As Hyatt and American Airlines End Their Partnership, Do Hyatt Credit Cards Still Make Sense?

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Hyatt and American Airlines are phasing out their loyalty tie-up, and the final date to link accounts and keep access to some reciprocal perks is approaching.

As a World of Hyatt Globalist, I got to use the partnership when I reached 70 qualifying nights and chose AAdvantage Gold status as a Milestone Reward. For someone who flies American often but doesn’t earn elite status the traditional way, that was a valuable benefit.

The arrangement also worked in the other direction. American Airlines elite members could earn Hyatt benefits too, which made the partnership especially appealing for travelers committed to either program.

Now that those options are going away, I wanted to look at Hyatt’s two credit cards and whether they can serve as a practical backup for American flyers who still want Hyatt elite perks.

Let’s take a look at whether either card fits your travel habits.

What Changes for American Airlines Elite Members?

For American loyalists, the partnership made it easy to enjoy Hyatt perks without necessarily setting foot in a Hyatt hotel.

Through American’s Loyalty Point Rewards, members who earned 100,000 Loyalty Points could choose World of Hyatt Discoverist status, while those reaching 175,000 or 250,000 Loyalty Points could select Explorist status. Higher earners also had the chance to choose Hyatt Category 1-4 or Category 1-7 free night awards.

The good news is that these perks do not disappear immediately. Members who connect their American and Hyatt accounts by the deadline can still earn eligible Hyatt rewards for a limited period and select them afterward.

Once that window closes, earning Loyalty Points alone will no longer lead to Hyatt status or free night awards. That is where Hyatt’s credit cards become relevant.

Both cards include automatic Discoverist status and allow you to earn qualifying nights through spending, helping you move toward Explorist or even top-tier Globalist. They are not a perfect substitute for the partnership, but they are worth a look if you have enjoyed Hyatt benefits through American status.

Hyatt’s Two Credit Cards Offer Different Paths to Status

If you have been using American elite status to sample World of Hyatt, the end of the partnership does not mean you have to walk away from Hyatt status altogether. Hyatt has two Chase co-branded cards that may be appealing, especially if you want hotel perks without earning everything solely through stays.

Both cards come with automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status. That is Hyatt’s entry-level elite tier, so you should not expect free breakfast or suite upgrades, but you can receive benefits such as preferred rooms when available and 2 p.m. late checkout at participating properties.

The main difference is how each card helps you earn elite status.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card gives you 5 qualifying nights each year, plus 2 more for every $5,000 in spending. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card does not include those automatic nights, but it awards 5 qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent. If you are aiming for a higher tier such as Globalist, both cards can help you get there through spending.

Here is a closer look at both options.

Can You Reach Hyatt Globalist Without Staying at a Hyatt?

One of the biggest benefits of the American-Hyatt relationship was the ability to earn Discoverist or Explorist status through Loyalty Points. Globalist, though, remained reserved for American Airlines’ exclusive ConciergeKey members.

Still, there is an important detail to keep in mind: with either Hyatt credit card, it is possible to earn Globalist without spending a single night at a Hyatt hotel.

Globalist requires 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points in a calendar year. As someone who has held the status for years, I can say that perks like complimentary breakfast, suite upgrades when available, and 4 p.m. late checkout can make a major difference, especially when traveling with family.

If you tried to earn Globalist entirely through card spending, here is what it would take:

• World of Hyatt card: $140,000 in spending earns 56 qualifying nights, plus the 5 automatic nights you receive each year.
• World of Hyatt Business card: $120,000 in spending earns 60 qualifying nights.

Those are high thresholds, and I would not suggest pursuing status only through spending. But you can combine nights earned from actual Hyatt stays with nights earned from your card, which makes Globalist much more realistic if you already stay at Hyatt often.

Hot Tip:

You do not need to earn all 60 qualifying nights through card spending. Nights from Hyatt stays can be combined with nights earned from the card, and those qualifying nights also count toward Hyatt Milestone Rewards.

Are Hyatt’s Credit Cards Worth It for American Loyalists?

I like Hyatt and have gotten a lot of value from its loyalty program, but I would not recommend its cards to American loyalists who rarely stay at Hyatt hotels.

If Hyatt is already your preferred hotel brand, however, either card can make sense. The personal card’s annual fee can be offset by its yearly Category 1-4 free night certificate, while the business card may be especially useful for heavier spenders who want to earn status faster.

Personally, I earn about 40 of the 60 qualifying nights needed for Globalist each year through spending on my World of Hyatt card. With the American partnership ending, that approach is not changing.

For me, Hyatt Globalist is valuable on its own. The American Airlines partnership was always a bonus, not the main reason I pursued status.

Final Thoughts

It is disappointing to see the Hyatt-American Airlines partnership end, especially for travelers who benefited from the reciprocal perks, including me.

But if you are an American loyalist who still wants Hyatt elite status, the two co-branded credit cards offer another route without depending entirely on hotel stays.

Neither card fully replaces the partnership, and I would not chase Hyatt status if I rarely stayed at Hyatt properties. But if Hyatt already fits into your travel routine, either card may be worth considering.