"Unique Upgrade Opportunity" (eStandby Upgrade® Program)
 

I got this box on the confirmation page of a reservation I just made. I've never seen this, or seen it mentioned on this board before. (Sorry, I can't offer links because I can't redact my private information.)


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Dear Mr. Fire Wind,

Your reservation at Hyatt XXXX for October 30, 2009 is confirmed (Confirmation: xxxxxxxx).

Currently Reserved Room:
1 King Bed,
561 sq. ft., $56.41 total for 1 night(s)

As a special offer, you can use the new Hyatt eStandby Upgrade® Program to potentially upgrade this reservation to one of the following premium rooms for as little as $0 extra per night.

As an added bonus, you can also request to check-out as late as 11:00pm for only $49.

Note: As a valued Diamond level member of the Hyatt Gold Passport program, the offer set below includes a complimentary upgrade.


Then there is a listing, actually a series of panels with descriptions, photos and add-collect for four room upgrade options, and a separate 11:00pm check-out option entitled, "Select eStandbyXtra Late Check-out®".

• $0 Business Plan King
• $19 Comforts of Home (+ microwave & fridge)
• $29 Panorama King Suite, 776 sq.ft.
• $59 Suite (suite stuff - my term - with kitchenette including full refrigerator, dishwasher)

The latter three are designated "Select eStandby® Upgrades".

Then there is a link to a confirmation page with price and t&c to be agreed to. It includes a little nudge to choose all to enhance your chances of getting one.

We're talked about it before. But this is the first I've seen the upgrade listed as $0. Since diamonds get a free upgrade, it made no sense to use this feature unless you wanted to pay extra for a suite.

I have seen RC access listed and already checked off at $0.

Looks like they may have fixed the room upgrade issue.

Panorama King Suite -- sounds like the Fair Lakes. If so, I would skip it and see if you get it for free at check-in -- I did.

I received this the other day too OP! Mine had an option of an "Upgrade to Regency Club" for "$0" and then it had some other upgrade options such as high floor, ocean view, suite, etc.


Halothane

Actually, what appears to be happening is Hyatt is allowing you to upgrade for free what would be the minimum you would be entitled to receive as an upgrade -- w/o using a suite upgrade cert -- some time before you even do check-in -- this is a nice move on their part.

I received a Panorma Suite with the spouse at one check-in and was offered it at another but declined it as I was not going to be very much in the room ;);) -- nevertheless, they upgraded me to a business plan room -- which is an upgrade from the regular room in that I believe it comes with certain addtional amenities -- those amenities may be free to a Diamond member, but still it is a nice gesture.

NJ

I wonder if the flipside of this is, for Diamonds, it's back to "one level up" from the booked level (unless we pay extra) rather than "best available". The four suite certs aside. (Duh?)

So if you don't want to pay extra, is there any point in checking the boxes where the upgrade cost is zero? I'd rather speak to the front desk manager early that day, or the previous day, to outline my view and room preferences (and the fact I'm Diamond). Checking club floor might deny me my preferred view, while checking a certain view might mean no club floor, for example.

The different view pictures can be useful in learning what's available. But ultimately, I don't want a machine to make the decision. Unless I can select my room from a floor plan, it's a human for me.

We had an interesting offer when I booked the HR Boston for November, asking for a eStandby for a suite. We're Diamond and the request had a $0 for this request. The way I interpreted it was that if this request was available at check in that we wouldn't be charged for the upgrade, thus saving one of the valuable suite upgrades for another time. Our Boston stay will only be for one night and we wouldn't want to "waste" the e-suites on that since they're good until the end of February.
Carolyn

I'm pretty new to Hyatt GP elite status (I just became Platinum due to a few MRs), and I received an eStandby Upgrade offer upon booking the cheapest (Mountain View King) room at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. I was offered an upgrade to an Executive King Suite for $0 per night. As far as I can tell, Platinums aren't guaranteed any room upgrade, so I am not sure why they offered it for free.

Wow, score!!!! That would be quite the upgrade for a Diamond, much less a Platinum member. I would jump all over that as quick as you can!!!! Free Suite upgrade, can't beat that!!!!