View Poll Results: 40 night bonus - $100 gift card or 5,000 points?
$100 gift card
55
53.40%
5k points
48
46.60%
Voters: 103. You may not vote on this poll
40 night bonus - $100 gift card or 5k points?
Aug 9, 2022, 9:54 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 2MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,161
I've said it in other threads, but since this thread is a repeat of earlier discussions, I'll repeat it here ... One advantage of gift cards and the difficulty some properties have in applying them is the value may be deducted from your portfolio but not actually debited from the card. This happened to me when I used the $100 at one property but found the card still had its full value many months later.
Aug 9, 2022, 10:06 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,314
I've said it in other threads, but since this thread is a repeat of earlier discussions, I'll repeat it here ... One advantage of gift cards and the difficulty some properties have in applying them is the value may be deducted from your portfolio but not actually debited from the card. This happened to me when I used the $100 at one property but found the card still had its full value many months later.
You don’t earn less points if you use a gift card.
the mis- processing is outweighed by fraud.
shouldn’t use it outside US as the high forex fee takes from its value.
I chose the gift card, because it’s worth $10 more than the cost of 5,000 points at their sale.
but the hassle factor combined with fraud is a valid determinant.
Aug 9, 2022, 10:18 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,843
Aug 9, 2022, 10:19 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington DC
Programs: BA GLD, AA GLD 1MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,698
Well, it doesn’t add to the problem - in other words, if I had 5,000 more points, they’d tend to sit in my account for awhile. The $100 I’ll spend immediately.
Aug 9, 2022, 11:01 am
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
It's nice that Hyatt provides two options of relatively equivalent value.
Aug 9, 2022, 12:48 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 402
I take the points. I know the $100 is worth more -- but it's another thing to track that taxes my brain. When I travel I want to just check out -- ideally on my phone -- and leave. The time wasted in stopping by the front desk and hoping that whoever is there is able to work with the computer systems to rejigger things to accommodate multiple forms of payment when I'm trying to wrangle toddlers to get us to the airport on time. Definitely not worth the 10-20 bucks that I would ostensibly gain by min/max-ing the whole situation.
Aug 9, 2022, 12:59 pm
#22
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,860
i personally would go for points.
yes, gift cards can be used towads room costs, however, I believe they are not valid at all hotels, but mainly in the Americas? Unsure though.
My justification for the points option: if I get 100$ less on room costs, I lose 500 WoH points. so I prefer the 5k points.
There is a main thread on the Milestone Rewards
yes, gift cards can be used towads room costs, however, I believe they are not valid at all hotels, but mainly in the Americas? Unsure though.
My justification for the points option: if I get 100$ less on room costs, I lose 500 WoH points. so I prefer the 5k points.
There is a main thread on the Milestone Rewards
Gift card payment earns the same as any other payment method.
Let’s say you have a folio of $100 exactly on base rate and pay with the $100 gift card.
You earn 5 points per dollar so you get 500 points plus the globalist bonus totaling 650 points.
So by choosing the $100 gift card you get $100 AND 650 Points.
Making it the clear winner.
Aug 9, 2022, 1:24 pm
#23
formerly a193991
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Zulu Romeo Hotel
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist; LX SEN (*A Gold), AA LTG, SBB-CFF-FFS First Class GA
Posts: 4,573
Aug 9, 2022, 1:46 pm
#24
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,860
In the US or Latin America it’s not a voucher it’s the same as a credit card. If it were a certificate for a free night it would be different but it’s a gift card.
Aug 9, 2022, 4:49 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,860
I take the points. I know the $100 is worth more -- but it's another thing to track that taxes my brain. When I travel I want to just check out -- ideally on my phone -- and leave. The time wasted in stopping by the front desk and hoping that whoever is there is able to work with the computer systems to rejigger things to accommodate multiple forms of payment when I'm trying to wrangle toddlers to get us to the airport on time. Definitely not worth the 10-20 bucks that I would ostensibly gain by min/max-ing the whole situation.
For those using gift cards Hyatt Centric Park City, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and Hyatt Regency Valencia also have loads of experience they’ve done them with ease on multiple occasions for us.
Also, I’d value the points at $75 vs $107.50 for the gift card (1.5 cent per point valuation) and $100 plus the 500 points earned by using the gift card so $32.50 difference assuming no double or triple points promos are running which would definitely give more value to the gift card.
Aug 9, 2022, 5:24 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,255
Well... part of the reason the American economy is what it is and loyalty programs are as successful as they are, relates to the fact that most people are mathematically challenged.
The amount of money, time, resources, tearing of clothes, and gnashing of teeth than many FTers put into the pursuit of "free" hotel breakfast and telling themselves they are "saving" $1000+ per night on an upgraded suite that they never actually would in fact pay for never ceases to amaze me...
Regards
The amount of money, time, resources, tearing of clothes, and gnashing of teeth than many FTers put into the pursuit of "free" hotel breakfast and telling themselves they are "saving" $1000+ per night on an upgraded suite that they never actually would in fact pay for never ceases to amaze me...
Regards
When i look at the value I am getting, I look at the value i would otherwise have paid. For example, if I was going to NYC I might pay 250 or 300 for a room, I would never pay $1,000 for a night in the Conrad. So if I use my Hilton night there, I say I got 250 of value for it.
Aug 9, 2022, 6:05 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,860
I agree with much of this. The time spent I don't agree with.
When i look at the value I am getting, I look at the value i would otherwise have paid. For example, if I was going to NYC I might pay 250 or 300 for a room, I would never pay $1,000 for a night in the Conrad. So if I use my Hilton night there, I say I got 250 of value for it.
When i look at the value I am getting, I look at the value i would otherwise have paid. For example, if I was going to NYC I might pay 250 or 300 for a room, I would never pay $1,000 for a night in the Conrad. So if I use my Hilton night there, I say I got 250 of value for it.
Aug 9, 2022, 6:05 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Taipei
Posts: 1,124
I've said it in other threads, but since this thread is a repeat of earlier discussions, I'll repeat it here ... One advantage of gift cards and the difficulty some properties have in applying them is the value may be deducted from your portfolio but not actually debited from the card. This happened to me when I used the $100 at one property but found the card still had its full value many months later.