I did some searching and although I found lots of good information, I did not find an answer to my question:

Does Hyatt status level impact the availability of awards?

As someone who ends up with my hotel stays split between way too many programs I don't do very well with status with any of them.

At current I am one stay away from going from Gold to Platinum and realize I could hit Platinum with a virtual mattress run via a cheap night and 1-800-checkin. I realize this will only cost me about $50, but I don't anticipate even qualifying for Platinum again next year (we are getting fewer and fewer Hyatts via our corporate travel).

However, I do have a pretty healthy points balance and want to use some next year for award stays. If Platinum (vs Gold) status will improve the availability of awards I'll do it....does it make a difference?

Thanks for your insight.

Not really, but if you are Diamond they may extend your FFN redemption period a bit.

You gotta stop overextending yourself and you should concentrate on at least one primary program!

Good luck!

While it's not in the policy - I would swear they do. I managed to get a free night over Memorial Day weekend at the Grand Cypress a month or so in advance. I also got a free night in Waikiki during a period I knew was sold out.

I have a feeling they do make a bit of a concession - just a hunch.

Mary

I agree. I don't believe there is additional inventory per se, but there have been occassions when the availability seemed to suddenly "appear" for me. Sometimes CS has done it, and sometimes I have called the hotel directly with success when reservations and CS have said no.

The OP is referring making Platinum. All your posts regarding "special" treatments are made for Diamond.

Being a Platinum before and a Diamond now, I can testify Platinum is worth almost nothing. However, with the changes made in overseas properties and now further cut-back domestically, I see not much value left for me to keep Diamond. YMMV.

The one difference is that Diamonds can get the Rule Buster 25K award that gets you a room anytime. Haven't used it myself though yet....is that also going away?

I have not heard or read anything about this benefit going away. It's a great benefit too. As long as a room is available at, say, the PH Paris, PH Madrid or any other great Hyatt for a popular/expensive night like New Year's Eve, you can get it for a maximum of 24,000 points.

Yes, that was a great benefit since I got Park Hyatt Vendome and Park Hyatt Sydney on 24K award for the Sat and the other nights on FFN or 15K awards.

Status DOES NOT have any impact on award availbility, unless you want to use extra points for a free night award and are a Diaomd. Even if status had an impact, which it does not, PLT probably would not get you much. It really is not worth anything.