Hyatt and American Airlines have new offers to fast track towards elite status for current elite members of the other program. Hyatt even gives free temporary status while you work on your challenge. They aren’t super easy, or with American necessarily the best way to achieve status we’ve seen in the market, however.

Hyatt Elites Get Fast Track To American Status

All Hyatt elite members (even ‘Discoverists’) can register by September 30 for an American Airlines elite status challenge. Meeting required AAdvantage activity in the three months following registration will provide status through January 2023. The requirements will vary based on your current AAdvantage elite tier (if any). Only American marketed and operated flights (no codeshares or partner flights)

Already American Airlines reduced the requirements to earn status in 2021 and then introduced three promotions for existing elites to keep their status. Even current non-status members can earn 250 bonus qualifying miles per segment (up to 10 segments) this summer.

Then American even rolled out two more ways for existing elites to keep their status next year, $2000 qualifying dollars in spend on the airline this fall, or $15,000 spend on co-brand credit cards over four months.

At this point any existing elite who wants to keep their status should be able to do so. And American has been gifting free status to members with offers in some ways better than this one (throwing in free upgrades to boot).

American Elites Get Fast Track To Hyatt Status

American Airlines elite members (even Golds) can register by September 30 for 90 day trial Hyatt Explorist status. Then, qualifying activity during those 90 days earns Explorist or Globalist status through February 2023.

• 10 nights in 90 days keeps Explorist status
  
• 20 nights in 90 days earns Globalist status

Explorist takes only 15 nights and Globalist takes only 30 nights to earn during the full year this year with standard requirements cut in half, so the opportunity here is Hyatt mid-tier status while you’re working on your status more than the reduced requirements.

Additionally, since many Hyatt benefits are based on nights stayed rather than tier earned elite members achieving status through a challenge (or even the 2021 reduced status requirements) may be surprised they are missing some benefits like confirmed suite upgrades or a dedicated Hyatt concierge.

Play This Offer Strategically

Before registering for either promo, Hyatt and American accounts need to be linked. That allows both programs to see your existing status and other activity (and allows eligible members to earn American miles when staying with Hyatt – on top of Hyatt points – and to earn Hyatt points when flying American on top of AAdvantage miles).

You should consider strategically when to register because that starts a 90 day clock for activity towards earning status for the 2022 program year. In other words, you want to wait until you’re about to have qualifying activity (but not so long that you’ll forget to register in time!).

American-Hyatt Relationship Is Great For Members

It was one of the best new benefits I’ve seen come out in a long time, since it’s more points earned for many and didn’t involve benefits being taken away. The American-Hyatt partnership is great because

• American elites earn 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent with Hyatt
  
• Hyatt elites earn 1 Hyatt point per dollar spent on American flights
  
• That’s on top of promotions like 1000 bonus AAdvantage miles per Hyatt night through July 31
  
• And elite matching and challenge opportunities sporadically offered