Since 2019, American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt have had a useful partnership. Major changes are coming to this at the end of the year, and they’re a mixed bag. While the claim is 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.
In this post:
American & Hyatt end reciprocal points earnings
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Under the current partnership between American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt, there are opportunities to be rewarded on a reciprocal basis, which is such a nice recognition of mutual loyalty. Specifically:
- American AAdvantage Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum members, can earn one bonus mile per dollar spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences
- World of Hyatt Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist members, can earn one bonus World of Hyatt point per dollar spent on qualifying American flights
Unfortunately this arrangement will be ending at the end of the year. As of January 1, 2025, there will no longer be this points earning relationship between American and Hyatt.
American & Hyatt add reciprocal perk selection
While reciprocal points earning will soon be no more, the partnership between the two companies isn’t over, but rather is “evolving.” 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 will be 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
American AAdvantage members will have the opportunity to access certain Hyatt perks through the Loyalty Point Rewards program.
As of January 2, 2025, American AAdvantage members will be able to unlock the ability to redeem miles for World of Hyatt free night awards:
- At 40,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members will be able to redeem miles for a Category 1-4 free night certificate; the cost will start at 25,000 miles
- At 125,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members will be able to redeem miles for a Category 1-7 free night certificate; the cost will start 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 will have the opportunity to access certain American perks through the Milestone Rewards program.
As of January 1, 2025, World of Hyatt members will be 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 will be 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 will be able to select two Main Cabin Extra seat coupons on American flights
- At 70, 80, or 90 elite nights, World of Hyatt members will be able to select AAdvantage Gold status, valid for the full status membership year
- Starting at 100 elite nights, World of Hyatt members will be 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 will be 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 will cost 5,000 World of Hyatt points
- AAdvantage Platinum status for a day will cost 8,000 World of Hyatt points
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro status for a day will cost 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 will no longer be 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 partnership will have been around for around five years, so it lasted for a fairly long time.
The issue is that this is being 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 won’t be earning anything through this partnership anymore. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.
Bottom line
American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt are changing their partnership as of 2025. The programs will no longer automatically offer reciprocal points earning opportunities, but will 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?
Totally negative. I wrote Hyatt’s consumer affairs department to tell them I was put off by having them try to sell me this as a benefit. Not that I think that will do anything whatsoever, but it felt good to tell them I didn’t appreciate being told having a cool benefit taken away was a good thing. And I did mention I’ll be slightly less inclined to book paid stays at expensive properties because they have, in effect, just raised the cost to me by 2%.
This is a fancy way of ending the program, but still being able to market it like it still exists.
LOL - millions of miles flown AA/Oneworld. Lifetime status with Marriott and Hilton, top tier, 2x over. The only Hyatt traction I have had is because of this program. Looks like a hard stop is coming soon. Too bad, the one thing I liked was that DFW Grand Hyatt. As a CK, I enjoyed the proximity to the reception. Looks like I'll be on a shuttle next time.
5 million Loyalty Points to get one free night certificate is a joke.
Does AA think their customers are walking piggy banks.
Those who think this is a good deal because they can get AA Gold and Platinum are in for a rude awakening, especially if you’re looking for first class upgrades. Upgrades for Ex Plat members are increasingly rare, as Ben can attest to, and for platinum and gold members it’s even worse. This is nothing more than lipstick on a very dirty pig of a program.
I’m honestly happy with the changes.
I occasionally fly AA/OW, but don’t have any status.
Now i should be able to get AA gold, and possibly update to platinum.
And if im flying AA I could certainly see a use case for status for a day (if I didn’t already have it)
If you like lighting points on fire, sure. I don’t know how anyone can get to 30+ nights a year with Hyatt and not spend enough on flights to earn gold on AA organically (unless you’re not at an AA hub) — and then I would question the value of why anyone wants AA gold status.
AA PL at 100 Hyatt nights seems ok.
With that said, they should have at least retained earning AA LPs for Hyatt spend.
Yeah, but you have to give up a category 1-7 to pick it. I routinely get $800 or more in value out of that certificate.
Terrible. If there's a shred of value in these changes for a top-tier member of both programs (Globalist and EP/CK), I don't see it.
As a lifetime Marriott Titanium member, the dual earning ability with AA/Hyatt still pulled me to their program, some of the time. Now, unless there is a case by case specific need, it will be only Marriott, going forward.
This new change actually works to my favor. My husband and I are retired and travel full-time. We so far clocked 115 nights at various Hyatt properties around the world by mid-September. With our current plan for 2025, we will hit 100 nights by mid-May.
Well, thanks a lot Hyatt, and AA. My incentive to actually suffer through AA operated flights to LHR to gain Hyatt points is now dead. Good while it lasted but back to BA operated flights next year.
I agree with uldguy, worthless, reciprocal point earning while low was still incredibly valuable.
The bright spot of this update is probably Platinum at 100 Nights Milestone Rewards. Tempting for Hyatt loyalists outside US to get oneworld Sapphire.
As an Alaska/Hyatt elite (who flies AA using my AS loyalty number)...
The original program: Useless.
The new program: Equally useless.
Any idea if Concierge Key members will retain the automatic Globalist status?
Yeah, this sucks lol
Looks like I'll be dumping my world of hyatt CC now since the only reason I got it was for reciprocal earning. Now I'll just choose discoverist when I hit 100K LPs
Worthless.....utterly worthless, on both sides. I would rather they just end the partnership instead of "enhancing" the program in this manner.
This is extremely sad! The prior program gave me incentive to pay cash for Hyatt stays in order to earn more AA Loyalty Points. Now that incentive has gone away.
Hyatt keeps going in the wrong direction.
redeeming 12,000 WoH points for my partner & i to enjoy the first class lounges on a business class fare, especially with a stopover, could be quite tempting
@ listen -- Sorry, which lounge are you referring to? Status for a day doesn't offer the oneworld Emerald perks on partner airlines, as far as I know.
i was thinking QF F LAX, but you are correct.
Honestly this is a major downgrade and they mind as well just end their partnership! There are no benefits at all!
Sad!
I thought the program today was already a little stingy (only 1 LP/$), but about $20k annual spend at Hyatt got at least got me 10% of the way to EP. But wow this partnership is about to become completely useless.