How to Redeem Hyatt Gold Passport Points for Suite Upgrades and Awards

Redeeming Hyatt Gold Passport points for suite upgrades and awards can be quite a value, depending on the property. You’ll either be able to have an entire night for free, or upgrade from a paid rate. In either case, you’ll experience a larger room, or upgraded facilities, including, in some cases, access to the hotel’s lounge, which can save you money on food and beverage.

Free Suite Night Awards

Suite night awards are completely free nights, in a basic suite of the hotel’s offering.

Depending on which category hotel you’re at, the more the suite-night will cost.

I often get asked which room you’ll receive upon redeeming a suite night, and, to be honest, it depends. If you’re a basic Gold Passport member, you’ll most certainly be in the lowest category suite the hotel has. However, if you’re a Diamond, my experience indicates that the hotel will try and give you an upgrades suite, whenever possible (not the best suite, but perhaps a mid-tier suite). At the Andaz Amsterdam, instead of receiving an Andaz Suite, I received an Andaz Large Suite, which was due to my status.

Here’s the suite progression for the Park Hyatt New York. Redeeming a suite night award, upgrade instrument or points will allow you to receive a Park Junior Suite King.

It’s always worth asking about upgrading into a higher suite, especially if you’re a Platinum or Diamond. It can’t hurt to ask, and depending on availability, ask and ye shall receive.

Upgrading to a Suite from a Paid Rate

You can also upgrade from a paid rate into a suite, or Regency/Grand Club. The rates here are per night, and it’s worth noting that not all suite upgrades include Club access, so if complimentary breakfast and access is important to you, you may want to book directly into the Club upgrade.

Like the free suite night awards, you’ll book into the most basic suite, unless you have status where your experience may vary. Regency and Grand Club access allows you complimentary breakfast, evening appetizers, internet, television and a relaxed environment to work or chat with friends. Before upgrading, I’d suggest asking around to see whether the Club is “worth it” or not, since I know some Clubs are better than others.

There is one important line in the terms and conditions to be aware of, however: “When redeeming Regency Club® or Grand Club® upgrades or suite upgrades at a resort property, you must pay a minimum of the Hyatt Daily Rate deluxe room (such as partial ocean view, ocean view, slope view, etc). At non-resort properties you must pay a minimum of the Hyatt Daily Rate.” In summary, these means that the cheapest rate at the hotel may not be eligible for upgrade. You may have to book a more expensive rate, just like Delta does to allow you to use an international upgrade.

At the Park Hyatt New York, for example, the most basic Park Junior Suite King is running $988 for a random date I chose next month. Take a look at the price progression for the next level rooms, too, to see what kind of value you are getting – in some cases, it’s tremendous.

Hyatt Points and Cash

Unique to Hyatt, you can apply a Diamond Suite Upgrade to Points + Cash reservations, and those reservations will also count towards elite status as well. Diamond upgrades are for stays up to 7 nights, and for me, I personally won’t use them if I’m staying less than 3 nights.

Hotels You Can’t Upgrade At

You can’t upgrade at the following Hyatt hotels: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort , Park Hyatt Sydney, Andaz Tokyo, Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Hyatt Regency Wichita, Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa, Hyatt Manila City of Dreams, Hyatt Santa Barbara, Hyatt Residence Club resorts, Hyatt Place hotels and M life resorts.

My assumption is that the demand at these hotels is either too high, or that they don’t have a basic suite offering (which I know to be the case at the Hyatt Santa Barbara).