This is a friendly reminder for members of the World of Hyatt program to use their upgrade certificates associated with the tier status they currently hold if any of are left unused at this point before they expire.
The World of Hyatt program assigns a variety of different upgrades and free night awards to their tier members, and many of them come with varying expiration dates, though the upgrades for Club and Suite usually expire by the end of February.
Unfortunately, with Hyatt certificates, you really have to be on your toes and find a good use for them and either apply them to a reservation at a property where you wouldn’t ordinarily use an upgrade certificate or for short-term stays of 1-2 nights which is often considered a waste as well as suite upgrade awards are good for up to seven consecutive nights.
Here is how it currently looks in my own account as far as these upgrades are concerned:
I have used all my free nights but the upgrades are harder to burn, at least in my case. I have already tried to apply them at properties where it made very little sense, such as a two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin or a one-night stay at the Hyatt Centric Tokyo. Even my five-night reservation at the Grand Hyatt Bali wasn’t very beneficial, as I’d have gotten the suite anyway.
Now I still have one left and not the slightest idea what to do with it. Maybe I’ll stay at the Andaz Seoul for a weekend as suites there tend to be difficult to get, and the hotel is often very busy.
These are the Terms & Conditions for a Globalist Suite Upgrade Certificate:
Suite Upgrade Award must be redeemed in connection with a reservation at a Hyatt hotel with a checkout date before the expiration date. Suite Upgrade Award must be redeemed in advance when making the underlying room reservation by calling 800.544.9288 or a Hyatt Global Care Center. Suite Upgrade Award is not redeemable at Suite Award Ineligible Properties or Vacation Ownership Properties, Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas, Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts, Sunscape Resorts & Spas, or other Legacy AMR Collection hotels or resorts. Suite Upgrade Award is only valid for standard suites. For purposes of this award, a suite provides for one-bedroom accommodations. Suite Upgrade Award is only valid for standard suites, defined as each participating hotel’s or resort’s introductory suite category, and is subject to availability. There are a limited number of standard suites available at each hotel and resort. Suite Upgrade Award cannot be redeemed for any Premium, Specialty, Premier, Presidential or Diplomatic Suites or similar suite categories, as designated by the applicable hotel or resort. Suite Upgrade Award is valid on nights for which the member has paid an Eligible Rate or has redeemed points for a standard-room Free Night Award, a Club Free Night Award, or a Points + Cash Award (each term as defined in the World of Hyatt program terms), up to a maximum of seven (7) consecutive nights. Not valid in connection with any Free Night Award other than those identified above, including, without limitation, Hyatt Credit Card premium and anniversary Free Night Awards, 5-brand Free Night Awards (as defined in the World of Hyatt program terms), or any other promotional Free Night Award. Suite Upgrade Award is not redeemable in connection with hotels or resorts that have not yet opened when you make your reservation, even if reservations for such hotel or resort are otherwise being accepted. For complete terms and conditions of the World of Hyatt program, including additional terms applicable to the use of this award, see worldofhyatt.com/terms.
As outlined in the T&C the suite upgrade awards have to be used by the date of expiry and that includes a full checkout. They are also not transferable like points so it’s the Globalist member who has to stay or at least check-in.
During the pandemic, Hyatt extended these awards but now they expire as scheduled so yes, either you use them or you lose them.
Another upgrade type Hyatt has is the Club Access Award which are deposited into member accounts when reaching certain milestones and which are completely useless for Globalist members as we get Club Access as part of the standard benefits. These should really be a choice benefit to begin with.
These are the T&C for the Club Access Awards:
Club Access Award is valid through the end of the year in which it is earned plus fourteen (14) months and must be redeemed in connection with a reservation with a checkout date before the expiration date. Club Access Award must be redeemed in advance when making the underlying room reservation by calling 800.544.9288 or your nearest Hyatt Global Care Center. Reservations for Club Access Award redemption are subject to availability. Club Access Award is redeemable only at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts that have a Club lounge and is not valid at Miraval, Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Destination by Hyatt Residences, or Vacation Ownership Property hotels and resorts, Small Luxury Hotels of the World hotels, or MGM Rewards destinations. Access to a hotel or resort’s Club lounge is subject to the individual hotel or resort’s lounge maximum capacity. Club Access Award is valid for access to the Club lounge on nights for which the Member has paid an Eligible Rate or has redeemed points for a standard-room Free Night Award, Suite Free Night Award, or a Points + Cash Award (as those terms are defined in the World of Hyatt program terms), up to a maximum of seven (7) consecutive nights. Not valid in connection with any Free Night Award other than those identified above, including, without limitation, Hyatt Credit Card premium and anniversary Free Night Awards, Brand Explorer Free Night Awards (as defined in the World of Hyatt program terms), or any other promotional Free Night Award. Breakfast will not be provided to a member at participating hotels or resorts without Club lounge access available. Club Access Award is not redeemable in connection with hotels or resorts that have not yet opened when you make your reservation, even if reservations for such hotel or resort are otherwise being accepted. For complete terms and conditions of the World of Hyatt program, including additional terms applicable to the use of this award, see worldofhyatt.com/terms.
Last year, well in December of 2021 but still 12 months ago, Hyatt actually offered members to convert expiring Club Access Awards to points:
Success: Extending Hyatt Globalist Suite Upgrades & Converting Club Upgrades To 3,000 Points
The number of points offered to members varied and of course, since this isn’t official policy but at the discretion of the agent you’re talking to there is no basis to demand a specific amount.
When I called Hyatt, the first agent gave me 3x 3,000 points for the Club Awards:
Apparently, what amount you get for these awards is a complete wild card. John and some others were offered 500 points per certificate. I read online that some were given 3k per award. I decided to start off the conversation by saying that someone I know had gotten the Club awards converted to 3,000 points each and that I’m interested in that as well, which she confirmed.
If this will be available in 2023 is anyone’s guess at this point. I will give it a try and report back when the expiration day comes.
Conclusion
It’s the time of the year again when Hyatt upgrade certificates are coming to the end of their lifespan, and we recommend that you find a way to use at least the upgrade certificates in some meaningful way.
Hyatt has in the past offered extensions and compensation for some expiring awards, but it’s unclear if this unofficial policy is being carried forward. Usually, Hyatt requires you to wait until the award is actually expired before you call in and request such a conversion. I don’t like this gamble because if they end up telling you that the program has ended and they either offer you nothing or a tiny token amount then I’d rather have burned the award somewhere, even with very little value to it.
The expiration date for Suite Upgrade Awards & Club Access Awards this year is February 28th, so better be mindful of that date if there are unused awards in your World of Hyatt account.
