is it Impossible to redeem free night award at upscale hotels
Sep 21, 2019, 5:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Paris, France
Programs: UA LT Gold, Air France Platinum Ulti, AA 4MM EXP, SPG Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 725
is it Impossible to redeem free night award at upscale hotels
As a Globalist and having received a category 1 to 7 award i have tried to redeem it to no avail in the properties of my choice which are mostly Park Hyatts.
Is there a method to score one free night in those properties?
I have upcoming stays in Tokyo ( no brand available for a free night except Hyatt Regency ) Bangkok, Melbourne and Sydney in December, Milan in January (two stays)
I never encountered problems redeeming those free nights awards in the past. Did something change?
Is there a method to score one free night in those properties?
I have upcoming stays in Tokyo ( no brand available for a free night except Hyatt Regency ) Bangkok, Melbourne and Sydney in December, Milan in January (two stays)
I never encountered problems redeeming those free nights awards in the past. Did something change?
Sep 21, 2019, 6:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 30
As a Globalist and having received a category 1 to 7 award i have tried to redeem it to no avail in the properties of my choice which are mostly Park Hyatts.
Is there a method to score one free night in those properties?
I have upcoming stays in Tokyo ( no brand available for a free night except Hyatt Regency ) Bangkok, Melbourne and Sydney in December, Milan in January (two stays)
I never encountered problems redeeming those free nights awards in the past. Did something change?
Is there a method to score one free night in those properties?
I have upcoming stays in Tokyo ( no brand available for a free night except Hyatt Regency ) Bangkok, Melbourne and Sydney in December, Milan in January (two stays)
I never encountered problems redeeming those free nights awards in the past. Did something change?
Sep 21, 2019, 6:22 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
Just too many people with status, affiliated credit cards, or just more people traveling.
Bangkok, Melbourne and Sydney in December is the high season and availability can be an issue especially when properties play games with room categories.
Nothing new there!
Bangkok, Melbourne and Sydney in December is the high season and availability can be an issue especially when properties play games with room categories.
Nothing new there!
Sep 21, 2019, 6:50 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Paris, France
Programs: UA LT Gold, Air France Platinum Ulti, AA 4MM EXP, SPG Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 725
With all due respect i do not buy the seasonality argument. Cities like Sydney Melbourne Bangkok Tokyo are all year round destinations. What about Milan in January then? I played around with the system and Park Hyatts in Vienna Zurich Paris New York Buenos Aires all did not offer free nights availability. The only one I could find was Istanbul.
And all those properties had availability if redeeming with points....
I will call Hyatt res and find out if they can help.
And all those properties had availability if redeeming with points....
I will call Hyatt res and find out if they can help.
Sep 21, 2019, 6:59 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
Are you saying you can't redeem for BKK and SYD? Are you sure it's not a minimum night criteria that's blocking you? PHS has minimum stay requirements over Xmas and NY and generally block redemptions.
Last edited by m0hamed; Sep 21, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Sep 21, 2019, 7:02 pm
#6
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Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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In the last couple years, I've stayed on points in the PH Tokyo, Buenos Aires, and Paris several times each plus Tokyo Andaz as well as HR Tokyo. I haven't had problems finding availability for points and also TSUs (except of course at Tokyo Andaz) on those stays. Previously I tended to look for cash and points rates in order to use TSUs or Diamond upgrades and again, things tended to work for me for the dates I needed. (Add PH Seoul and GH ICN to my list.)
Sep 21, 2019, 7:06 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Probably on a flight.
Programs: WoH Glob, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 197
Sep 21, 2019, 7:10 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Paris, France
Programs: UA LT Gold, Air France Platinum Ulti, AA 4MM EXP, SPG Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 725
In the last couple years, I've stayed on points in the PH Tokyo, Buenos Aires, and Paris several times each plus Tokyo Andaz as well as HR Tokyo. I haven't had problems finding availability for points and also TSUs (except of course at Tokyo Andaz) on those stays. Previously I tended to look for cash and points rates in order to use TSUs or Diamond upgrades and again, things tended to work for me for the dates I needed. (Add PH Seoul and GH ICN to my list.)
Sep 21, 2019, 7:12 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Paris, France
Programs: UA LT Gold, Air France Platinum Ulti, AA 4MM EXP, SPG Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 725
Sep 21, 2019, 7:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
Sep 21, 2019, 9:43 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Swiss Senator, Flying Blue Gold, BA EC Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 330
Just some weeks ago I was able to book four nights at the PH Tokyo for early December with my points. At that time, I had free choice between pretty much all Hyatt properties. So it looks like things got busier in between.
That said I previously wasn’t able several times to get a weekend night at the Park Hyatt Paris which seems to be constantly booked out for points. It’s probably all supply and demand
That said I previously wasn’t able several times to get a weekend night at the Park Hyatt Paris which seems to be constantly booked out for points. It’s probably all supply and demand
Sep 21, 2019, 9:52 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Australia
Programs: Qantas Platinum, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 359
Are you looking for more than one night? I had a similar situation when I was booking PH Sydney with points and a free night. But then when I looked at just one night I could do it....for both nights.
Sep 21, 2019, 9:54 pm
#14
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IIRC the free night certs must be booked separately which can lead to problems if the hotel has a minimum stay requirement.
Sep 21, 2019, 11:36 pm
#15
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I've seen lots of availability at PH Zurich, PH Vendome, and PH NYC lately. And redeemed for a friend at PH Tokyo recently. Those all seem pretty upscale to me.