Any Globalists using only points?
#61




Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold 1.2MM (BIS), AA LT Plat (SUBs, BD/Bask), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 4,604
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Programs: MB Ambassador, WOH Globalist, HH Diamond (Aspire), IHG Plat (CC), UA (*G) Gold, AA Plat (OWS)
Posts: 10,224
.
Interesting that one author above wrote “12 Ink cards a year” and other authors ran with that to accuse you of bragging and being overly aggressive and unnecessarily risking shutdown. It’s unfortunate that you’ve been subjected to (and chose to defend yourself from) gratuitous attacks from those who are most likely simply envious. It’s sad that those who are excessively concerned about shutdowns use sensationalism tactics. While 2 or 3 flights of stairs can be considered good exercise, no one should have to walk up 12 flights of stairs because someone else is afraid of elevators.
Interesting that one author above wrote “12 Ink cards a year” and other authors ran with that to accuse you of bragging and being overly aggressive and unnecessarily risking shutdown. It’s unfortunate that you’ve been subjected to (and chose to defend yourself from) gratuitous attacks from those who are most likely simply envious. It’s sad that those who are excessively concerned about shutdowns use sensationalism tactics. While 2 or 3 flights of stairs can be considered good exercise, no one should have to walk up 12 flights of stairs because someone else is afraid of elevators.
Sure, I said 12 Ink cards because I don't have time to read back to every detail posted in every comment. OP actually said 8 Chase cards in a year.
Also, I'm sure not envious of OP (I am happy with my travel patterns and the things I spend my free time doing), but if OP gets joy out of their activities and is okay with the risk (even you said you wouldn't MS on Chase), more power to them.
#63



Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: OAK
Posts: 4,264
Can folks move discussion about opening accounts, churning, MS, risks, etc to the appropriate Chase/Amex threads?
Back to thread topic re Globalists using only points - is there any appreciable treatment/benefit differences vs Globalist via stays cash (and points and CC nights)?
Back to thread topic re Globalists using only points - is there any appreciable treatment/benefit differences vs Globalist via stays cash (and points and CC nights)?
#64
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
Im not a I want to stay on the Resort sort of person or need to be at the top notch props, top notch locations yes but not top notch hotels there unless I plan to spend a sick amount of time in my room or the hotel itself, and if I want to do that then why go to a top notch location and not get out and about. yet some places I want that top notch hotel since it has the location I want to be spending my time around, eg Newport RI, sure a hotel in Providence would be cheaper and not as fancy but who wants to drag themselves everyday driving back and forth, so in that case Id want to stay in Newport. Yet if I was going to Anaheim I wouldnt stay in Anaheim since my time would be spent in the Parks all day I would stay elsewhere even a HH or HP or non-Hyatt if it was alot cheaper to do so and if a paid stay then for sure to beat the parking fees. Cant remember the last time we stayed on The Strip in LV, hang out there be it for shows or casinos sure but we prefer the quieter off Strip places even if they arent as nice
#65
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
Can folks move discussion about opening accounts, churning, MS, risks, etc to the appropriate Chase threads?
Back to thread topic re Globalists using only points - is there any appreciable treatment/benefit differences vs Globalist via stays cash (and points and CC nights)?
Back to thread topic re Globalists using only points - is there any appreciable treatment/benefit differences vs Globalist via stays cash (and points and CC nights)?
#66



Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: OAK
Posts: 4,264
Sorry, my bad. I meant is there any appreciable differences from a Globalist via point stays only vs a typical earned Globalist via cash/points/CC stays?
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,690
But if you're paying cash for any stays of course, you get progress toward lifetime Globalist. Which I'm resigned to never hitting.
#68



Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: OAK
Posts: 4,264
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Programs: MB Ambassador, WOH Globalist, HH Diamond (Aspire), IHG Plat (CC), UA (*G) Gold, AA Plat (OWS)
Posts: 10,224
The only real benefit discrepancy between individual Globalists would be upgrade priority, but quite frankly, I don't know how each property ranks these upgrade lists. I would imagine properties prioritize repeat guests and those who reach out and ask. I doubt a property can see how Globalist status was reached.
#70
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
id say in the vast majority of cases a hotels bottom line will be enhanced by a guest paying $$$ over using pts, and will thusly look to take better care of the paying guest over a pts using guest, so Ive been told by many a mgr from the different programs and chains.
#71
Original Poster


Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 170
I often wonder if they treat me different than people that pay cash. I've almost always been treated fantastic at all Hyatts, but I would expect that regardless of how I was booking. They never seem to raise an eyebrow at points booking even if it is a 300,000 point stay. My first ever Hyatt stay was at the PHNY, and they thanked me for being a loyal Hyatt customer at check in, when I told him this was my first time ever in a Hyatt, he did a double take. I don't think at check-in they see my reservation history.
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Programs: MB Ambassador, WOH Globalist, HH Diamond (Aspire), IHG Plat (CC), UA (*G) Gold, AA Plat (OWS)
Posts: 10,224
They actually can - I once had a Hyatt FDA tell me to have safe travels to Chicago (which was the next city I had a Hyatt reservation in later that week).
#73
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
I often wonder if they treat me different than people that pay cash. I've almost always been treated fantastic at all Hyatts, but I would expect that regardless of how I was booking. They never seem to raise an eyebrow at points booking even if it is a 300,000 point stay. My first ever Hyatt stay was at the PHNY, and they thanked me for being a loyal Hyatt customer at check in, when I told him this was my first time ever in a Hyatt, he did a double take. I don't think at check-in they see my reservation history.
Whenever I go into a branch of my primary bank that isnt my main branch and get on the line I get a reg hello and asked to swipe my bank card so I do and then they run to get the marching band out to greet me, OK no band but they start up with all the nonsense and ask how they can help me I usually say simply by not wasting my time with all the small talk and utter nonsense sayings and simply next time ask that question 1st. Certain banks the reg tellers wont take care of me and want the special rep to, I ask them can they please take my bank card rip it up and send me a basic one so I wont have to waste my time dealing with the special reps., whose sole purpose is to get me to move all my financial dealings to the bank which I wont do or at least bring in another chunk of it also wont do = those special reps will simply waste my time and I dont want any part of it
point is once they know who you are by the computer telling them they read on script, every now and then you will find a real Mc Coy who honestly means what they say very rare. And it usually ends after thanking me for being a Globalist with Oh we upgraded you = you are now in the same room but on a floor higher up = no real Upgrade of any meaning, rare is when I end up in a much better room then what the app showed that morning, its unfortunately becoming an Industry standard among all the programs, especially Hyatt who minted tons and tons of Globalists and the hotels know it
#74




Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold 1.2MM (BIS), AA LT Plat (SUBs, BD/Bask), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 4,604
Agreed. But when one’s risk tolerance is significantly lower than average, perhaps 2 standard deviations, they shouldn’t try to impose that risk tolerance on other people without explaining that it’s an incredibly low risk approach. If one cannot stand the heat, they should most definitely get out of the kitchen, but they shouldn’t also try to get everyone else out.
It's hard to convey tone in writing, so I mean this question very neutrally: would you say the OP's approach is mod risk, high risk, etc.? Can you explain a little bit why you'd give this assessment?
As I said upthread, I've never intentionally churned anything in my life, and I'm completely ignorant on this issue. But it does seem like there is a lot of folks throwing caution here, but I'd like to hear the other side.
As I said upthread, I've never intentionally churned anything in my life, and I'm completely ignorant on this issue. But it does seem like there is a lot of folks throwing caution here, but I'd like to hear the other side.
Yes, of course I’m kidding, that paragraph is rude and disrespectful. The entire reason for participation here is to share information and opinions, especially with those who have
opposing opinions.OP’s approach, which AFAICT is like mine, is moderate risk. Factors tending toward high risk are application frequency and “MS to meet minimum spend”. Amount of MS could tip it to high risk, I do zero MS and tax payments instead (prn* to meet spend requirements).
A myriad of credible reports clearly indicate that MS is the primary most significant main risk factor for shutdown, for all banks and issuers. There are questionable occasional anecdotal unsubstantiated reports indicating other risk factors: high application velocity and applying for biz cards without a real biz.
Chase application guidelines are frequently described and OP does not appear to be exceeding them: 5/24, 2 personal cards or one personal and one biz card q* 30 (some say 90) days, bonus (same card) q 24 months, 1 Sapphire card at a time, Sapphire bonus q 48 months.
“Churning” is relative and different today from various time periods in the past. Each of us has a different assessment of churning. Some people are so afraid of their own shadow that they too rarely apply for a credit card and they’re leaving almost everything on the table.
(* “prn” = in the circumstances, as the circumstance arises, as needed, as necessary (from Latin pro re nata) prn pain = as needed for pain)
(* “q” = each, every (from Latin quaque) q6h = every 6 hours)
Agree about (usually) fantastic treatment, don’t wonder about different treatment based on different rates. It’s a strong testament to Hyatt that they treat (almost) all stays the same, regardless of $ or $$$ or award. I’ve been very fortunate as to often take advantage of Hyatt’s recent incredibly generous HealthCare Friends and Family rate which is sometimes 1/3 the member or rack or corporate rate. (Several ski resort Hyatt stays this past winter at $129 or $139 vice $350, GH Washington DC 2 different rooms at peak Cherry Blossoms a month ago $129 vice $350, several different properties at $109 vice $160-$300, no problem applying SUA to HealthCare rate.) Not once has an agent said anything and not once did I get the idea that they were treating me differently because of a very very low rate or an award.
#75
Original Poster


Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 170
It has been two years since I first posted this. I got a lot of pushback, people saying what I was doing wasn't sustainable or that I would get shutdown. Well, I’m back to say that Im still doing this, and it is even more lucrative now than it has been in the past.
I'm writing this from a Park Hyatt, where I’m earning my 30th night of 2024. I’m on track to hit 60 nights by early-July this year, to make it 5 consecutive years of Globalist status almost exclusively on points for leisure travel. Two years ago it was possible to earn ~1 million points a year sustainably, now it is more like ~1.4 million, and my redemption rates have gone up since then to 4.5 c/pt on average.
I want to say a big thank you to Hyatt FT community. This is the best resource for up to date information about Hyatt properties. It has really helped with maximizing points and SUA’s. Here’s to many more years of being a Globalist!
I'm writing this from a Park Hyatt, where I’m earning my 30th night of 2024. I’m on track to hit 60 nights by early-July this year, to make it 5 consecutive years of Globalist status almost exclusively on points for leisure travel. Two years ago it was possible to earn ~1 million points a year sustainably, now it is more like ~1.4 million, and my redemption rates have gone up since then to 4.5 c/pt on average.
I want to say a big thank you to Hyatt FT community. This is the best resource for up to date information about Hyatt properties. It has really helped with maximizing points and SUA’s. Here’s to many more years of being a Globalist!

