A little over a week ago, Hyatt launched its new, distinctly unanticipated award charts, which raised the pricing tiers it could use to price a free night award from 24 to 40. In the process, the top-tier prices that could be charged at nearly every award category increased substantially.
When Hyatt originally revealed the upcoming changes to the award charts, it also announced that Explorist and Globalist members, as well as World of Hyatt credit card holders, would soon be getting a 1-month head start on award bookings. Based on emails from Hyatt, we now have a date for when that extended window will be available: June 30th, 2026.
Currently, members can book awards 12 months in advance. Once the new policy takes effect, Globalists, Explorists, and World of Hyatt cardholders will be able to book awards up to 13 months in advance, giving them a one-month head start on the non-elite, non-cardholding general public.
On the surface, this will serve as an incentive for members to remain loyal or hold a Hyatt credit card, as it will theoretically make it easier for them to secure award availability at high-demand properties.
That said, I’m skeptical of how significant an advantage it will be in practice. Are there really that many people waiting for availability to open up at specific properties 12 months in advance who don’t have Explorist status, Globalist status, or a Hyatt credit card? My guess is no, and that the vast majority of the folks who are that engaged in the program also dabble with either elite status, credit cards, or both. If most of the folks who would currently look for hotels a year out will soon be able to book 13 months out instead, that may not be much of an advantage.
Still, this change is undoubtedly better than a kick in the pants…which is exactly what we got with the last award chart change.
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