that has any status with Hyatt has know this for months.
Hyatt is good enough to extend your status and you complain that you didn’t get the additional benefits that you didn’t earn.
Maybe it’s time for Kyle to find something else to do, or change your constant whining.
@Joe – We hate to hear this and want to make sure you’re 100% satisfied. Please submit for a full refund for this month’s posts and as a gesture of goodwill, we will offer you a free month next month too.
One time, I came across an article I didn’t like so I just stopped reading it. It was crazy!
I see little benefit to extending the status of elites in a pandemic year but not extending the benefits. The whole point of these status extensions was to recognize the effects of the pandemic year and to encourage prior elites to stay loyal when travel returned. One rule of business is to never allow your customers to sample the competition. Status benefits go a long way to doing that. Removing those benefits encourages a customer to potentially become a free agent rather than remaining loyal to the brand.
That Hyatt may have been clear about this in various communications doesn’t change whether or not it’s a good decision. I personally find Kyle’s point well taken and think it’s foolish to separate benefits from status. The one exception I would grant would be to continue to allow earning some benefit once one had achieved top tier. For example if 60 nights earns one top tier status a chain would be smart to offer some additional benefit like a free night or guaranteed upgrade for every 10 or 15 additional nights stayed. This continues to incentivize your top tier elites not to stray from your brand. Remember the whole point of rewards programs is to drive marginal business. You always want people to have a reason to stay loyal to your brand.
Kyle – you’re a Globalist-light. get over it. Hyatt made it very clear that the Cat 1-7 certificate is *not* a benefit of Globalist – it’s for achieving 60 nights or 100,000 base points. It’s just so happens that in normal years the Globalist qualifying requirement is the same as 60 nights/100,000 base points. Last year, it was not. You could have called and confirmed instead of assuming, but they made it very clear when they extended the status.
Also – heads-up: it’s the same for this year. If you achieve Globalist status in 2021 with only 30 nights, you’re not going to get the Cat 1-7 certificate, nor will you get to keep the concierge. Consider yourself informed.
Sidenote – there aught to be a byline on BoardingArea’s front page so we know who wrote the article before clicking through.
I was thinking Kyle, as much as you hate Socialism you sure believe in Santa Claus!
Another self righteous article from Kyle. Nothing new, move on as more are in the worx,
Hey Kyle, how come no anti HI articles lately?? Bring it brah.
It’s not interesting.
Instead of sarcasm maybe accept the criticism? This is a crap post and unfortunately it has been par for the course for your content lately. Writing is hard and good content right now is a challenge. But that just means you need to try a bit harder, and if your reaction is well, just don’t read me then, that is an easy choice. Most writers wish to be read. Easy to take it for granted I suppose. Complaining alone is not good writing. Anyone can complain. It is the easy way out.
@Larry
He is too think skinned to accept any criticism, apparently…
I know you wrote a lot but all I read was “Waaaah!”.
look in the mirror… substitute relevant for “interesting”… grab Kleenex
@Kyle – if you want to do some good added-value hotel analysis, do a comparison across the “majors” (Hilton/Hyatt/Marriott, maybe IHG) on hotel owned/managed property counts relative to the franchised ones (latter generally known for not adhering as strictly to elite benefits).
An article like that would actually add a good bit more value.