Hyatt Isn't as Great as They Used to Be - A Rant from a Hyatt Globalist

[@TheCreditFrog]

I like when JP goes on rants and it all makes perfect sense. Times are a changing indeed!

[@jpknowledge8852]

Haha, as long as people find the rants entertaining, I'll keep doing them.

[@SpencerJohnsonOfficial]

Love getting all of my Hyatt Globalist perspectives from you. Thanks for all the awesome insights as always! 👊🏼

[@jpknowledge8852]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed the content

[@druiz012]

Nice video. Yeah the footprint is just lacking. The milestone rewards are the best part though like you said.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I agree. The milestone awards are super valuable.

[@jimmyjames6492]

Hilton. For the Stay. No need to stay any nights for status. Just get a credit card 😎😎😎 Thanks for the info + video!!!

[@jpknowledge8852]

Hilton is easy. I can't really say anything bad about the program

[@marklihsu]

No upgrades in the states breakfast is meh. Gold is the way to go with Hilton if you are domestic only. The domestic upgrades to suites I get in the states is from AMEX FHR not from Diamond status

[@beaunoonan510]

Good stuff JP! Really enjoy your perspective

[@jpknowledge8852]

I'm glad you enjoy my content 🙌🏾

[@W0ngwaytravels]

Great summary; Do u think the year devaluations is a result because of their fixed rates, as compared to other hotel chains with dynamic pricing?

[@jpknowledge8852]

I think it comes down to supply and demand. When people keep using points to stay at high demand hotels, regardless of whether or not the cash cost goes up, Hyatt will increase the points cost because the demand is there.

[@travelingwith_lv9917]

Great video. I’m not sure I will go for globalist past 2026. The devaluation and the difficulty of using the FNC is getting harder and harder to get outsize value.

[@jpknowledge8852]

They moved so many of the popular properties out of category 4 and category 7, making the choices much slimmer. Plus, I hate that the FNC you earn through the milestone ladder only lasts 6 months 🙄

[@LK_EBM]

I used to be a big fan of Hyatt, but now I'm more interested in Hilton.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I'm still a fan of Hyatt, but I don't think Hilton is as far behind as a program as many people believe.

[@MontyTheCardNerd]

Love your perspectives here JP! Hopefully the pricing for Mr. & Mrs. Smith isn't a harbinger for the rest of the properties.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I hope not 😬

[@Xavier_ID.]

Nice breakdown JP! You make a lot of valid points 👍🏼 nice to see a true personal perspective on Hyatt. Never been to a Hyatt but love my Hilton stays 😂

[@jpknowledge8852]

Thanks! You may start seeing me at more Hilton properties soon 👀

[@M2K-01]

I had a corporate challenge last year. I only got explorist. Im still happy with all my hyatt stays. I have IHG as a backup and will eventually try out Hilton.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I haven't really had any bad Hyatt stays either, but I can see the decline of the award program from where it used to be.

[@Rowdyyy_rod]

If you had to choose between Hyatt or Hilton, which one would you go with?

[@jpknowledge8852]

@Rowdyyy_rod I'm a Hyatt guy! Even though I may have issues with the direction they are going, they are still my number one choice for hotel.

[@lewis20002000]

Much needed reality check. I have a Hyatt credit card, and I have only stayed at a Hyatt about 5 different times, and that's bc I have 5 Marriott card cardits, thus I always have free nights and points most years. Hyatt should of fough harder against Marriott for SPG and MGM. I have to say that I have been tempted MANY TIMES to go for Hyatt status, and MANY TIMES I have to calm down and use my Marriott free nights. I don't know if the mystical Hyatt premium credit card is ever going to come out, but if it does or if they're ever going to ADD A FREE NIGHT to their business card i will go for it.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Marriott has some really nice properties. I still am a fan of Hyatt, but I don't like the direction they are heading

[@geraldalves9107]

Great vid JP and I totally agree with a lot of your points! As someone who is testing the waters with the Hilton program and I have the Surpass card, I'm really enjoying it so far. The 1:2.6 MR transfer when there's a bonus I believe makes it competitive with a lot of Hyatt redemptions when you include the 5th night free. I made a quick calculation on one property that I'm staying at next year and I ended up landing near 1.8 CPP which is competitive to a 2 CPP Hyatt redemption. It ends up being around 1.4 CPP without the 5th night free which is still not terrible if you have a specific redemption in mind. I think it totally destroys the notion of the folks that whine about never transferring out your MR points to Hilton. That's before factoring in the F&B credit for Hilton Gold status or above in which if you have a P2, that's positive value that adds up quickly with a lengthy stay.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I agree. When you do the math, it does show that Hyatt comes out ahead, but if you can get a 1:2.8 transfer bonus and add in the 5th night free, Hilton starts to creep very close to Hyatt as a transfer partner.

[@dugroz]

Good stuff! I also like a good breakfast! Look forward to one in NOLA!!!! :) See you there!

[@jpknowledge8852]

🥓🥞🍳😁

[@DugrozReports]

Nice vid! Thanks!

[@jpknowledge8852]

Thanks!

[@w.jackson1171]

Good info for someone like me who is just getting into the points and miles game. Thanks!

[@jpknowledge8852]

Welcome to the world of points and miles 🌎💳

[@marklihsu]

Luckily Hyatt's smaller footprint works for me. I love getting suites on a regular room booking that i apply suite upgrade award for when I travel with wife and kids. No other program offers confirmed upgrades at booking. When you travel with wife and 2 kids you will understand. The breakfast bufft at the grand hyatt Guangzhou is amazing. Huge spread with western and Asian options. Giant suites for only 16k points per night. Still a fanboy aa they are superior compared to all other chains in what you get as a top tier elite. I have the aspire and will get the brilliant soon but only was work cards as events tend to be there.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Hyatt is definitely still #1 in my book, and I also highly value the suite upgrade awards that I've received over the years. I like Marriott hotels, but I just can't find good value in their awards program. Hilton is the one that has been catching my eye. It isn't as good as Hyatt, but each year, I feel like it is gradually getting closer.

[@soapa4279]

Yeah the footprint for Hyatt is really one of the main downsides. I personally just use it for one specific location and that's at the Grand Hyatt at SFO. Just waking up and I'm already at the airport, I felt so much more rested.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I haven't stayed at that property, but I've heard good things.

[@lewis20002000]

Hyatt should of fough harder against Marriott for SPG and MGM, that would of been great with their foot print.

[@Lancun]

I'm sure once Hyatt introduces a higher tier credit card than the WoH card, it'll be game over for the perceived exclusivity of their status. We saw what happened with Hilton and Marriott offering Diamond/Platinum status on a credit card. Now, I love both of those cards. I think the value you gain just from the food and beverage credits combined with the higher velocity of points earnings on top of your status make it worth it even if you don't get a single suite upgrade ever. Plus, the cards themselves offer so much ability to gain value back from the easy to use credits. I'm hoping Chase can do something similar if they ever make a Ritz Carlton type card for WoH. Even if it'll probably be the deathblow for Hyatt's award chart.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I don't think this is likely. If they release a higher tier card, I imagine it will be in similar vain to their business card.

[@_iErik]

To me, it mostly feels like Hyatt gets a pass because Hyatt redemptions are the only thing that makes Chase UR points seem to have “huge” “outsized” value, and so many creators are reliant on Chase referrals. Without Hyatt, Chase points aren’t really worth any more than other points, and their earning rates are by-and-large worse than the competition.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I will agree that their earning rates are worse than competitors. Although those of us who understand points and miles don't find most of Chase's partners to be great, they have more domestic and recognizable ones that most regular people would be happy to transfer to like United, Jetblue, Southwest, Marriott. I don't recommend transferring to them, but unless you study the points and miles world, you would know otherwise. I do think Aeroplan is a sweetspot with Chase. They are the only one to offer a transfer bonus to them in the last 2 years. So, for me, I try to focus on using most of my Chase points for both Hyatt and Aeroplan.

[@newagain9964]

Fax. Chase is only good for inks and maybe 2 cobranded cards. CSR is ok. Just ok.

[@_iErik]

@@newagain9964 Even the inks are kind of only good for the Intro offer and for some specific use cases.

[@jasonlaw1079]

Hot take: most high cents per point valuations are delusional. Great, you paid 45k points for the Hyatt Vendome with a sticker price of $1500/night. But what is the personal value of that to you? Would you have ever paid that out of pocket? What about the 5 equally good 5* hotels nearby that are $500/night?

[@jpknowledge8852]

I actually agree with you. I get hate for saying it to others in the points and miles community, but the way I look at it is, the cost is the cashout value and not sticker price. Sure, you are getting a discount from the sticker price, but you still paid something, and if it costs 45k points, that is $450 a night.

[@_iErik]

This isn’t talked about enough! The sticker price might be $1500 per night, but it’s only actually worth that if you were fully ready willing to pay that cash for it prior to redeeming points. And that’s not even mentioning vacation bundles or travel agencies that offer huge discounts on the online posted sticker price of hotels.

[@newagain9964]

@@jasonlaw1079 I agree. More is typically better. Presuming quality and convenience is there.

[@JacobsPointsAndProfit]

Yeah the recent devaluations hurt me more than I thought they would. There were a couple international hotels I wanted to stay at, but they seem a little bit too pricey now

[@jpknowledge8852]

The loss of SLH and "gain" of Mr. & Mrs. Smith really bugged me. I still really like their properties, but I feel the program hasn't been moving in a positive direction.

[@Pahhd-d8t]

Luke is pumping his fists in the air rn 😂

[@jpknowledge8852]

Haha!!

[@WallStreetIceCream]

Sneaky devaluations

[@jpknowledge8852]

They do always announce the changes but try to package it in a way that doesn't come off as a devaluation

[@WallStreetIceCream]

@@jpknowledge8852 yup 💯

[@jinw4672]

I just gave my dad his dream multi week vacation in China with suite upgrades with my globalist status. I don’t think there are other hotel brands allow you to give your status or upgrades to loved ones.

[@jpknowledge8852]

You are right. Hyatt is in a league of its own there.

[@choreomaniac]

I don’t fault Hyatt. In 2021, Hyatt was fighting for its life. There was actual fear that it would not exist because the pandemic would permanently destroy business travel. They were desperate to bounce back and offered all the perks. Today, occupancy is high, and there is little fear of bankruptcy.

[@jpknowledge8852]

That makes sense. But to me, it seems that Hyatt has dropped a lot more than most other hotel programs since the pandemic.

[@newagain9964]

If Hyatt was smart they would increase their credit card offerings. It’s easy and nice supplemental income for hotels.

[@titiung]

Honestly, youtubers like you are part of the problem too. There are many factors lead to devaluations such as economics, inflation, etc. Then you're contributing to the devaluations because you guys have been introducing and promoting all these awesome stays using points. So many people are joining the game which lead to devaluation over the years.

[@jpknowledge8852]

That's fair to say. I have been telling everyone to stay at Hyatt properties, so if everyone listens to me, I shouldn't complain when I see changes to the program. Moving forward, I will keep the things I like to myself 😉

[@newagain9964]

@@titiung true. But these brands were gonna raise rates and devalue pts and benefits regardless. That’s why competition is CRUCIAL

[@wanderingdoc5075]

I spent 90K points to do 20 nights at Hyatt Regency Mérida for the BILT status challenge. But I actually stayed there for 15 of the nights. And got back like 27K back in point promos. Hyatt Globalist is great but Marriott Platinum has treated me better (more value) tbh. I usually stay in Asia (sometime South America and Europe).

[@wanderingdoc5075]

Hey don't hate on fruit loops 😂

[@jpknowledge8852]

If you stayed at the hotel for 15 nights and only did 5 nights of a mattress run that is much different.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Front loops are my favorite cereal 😆 but there should be more options lol

[@wanderingdoc5075]

@@jpknowledge8852 I just got to Istanbul checked in at a Marriott autograph Collection in the prime area for three nights. Booked the lowest rate on the most basic queen room, without even asking upgraded to a junior suite of course breakfast included and $10 food and beverage credit. I've had a higher suite upgrade rate with Marriott and have always gotten breakfast both of these are true even at the Ritz.

[@mintico]

Thats why just stick with Marriott and Accor.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I need to check out the Accor properties.

[@tezt3740]

If people stop traveling the hotels will adjust.....but stayed hyatt caption in oskasa for 2700 points ....new hotel too!! Very Nice

[@jpknowledge8852]

That is such a steal!! I'm definitely going to try to stay at that property next time I visit Osaka

[@choreomaniac]

It’s still fantastic for a family of four. Imagine four complementary breakfasts valued at $20 each. 4 people with access to the lounge. It’s a far better deal than airline miles which cost 4x as much for four whereas a hotel room is exactly the same for one or four.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Your right. Hyatt still is a good program. Traveling with 3 additional people would very much make me points broke for the flights 😅

[@butterscotchjellybeans]

I am a globalist that only travels domestically in the United States. My Upgrade to suites is about 100%. The only issue that occurs is when the hotel doesn’t have suites or the hotel is owned by a shadow company and the suites just aren’t that sweet. pun intended. other than that, top floor executive suite on the house.

[@jpknowledge8852]

You must be a lot better looking than me because I rarely ever get suites. I do get upgraded to a better room than I booked pretty much every time though.

[@butterscotchjellybeans]

Well, thank you. I like to think that, but half of the time when I check in through the app, it already tells me that I am upgraded.

[@-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-...]

Marriott was and still is my hotel of choice because it's so modern and i just like the aesthetics of the ones I stay at. It's a complete shame of all the devaluations that has happened throughout the years. Hopefully Hyatt doesn't follow this exact fate

[@jpknowledge8852]

Marriott has the best properties, I just have a difficult time finding good value with their award program

[@newagain9964]

@@jpknowledge8852 fax. Between poor cpp redemptions and Byzantine AND inconsistent benefits/rules Marriott is like 3rd on my list of pref. Maybe 4th.