crystak

I don't think it's a bad thing that the platinum extras awards are gone. For a company to move forward they must eliminate some factors that don't really create value (as indicated by the low usage) in order to create room for potential new improvements in the future. The only notable features of Platinum are and always have been the complimentary internet and 2pm checkout. Everything else is a blur for me.

Firewind it's unfair to compare hilton gold with hyatt platinum 20 vs 5 stays? 40 vs 15 nights? That sounds more like Hyatt Diamond to me.

ramolnar

It's fair in a credit card world. The Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card grants Hilton Gold for $95 a year. The Hyatt Visa grants Hyatt Platinum for $75.

It appears that hotel stays are moving towards two major levels. The credit card level isn't going to provide that much value, given its acquisition cost.

Credit Card level, which can be acquired through a credit card or some other promotion: Hyatt Platinum, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold, SPG Gold, PC Platinum, Marriott Silver

Upper level: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Club Carlson Concierge, SPG Platinum, PC Royal Ambassador, Marriott Gold/Platinum

It's a shame, because I am going to drop to Hyatt Platinum next year, and I was looking forward to the certificates. They would add value for me, through points or Regency Club access.
Then again, they were really complicated. There were so many different certificates, and they had to be mailed! Then we only had 90 days to use them. I can see why they had a 25% usage rate.
What I would like to see is an automatic points promo for Platinum members. Say after every 5 stays, one earns 1500 bonus points. This would be less than the Diamond amenity, but is still something tangible. It shouldn't be that hard to program either (though given Hyatt's system, I have no idea if anything's easy). Credit card holders who just make a couple stays don't get much at all, but people who do make 15-20 stays in a year get something.

GUWonder

Perhaps the thread title should be edited to highlight that this benefit is being eliminated? This change goes beyond merely updating the benefit -- it eliminates it.

Given the large number of Hyatt Platinum members created by the Hyatt credit card, giving out these Platinum Extras awards to them too would tend to increase the number of award-eligible Platinums and the non-utilitzation rate. And so this Hyatt created situation is now being used to gut another benefit for Hyatt program customers. This is starting to sound like the blame the customer approach used by the Jeffs of Delta and Hilton "loyalty" program management infamy.

WCT3U

I've tried but it's difficult to use them. There aren't that many clubs open anymore in the USA and even hotel restaurants close for lack of business. Although I got little tangible value from them, I'll miss the certificates. They were a nice reminder of my loyalty. The value was not enough to make me work for them, but it's nice to get nonetheless.

Mr. Zidell, please recall the mistake that Dunkin Donuts made with their program changes. They discontinued benefits from their loyalty program (
see Dunkin Donuts rewards program) and promised to "[bring] some great new Perks in 2012". However they simply discontinued the rewards with no replacement at all. They have not followed through with their commitments and have lost good will and loyal customers as a result. I trust that Hyatt can devise "new and innovative ways" to improve their program. But if there's no follow through with what you wrote, Hyatt also will lose my business.

austin_modern

If no one is using the perk, why do you need to cancel it to bring another one to market? Seems like you could just let it linger and get unused.

Yul_voyager

I used to be SPG Gold with the Amex Plat, but this year I crossed the threshold of 10 stays to qualify with the usual way. When I did I received a welcome e-mail with a choice of 1000 starpoints or 25$ voucher. I found it was a nice way to said, "you now really deserve Gold due to your loyalty so there is a welcome gift". It was appreciated.
If Hyatt was a bit smart and forgot 2 minutes about their sacred CC, they would have send the welcome Platinum award to those who really crossed the threshold, not only sign up to the CC. Of course I can imagine that lots of people who did sign up for the 2 nights, but don't really stay at Hyatt, just didn't used their certificate...

That's for the welcome Award, now for the every 3 stays award, there is no justification at all to this elimination. You was always able to select instant GP points (1000 to 2500), which was a good progressive way to the Platinum amenity. If you wanted to have a little more and was ready to wait for certificate, you could choice it, but it was optional. So don't say it was to difficult to use (but anyway with the CC I suspect that more than 75% of Plat have less than 5 qualifying stays).

Long story short, Hyatt should run very good promos in 2013 to see me more than 5 times (but I won't hold my breath with what happened this year)

etsmyers

I cant believe I am writing these words, but without a decent promo, for the first time in 5 years, I may be seeing Marriott properties this year.

holtju2

Like discontinuance of G bonuses and FFN? Ironically, Club Carlson now advertises their credit card as Faster Free Nights.

holtju2

BTW this Platinum Extras gone was not the only change.

Other changes include:
1. No guarantee points/stay credit if you are walk-in (no prior reservation) guest even if you pay an eligible rate
2. Requirement to be a Hyatt Gold Passport member to earn partner miles/points
3. No points given if part of the eligible dining/spa folio is paid using points.

FD1971

+1

skunker

Fixed it for you.

MikeFromTokyo

I love how this thread is euphemistically titled "Platinum Extras Awards Update"

GUWonder

The thread title needs an update. Perhaps someone could alert the mods to edit the thread title to be a more accurate reflection of this topic?

TWA Guy

That stinks, I really liked the awards.

eefor jfp

Me, too. They were a nice reminder of incremental business--in other words, that I was getting closer to Diamond. And the extra points, though not a substitute for G bonuses, were certainly better than nothing.