Update 9/29/21: Just a quick reminder that you have to apply for the World of Hyatt credit card by September 30 if you want to be able to take advantage of the double elite nights earning opportunity through the end of the year.
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If you missed the ludicrously easy path to Hyatt Globalist elite status early this year and you can qualify for a new Hyatt credit card, then you’re in luck — it’s not too late! By combining the latest credit card offer, card spend, and Hyatt’s lower 2021 elite requirements, you can still get to top tier status easily. That status will then last through February 2023.
Hyatt’s latest credit card promotion makes new cardholders eligible for double tier qualifying nights on stays this year.
Tier qualifying nights are often referred to as “elite nights”. With many hotel chains, you can earn elite status by acquiring a number of tier qualifying elite nights each year. For example, Hyatt usually requires earning 30 elite nights per year to achieve mid-tier Explorist status, or 60 elite nights for top-tier Globalist status, but they’ve cut those numbers in half for 2021. Additionally, Hyatt offers “Milestone Rewards” which are perks like free lounge access, free nights, bonus points, etc. Milestone Rewards are earned within a calendar year when you achieve 20 elite nights, and every 10 elite nights after that up to 100. Read more about Hyatt elite status and Milestone Rewards in our World of Hyatt Complete Guide.
Easy path to Globalist with $15K spend
When combined with other card features and the fact that Hyatt requires only 30 elite nights this year instead of 60 to reach top tier status, the path to top tier is relatively easy:
- Sign up for the World of Hyatt card by 9/30/21: Get 5 elite nights automatically & qualify for double elite nights on stays in 2021.
- Spend $15,000 on the card before the end of the year: Earn 60,000 total points (thanks to the current welcome bonus); 6 elite nights from spend; and a category 1-4 free night certificate.
- Spend 10 nights at Hyatt hotels this year (including free nights booked with points or certificates): Earn 20 elite nights.
- With the 31 elite nights earned (as listed above): Get Globalist elite status for the rest of this year, all of 2022, and through February 2023. Also get the 30 night Milestone reward (A category 1-4 free night certificate & 2 club access awards).
Path to Globalist with $5K spend
If you can’t spend $15K on the Hyatt credit card by the end of the year, here’s another option:
- Sign up for the World of Hyatt card by 9/30/21: Get 5 elite nights automatically & qualify for double elite nights on stays in 2021.
- Spend $5,000 on the card before the end of the year: Earn 40,000 total points (thanks to the current welcome bonus); and 2 elite nights from spend.
- Spend 12 nights at Hyatt hotels this year (including free nights booked with points or certificates): Earn 24 elite nights.
- With the 31 elite nights earned (as listed above): Get Globalist elite status for the rest of this year, all of 2022, and through February 2023. Also get the 30 night Milestone reward (A category 1-4 free night certificate & 2 club access awards).
Top tier Hyatt status: Why chase Globalist?
In my opinion, Hyatt offers the best top-tier elite perks of any hotel chain. Top tier Globalist elites get free upgrades including standard suites, waived resort fees on paid nights (resort fees are waived on award nights for all members), free breakfast or club access, free parking on award nights, and more. Mid-tier Explorist status, meanwhile, offers very few meaningful perks. In my opinion, Globalist status is worth a lot. Explorist status is worth very little.
Elite status requirements cut in half
For those seeking to earn Hyatt elite status in 2021, Hyatt has cut in half the requirements. Here are the 2021 requirements for each elite level:
| Membership Level | Elite Nights Usually Required | Elite Nights Required in 2021 | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discoverist | 10 | 5 | 2PM late check-out; Earn Hyatt points w/ AA spend |
| Explorist | 30 | 15 | Match to M life Gold; Room Upgrade |
| Globalist | 60 | 30 | Waived resort fees on all stays; Suite upgrades, 4PM late check-out; Club access or free breakfast; Free parking on award stays; Guest of Honor bookings |
For those who earn status through spend at Hyatt properties, the requirements for earning status through base points has also been cut in half. For example, in 2021 you can earn Globalist status by earning 50K base points instead of the usual 100K. This would require $10K calendar year spend at Hyatt. Most people will do better earning status through stays.
Double elite nights via Hyatt credit card promo
The latest World of Hyatt credit card offer includes the ability to earn 2 Tier-Qualifying Night Credits for each night you stay from 8/16/21 through 12/31/21. The ability to earn double elite nights does not apply to those who got the World of Hyatt card before the current offer (shown below) was introduced. It also doesn’t apply to those who sign up through alternate channels such as when an offer shows up while making a Hyatt booking. Double elite nights does apply to this offer:
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
Up to 45K points Non-AffiliateThis is NOT an affiliate offer. We always present the best offer even when it means less revenue for Frequent Miler 30K points after $3K in spend within the first 3 months, plus an exta 1 point/dollar on up to $15K spend within first 6 months.$95 Annual Fee This card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: 5x Category 1-4 free night certificates after $15K spend within first 3 months. (Expired 10/31/24) FM Mini Review: Great card for welcome bonus and annual free night. Might be worth using regularly for additional free night and as a path to status. Earning rate: ✦ 2X restaurants / cafes / coffee shops, airlines, local transit, fitness clubs and gym memberships ✦ 4X Hyatt and Mr & Mrs Smith Card Info: Visa Signature issued by Chase. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: One free Cat 1-4 night certificate after $15K spend in a calendar year. ✦ Get 2 elite qualifying night credits every time you spend $5K in purchases Noteworthy perks: ✦ Free category 1-4 night every year upon renewal ✦ Additional free category 1-4 night after $15K spend in calendar year ✦ Discoverist elite status ✦ 5 elite qualifying nights |
Elite nights from Hyatt credit card & card spend
All World of Hyatt cardholders automatically earn 5 elite nights each year. Plus, the card offers 2 elite nights with each $5K of spend.
Milestone rewards
It’s important to understand that some of the perks that people associate with Hyatt Globalist status are actually earned with Milestone Rewards. These are rewards that are earned when you hit different milestones of elite nights. Suite Upgrade Awards, a free night category 1-7 certificate, and access to My Hyatt Concierge are Milestone benefits, not elite benefits. Therefore if you earn elite status with only 30 elite nights, you won’t earn those perks.
This chart shows the details:
| Elite Nights Earned | Milestone Reward |
|---|---|
| 20 Nights (or 35K base points) | |
| Automatic: | N/A |
| Pick 1: | 2K Next Stay Award |
| 2 Club Access Awards | |
| $25 FIND Credit | |
| 2 American Airlines Preferred Seat Coupons | |
| 30 Nights (or 50K base points) | |
| Automatic: | 1 Cat 1-4 Free Night Certificate |
| Pick 1: | 2K Next Stay Award |
| 2 Club Access Awards | |
| $25 FIND Credit | |
| 2 American Airlines Preferred Seat Coupons | |
| 40 Nights (or 65K base points) | |
| Automatic: | 1 Guest of Honor Award |
| Pick 1: | 5K Bonus Points |
| 1 Suite Upgrade Award | |
| $150 FIND Credit | |
| 2 American Airlines Main Cabin Extra Coupons | |
| 50 Nights (or 80K base points) | |
| Automatic: | N/A |
| Pick 1: | 5K Bonus Points |
| 2 Suite Upgrade Awards | |
| $150 FIND Credit | |
| 2 American Airlines Main Cabin Extra Coupons | |
| 60 Nights (or 100K base points) | |
| Automatic: | 1 Cat 1-7 Free Night |
| 2 Suite Upgrade Awards | |
| My Hyatt Concierge | |
| 2 Guest of Honor Awards | |
| 70, 80, 90 Nights | |
| Automatic: | 1 Guest of Honor Award |
| Pick 1: | 10K Bonus Points |
| 1 Suite Upgrade Award | |
| $300 FIND Credit | |
| AAdvantage Gold Status | |
| 100 Nights | |
| Automatic: | 1 Cat 1-7 Free Night |
| Pick 1: | 10K Bonus Points |
| 1 Suite Upgrade Award | |
| Miraval Extra Night | |
| AAdvantage Platinum Status | |
| 110, 120, 130, 140 Nights | |
| Automatic: | 1 Guest of Honor Award |
| Pick 1: | 10K Bonus Points |
| 1 Suite Upgrade Award | |
| Miraval Extra Night | |
| AAdvantage Platinum Status | |
| 150 Nights | |
| Automatic: | Ultimate Free Night Award |
| Pick 1: | 10K Bonus Points |
| 1 Suite Upgrade Award | |
| Miraval Extra Night | |
| AAdvantage Platinum Status |
Completely separate from elite status, Milestone Rewards are available to everyone and are based on the number of nights you stay in a calendar year. Most awards are valid for the rest of the calendar year in which they are awarded and through the following February. Free Night awards, the Miraval Extra Night Award, and the 2K Next Stay Awards are good for only 180 days.
More details about Milestone Rewards, including value estimates, can be found here.
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Is there any way to earn Double elite night credits, if I opened my Hyatt CC in June 2020? (Besides for Andaz).
I don’t remember when the card included the offer for double elite nights, but if you didn’t sign up during that offer then no.
I have 40 nights for 2021 and have a 6 night stay coming up. Is it worth using 4 office for a day stays to achieve 2 suite certificates ?
Yes it might be worth it if you have a good use in mind for your suite upgrade certs.
Thanks for the detailed post. A couple of questions:
Greg, I recently completed a 6 night stay (all paid with points), I am yet to receive the double night credit. Do you know how long that takes? Also, are free nights eligible for the double night credit?
Thanks,
It seems to be taking anywhere from several weeks to over a month to get the double elite credit. Yes, reward nights are eligible.
Hi Greg – to this point, when they do double the nights (after the delay, let’s say they don’t credit until January), will they still push it back to 2021 for status building purposes?
Yes, it would be based on the calendar year you checked out.
If you had the card earlier this year and got the 5 nights, then closed the card and later opened this one, will you get another 5 nights?
I don’t know
Just a validation point. I’ve had the Hyatt card but cancelled >2yr ago. I got a new one (through your links!) and booked a 10 night stay at an obscure (cheap) off-brand Hyatt property as a mattress run.
I hit the remainder of $15k spend with a plastiq promo (1.75% fees during September) and I’m on 29 nights (Explorist), 60k points, 1 free 1-4 Category Night and just waiting for my October bank statement for the last spend based nights to post (= Globalist) plus a 2nd free night.
Thanks!
Great, thanks!
is the double elite nights only if you’ve never had the card before? or does it work if you’re approved for the card then you’ll get the double elite nights?
As long as you are approved for a new card during the valid dates it should work.
Would you recommend getting the card purely to chase Globalist status IF I don’t plan on traveling internationally for most or all of 2022? It would also require a mattress run of 2 – 3 nights before the end of 2021. Not sure if it’s worth it or if I should just wait for the old, better, 60k Hyatt offer to return.
Maybe not but it depends on how often you would stay in Hyatt hotels next year. Even within the U.S. it’s possible to get great value from Globalist status thanks to getting free breakfast, free parking, etc.
Any idea in order to get the 2x nights do you need the card in hand when booking? Or only at the time of the stay? I’m waiting a bit to re-apply as I just canceled my existing Hyatt card, but also have some stays I’d like to plan next month. Wondering if I can book now without the card, but get the 2x nights if I have the card by the time of the stays.
I’m 99% sure that you only need it by the time you check out. Booking any time should be fine.
Applied and was approved, have a few Hyatt stays coming up anyway and this will be big. Was approved 8/21 and have seen the 5 elite nights post to my account, but haven’t seen the double nights post (I stayed at a Hyatt 8/20-22). Any idea how long those will take? When I called World of Hyatt to ask they sent me over to Chase.
Wondering the same thing as have had the exact same situation. 5 Bonus nights posted quickly. Only showing credit for the 2 nights of my stay the earlier this week.
Found this in the terms and conditions
2 World of Hyatt Tier-Qualifying Night Credits for Each Stay: To be eligible for this offer you must apply and be approved for the World of Hyatt Credit Card between August 16, 2021 and September 30, 2021. You, as the primary cardmember, will receive 2 World of Hyatt Tier-Qualifying Night credits for each qualifying night you stay from August 16, 2021 until December 31, 2021. Please allow up to 8 weeks from the last day of the calendar month of your stay, for World of Hyatt Tier-Qualifying Night credits to be added to your World of Hyatt account.
Saw that too. Haven’t seen anything yet, but I guess we have to wait on Chase crediting the nights…
Have you guys received your double nights yet? Did stays past week and curious how long will take
My double nights posted 9/26 I had stays from the end of August throughout the month of Sept. (Not all of the stays were paid with the WoH card)
Were some of them on points?
Wondering if the status challenge (10 nights explorist/20 nights globalist) and the double nights can be stacked too. Any thoughts?
I’m not sure, but I’d guess no
Can’t Globalist status also be achieved with a $10,000 spend on room cost and accumulation of the associated 50,000 base points?
Yes but that’s a lot of hotel spend to complete by Dec 31
Can’t Globalist status also be achieved by acquiring 50,000 base points, which is a $10,000 spend on hotel nights?
When did the 2x begin? My wife got the card earlier this year. No where can I find a clear start date for the 2x promo.
This offer was introduced on 8/16. If you got the card before that, you won’t get the double elite nights.
I spent a good deal of time investigating this only to be told that the double nights was sent out as a special offer to corporate clients have a proximately four corporate companies and not to the general public. Can anyone confirm this?
Not sure where you got that idea. You’ll always find the best available offers on our Best Offers page. When you click through to the application page for the Hyatt card, you’ll see the double elite night offer is right at the top of the application page in large letters. It’s definitely public and the offer started on 8/16.
You can find more info on our World of Hyatt card page and when clicking through: https://frequentmiler.com/WOH/#Goto
For the 2x night credit, does it have to be booked through Hyatt. Seeing lower rates for Excalibur through MGM directly. Would I be able to book there and provide Hyatt number at checkin?
That’s a great question. I don’t know for sure, but if I were a betting man I’d place at wager on that working. I gather you’re willing to make a gamble, so I’d certainly book through Excalibur. (even if you didn’t get double credit, it probably wouldn’t be worth paying the much higher rates I usually see through Hyatt as opposed to through my MGM account).
For the record, I’ve always booked MGM stays either directly through my Mlife account (much cheaper usually) or through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and I’ve always gotten Hyatt elite credit. Make sure to give your Hyatt number at check-in and make sure again at check-out that it is associated. From comments employees have made, I gather than once you get your Hyatt number set to your MGM profile it will come up in the system automatically but there is still a button they need to press on the screen to like activate that loyalty number for the stay. The one time I didn’t get credit I followed up with Hyatt months later and they researched it and retroactively credited me. Since MGM stays booked through MGM normally earn Hyatt elite credit, I expect it would be doubled here.
I am eligible for the healthcare rate, do those nights count as qualifying elite nights to get double elite night credits?
Yes