With Marriott, I haven't had many significant service issues, but my sample size of stays over the past two years has obviously been smaller. I had the cancellation issue in 2020 (caused by faulty IT) at two properties - both were taken care of promptly by the property themselves (one gave me a very nice suite upgrade on my next stay there when I was a Gold). Most others were taken care of in a satisfactory manner by the property immediately by the property. In cases where points weren't delivered properly, Corporate has never given me issue. I had one significant issue where the property refused to provide proper remedy (security issue). I called Corporate, and the property called to offer proper remedy within the same day.

Now, I also haven't had major service issues with Hyatt, but the only stay I have ever had to walk out on was a Hyatt. To their credit, my concierge and the property worked together to make things right.

RE: PH Sydney

LOL...sometimes the timing in life is just absurdly comical. Just as I've been whining about the PH Sydney's devaluation, I get an email from QF "welcoming me back" to down under. Maybe, I'll just book some nights before they rocket up to the Cat 8 pricing tier.

Of course, the QF route is from LAX, and since I can't get to SE Asia, maybe I'll head to Melbourne for what is, in my very humble opinion, the best Peking duck on the planet. There's some kind of PH in Melbourne, right? I'm assuming that one hasn't devalued.

Sorry if this has been answered, but does anyone know how the "we'll automatically refund the difference if your hotel is dropping to a lower category" works? Does that happen when the change takes place or after the stay? Is it really automatic?

Asking again. Someone must have had experience with this.

just call Hyatt and ask. Any of the below is possible:

- they will manually do the adjustment right there on the phone
- they will give you a standard �non answer�
- something else

its better than waiting for someone on an online forum to respond with a snarky answer

Apologies if this has already been answered further up in the thread but I didn't see it.

Can you speculatively book a stay in say December 2022 or January 2023 and then change the dates later without having the award category change? Would this allow you to lock in the current award category or does the minute you change an existing reservation by reducing nights or changing travel dates does it automatically get re-priced at the current award category?

Gets repriced after changing dates. Not sure about reducing a stay's length.

Any modifications where the dates change also changes award price.

Strictly speaking, it would reprice. However, with Hyatt's excellent customer service, there's a good chance they'll reverse the reprice if you ask (by giving you the points difference).

Personally when the dates are still in flux, I book each night separately so it's easy to cancel. It does mean you need 2-3x the points.

That kinda defeats the purpose of Flyertalk.

I did contact Hyatt first; their answer did not match my experience or common sense. My DP is no automatic refund from the off-peak reduction / manual refund upon inquiry, which I can live with but is not automatic as advertised.

Positive thoughts 👍

Pretty much pie in the sky thinking or looking at Hyatt through rose colored glasses
This isn’t the Hyatt I signed up for decades ago despite having some great team members that genuinely care.
After spending a considerable amount through the years I’ve seen the company grow quite tight fisted and rigid.As just some examples letting all my suite upgrades expire last month and
refusal to extend promotional awards and then offer the guest something
less than they were worth regardless of tier status.I had surgery last year and they blew me off politely
Hilton yes Hilton extended some of promo awards1 to 2 years and those awards went far above a meager Hyatt 1-4

I’ve found lesser programs to be more understanding and empathetic.
It’s good business in the end and less petty
It’s only this year many of us have begun to resume our past travel plans and international travel has also begun to resume somewhat
its of my opinion only when the hotels were starving for business did Hyatt become promotional and generous

Now with some of the new devaluations among other concerns I find myslelf splitting the business with a variety of other programs
That may change in the morning when we see what Marriott presents their members this month
i’ll add that most markets saw the most depressed rates in years and we were gifted with the largest devaluation I can remember historically.I’m some cases triple the rate of inflation

I’d like to see Hyatt empower their agents to take better care of their active high frequency customers
especially those that do or may have lifetime value to the company.
No sour grapes it is what it is just saying what I see and perceive.
Still some good too in them thar Hyatt Hills 😎I’m excited to be traveling again

burned all my existing Hyatt points for:

• 2x nights Alila Napa Valley
• 3x nights Alila Ventana Big Sur

it's too easy to get Hyatt points I guess, have 1MM+ Chase UR points in reserve to transfer if I need to book anything

also burned 700K Marriot points bc their devaluation is IMO worse and totally uncapped next year

I”m jealous you were able to get those nights at the Alila properties. I continue to never be able to find availability.

RE the points refund difference - when I went through this with a trip that was moved to “off peak” earlier this year, the points were not refunded (or soon enough at least) so I cancelled it and made a new reservation. This was for the Confidante.

Me too. Could not find anything besides 70k suites on weekday nights at Big Sur.

Planning to burn a good chunk soon in NYC and have rooms booked this summer in Santa Barbara.

Anyone know if you booked a points advance stay as a Globalist, whether the award amount is determined at the time of booking or when they deduct the points?