Hyatt Gold Passport Update
Feb 1, 2015, 12:23 pm
#107
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy platinum
Posts: 89
Well, I'd like to congratulate Hyatt: I applied for the credit card in no small part to make sure I could keep MER. Absent MER, it's just another card; in the scheme of things, it probably isn't worth $79 to keep, which means I'll be cutting it up once a fee comes up next year. I'll do the spend to get the free nights, and that's about it. The extra points at Hyatt are nice and all, but as far as I can tell I get more from either my Amtrak card or my Virgin card (*cues snickering*). MER was really the main draw for me bothering to deal with status here , and having status secured was a decently major draw for the card (since if I dropped status, there was an easy net loss of several hundred dollars from not having MER).
On the other hand, at least for me points+cash is...well, pointless (pun intended). The odds of me actually using points at Hyatt are pretty small (I was mainly looking to transfer them to either Virgin Atlantic or another airline in the long run).
While I reserve the right to be pleasantly surprised by whatever is in the 'mystery box' for next year, I think it's fair to say that the Grinch took over this announcement...all I have to say is:
BOOOOOOO!
On the other hand, at least for me points+cash is...well, pointless (pun intended). The odds of me actually using points at Hyatt are pretty small (I was mainly looking to transfer them to either Virgin Atlantic or another airline in the long run).
While I reserve the right to be pleasantly surprised by whatever is in the 'mystery box' for next year, I think it's fair to say that the Grinch took over this announcement...all I have to say is:
BOOOOOOO!
Feb 1, 2015, 9:32 pm
#108
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Jose Cuervo Gold, Bud Light Platinum, Schwab 401K, VW Bug 2MM
Posts: 1,103
The Hyatt CC is probably one of the most terrible cards out there. 3 points per stay? For about the same fee I can get 2 points at any hotel including hyatt with CSP or Ink and not have them locked into HGP points. And the annual cert? Cat 4? Even hilton with is slaughtered award chart gives you a full cert (with 10k spend, which is easy). I'd be surprised if many people keep it past the first year.
Feb 1, 2015, 9:48 pm
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,439
I've never seen a situation where it makes sense to use those points for any hotel but Hyatt.
I can get more than double the value of the annual fee out of the Cat 4 room; that alone makes the card a permanent keeper.
And of course, the card has nothing to do with Gold Passport Updates, so that discussion should probably go elsewhere.
Feb 2, 2015, 1:28 am
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,544
I decided to try again for the missing points, since the agent seemed on the ball. Within 5 minutes, I had my 8.5k points for a 8k NYE room redemption. I know that will never happen again.
I should follow my gut feeling on phone agents. If they sound bored, have a monotone voice, just thank them for their time right away, and hang up. I've talked to 4 agents this week, and unfortunately only the last one was a good one. Normally I'd put the ratio at 50% or better.
Feb 2, 2015, 6:07 am
#112
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,269
^ In my opinion it is ridiculous that you cannot book cash and points online. If Hilton and their "rocket scientist" IT department have been able to provide this function for years (and even combine a feature allowing you to at the same time buy a few points if you happen to be short), there is no reason why Hyatt should not be able to book online Cash and Point stays or even make a notation that they are available.
Feb 2, 2015, 8:14 am
#114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,544
Feb 2, 2015, 9:25 am
#117
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
This is completely property-denpendent. Many properties do not list any of their suites on Hyatt.com, while others list some of their lower-level suites, and still others list everything. Since it is the property making the decision whether or not to list suites for revenue, I can't see GP being able to list suites for any type of redemption, either points or DSU.
P&C should be a lot easier, even though the individual properties decide whether or not to offer P&C on any specific date or even not at all. P&C are also a lot more sought after (frequency-wise) than suite redemptions, so being able to book them online, or at least see availability would make life a lot simpler.
P&C should be a lot easier, even though the individual properties decide whether or not to offer P&C on any specific date or even not at all. P&C are also a lot more sought after (frequency-wise) than suite redemptions, so being able to book them online, or at least see availability would make life a lot simpler.
Feb 2, 2015, 10:27 am
#118
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,425
^ In my opinion it is ridiculous that you cannot book cash and points online. If Hilton and their "rocket scientist" IT department have been able to provide this function for years (and even combine a feature allowing you to at the same time buy a few points if you happen to be short), there is no reason why Hyatt should not be able to book online Cash and Point stays or even make a notation that they are available.
Maybe I've become too jaded.
Feb 3, 2015, 7:32 am
#119
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
Programs: DL-DM/1MM, HILTON-DIA, .HYATT-DIA/GLOB , IHG-PLT,HERTZ 5*, NATIONAL ES
Posts: 8,691
Which other hotel would you use them at? Hilton? IHG?
I've never seen a situation where it makes sense to use those points for any hotel but Hyatt.
I can get more than double the value of the annual fee out of the Cat 4 room; that alone makes the card a permanent keeper.
And of course, the card has nothing to do with Gold Passport Updates, so that discussion should probably go elsewhere.
I've never seen a situation where it makes sense to use those points for any hotel but Hyatt.
I can get more than double the value of the annual fee out of the Cat 4 room; that alone makes the card a permanent keeper.
And of course, the card has nothing to do with Gold Passport Updates, so that discussion should probably go elsewhere.
Feb 26, 2015, 6:37 pm
#120
Moderator: GLBT travelers, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Asia
Programs: Yes!
Posts: 15,512
One thing that will be changing effective January 1, 2015 is the existing bed type guarantee policy. Today, this is applicable to elite members only, and members are awarded 5,000 bonus points if the reserved bed type is not available upon check-in. Less than 0.1% of elite members did not receive their confirmed bed type – so in the future we’re guaranteeing that upon check-in all guests will receive the bed type confirmed, and there will no longer be any bonus points associated with non-compliance. Rest assured, the hotels are committed to getting this right
I brought up the "guarantee of confirmed bed type" and I was brushed off with a shrug of the shoulders. No compensation or apology was offered.
The behavior of the hotel does seem rather against the "commitment" that the above post refers to...
And my experience hopefully won't be brushed under the carpet as a "less than 0.1% of elite members" scenario!
Look forward to hearing your view.
Last edited by AJLondon; Feb 26, 2015 at 7:24 pm