Hyatt Gold Passport Update
#16
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,614
If you are guaranteeing every bed choice but there are no points for non-compliance, then what's to stop the hotel from not giving a confirmed bed? How do you enforce the guarantee? As a GP member who has had to claim the bed guarantee twice let me say "Thanks for the 'enhancement.'"
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 613
Glad to see C+P continuing, but it's a shame to see MER go, though AAA rate is typically fairly close. I did notice it was getting harder and harder to use MER as the year went on for many properties.
You know what I would really love to see as an alternative to MER -- waive cancellation fees for Diamonds or make all rates cancellable for Diamonds with a couple of days notice. Typically the MER was about the same as the non-cancellable rate, so this would basically be the same net effect for Diamonds without all the complications of a whole separate rate structure.
You know what I would really love to see as an alternative to MER -- waive cancellation fees for Diamonds or make all rates cancellable for Diamonds with a couple of days notice. Typically the MER was about the same as the non-cancellable rate, so this would basically be the same net effect for Diamonds without all the complications of a whole separate rate structure.
#18
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: SPG Plt, Hyatt Diamond, DL
Posts: 369
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,422
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: AA EXP LT GLD 1MM, BA GLD, NH/UA*G, Hyatt Dia, Marr Tit LT PLT, IHG Spire,HH Dia, MGM NOIR,Hertz PC
Posts: 10,571
#21
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: DL Diamond/AA Platinum, Hyatt/Hilton Diamond
Posts: 245
#22
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,155
While I have never been denied my reserved bed type, I have to agree with others that stating that something is guaranteed but has not backing for failure to fulfil is a terrible misuse of the English language.
In any case, I would refuse to pay the full booked room rate if the contracted type of room was not provided.
But other than that, it is good to hear that they are, at least at present, intending to make C&P permanent and, hopefully, enhance it. As others have stated, it would certainly be nice, not to mention logical, to be able to book C&P just as easily as booking a all-points award.
In any case, I would refuse to pay the full booked room rate if the contracted type of room was not provided.
But other than that, it is good to hear that they are, at least at present, intending to make C&P permanent and, hopefully, enhance it. As others have stated, it would certainly be nice, not to mention logical, to be able to book C&P just as easily as booking a all-points award.
#23
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,520
Contrast this with, say, United Mileage Plus, with its ham-handed announcements of "enhancements" that are almost always just spin in futile efforts to obscure changes that devalue the program.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Virtuoso, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Hilton Impresario, IHG Luxury & Lifestyle, Hyatt Prive etc
Posts: 1,999
Mixed feelings about MyEliteRate. As a regular guest, it was a nice option to get the advance purchase rate without having to pay straight away, although BRGs are generally cheaper.
However, as a travel consultant, 95% my clients have at least Platinum status. The MER is non-commissionable (although it doesn't say it is) and caused me a headache on quite a few occasions before I realised this. It isn't ethical to book a higher rate just to receive the commission, so this dropped my Hyatt earnings significantly. Financially overall, I am better off without MER.
I think the idea of a diamond cancellation fee waiver would be great. Even if it was so that advance purchase rates could be cancelled until 2 weeks before booking, that would help. It would also be great to have the option to delay paying an advance purchase rate until nearer check-in date.
However, as a travel consultant, 95% my clients have at least Platinum status. The MER is non-commissionable (although it doesn't say it is) and caused me a headache on quite a few occasions before I realised this. It isn't ethical to book a higher rate just to receive the commission, so this dropped my Hyatt earnings significantly. Financially overall, I am better off without MER.
I think the idea of a diamond cancellation fee waiver would be great. Even if it was so that advance purchase rates could be cancelled until 2 weeks before booking, that would help. It would also be great to have the option to delay paying an advance purchase rate until nearer check-in date.
#25
And if you mean P+C plus MER. One is now cancelled and the other is even more limited in properties that offer it, plus it's still not available online.
So I see little to be very happy about, even though GP doesn't devaluate as much as the rest.
Looking back a few years the changes are mostly negative and there is also a trend that the newer (aspirational) properties opt out of some of the GP benefits like DSU's. Or do not participate anymore in things like P+C at all (Andaz Maui) or even offer basic features like point redemptions (PH NY, a fully owned Hyatt property). So at the higher-end I don't see much to be happy about. Maybe that will change if the newly announced properties come online.
Last edited by RTW1; Dec 11, 2014 at 12:16 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,422
Next year's issues are next year's concern, and I'll judge them when I see them. This year's offers worked out well for me.
#27
I agree that GP still offers major benefits, and I'm happy for that. But I'm not that brainwashed yet that I don't see that things haven't been devaluated in the last years. A significant increase in either club/suite upgrades and regular point redemptions for most properties I consider spending points at, something that also affects P+C.
And your illustration is the perfect example, wouldn't work for this year. So I fail to see how this "feel good" aanouncement is something to be applauded. Even if it's might be the way the industry is going....
Not offering P+C online might be an IT issue, but the cynical side of me suspects it's implemented this way to prevent people from analyzing the actual availability. Now I'll go back to planning my next years stays :-).
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: AA EXP LT GLD 1MM, BA GLD, NH/UA*G, Hyatt Dia, Marr Tit LT PLT, IHG Spire,HH Dia, MGM NOIR,Hertz PC
Posts: 10,571
Not sure where you guys have issues with the availability of C&P but at the properties where I used this feature it always matched the general availability.
I just booked the last room available at a Tokyo property for NYE and even that was available on C&P.
I just booked the last room available at a Tokyo property for NYE and even that was available on C&P.
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: AA EXP LT GLD 1MM, BA GLD, NH/UA*G, Hyatt Dia, Marr Tit LT PLT, IHG Spire,HH Dia, MGM NOIR,Hertz PC
Posts: 10,571
I think that argument is moot, SPG has this feature readily available online for years. If there was a disadvantage I'm sure Starwood would also take measures. That being said, the C&P availability with SPG sucks compared with Hyatt.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,488
I'm very disappointed that the MER is going away. I found it a great benefit, and made me choose Hyatt more than other brands.
The whole guaranteed bed type thing just sounds strange. It's guaranteed. And that now means what? Okay, and if bed type not given, the night will be free, since you no longer get points? I'd have to think hard the last time I didn't have my correct bed type, but it does seem a rather weaselly change.
The whole guaranteed bed type thing just sounds strange. It's guaranteed. And that now means what? Okay, and if bed type not given, the night will be free, since you no longer get points? I'd have to think hard the last time I didn't have my correct bed type, but it does seem a rather weaselly change.