Today, I received my Hyatt credit card welcome package in the mail, and I was excited to activate it since it would provide me with a 20% rebate on point redemptions through June, as well as a $50 statement credit and 2 free nights at any Hyatt hotel worldwide.
The annual fee is waived the first year, so assuming I don’t use the two free nights or the rebate, I’ll still end up $50 ahead – though, I certainly plan on using this card to the max.
When I called to activate the card, I asked the representative I was on the phone with to confirm the terms of the bonus offer.
Here’s what they told me: If I spend $2,000 within the first 3 months, I’ll receive 50,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points.
Alarmed, I told them that the offer I applied under included the $50 statement credit and 2 free nights at any Hyatt hotel in the world. The representative, trying to back up their original statement, told me that 50,000 points was enough for any Hyatt hotel in the world. Of course, me knowing better, I told them that the offer would need to be 60,000 points for this to be true (since the highest category property is a Category 7 at 30,000 points a night). The agent re-checked his system and apologized that he was looking under the wrong offer for this card. He then confirmed my eligibility for the $50 statement credit and 2 free nights anywhere, which I was delighted to hear.
But, it’s interesting to note that apparently a 50,000 point offer with $2,000 spending does exist, though I’ve never seen it anywhere. If it’s ever offered to you, don’t take it, since you’re being shorted 10,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points!
Jamie Larounis is an avid traveler, blogger and miles/points educator. Traveling well over 100,000 miles a year and staying in hotels for over 100 nights, he leverages miles, points and other deals to fly in first class cabins, and stay in 5-star hotels. The Forward Cabin shares his experiences, musings, reviews, tips, tricks, resources and industry news with you, the fellow traveler.
Actually, for many people, that could be a better offer. Not everyone is able to take advantage of the two nights at a top tier hotel. 50,000 points gives a lot more flexibility in how you spend your nights – including the ability to stretch them with Points+Cash. I had heard about this offer but have not yet aren’t anywhere to sign up for it online.
So true! Didn’t think about that. Like you, I haven’t seen it anywhere either.
Yeah I would WAY rather have 50,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points than 2 free nights. I’d take 10 nights at a Category 1 hotel rather than 2 nights anywhere.
I thought you’d rather stay in a Rodeway Inn?
+1, I’ll take this offer all day long. The top tier hotels aren’t THAT much nicer than lower end Hyatts, to give up so many potential free nights.
Plus I would assume the 50K points don’t expire after the first year, giving even more flexibility.
I agree with many of the commenters. A lot more flexibility with the 50K points. Do you know how to get this offer, especially if you already have a Chase Hyatt card?
Once you hold it, I don’t think it’s possible to switch, although maybe you could try asking for an exchange of 60,000 bonus points and see if you have any luck? I’ve never seen the 50K offer anywhere, so unfortunately I couldn’t tell you where to apply if I knew… Sorry!
I have to chime in to agree with the previous commenters. I am staying in a Hyatt as I write this, although I do not carry the Hyatt card. The reason is because of the cc’s sign up offer. I have no desire to stay 2 nights at the Hyatt Paris Vendome instead of 6-10 nights at one of the many new cat.1 or cat.2 HPs I stay in.
With the new points + cash, Hyatt points are pretty valuable, and as Rick mentioned, all Hyatts are pretty darn nice. I think 50k instead of 2 free nights is _probably_ a fair trade. 60k would definitely be nicer for someone like me than $50+2 free nights.
@AJ, no, there is no way you can get this while you hold a Hyatt Visa. this is just a different offer. Chase would not consider it a different _product_.
On a different, but related subject, has anyone else noticed the HPs are all starting to charge extra for a “high floor?” It has been forced on the franchisees by Hyatt, and it is fair to say it is proving to be a very unpopular mistake.
When I got the card, my wife and I stayed at the Hyatt Zilara in Cancun. She also got the card, so it was a four night stay. I do not know what category the Zilara is; however, it was the best place I’d ever stayed with the all-inclusive package to boot. One example: Every staff member stops, places his/her hand over the heart, as you pass. Every staff member seemed sincere. I’ve not thought of how it might feel to be a king until my stay there.