Originally Posted by
gary6177
My understanding from Hyatt is just because it shows "Point Avail" it doesn't mean that there is "Free Night Award Avail". You would think they go hand and hand, but I assume there is probably a lower reimbursement rate for the Free Night Awards (1-4 and 1-7), then there is for a points booking - but that is just speculation on my part.
It is usually in the Terms if a Hotel has opted out of using 1-7 awards - there are certain hotels that you cannot use a SUA.
My guess is the FNA slots have already been taken.
I dont think your case is going anywhere unless you can prove that they are blocking off the 1-7 award use. One way to prove this is to call Hyatt and ask them to look 13 months to the day out (and ask them if there is 1-7 award availability on their end - they can see if there are up to 9 award nights available from their side. IF there is 0 - then that means someone booked them up in the morning prior to you calling or the hotel has blocked them off.
I'm pretty sure that's what they are doing. When I've been on the phone the agent has been able to see point availability but no award availability at all for any dates at either hotel. I'd like to think it's just a system error and not more malicious but somehow they are blocked off.
From the Hyatt terms page:
(C) one (1) standard-room Free Night Award redeemable at a category 1-7 hotel or resort or an all-inclusive hotel or resort classified as category A-D in Hyatt’s award chart for all-inclusive properties (“Category 1-7 Free Night Award”). (A list of participating hotels and resorts, sorted by category, can be found at hyatt.com). The Category 1-7 Free Night Award is valid for one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of issuance and must be redeemed for a reservation with a checkout date on or before the expiration of the award. Redemption of a Category 1-7 Free Night Award is subject to standard-room availability at the selected hotel or resort and to all redemption terms generally applicable to Award Reservations as set out above in this Appendix B. Except as expressly set forth in this section, a Category 1-7 Free Night Award is not valid at any property that is classified by Hyatt (in its sole discretion) in a category higher than category 7 or is not classified in the category 1-8 classification system (except as expressly specified above for all-inclusive properties categorized in categories A to D of Hyatt’s award chart for all-inclusive properties), at any of the Standard-room Award Ineligible Properties, or at Miraval locations. Hyatt reserves the right to reclassify any hotel or resort at any time for any reason in its sole discretion. May not be redeemable where a hotel or resort imposes a minimum-length-of-stay requirement. Other Free Night Awards, including those valid at category 1-7 hotels and resorts, may have different expiration and other applicable terms.
and
1.
Standard-Room Free Night Awards: Standard-room Free Night Awards may be redeemed
only when standard rooms are available at the Standard Rate at the selected hotel or resort. Standard-room Free Night Awards are not subject to blackout dates at Hyatt hotels and resorts. No Standard-room Free Night Award (whether acquired via points expenditure or through any other Program activity) is redeemable at any of the following properties, which do not offer standard-room accommodations and are referred to collectively as the “
Standard-room Award Ineligible Properties”:
· Residences at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley
· Hyatt Windward Pointe;
· Hyatt Beach House;
· Residences at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek;
· Hyatt Sierra Lodge;
· Hyatt Siesta Key Beach;
· Ventana Campground
· The Chatwal Lodge
· Any Destination by Hyatt Residence property, except as otherwise specified in the
Destination by Hyatt Residence Award Terms.
So, it should seem that as long as
a) a 'standard room' is available to book at a 'standard rate' and
b) the hotel is not on the above list
then the award should be able to be used, regardless if the hotel has decided that they want to allow 'free night award availability'. But I'm trying to figure out if I am mistaken.