Upgrades using Points
 

I don't stay at Hyatts too often and I currently have a little over 6,000 points in my account.

I'd like to try to use them for either a suite upgrade or regency club upgrade for 6,000 points for 4 nights.

Has anyone tried this? Success rate? Is there a special rate that I need to pay to get this upgrade for miles? It's not 6,000 points PER NIGHT is it? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks.

Mary

Just to be clear:

Regency Club Upgrade for up to 4 Nights is only 3,000 at Cat 1-4

A Suite Upgrade for up to 4 Nights is 6,000 points at Cat 1-4.

I've never had trouble in the past, but I have not used these recently.

And once, at the LAX Hyatt, they gave away my suite, but that's about ten years ago now - and I forgot about it long ago! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Enjoy your UG! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Have use the suite upgrade twice last year and have no trouble. Make the request as the same time of reservation through Hyatt and they call me back within 24hrs and confirm the upgrade after checking with the hotel.

Using points most of the time they require you to pay a fairly high rate unfortunately.

Thanks, but I was looking at a Hawaii properly, which I think is a cat 5.

It looks like I'm going to be holding these points for a while longer....

Mary

First of all there is no category 5, only 1-4. In other words the RC and Suite upgrades apply to all properties (including Hawaii)

Second of all, you are required to pay the rate for the highest regular room category. So if a hotel has 4 regular room categories, and then RC, you must pay the rate for that top regular room category, and then can upgrade to the suite or RC.

As an example, when I checked availability for 3/15 for 1 night at Maui, I came up with the following rates:

-Terrace $315
-Golf or Mountain $375
-Aloha Rate - Partial Ocean View $395
-Partial Ocean View $470
-Ocean View $560
-Regency Club Partial Ocean $570
-Regency Club Ocean $630.

So you would need to pay the regular Ocean View rate of $560, and then could confirm either a suite or RC club upgrade. Thus if you think you are getting a "free" upgrade, you really aren't (because you could get into the hotel at $315, but instead need to pay $560). In addition, given that the RC upgrade will only give you the RC partial ocean view room with a regular rate of $570, it does not seem like a good use of your points (to save $10/night). On the other hand, the suite upgrade probably gets you a suite that goes for significantly more money, so that could be a good use of points.

I've never had problems using this award. Most recently I ended up with a great suite at Cerromar. Since I would have booked two rooms for my family (2 young kids), the suite with the award was cheaper, we had more space, and they gave us 2 rollaway beds at no charge for the parlor (many suites have a pull down murphy bed or sleep sofa).

BeantownFlyer, last year when I make my reservation through Hyatt and get their lowest rate for Grand Hyatt Fukuoka and Grand Hyatt Seoul and then asked for upgrade to suite with points. They did not required me to change to higher room rate before they confirm the upgrade.

I have used the 6k points award several times
at all hawaii properties.I think the suites are worth the points and the rack rate most of the time.
I did pass on it this past week in Kauai when the deluxe ocean view rate was 275.00 vs 600.00 plus points for a suite.
In the end I guess it just depends on the room rates you can get and if you want the suite.

Thanks again all... I'll give upgrading with a discount a shot. Seems to work sometimes!

Mary

I'm considering staying at the Cerromar in late February. Could you let me know what rate you booked to get upgraded to a suite. Thanks.

I used points for a suite upgrade at the Park Hyatt in Sydney (I'm a GP Platinum). When I called to redeem, I was told that my request for an upgrade would be forwarded to the hotel for approval and I could expect a reply within a "short time". I asked why no immediate confirmation and was told that suite upgrades at that hotel had to be approved by the hotel. I don't know if that's true for all international locations, Park Hyatts, suite requests, etc. but that's what I was told for this hotel.

I called GP back every few days, getting the "waiting to hear from hotel" answer. On the 4th call (about 2 weeks from initial request). I was told that the request had been approved and noted in my reservation. I asked if there was anything I needed to take (answer: no) or if they could fax a confirmation noting the upgrade (answer: not possible - hmmm, don't like that, but ...). After checking my account over the next few days, I called back, and concerned about lack of upgrade proof, asked why no points had been pulled from my account. I was told that the points would be pulled at check-in time at the hotel (hmmm). I asked about the status of my request and was assured - yes, it is approved.

When I checked in I asked about the suite and got a blank look. After a couple rounds of call GP, talk to desk supervisor, etc. I got the suite and 6K points pulled from my account.

I don't know if that experience is typical and in the end everything turned out OK, but the whole procedure was a bit stressful from the time I made the request right up to the 40 minute check-in cha-cha.