downinit

Just as a follow-up, I did request a new card (replacement with same card number), and it is indeed contactless.

As a side note, this has always been my go-to card for large foreign transactions, and I have never had issues with payment denials in the past. While trying to purchase a fairly expensive travel packages for a music festival in Belgium (which I had purchased the prior two years with this card without any issues), the transaction was declined this year (for the first time). They sent me a confirmation email and text, which I replied to and confirmed it was a valid purchase. After receiving a reply from them telling me to reprocess, it was still declined again!!! I even had a travel notification informing them that I would be in the country where the transaction was taking place. This caused me to lose my package and reenter the queue. In the end, I had to pay about $600 more for a more expensive (but not any better) package, as the package in my original cart was no longer available. I am definitely not happy with Chase right now, and I have shifted most of my large and/or international purchases to AMEX (which seems to be accepted globally with very few issues right now).

DELee

A follow up follow up follow up - I've decided to keep the Hyatt Rewards Visa for now and paid the $75 annual fee for 2020.

While I'm still tempted to earn all of the benefits of the WoH Visa Card, with the uncertainties that are now involved in travel over these next few months, it didn't look likely that I would be able to do much to benefit from the WoH card. And it wasn't clear how long I needed to wait before pulling the trigger between a Hyatt Rewards cancel and a WoH application.

And I kinda like have the old Hyatt logo in my wallet instead of some lame WoH thing.

David​​​​​​​

Montacute

Does anyone know exactly how long after cancelling a Hyatt credit credit it is ok to apply for the WOH credit card and not be considered an existing Hyatt credit card holder?

DELee

Came in today's mail:













As soon as I earn the promo night, card is cancelled.

David

canyonleo

DELee:

What changed that is causing you to cancel when you had no reason to cancel before? (you pasted a lot of photos/info there, I don't know which you are referencing by saying you'll cancel)

DELee

As posted above, I'd considered switching during my last renewal but concluded that I preferred the original Hyatt Rewards Card.

What changed was a) Chase/Hyatt ran (is running) the current promo of spend $4K by December 31, 2020 and get a free award night and must have your account active but then b) said, with the notice just posted, that they're switching folks from Hyatt Rewards Card to WOH Card as of January 11, 2021.

What that means is folks who'd taken the bait and are working through the $4K for 1 award night promo are trapped into getting switched since the award night won't post for up to 4 weeks after December 31, 2020.

I find this offering of a promo that requires accounts to be open basically through January 2021 and then forcing people to switch because they've committed to the promo incredibly obnoxious.

That's why I'm cancelling.

More in the Chase discontinuing legacy $75 hyatt card? thread.

David

notquiteaff

But what “harm” does that “trap” cause you? I.e., if you cancel after your free night posts and after your card has been converted, you can still apply for a new WoH card and collect the SUB, no? (more here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32836325-post78.html)

DELee

Saw that and thanks for your follow up. I still intend to call Chase to confirm that I'd be eligible to receive the SUB if I stay for the transition and cancel after the room night hits.

Either way, I find what they did extremely poor form.

David

notquiteaff

Please do and let us know, because I think there are a number of us who are considering their options. Personally, I would use secure message instead of calling since (a) it's easier to carefully phrase your question to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and (b) you get a written reply that you can refer back to later if things turn out to be different.

Assuming I can cancel right after the free night posts and get a new WoH VISA a month or so later and collect the signup bonus, I see no problem with the timing of the free night bonus and their conversion. If they were to charge the higher fee (or differential) on Jan 11, 2021, it would be bait and switch, of course, but that doesn't seem to be the case (and wouldn't be legal as far as I know).

In any case, also take a look at my post 1853 - depending on your card anniversary the timing of this switch might actually enable you to earn two free nights.

DELee

As per your recommendation, I messaged Chase through my account.

Here's my question that I sent:

And here's their response:

Based on this response and your post above and in the other threads, I will hold on to the card as it transitions to the WOH Card, wait for the $4K night to post and, because of anniversary dates, will likely also be billed about the same time for my annual renewal and receive that card's annual Cat 1-4 before I cancel and wait for things to clear and then consider if and when I want to apply and get a decent SUB offer..

David

notquiteaff

Thank you, that is very helpful. I will go through the transition and cancel after the annual renewal in March, after the AF posts.

I still need to decide if I want to spend another $10k roughly on the account until my anniversary date in early March to capture the $15k WoH Visa “free” night. It would be mostly unbonused spend (health insurance, estimated taxes), and some grocery spend.

Assuming $4k health insurance and $6k in estimated taxes (at a cost of 1.87c per $ in fees = $112), I could earn

15,000 UR with my CFU worth at a minimum $225 (PYB), for a net gain of $113 ($225-$112)

or

10,000 Hyatt points plus a free night. Let’s assume a 12,000 points free night redemption, and a 1.5 cent/point valuation, that’s 22,000 points = $330 and a net gain of $228.

So might be worth going for it and then try to find a good Cat3/4 property for a nice post-covid stay with the four free night carts I will accumulate later next year.

LAX

With the info regarding SUB David has provided, I think I am going to change my strategy towards the forced upgrade. Since I will be able to renew once more before the new AF kicks in, I now plan to renew at the current rate ($75). I should be receiving a free night shortly before this AF posts (if Chase's pattern does change). Then, I would receive another free night in 2022 shortly before the higher AF posts. That's when I would cancel my card. Does Chase offer 30-day grace period for full AF refund?

LAX

notquiteaff

from my Hyatt statement (pdf)

LAX

Thanks. So, I think my plan would work. I figure 2 free nights with $75 AF is worth the risk of not getting a future SUB if Chase decides not to ever approve me for another Hyatt card.

LAX

DELee

At least that's what it looks like many are gambling on/risking at this point.

David