Booking.

I booked a P+C reservation with only half the points needed for a stay later this year. The reservations agent didn't even mention that I didn't have sufficient points. He just booked it. I'm Diamond, and I thought it was standard. I now see that I got lucky perhaps.

Missed that new page....

At the time of booking... (it might take a few hours for your account to show that).

I think it should be standard.... what would be the difference anyway. Probably a little training required.

Thanks @kacee and @rtw1!

IME this varies from agent to agent, so it may be just a training issue. Some will book it with a reminder that the points must be in your account by the time of stay. Once I was changing dates on a P+C that had been booked this way (advance of points) and the agent was confused as to why she could not change the dates because my account was not showing enough points. I believe she would have done it had I insisted, but it so happened I was changing dates to shorten my stay anyway.

My experience has been time of booking when booking the DSU through Hyatt res line or via the GP Concierge here on FT, but for the couple of times I booked the DSU directly with the hotel, it was not taken until the time of stay. One of those was booked only a few days in advance but the other was booked many months in advance and using a DSU that would expire prior to the stay if not applied, so I contacted the hotel to make sure they took the DSU before it expired.

This varies from property to property. Generally at booking, but sometimes a week before check in, at check in or even months after a stay.

I just had a call with GP about a points or P+C reservation..... the answer was no points advance over 1k even for Diamonds. I don't really believe that, but the agent said it was a new rule that was implemented in January.
And now I need to call again because for a P+C reservation that I cancelled the points weren't refunded.

Great to flood the market with free nights and points discounts but restrict things for others :td:.

+1.

And I fear the new restrictions were initiated by all those guys taking advantage of Hyatt starting with the infamous zero sum invoice from the FFN days to just applying for the cc. without any intention to stick around.

Reminds me of fast food chains celebrating higher revenue due to many new years without realizing that revenues at older stores from old (loyal) guests are decreasing... ;)

At least in my book, this is a nice summary of what happened over the last 2-3 years.

And one free night for 100 stays is still less than two nights for a credit card application.

HUCA didn't help?

It was part of a longer call, I've now asked the hotel to open up P+C. If they do that, I'll have the discussion about points. But since I've now received the points for the cancelled reservations I'm good to go anyway.

Should be at booking, but I'm having issues with a hotel having grabbed a 2015 DSU instead of a 2014 one (I booked in late February and wanted to use an expiring DSU).

Called HGP to book P+C at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, but was told there was no availability. Wrote to the property and asked if they could book a P+C+DSU for me, and I received the confirmation mail within ten minutes. ^

I've seen similar posts for other properties having success with the property directly after being denied by GP or central res. It is definitely an option to try before giving up. Some properties will also confirm into a premium room if the entry-level suite is not available, which is better than just letting the DSU expire.