By Shawn Gallagher
American Airlines and World of Hyatt are among the biggest brands in their respective industries. They also have a loyalty partnership, which allows elite status members of each loyalty program to receive reciprocal benefits.
Although the partnership has seen changes lately, it can still be beneficial to take advantage of this and link you accounts if you have elite status with either American Airlines AAdvantage or World of Hyatt.
Let’s go over how this partnership works and the benefits you’ll earn.
Register For The Partnership
First, you’ll have to link your AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts to receive benefits. Go to one of the accounts to link; you don’t have to go to both to register.
After logging into AAdvantage, click “Link Hyatt Account” under Account Summary. If you’re on Hyatt, scroll down after you reach the Account page.
Earn Reciprocal Perks
By registering for this partnership, elite status holders of each loyalty program can receive perks for the other loyalty program.
Hyatt perks for AAdvantage elite members
First, AAdvantage members can redeem miles for free Hyatt nights or select a World of Hyatt award as a perk upon reaching Loyalty Point thresholds. There are two types of perks: free night awards and World of Hyatt awards.
The free night awards are the following:
- 40,000 Loyalty Points: Redeem 25,000 miles for a free night at a category 1-4 property
- 125,000 Loyalty Points: Redeem 65,000 miles for a free night at a category 1-7 property
World of Hyatt awards begin on March 1, 2025, and are the following:
- 100,000 Loyalty Points: Discoverist status (automatic)
- 175,000 and 250,000 Loyalty Points: Explorist status
- 400,000, 550,000, and 750,000 Loyalty Points: Free night at a category 1-4 property
- 1M, 3M, and 5M Loyalty Points: Free night at a category 1-7 property
Discoverist status at 100,000 is automatic, but the other perks will have to be selected by forgoing Loyalty Points for other perks, including ones offered by American Airlines.
Related: Hyatt Brand Explorer, An Easy Way To Earn Free Hyatt Nights
American Airlines perks for World of Hyatt elite members
Similarly, World of Hyatt members can redeem points and select awards for perks on American Airlines. Those are the following:
- 20 and 30 nights: 2 preferred seat coupons
- 40 and 50 nights: 2 Main Cabin Extra seat coupons
- 70, 80, and 90 nights: AAdvantage Gold status, valid for the full status membership year
- 100 nights: AAdvantage Platinum status, valid for the full status membership year
In addition to these perks, World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalists members can redeem Hyatt points to get AAdvantage status for 1 day.
- Gold status for a day for 5,000 points
- Platinum status for a day for 8,000 points
- Platinum Pro status for a day 12,000 points
My Thoughts
It’s important to link your American and Hyatt accounts if you have elite status for either program. Depending on your case, it may be beneficial to take advantage of some of these reciprocal perks. However, I see more potential for your points and miles if they stay in their own program.
For example, the free night award for AAdvantage elites can see more potential booking partner airlines on international legs through American Airlines. 60,000 miles can get you round trip to Asia, or even business class on a transpacific flight. I’d consider the perk if the hotel rates are super high, but not during regular seasons.
It’s safe to say that this partnership has become more complicated. What was previously a simple reciprocal points program now requires a good amount of attention and deciding how much value is in each perk. What will the future of this partnership look like? I don’t know.
Featured image by Hyatt.