World of Hyatt Credit Card Offer Breakdown
Usually when a limited time offer launches on a credit card it comes with a substantially better welcome offer. That could be by earning more points, having lower spend or throwing in some other perks. Well, this one isn't that. This new World of Hyatt credit card offer is like six of one and half dozen of another. That is why I wanted to do a World of Hyatt credit card offer breakdown to show who this offer makes sense for and who it doesn't. Let's dive in.
*The links in this article have been gathered independently by Travel on Point(s) and are direct links.
What Is Different About The Offer?
First off, let's take a look at the new offer details:
- Earn 2 free nights at any Category 1–4 Hyatt hotel or resort after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Plus, earn 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening
In case you already forgot, here are the details of the old offer:
- Earn 30,000 World of Hyatt points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- Plus earn an extra 1x per point on your spend on up to $15,000 within the first 6 months
On the surface they look pretty similar. It feels like you are swapping free night certs for points, and you know how much we love free night certs (sarcasm font).
Breaking Down The Value
Let's pop the hood and take a closer look at what the difference in value between the offers are. I'll base it off you spending $15,000 on each within the first 6 months. I'll focus on just the welcome offer, since the everyday earning on the spend would be the same for both offers. I also say $15K for each because you would want to complete the final $3,000 towards $15K free night certificate on the new offer too.
New Offer
After spending $15,000 within 6 months you would earn the following with the new offer:
- 3x category 1-4 free night certificate (2 from the bonus and 1 from the $15K spend)
- 25,000 World of Hyatt points
Old Offer
After spending $15,000 within 6 months you would earn the following with the standard offer:
- 1x category 1-4 free night certificate from the $15K in spend
- 45,000 World of Hyatt points
- 30K from the initial $3K in spend and an additional 15K from the extra 1x earning
What The Difference Really Boils Down To
The difference between the new and standard offer really boils down to getting 2 extra category 1-4 free night certificates in exchange for 20,000 less points. Do you value 2 free night certificates more than 20,000 points? You may, or you may not. Which way you lean will depend on the way you travel and where you are going over the next 12 months.
In theory those free night certificates are worth up to 36,000 points (2 category 4 hotels at peak 18K a night pricing). On the downside they are worth 0 points – because they have an expiration date – and there in lies the rub. Free night certs have have a ticking clock attached to them. After 12 months they will be completely worthless. These free night certificates are from Chase, and not World of Hyatt, so you can't turn them into 10K points each when they expire. That is a risk that many will not think is worth taking.
Who Is This Offer For & Who Should Pass?
Some people will like the challenge of maximizing the free night certificates and potentially coming out 16,000 points ahead of the old offer. Others will like the safety, security and flexibility that earning just points offers.
Who Should Go With The Standard Offer:
Here are the people that should go with the old / standard offer:
- Anyone who never planned to spend $15,000 on the card within 6 months
- If you frequent mostly category 1-2 hotels
- If you frequent mostly category 5 & above hotels
- A combination of both of these works the same. Basically anyone who doesn't frequent category 3-4 hotels
Who Should Go With The New Offer:
Here are the people that should go with the limited time offer:
- Someone who always planned on spending $15K within the first 6 months AND
- Frequents category 3 and category 4 hotels.
- Or at least has a lot of travel planned over the next 12 months where category 3 and 4 hotels would work
You would need to book a category 3 hotel on a standard award, peak award or a category 4 hotel at any level to come out ahead. A category 3 hotel at off peak pricing would actually be worse than what the points would offer you.
World of Hyatt Credit Card Value Breakdown: ToP Thoughts
Hopefully this breakdown gives you a better idea of which World of Hyatt card offer is better for you. A lot depends on your travel patterns, your future trip planning and your risk tolerance. The biggest key might be how much spend you intended to put on the card though. If you had always planned on just grabbing the lower tiered portion of the welcome offer, and were happy with the annual free night cert from the card every year, then run away from this new offer. If you had always planned on spending the $15K, you like the potential upside of the offer AND you have a lot of category 3 / 4 hotel travel planned – then grab the new offer.
Let me know which way you are leaning, or if you have any questions, over in the ToP Facebook Group.
