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Why now may be the best time to apply for the World of Hyatt card

Chris Dong
Articles
Chris Dong was a reporter at The Points Guy, where he covered the intersection of credit card rewards and travel.
Sept. 09, 2021
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4 min read
Park Hyatt Aviara
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Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – The World of Hyatt Credit Card

The unofficial end of summer has passed, which means fall (and yes, even winter) travel is upon us.

Whether it's a getaway to go leaf-peeping close to home, or an international escape open to U.S. travelers, there are still numerous options this year.

And if you're looking to earn Hyatt hotel status — and plan on traveling through the end of 2021 — now is by far the best time to apply for the World of Hyatt Credit Card. Here are the three reasons why.

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Double elite night offer

Hyatt's Carmel Valley Ranch (Photo by Chris Dong/The Points Guy)

First, brand new World of Hyatt cardholders who apply through Sept. 30, 2021, will now receive two tier-qualifying night credits for each eligible night stayed through Dec. 31, 2021. Tier-qualifying nights is one criteria to hit the varying World of Hyatt status levels.

Two qualifying nights for a one-night stay is double what you typically would receive. In addition, award stays count, too. If you can take advantage of this offer, it means you could be able to hit the program’s status tiers twice as fast.

All stays from August 16 through the end of the year will count 2x, as long as you're a new cardholder that applies by September 30.

Plus, add in the fact that Hyatt made it even easier for status late last year...

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Reduced elite qualifications

Park Hyatt Aviara (Photo by Chris Dong/The Points Guy)

Late last year, Hyatt announced that it was slashing elite requirements in half. Here’s a look at how the 2021 tier requirements break down. Remember that any status earned in 2021 will be valid through Feb. 28, 2023.

  • Discoverist: Stay five tier-qualifying nights or earn 12,500 base points ($2,500 in spending)
  • Explorist: Stay 15 tier-qualifying nights or earn 25,000 base points ($5,000 in spending)
  • Globalist: Stay 30 tier-qualifying nights or earn 50,000 base points ($10,000 in spending)

Let's do the math with a simple example.

A new World of Hyatt credit cardholder who applied today, with no qualifying nights under their belt, would need just 13 nights of actual stays (earning 26 tier-qualifying nights) through Dec. 31, 2021, to reach top-tier Globalist status.

That’s because you automatically receive five qualifying nights just for having the card, so the stays would put you up at 31 tier-qualifying nights total, which is enough for Globalist status this year.

Remember, those with the World of Hyatt card automatically earn five elite nights simply for having the card — and another two qualifying nights per $5,000 in card spending.

Related: Why I went all-in on the Hyatt card

Bonus points offer

Next up, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 30,000 World of Hyatt points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

New cardholders can earn another 30,000 points by spending up to $15,000 in the first six months of account opening — but it’s not what you probably think. In fact, it’s really half that number of bonus points by our calculations. Still, it's a solid offer.

Hyatt will reward you with 2 points per $1 on purchases that normally earn just 1 bonus point per $1, on up to $15,000 in purchases for a total of 30,000 additional points. And while that does indeed add up to 30,000 points, it’s really just 15,000 more points above and beyond the 15,000 you’d earn for those purchases at the usual 1x.

Related: New World of Hyatt card offer helps you earn status 2x as fast but it has one major catch

Bottom line

All of this doesn't even include the ongoing perks of the World of Hyatt credit card.

One of the best benefits is the annual free-night certificate at a Category 1-4 Hyatt property, which you’ll receive every account anniversary. This alone can be worth way more than the card’s $95 annual fee. You’ll also get a second free night after spending $15,000 in a year.

With fall and winter travel season planning in full spring, now is a great time to consider the World of Hyatt card.

Apply here for the World of Hyatt card.

Featured image by (Photo by Chris Dong/The Points Guy)
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.