American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt have a partnership that offers reciprocal perks. This offers some consistent benefits, and we also sometimes see reciprocal status fast track opportunities.
Several weeks ago, we saw a reciprocal status match opportunity rolled out, giving American elites access to a Hyatt fast track, and giving Hyatt elites access to an American fast track. I wanted to post a reminder of this, as registration for the American status fast track opportunity ends on September 5 (meanwhile registration for the Hyatt status fast track opportunity is open through October 31).
In this post:
How the American & Hyatt partnership works
In 2019 American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt launched a partnership, offering reciprocal benefits for members of both loyalty programs. The concept of airlines and hotels teaming up makes sense, since those who fly a lot are also likely to stay at hotels a lot, and vice versa.
With this partnership, registered members can receive the following perks:
- American AAdvantage elite members can earn one AAdvantage mile per dollar spent with Hyatt
- World of Hyatt elite members can earn one World of Hyatt point per dollar spent with American
- American AAdvantage Concierge Key members (invitation only) receive complimentary Globalist status with Hyatt
- World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members “may, from time to time, be selected for the opportunity to participate in offers to earn AAdvantage elite status”
As you can see, typically the only “guaranteed” status is that Concierge Key members receive Globalist status, while there’s no consistent opportunities for Hyatt elite members to receive American status.
Hyatt status fast track for American elites
Thanks to a promotion, AAdvantage Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum members, can register for a World of Hyatt status fast track, which can earn them World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist status, depending on their qualifying activity.
Here are the basic terms:
- You must register by October 31, 2024
- Qualifying World of Hyatt activity has to be completed within 90 days of registration (so you’ll want to time registration, since the “clock” starts when you register)
- Members will receive trial Explorist status, and then can maintain Explorist or Globalist status through February 2026 based on qualifying activity
- Only eligible rates qualify, including award nights
You need to complete the following number of nights within 90 days to maintain status through February 2026:
- To maintain World of Hyatt Explorist status, earn 10 qualifying nights
- To earn World of Hyatt Globalist status, earn 20 qualifying nights (only Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, and Concierge Key members are eligible for the Globalist status challenge)
Essentially this fast track requires you to earn one-third of the typical elite nights in one-quarter of the year. A couple of further things to note:
- Elite nights earned with credit cards, including the World of Hyatt Credit Card (review) and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (review), wouldn’t count toward this promotion; the night requirement here is for actual hotel stays
- Keep in mind that some World of Hyatt perks are tied to the Milestone Rewards program, which is based on how many elite nights you earn, rather than what your status is; so if you earn Globalist status through this offer you wouldn’t earn suite upgrade awards, free night certificates, Guest of Honor awards, or get access to My Hyatt Concierge
American status fast track for Hyatt elites
While the above offer is published for all eligible members, there’s a more targeted opportunity for World of Hyatt elites to also get a status fast track with American AAdvantage. This is available to select AAdvantage members who have their World of Hyatt and AAdvantage accounts linked. If you’re eligible, you should see an exclusive offer listed in the “promotions” tab in your AAdvantage account, on aa.com.
I’m sure there are different offers out there based on whether you have World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist status. For Globalist members, it seems like the most common offer is as follows (I can’t guarantee that this is what everyone will see):
- Register by September 5, 2024
- You then receive Platinum Pro status for a period of four months, and it will be reflected in your account almost immediately
- You can then maintain Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, or Executive Platinum status, based on earning a certain number of Loyalty Points in four months (essentially one-third of the usual requirements in one-third of the time)
- You can then extend the status by another four months, by doing the same
- If you meet these Loyalty Points thresholds for three consecutive periods (equal to 12 months), then your status will be valid for the following membership year
Here are the Loyalty Points requirements to maintain status over the course of a four month period:
- Earn Gold status with 13,000 Loyalty Points
- Earn Platinum status with 25,000 Loyalty Points
- Earn Platinum Pro status with 42,000 Loyalty Points
- Earn Executive Platinum status with 67,000 Loyalty Points
This is essentially a version of American’s Instant Status Pass program, but without an enrollment fee. This could be a great way for people to earn status with American, and yes, credit card spending does count toward this.
Bottom line
American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt have an awesome partnership, and as part of that, they’re offering limited time reciprocal status opportunities. American AAdvantage elite members can participate in a World of Hyatt status fast track, while World of Hyatt elite members can participate in an American AAdvantage status fast track. These offers have the potential to be a great deal.
Anyone taking advantage of these status fast track opportunities?
Great information Ben.
However combining the different program challenges has made this a bit of difficulty understanding and separating the programs.
Another blogger did the same. I am thankful yours is more clear.
You know what I mean, Hyatt has a challenge to gain its status.
Then AA and Hyatt have a cross challenge to gain status at each brand.
I understand it now, but it was tough at the get go.
Thanks always for providing important information to us all.
I have Hyatt Globalist and AA EXP at the moment, but I won't requalify for EXP, in part because I screwed up and credited a flight to BA. Anyway - if I signed up for this challenge how long do I get status for? Specifically, the "four months periods" would end around September 2025. Would status extend through March 2026 or March 2027?
If I earned EXP the "hard way" in September 2025, I'd have...
I have Hyatt Globalist and AA EXP at the moment, but I won't requalify for EXP, in part because I screwed up and credited a flight to BA. Anyway - if I signed up for this challenge how long do I get status for? Specifically, the "four months periods" would end around September 2025. Would status extend through March 2026 or March 2027?
If I earned EXP the "hard way" in September 2025, I'd have status through March 2027 - the rest of the program year plus the following year. Would that be true here too?
Finally, if I signed up for the challenge today, I assume my earned EXP would trump the temporary Platinum Pro, at least until my EXP naturally expires? I wouldn't want to accidentally downgrade myself by signing up for the challenge!
Thanks
The year your Instant Pass status ends depends on the month the Instant Pass 'challenge' started.
I guess September is when AA & Hyatt target members. I'm Globalist and was offered PPro Instant Pass last year. So my Pass started Sep 17, 2023 and ends in 10 days. I've already earned enough LPs (200K) to have EXP beyond my Sep 17, 2024 end date.
However, that Instant Pass 'extension' expires at the end...
The year your Instant Pass status ends depends on the month the Instant Pass 'challenge' started.
I guess September is when AA & Hyatt target members. I'm Globalist and was offered PPro Instant Pass last year. So my Pass started Sep 17, 2023 and ends in 10 days. I've already earned enough LPs (200K) to have EXP beyond my Sep 17, 2024 end date.
However, that Instant Pass 'extension' expires at the end of the CURRENT program year (March 2025) and not the end of the NEXT program year as Ben suggests. I don't know the cutoff, but some folks do get extended into the next year.
My guess as to why a September starts only extends to the end of the current year is because of the long 'double dip' period.
LPs earned on/after March 1, 2024 (the start of the current program year) AND before Sep 17, 2024 (the end of my Instant Pass year) count both towards meeting the Pass requirements AND towards earning 'normal' status.
Counting from Sep 17, 2023, I've already earned 200K LPs (will end the Pass on Sep 17, 2024 with about 220K LPs) so I've earned EXP "Pass status" beyond the end of my pass year and to March 2025.
Of the 220K I earned during my Instant Pass year, 160K were earned since March 1, 2024. These 160K also count towards earning "normal status" ( I need 40K more LPs before Feb 28, 2025 to earn EXP until March 2026).
Another aspect of earning LPs for each "phase" (each 4 months) of your Instant Pass year ....
The terms & conditions sounds as if (assuming your goal is EXP for each phase) you need 67K LPs within each phase. In reality, 'overage' points from the previous phase will 'carry over' to the next phase.
So if you earn 70K LPs during Phase 1, at the start of Phase 2 you will become EXP and only need 64K additional LPs to have EXP during Phase 3.
Another "gotcha" I've heard about (but can't confirm since I reached EXP every phase) is that the only time you can upgrade your Instant Pass status is during Phase 1,
As a Hyatt Glob, your status will be PPro on day #1. You will upgrade to EXP on the 1st day of Phase 2 if you earned 67K+ during Phase 1,
On the other hand, if during Phase 1 you only meet the requirements for Plat, then Phase 2 will be Plat and that's as high as you can go for "pass status" for status during the Instant Pass and possibly extending beyond Phase 3.
Yeah, this is an Explorist-only offer for almost everyone. The copy needs to be amended before people spend ten superfluous nights that will get them no benefits.
Can you merry-go-round this? AKA status match from United > AA and then Match AA > Hyatt?
@Ben, If you are a current globalist, how would this work? Do you get downgraded to explorist during the trial period?
Won't let me link hyatt account in AA. I tried on separate browsers and computers.
Just looking at this seems unorganised promotion.
Marriott Hiltion and BA did alot better with their matches. Easy peasy and you have the status and are receiving the benefits.
Hyatt can do better. So can American. Take some tips from United.
Also as UnitedEF says, you can have accounts linked and you don't receive offers. Bad stuff.
I have flashy status match invitation on my Hyatt.com page, but when I click on the link, it goes to AA promotions site and no status match offer seen. Stupide timewaste by Hyatt. Their customer support chat was absolutely useless too.
Same thing-I am going to call AA about this. I will be going to asia and I want the 4 month of one world access
My accounts are linked and as a globalist was not targeted. Bummer I am actually o6n the process of earning LP to get AA status
AA's customer support is a little busy right now dealing with delays and cancellations due to tropical storm Debby.
Where are you seeing the 20 nights for Globalist language? The link posted in the article mentions nothing about Globalist for me. I'm Executive Platinum with AA so it should. It only shows the Explorist and 10 nights language.
Globalist is for CK only
I’m Explorist and saw that I had an offer for Platinum.
I've been globalist for years and have never gotten this 'promo' from AA - curious who they target for it. I rarely fly AA but still surprising i've never been offered (and yes accounts are linked)
Another 15000 or so Globalists with whom everyone will have to compete for room upgrades. Good times.
hopefully the majority are too focused on getting their marriott points
You worry too much.
Those 15000, only 80 will be traveling to a city with a Hyatt.
Use an upgrade certificate. Problem solved.