Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is happening now! Follow us as Greg, Nick, and Stephen compete to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines before November 23rd. Who will complete the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist status is without a doubt the best hotel elite status in the game, but wanting it is easier than getting it. The good news is that on this week’s Frequent Miler on the Air, we talk a lot of ways to make it easier to get what you want (without spending sixty nights on the road). Whether you want more benefits for fewer nights, a better experience on paid stays, or to phone a friend and use their elite status benefits, this week’s show helps you find all the hacks to get elite status without spending stacks.
Elsewhere on the blog this week, find out how to easily know which Hotwire “Hot Deal” hotel you’ll get, learn how you can earn the most miles and progress toward American Airlines elite status with hotel stays, and learn everything you need to know about what may arguably be the best transferable currency. All that and more below.
1:14 Giant Mailbag
4:30 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates
14:22 What crazy thing….did IHG do this week?
18:39 What crazy thing…did Nick do this week?
25:30 Awards we booked this week
29:46 Mattress running the numbers: Buying Hyatt points for 1.68c per point
33:38 Main Event: Elite status Hyatt Hacks
38:30 World of Hyatt Credit Cards
43:56 Promotions (Current promo = double elite nights with new business card and current Bonus Journeys)
49:40 Challenges
56:50 Partnerships (SLH, MGM)
1:25:23 Question of the Week: Are nonrefundable rates more attractive if using a card with good travel protections?
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This week at Frequent Miler
Shortcuts to top tier Hyatt elite status
Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist status is without a doubt the best hotel elite status in the game, but wanting it is easier than getting it. The good news is that this post makes it easier to get what you want (without spending sixty nights on the road). Of course, as we discuss on the podcast this weekend, you first need to ask whether you need Hyatt elite status. Given how easily anyone can get Hyatt perks like suites (book them using points!) and free breakfast and parking (get a friend to book a guest of honor stay) or stays that include resort credits and guaranteed late checkout (book through Hyatt Prive), you may decide that it’s not worth chasing these paths — or that you’re better off convincing a friend to take on the chase.
Best way to earn AA miles & status via hotel bookings
If you’re playing the American Airlines Loyalty Games to earn elite status without flying, you may be starting to feel the pressure of the clock winding ever closer to the February deadline. Hotel bookings could be one way to earn additional miles and in this post Greg shows you how to get the best bang for your buck (which may not be as obvious as it seems).
How to figure out Hotwire’s mystery hotels (even more easily than before)
I hadn’t used Hotwire in years — until we began planning for our 3 Cards 3 Continents challenge. As fate would have it, I recently stumbled on this same trick that Carrie outlines here, though I hadn’t been smart enough to put two small pieces of it together: while I’d noticed the hotel review count, I was actually going to Expedia to see which hotel had the same number of reviews rather than (duh!) using Ctrl+F to search the page at Hotwire. This is a neat little trick indeed! A reader in the comments notes that BetterBidding.com will do the heavy lifting for you. I remember using BetterBidding more than a decade ago and I was glad to see that it still exists, though based on a couple of sample searches I think that using Carrie’s technique is the faster way to go.
A packing list for 3 Cards, 3 Continents (on Nick’s mind)
Speaking of 3 Cards 3 Continents, I’ve been feeling some anxiety over my packing situation these past couple of weeks. I used this post in part as a way to calm the nerves by laying out my plan. I forgot to include a battery pack I use (that is even capable of giving my laptop a bit of juice), but otherwise I think I’ve hit it. There is one more thing I’d like to bring but probably won’t — but I can’t yet share what it is for fear of it spoiling part of the surprise of the trip. In related news, I’ve started a 100 Day Challenge to wear the same Merino wool shirt for 100 days in a row (you can wash it!). Assuming my first couple of weeks go OK (today is only day 3 since I officially began the challenge, though I did a test run the week before in a different shirt from the same company), this will help lighten my load significantly. We shall see how that goes, but I can say that so far the shirt is quite comfortable…..we’ll see how I like it come December 3rd.
Citi Premier Card Complete Guide
My wife recently picked up a Citi Premier card when the 80K bonus returned and we’ll be happy to flex this card a bit on gas and grocery because of a combination of its good category bonuses and perhaps eventually for the Choice Privileges / Preferred Hotels play (thanks to the 1:2 transfer ratio). I can’t wait to see just what Greg did with his Citi points when our 3 Cards 3 Continents trips are in full swing in a few weeks. In this republished Complete Guide, you’ll find plenty of reasons why this card should be on your radar.
Bilt Rewards Complete Guide
We’ve written a lot about Bilt Rewards over the past year and a half, but until now that information had been scattered. This complete guide pulls together everything we know about this program that enables earning points by paying residential rent (and its associated credit card). No, you can’t earn points for paying your mortgage or commercial rent or condo fees, just residential rent (and of course 3x on dining and 2x on travel on the credit card assuming you make 5 transactions per month). Now with the addition of the Avios airlines, Bilt is quickly building out what may arguably be the best set of transfer partners in the game. This post covers what you need to know.
That’s it for this week at Frequent Miler. Keep your eye out for this week’s many month-ending last chance deals.
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Do I get elite qualifying nights for Hyatt if I stay at the excalibur in Las Vegas?
Yes, as long as you book direct with MGM or Hyatt (not through like Expedia, Priceline, etc)
You mentioned an area with “tools” but I can’t seem to find that. Can you help?
Yes, here you go: https://frequentmiler.com/the-tools-we-use/
I thought we had that on our resource page, but it turns out we didn’t. However, if you pop “tools” into the search box at the top, I think that post is the second result. I meant to include that in the show notes, not sure how I missed it. Thank you for asking!
Achieving Hyatt Globalist for me isn’t in the cards for 2022 but I am considering pushing for it for the first time next year. I have an upcoming stay Dec 30 – Jan 2 currently booked at a Marriott (since I’m a lifetime Platinum) but am thinking about switching it to a Hyatt. Did I hear correctly that the timing may be in my favor where the Hyatt elite nights will be credited towards the 2023 year since I’ll be checking out January 2, 2023?
Yes, that’s correct. The nights will all post as 2023 nights. The reason I know for sure is because many of us did this at the end of 2020 into the beginning of 2021. At the time, there was a promotion going that was doubling all of the nights before some date in early January. So many of us checked in in December 2020 for a 30-night stay that checked out at the beginning of January and got 60 nights credited in 2021 and had Globalist status from the beginning of 2021 and all of the milestone benefits. I share that story to illustrate that I’m absolutely sure that this is how it works.
Is this the case for Marriott as well? I have a booking for Dec 30-Jan 1 and wondering if it will credit for 2022 or 2023.
Thanks. I wish I followed suit and did the same but at the time only stayed at a handful of Hyatts (for 2-3 nights at a time) dating back 10 years so didn’t think it was worth it. Will hopefully attain Globalist for first time next year and see whether it results in more Hyatt stays for 2023/2024.
You talked a lot about late checkout, but it seems to be at the hotels discretion, not a guaranteed benefit. I was at your favorite place recently, ventana big sur, and I was flat out denied any late checkout as a globalist. This despite a base room for the following night being available to book with points. Also got no upgrade. What’s the equivalent of being bonvoyed at a Hyatt? Globalized?
It’s not guaranteed at resorts, but it is guaranteed at non-resorts. I’ve been denied late checkout at resorts (Andaz Maui, I’m looking at you as I roll my eyes) and a handful of times I’ve gotten pushback at normal hotels, but in those cases I have mostly been able to check out at 4pm without issue. For example, over the past year I have stayed at the Andaz 5th Ave, Hyatt Centric New York Times Square, the Thompson Central Park, and the Hyatt Centric Wall Street and I’ve had 4pm checkout proactively offered at all of them (I didn’t need it every time as it turned out). The one place where I eventually just gave in and accepted a 1pm checkout was the Hyatt House Poughkeepsie — I’m sure I could have followed up with the Hyatt Globalist line and gotten that worked out, but I didn’t really need all the way until 4pm anyway.
Anyway, I’ve generally not had an issue with this at Hyatt.
I like Lucky’s (OMAAT) suggestion on how to earn Lifetime Globalist: spend $200k in one hotel stay.
I also got the Kimpton Santa Barbara for 16k! It’s my close-to-home option, but there’s still a good chance I won’t end up using it. But maybe I’ll see Greg there if I do.
I hope to see you there!
Was hoping to see you at IC Geneva!
You guys are right by booking only refundable rates. I can’t tell you how many times my plans have changed or I booked the hotel for the wrong date OR I thought I canceled it within 24 hours but it turned out that somehow I didn’t (most recent, $600+ down the drain in that booking alone). I’m booking only refundable hotels from now. As you said, something better can come along and the freedom that comes with it is priceless.
I think your last line is what really rings true for me. Before miles and points, the only way I knew how to travel was the nonrefundable way — nonrefundable flights, hotels, etc. When I discovered this world and built up a stash of points, one of the things that appealed to me most was the sense of freedom and flexibility. Freedom in the sense that I know I have enough miles to basically go anywhere I want at the drop of a hat (not that I’m likely to actually go at the drop of a hat, there’s just a sense of freedom that comes with knowing that you can). And flexibility in the sense that I was no longer locked into a trip months in advance — many foreign airline programs and most hotel reservations could suddenly be cancelled / changed now. That freedom is really nice. That in turn creates the freedom to jump on booking parts of trips and holding off on making the rest of the plan to see whether or not it comes together in just the right way. I value all of that — usually at a greater amount than the potential savings of a nonrefundable rate. I’ll add to that what I’ve said many times before: I often find that the AAA rate is the same as or very close to the nonrefundable rate . . . but it’s flexible. It’s rare that there is a nonrefundable deal that’s good enough to really entice me.
How often do you actually drop that signature hat?
Hello, I am new to earning statuses. Definitely looking to leverage some of my business spend to get a more premium/quality stay during travel.
This question is specifically to do with Hyatt globalist status. I work for a big employer and can earn globalist status after starting 20 nights based on the recent challenge/promo. My understanding is that if I earned the globalist status through a challenge , I would be able to secure complementary suite upgrades during check-in (based on availability as they say it). Is that not true? And also not having done this in the past… How often or how easy is it to get the complementary suite upgrades during check in? Just want to clarify that I am not referring to site upgrades that can be earned through milestone awards ( for 40 night or 50 qualifying nights) but the challenge.
Yes, you would absolutely be eligible for complimentary suite upgrades at check-in.
In terms of how often or how easy, answering that is about as easy as me guessing how often it will rain in the places you travel to next year — it depends on where you go and when and the relative humidity and wind patterns and temperatures and so many other factors that it is impossible to predict. The thing I can say is that Hyatt is much better about elite recognition than any other chain — I have gotten suites at check-in many times (and while you’re only entitled to a “standard” suite if available, I have gotten much better than standard suites on many occasions).
Again, there are so many variables. If the hotel is full and there is no suite to give, you’re not going to get one. Some specific hotels are just incredibly stingy with upgrades (the Andaz Maui comes to mind). Your chances are generally better on a short stay of a night or two than a week-long stay, but if that week-long stay happens at a time when a hotel has many suites available and/or at a property that is particularly good at elite recognition, you certainly may still get a suite. But there have also been plenty of times when I traveled to a busy property and didn’t get a suite and some times when I’ve had to proactively ask for one.
Like I said, Hyatt is known to be much better than anyone else about upgrades and elite recognition. You’re much more likely to end up with a suite as a Hyatt Globalist than you are as a Hilton Diamond or Marriott Titanium member at their respective properties.
Nick, thank you for a detailed explanation! I enjoyed the YouTube video regarding the same. Was very informative!! Thx again!
Do suite upgrades actually depend on relative humidity? 🙂
I am listening to your podcast now and heard you mention Hyatt Regency Resorts World JFK. Recently stayed there (two weeks ago) because I had a free night certificate expiring and we had to do a positioning flight for JFK (I snagged a Singapore Airlines First Class award ticket). I used the category 1-4 free night cerificate for a Hyatt basic room. We got upgraded to a suite due to Globablist status. Suite was very nice and had two full bathrooms! Also this is a brand new hotel. No walkability to speak of but if you need it to hang out for a positioning flight it is a great bargain.
Great to hear! In my case, I’m arriving at JFK and need a place within reasonable proximity to record the podcast, get a bunch of work done, and get a little bit of sleep. Since it’s a newer Hyatt property, I figured it was worth checking it out.
I 2nd this. The suites are very nice but even if you don’t get upgraded the standard room is not too bad either. The lounge was ok. It was mostly empty with an ok food and drink selection for the US.