This has been a long time coming (hotel chains like SPG and Hilton already do this) but as of January 1, 2018, Hyatt award nights will count for elite status!
Hyatt Award Nights Will Count For Elite Status
Free Award Nights Count Towards Elite Status
For a while now, eligible rates with Hyatt for elite status included paid rates and also Points+Cash reservations. Due to that, I almost never redeemed all points for free nights and opted instead of Points+Cash nights so I could earn elite nights. As of January 1, 2018, that will no longer be the case! Free award nights will count for elite tier credit.
Which Free Nights Count?
This new benefit actually applies for all award nights so that means free nights for hitting the various night thresholds (30 and 60 nights in a year) as well as free nights from the Hyatt credit card! This is great and will definitely encourage people to use those free nights more often if they are chasing elite status.
Also, depending on the promotion, free award nights will count for those as well. The terms for each promo will start detailing whether free nights apply for it or not.
Free Award Nights Validity Extended
Not only that, but Hyatt is also extending the validity of their free night awards earned by hitting 30 nights or 50,000 base points in a year (free Category 1 – 4 night) or the 60 nights or 100,000 base points (free Category 1 – 7). The original validity of those certificates were 120 days. However, starting with nights earned in 2018, those nights will be valid for 180 days.
Do take note that this does not apply for nights earned this year but for nights you earn next year.
Good Sign
I think many of us thing Hyatt went a bit far in certain areas of their new World of Hyatt program. I think adjustments like this are a good sign that Hyatt realizes that the program has room for improvement and they are taking positive steps to making the program work more for their members.
Now, if you are able to easily accrue Hyatt points with your Hyatt credit card or via transfers from Ultimate Reward points, you are in a nice position to be able to earn
[…] the record, as you probably know, All Hyatt Award Nights Will Count for Elite Status going forward. Which still makes reaching for Globalist elite status kind of dumb imho if you are […]