In 2019 Hyatt and American Airlines launched a partnership that has offered strong value for the past five years. That partnership is being updated. Currently here is how it works:
- American status members earn 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent with Hyatt
- Hyatt elites earn 1 Hyatt point per dollar spent on American flights
- American Airlines ConciergeKey members receive World of Hyatt Globalist status
- Each program offers status challenges to elites from the other program.
The first two pieces, ‘joint earning’, end December 31, 2014. They are being replaced by status and redemption offers. That’s disappointing because the AAdvantage miles earned for spending with Hyatt counted towards elite status (since they’re both redeemable miles and Loyalty Points). Of course, giving points to every elite member of either program that links their account is an expensive proposition.
Alila Marea
In its place, AAdvantage and Hyatt rewards become options within each program’s choice platforms, beginning with each program’s new member year (January 1 for Hyatt, March 1 for American):
- Redeem Hyatt points for AAdvantage ‘status for a day’: Explorist and Globalist members can redeem 5,000 Hyatt points for AAdvantage Gold; 8,000 points for Platinum, and 12,000 points for Platinum Pro – these are the same number of AAdvantage miles American now charges their own elites to gift these statuses. These can be redeemed for your own travel on American, or gifted to anyone you wish.
- American benefits as Hyatt Milestone Rewards: Hyatt members can choose American Airlines benefits as their reward option, beginning at 20 nights.
- 20 nights: 2 American Airlines Preferred Seat (not extra legroom) coupons. Current choices include 2,000 bonus points on next Hyatt Place or Hyatt House stay; 2 Club Access Awards; or $25 FIND experiences credit.
- 30 nights: 2 American Airlines Preferred Seat (not extra legroom) coupons. Current choices include 2K Next Stay Award; 2 Club Access Awards; $25 FIND Credit
- 40 nights: 2 American Airlines Main Cabin Extra seat coupons (extra legroom, free alcoholic beverages). Current choices include 5,000 bonus points; 1 confirmed suite upgrade; $150 FIND Credit. [I will continue to choose the confirmed suite at time of booking.]
American Airlines Main Cabin Extra - 50 nights: 2 American Airlines Main Cabin Extra seat coupons (extra legroom, free alcoholic beverages). Current choices include 5,000 bonus points; 2 suite upgrade awards; $150 FIND Credit [I will continue to choose the confirmed suites at time of booking.]
- 60 nights: There are no choices at this threshold. Hyatt elites unlock guest of Honor awards, a category 1-7 free night award, 2 confirmed suite upgrades, and access to a Hyatt concierge.
Park Hyatt St. Kitts - 70 nights: AAdvantage Gold status. Current choices: 10,000 bonus points; 1 confirmed suite upgrade; $300 FIND experience credit. [I will continue to choose a confirmed suite upgrade, though there are those who might benefit from AAdvantage Gold – but not if they’ll hit 100 nights and can select Platinum.]
- 80 nights: AAdvantage Gold status. Current choices: 10,000 bonus points; 1 confirmed suite upgrade; $300 FIND experience credit. [I will continue to choose a confirmed suite upgrade.]
- 90 nights: AAdvantage Gold status. Current choices: 10,000 bonus points; 1 confirmed suite upgrade; $300 FIND experience credit. [I will continue to choose a confirmed suite upgrade.]
- 100 nights, and every 10 nights up to 150 nights: AAdvantage Platinum status. Current choices: 10,000 bonus points; 1 confirmed suite upgrade; Miraval Extra Night award. [For those without AAdvantage status, Platinum for a year could be worthwhile if only for access to extra legroom seats at booking.]
- AAdvantage elites can redeem miles for free Hyatt nights. At the 40,000 Loyalty Point level (Gold), AAdvantage members can begin redeeming miles for Hyatt category 1-4 free nights. This will start out costing 25,000 miles per night, but American says they “could make changes depending on status levels in the future.”
At the 125,000 Loyalty Point level, AAdvantage members can begin redeeming miles for Hyatt category 1-7 free nights. This will start at a price of 65,000 AAdvantage miles apiece.
- Hyatt status and free nights as American Loyalty Point Rewards.
- At 100,000 AAdvantage Loyalty Points, members can apply Discoverist status to their Hyatt account in addition to the current Avis President’s Club achieved at that level.
- At 175,000 and 250,000 AAdvantage Loyalty Points, Hyatt Explorist status becomes a benefit choice. At 175,000 points you’d have to give up 2 systemwide upgrades or, for instance, 20,000 – 25,000 bonus miles. And while Hyatt’s Globalist status earned with 60 nights is the best mainstream top tier hotel elite status by a lot, Explorist is decidedly mid.
- At each of the 400,000; 550,000; and 750,000 Loyalty Point benefit choice levels, a Hyatt category 1-4 free night becomes an option. That means giving up, for instance, a systemwide upgrade or 25,000 bonus miles. That’s not insane but won’t be the best choice for most.
- At the 1, 3, and 5 million Loyalty Point choice levels, a Hyatt category 1-7 free night becomes an option.
I can’t imagine choosing this over 4 systemwide upgrades, gifting Platinum Pro status or a 100,000 redemption rebate (1 million choice benefit level) let alone 10 systemwide upgrades, gifting Executive Platinum status or a 500,000 mile redemption debate (5 million loyalty point choice level).
- At 100,000 AAdvantage Loyalty Points, members can apply Discoverist status to their Hyatt account in addition to the current Avis President’s Club achieved at that level.
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
The benefit of this partnership, for me, has been reciprocal points-earning. That goes away. Notably, the regular annual status challenges are expected to continue and ConciergeKey members will continue to receive Hyatt Globalist status.
These new redemption options aren’t ones that I’ll use personally, but I already have AAdvantage status and I find the redemption pricing for Hyatt free nights too expensive (American has to buy those from Hyatt in some form after all) and the opportunity cost of choosing Hyatt and American benefits as an AAdvantage Loyalty Point Reward or Hyatt Milestone Reward too high – the other choices I have are simply more valuable.
Probably the best new option here is for Hyatt elites with 100 nights per year to choose American AAdvantage Platinum status for a year as their choice benefit. Redeeming Hyatt points for AAdvantage status for a day, at the same price you can do this using AAdvantage miles, may be useful for some as well.
Status under these offers, by the way, runs through the end of the membership year for the status earned. In other words, if you earn 2026 status in 2025, then redeeming for a year of status lasts through the end of the 2026 member year.
I guess all good or half-good things come to an end. Like Marriott’s partnership with United, I don’t see anything here that would as a Hyatt globalist make me fly American.
“AAdvantage elites can redeem miles for free Hyatt nights. At the 40,000 Loyalty Point level (Gold), ”
Are lifetime elites eligible here, or do you need the annual LPs to qualify?
@ Gary — This confirms my choice to continue not crediting any flights to AA. Closed my AA Citi Executive credit card last night. The potential 20,000 LP from the card is worthless. My spouse has the card, so we can access the AAdmirals Club together since we almost alwaystravel together. I’ll happily take the Executive card again when I can earn another SUB.
I agree with you, the old program was better and frankly better for American. I can have 100 nights even if I have to do a mattress run along with credit card spend on Hyatt and avoid credit card spend on my advantage card, using it with other Chase cards for more flexible use. Now I have status at both companies with a combination of stay and spend.
Do we know if the Hyatt Category 1-4 nights booked with A miles will count toward Hyatt status? If so, this is a great option for us as we have many more AA miles than we will ever use and applying these for Hyatt stays is a great use, particularly if these will count for Hyatt status as their own free nights do.
Cheers.
Is *ANYTHING* about American Airlines getting better, not worse?
As a long-time AA apologist turned critic I can’t think of anything.
Gary,
Could you give any insight to Swag’s question above?
I, too, and a Lifetime Gold member, and the utility of AAdvantage miles have vastly diminished for me as they have drastically cut back at their NYC hubs, especially for International travel. Therefore, such an exchange looks enticing to me!
Thank you!
I’m a Globalist at Hyatt and Executive Platinum at AA (got it originally for being a Globalist and have kept it going since).
My quesiton is if the seat coupons and the Gold status can be given to others. I have kids at college and would love for them to use these.
Just like Hyatt has non-transferable lounge coupons that are mostly useless for Globalists, AA has non-transferable seat upgrade coupons that are mostly useless for EPs.
@Woofie – +1
The net effect on me will be that since I already hold Globalist & EXP status that I’ll be less inclined to fly AA or stay with Hyatt since reciprocal earnings will be gone and I’ll be earning less by using either company. Isn’t driving loyal customers away the absolute opposite of what the companies are supposed to be doing?