The World of Hyatt Credit Card was introduced last summer, and is a card I really like. It has a $95 annual fee, but offers a variety of benefits that make it more than worthwhile, in my opinion.
Why the World of Hyatt Card is valuable
Among other things, the card offers:
- Automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open
- 5 qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year
- 2 qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- A Category 1-4 anniversary free night certificate on your account anniversary every year
- A second Category 1-4 free night certificate when you spend $15,000 on the card in a cardmember year
So at a minimum, you’re getting five elite nights towards status and a Category 1-4 free night certificate every year just for having the World of Hyatt Credit Card. To me that more than justifies the annual fee on the card, by a long shot (I consistently get $250+ of value out of the free night certificate alone). On top of that, this is a card that’s worth spending on, at least for Hyatt loyalists, in my opinion.
The World of Hyatt Card’s first year sweet spot
Personally, I think the World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth holding onto long term, though there’s special value to be had in the first year. If you spend $15,000 on the card in the first calendar year, you potentially earn the following:
- A stash of Hyatt points
- A total of 11 elite nights towards status (five just for having the card, plus six for spending $15,000)
- A second anniversary free night certificate, which you earn for spending $15,000 on the card per year
The $15K spend free night award
I got the World of Hyatt Credit Card late last year, and I’ve just completed my first $15,000 of spend on the card. What this means is that with the card I’ve now earned the entire welcome bonus, I’ve earned a total of 11 elite night towards status, and I’ve earned my free night award for having spent $15,000.
I know many people are curious about the timing of all of these benefits so that they can plan their travels, so I wanted to share my experience:
- The five elite nights just for having the card typically post within days of when you get the card, and within a couple of weeks of the beginning of the year when the calendar year resets
- The incremental two elite nights per $5,000 spent post within a few days of when you complete the qualifying spend
So, what about the free night award for spending $15,000 within a cardmember year? Well, just today I received an email from Hyatt indicating that I had earned that free night award.
As the email said:
Thank you for being a World of Hyatt Credit Cardmember. Because you’ve spent $15,000 on your card during your cardmember anniversary year, you’ve earned 1 free night at a Category 1-4 hotel.
When I logged into my Hyatt account, I saw the Category 1-4 free night award listed under the “My Awards” section.
In looking at the timing of this, this happened just after the statement where I completed my $15,000 of spend posted. My statement closed on March 17, and my Hyatt account indicates that this is when the points posted to my account. Then the free night was deposited a few days later.
Just to compare this to the terms, they state that the certificate will post within 2-3 weeks of completion of qualifying activity.
Bottom line
I’m happy to see that the Category 1-4 free night award on the World of Hyatt Credit Card posts just a few days after the statement closing date. That’s faster than expected, and for that matter, I’ve found that most of the benefits on the card have been posting faster than expected, including the elite qualifying nights offered by the card.
See this post for more on how the Hyatt Category 1-4 free night award works.
Noticed a change in Hyatt card terms for the $15k spend for a free night. Looks like they are moving towards a calendar year instead of cardmember for those who open in 2020. Terms are as follows...
For new accounts opened in 2020, you, as the primary cardmember, will have from your account open date until your anniversary date in 2021 to spend $15,000 in purchases and earn a Free Night Award. You will have...
Noticed a change in Hyatt card terms for the $15k spend for a free night. Looks like they are moving towards a calendar year instead of cardmember for those who open in 2020. Terms are as follows...
For new accounts opened in 2020, you, as the primary cardmember, will have from your account open date until your anniversary date in 2021 to spend $15,000 in purchases and earn a Free Night Award. You will have from the day after your anniversary date in 2021 through December 31, 2021 to spend $15,000 in purchases to earn a Free Night Award. On January 1, 2022 your spend total will reset to $0, and the time period for you to spend $15,000 to earn a Free Night Award will run from January 1 through December 31 of each calendar year. For new accounts opened in 2021, you, as the primary cardmember, will have from your account open date in 2021 through December 31, 2021 to spend $15,000 in purchases and earn a Free Night Award. On January 1, 2022 your spend total will reset to $0, and the time period for you to spend $15,000 to earn a Free Night Award will run from January 1 through December 31 of each calendar year.
Hmm. The 2 qualifying nights per 5k spent is not being consistently awarded. I've had to contact Chase directly to request it and also the free cat 1-4 night certificate for 15k spent. Shouldn't this be automated? I find it annoying.
@paul5795 and @Pam, that and the small matter of 50k bonus WoH points :)
@Pam What Lucky means is that you only have to spend an additional $9k your first year (on top of the $6k you already spent for the signup bonuses) to qualify for the free night. This is what makes the first year a "special value."
"Personally I think The World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth holding onto long term, though there’s special value to be had in the first year. If you spend $15,000 on the card in the first calendar year..."
To be clear, an extra night is earned for $15,000 spend during ANY cardmember
ANNIVERSARY year.
My five nights just for having the card still haven't posted. Others???
Best hotel card around.
Hey Lucky, I think the best (non-obvious) spending category this card covers is "international non-bonus spend". Is there another card that earns as well as this but does not have a foreign transaction fee? I generally use AMEX preferred for non bonus spending... but the foreign transaction fee makes it not viable abroad.
SPG used to be good for it, but not since the devaluation.
Between that category...
Best hotel card around.
Hey Lucky, I think the best (non-obvious) spending category this card covers is "international non-bonus spend". Is there another card that earns as well as this but does not have a foreign transaction fee? I generally use AMEX preferred for non bonus spending... but the foreign transaction fee makes it not viable abroad.
SPG used to be good for it, but not since the devaluation.
Between that category and Hyatt spending I think I will hit the $15k each year...
Mine posted the first day after my statement closed and I paid the statement balance. Very prompt
@Lucky, another great (and easy) way to earn another free night is to stay at different Hyatt brands.
After stays at 5 different Hyatt logos you also get a free 1-4 night. This counts even for reward stays.
I didn’t even realize this was a thing, but they track it for you on your account which makes it easy to follow. I was at four and decided to stay at a Hyatt Place for a one night work stay. Five brands = free night. Boom.