If World of Hyatt and AAdvantage are your favorite frequent travel loyalty programs, you are in luck: you will have more ways to earn miles, points and elite level status when you fly as a passenger with American Airlines or stay as a guest at hotel and resort properties within the global brand portfolio of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, as the two companies announced a joint partnership earlier today which is expected to launch later this year.
Hyatt and American Airlines Announce Partnership With Their Frequent Travel Loyalty Programs
This collaboration between the two companies will create a relationship through which members who have earned elite level status in both frequent travel loyalty programs elite will be rewarded with greater access to earning both points and miles on qualifying flights and hotel stays.
Once the partnership launches later this year, members of both frequent travel loyalty programs who have earned elite level status will be able to register and enjoy the following benefits when staying at a Hyatt hotel or resort property or flying as a passenger on an airplane operated by American Airlines.
American AAdvantage
- Members who have earned Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum and ConciergeKey elite level status will earn one AAdvantage bonus mile for every eligible dollar spent at qualifying Hyatt hotel and resort properties — in addition to World of Hyatt points earned through those stays.
- ConciergeKey members will receive Globalist elite level status with World of Hyatt — In addition to earning more miles — as a new way to extend the care provided throughout the entire travel journey.
World of Hyatt
- Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist members will be able to earn one World of Hyatt bonus point for every eligible dollar spent on qualifying flights operated by American Airlines — in addition to AAdvantage miles which are earned.
New: Limited Time Elite Status Challenges
Unique to this collaboration, AAdvantage Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members, and Explorist and Globalist World of Hyatt members will also have the opportunity to participate in limited time elite status challenges. Upon registering, these elite members will be able to immediately enjoy their new loyalty benefits in the reciprocal program tier as they work to maintain that elite tier status.
AAdvantage elite members will have access to World of Hyatt elite status benefits — including a dedicated check-in area, late check-out upon request, room upgrades and free premium internet. World of Hyatt elite members will have access to AAdvantage elite status benefits — such as priority boarding, free checked bags, free preferred seats and more.
Summary
Some of the room upgrades could be suite upgrades for some members of the AAdvantage frequent flier loyalty program.
Members of World of Hyatt who have Discoverist elite level status because of their credit cards means that they will earn one bonus World of Hyatt point per dollar spent on flights operated by American Airlines.
As for the limited time elite status challenges, one question is how often will members be able to qualify for them; and another question is what exactly does limited time mean: once per month? Once per quarter? Once per year? Once every two years? Sporadically and unexpectedly?
This collaboration reminds me of the Crossover Rewards partnership which Delta Air Lines and Starwood Hotels and Resorts once had with their SkyMiles and Starwood Preferred Guest frequent travel loyalty programs respectively. Crossover Rewards was first introduced on Thursday, February 7, 2013 and became effective as of Friday, March 1, 2013; but that popular partnership unfortunately ended on Sunday, July 15, 2018.
No date has been announced pertaining to when the partnership will officially be in effect, so you cannot register for it yet; but I still believe that is a good idea which benefits members.
More partnerships similar to this should be formed, in my opinion.
All photograph ©2015 and ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
