In 2019, American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt launched a useful partnership. In October 2024, it was announced that major changes would be coming to this collaboration. While it was claimed that these changes “enhance [the] loyalty relationship with more choice and personalization,” I suspect most members (myself included) won’t view this as a positive.
I want to recap the details in this post, given that the changes are now live.
American & Hyatt end reciprocal points earnings
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. As of January 1, 2025, there are no longer reciprocal points earning opportunities between American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt.
For context on that, between 2019 and 2024, there were opportunities to be rewarded on a reciprocal basis, which was such a nice recognition of mutual loyalty. Specifically:
- American AAdvantage Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum members, could earn one bonus mile per dollar spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences
- World of Hyatt Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist members, could earn one bonus World of Hyatt point per dollar spent on qualifying American flights
American & Hyatt add reciprocal perk selection
While reciprocal points earning is no more, the partnership between the two companies isn’t over, but rather has “evolved.” What does that entail?
Both American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt have systems whereby you can select from your choice of perks when passing various thresholds, even beyond the traditional elite tiers. At American AAdvantage, this is called the Loyalty Point Rewards program, and at World of Hyatt, this is called the Milestone Rewards program.
As of 2025, members of both programs are able to select some perks with the other program when passing certain thresholds. Let’s first look at the Hyatt rewards that AAdvantage members can select through Loyalty Point Rewards, and then we’ll look at the American rewards that World of Hyatt members can select through Milestone Rewards.
AAdvantage members can select Hyatt rewards
As of January 2, 2025, American AAdvantage members have the opportunity to access certain Hyatt perks through the Loyalty Point Rewards program. Specifically, they can unlock the the ability to redeem miles for World of Hyatt free night awards:
- At 40,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members are able to redeem miles for a Category 1-4 free night certificate; the cost starts at 25,000 miles
- At 125,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members are able to redeem miles for a Category 1-7 free night certificate; the cost starts at 65,000 miles
Then starting March 1, 2025, World of Hyatt awards will be a choice at various Loyalty Point Rewards thresholds, as follows:
- At 100,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members will be able to select World of Hyatt Discoverist status as their perk
- At 175,000 and 250,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members will be able to select World of Hyatt Explorist status as their perk
- At 400,000, 550,000, and 750,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members will be able to select a World of Hyatt Category 1-4 free night award as their perk
- At 1,000,000, 3,000,000, and 5,000,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members will be able to select a World of Hyatt Category 1-7 free night award as their perk
World of Hyatt members can select American rewards
World of Hyatt members also have the opportunity to access certain American perks through the Milestone Rewards program. As of January 1, 2025, World of Hyatt members are able to unlock the following American perks:
- At 20 or 30 elite nights (or 35,000 or 50,000 base points), World of Hyatt members are able to select two Preferred seat coupons on American flights
- At 40 or 50 elite nights (or 65,000 or 80,000 base points), World of Hyatt members are able to select two Main Cabin Extra seat coupons on American flights
- At 70, 80, or 90 elite nights, World of Hyatt members are able to select AAdvantage Gold status, valid for the full status membership year
- Starting at 100 elite nights, World of Hyatt members are able to select the choice of AAdvantage Platinum status, valid for the full status membership year
On top of that, World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members are able to unlock the ability to redeem World of Hyatt points for AAdvantage’s status for a day concept:
- AAdvantage Gold status for a day costs 5,000 World of Hyatt points
- AAdvantage Platinum status for a day costs 8,000 World of Hyatt points
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro status for a day costs 12,000 World of Hyatt points
Note that these perks can’t be gifted, but rather have to be used directly by the member.
My take on American & Hyatt partnership updates
As someone who has American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt as my most used loyalty programs, I’d consider these changes to be negative overall, and I’m bummed to see them. I’ve been receiving extra rewards as part of this partnership without any opportunity cost, and that’s no longer the case as of 2025.
It’s important to acknowledge that these kinds of partnerships between brands evolve over time, and that’s fair enough. They need to get a return on investment in some way, and at some point I imagine program executives feel like that’s no longer the case, and they’re just giving something away for nothing. This opportunity was around for roughly five years, so it lasted for a fairly long time.
The issue is that this was marketed as an “enhancement,” as it offers “choice and personalization,” but the value here just isn’t that great, unfortunately. I’m looking at each of the tiers where you can select a perk with the other program, and I don’t see much to get excited about.
Like, at 125,000 AAdvantage Loyalty points, you get the privilege of having the opportunity to redeem 65,000 miles for a Category 1-7 free night award? I’ll pass.
At 400,000 AAdvantage Loyalty Points, you can select a Category 1-4 free night award in lieu of 25,000 AAdvantage miles, or at 1,000,000 Loyalty Points you can select a Category 1-7 free night award in lieu of four systemwide upgrades or a mileage rebate of 100,000 AAdvantage miles. Meanwhile in the other direction, Preferred and Main Cabin Extra seat coupons aren’t worth much, and this doesn’t do anything for those who are already loyal to the other program.
To be fair, it is cool to see this level of integration in rewards between two different programs. It’s just a shame that there’s not more value to be had. Based on my own patterns, this is a significant devaluation — there’s nothing here I want to redeem for, and I’m no longer earning anything through this partnership anymore. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.
Bottom line
American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt have changed their partnership as of 2025. The programs no longer automatically offer reciprocal points earning opportunities, but now instead allow members to select perks (at an opportunity cost) as part of their threshold-based rewards system. Unfortunately I think for most people who were engaged in this partnership, this is a negative development.
What do you make of these partnership changes?
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