If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m a frequent American Airlines (AA) flyer and World of Hyatt (WoH) elite member! Both programs have yielded me thousands of dollars in benefits, including free business class upgrades, 70-pound free checked bags, lounge access, suite upgrades, and complimentary breakfast, to name just a few. I’ve experienced firsthand how valuable these loyalty programs can be, especially with their unique partnership.
In 2019, AA and WoH launched a strategic partnership that has been a game-changer for travelers like me. It offered incredible benefits, such as instant status matches between the two programs and one of my all-time favorite perks, the ability to double-dip—officially known as Dual Accrual. Elite members in both programs (AA Gold and WoH Discoverist and higher) could earn AA miles and Hyatt points on qualifying stays. This meant I could earn 1 AA mile for every dollar spent at Hyatt properties and earn World of Hyatt points as usual. For those who frequently travel, this perk was a great way to maximize rewards and earn valuable miles and points quickly.
I’ve taken advantage of this when using cash for flights or hotel stays. While I typically use points and miles for most bookings, there are times when it makes more sense to pay in cash, and this was the perfect opportunity to rack up points. By double-dipping, I earned a minimum of 12x points back on WoH stays and 16x points on AA flights as an Executive Platinum member (which includes my travel card earnings). This has allowed me to maximize my travels over the years.
New Enhancements to the AA and WoH Partnership Starting 2025
Just when I thought things couldn’t get better, American Airlines and World of Hyatt have announced new enhancements to their partnership that will give loyalty members even more opportunities to customize and elevate their travel experiences.
Beginning in January 2025, AAdvantage® members will be able to redeem miles for World of Hyatt Free Night Awards at various levels of Loyalty Point Rewards, while World of Hyatt members will be able to select AAdvantage® rewards as part of their Milestone Rewards. These enhancements will give us more flexibility and choice in redeeming our points and miles across both programs.
According to American Airline’s Vice President of Partnerships, Anmol Bhargava, “AAdvantage® makes travel even better for our most loyal customers, whether it is with priority benefits and preferred seating or booking a Hyatt hotel stay using miles. Through our relationship with World of Hyatt, our members can unlock more meaningful rewards and choose to redeem miles for what’s most valuable to them during their travels.”
Laurie Blair, Hyatt’s Vice President of Global Marketing, added, “World of Hyatt has been redefining loyalty by adding more choice and ease of use for experiences that are more meaningful for our members. We believe in the transformative power of travel, and the evolution of this relationship gives our members more opportunities to enhance their travel journeys with experiences that matter most to them.”
Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming soon for both programs:
New Benefits for AAdvantage® Members
Starting January 2, 2025, AAdvantage® members can redeem miles for WoH Free Night Awards:
- Category 1–4 Free Night Award: Redeem miles for a Category 1–4 free night at 40,000 Loyalty Points or when reaching AAdvantage Gold® status.
- Category 1–7 Free Night Award: Unlock this reward at 125,000 Loyalty Points or when reaching AAdvantage Platinum® status.
From March 1, 2025, WoH status and awards will also be available in the AAdvantage® Loyalty Point Rewards program:
- Discoverist status: At 100,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage® members can enjoy World of Hyatt Discoverist status.
- Explorist status: At 175,000 and 250,000 Loyalty Points, members can opt for Explorist status with benefits like room upgrades and late checkout.
- Category 1–4 and 1–7 Free Night Awards: These are unlocked at various Loyalty Point milestones, with more options at the 400,000, 750,000, and 1M+ points level.
New Benefits for World of Hyatt Members
Starting January 1, 2025, AAdvantage® rewards will become a choice in the WoH Milestone Rewards:
- Preferred Seat Coupons: Members can select seat coupons on American flights at 20 and 30 nights.
- Main Cabin Extra Seat Coupons: Available at 40 and 50 nights.
- AAdvantage® Gold Status: Unlockable at 70, 80, and 90 nights.
- AAdvantage® Platinum Status: Available at 100 nights.
Additionally, Explorist and Globalist members can redeem points for AAdvantage® Status for a Day:
- Gold status for 5,000 points.
- Platinum status for 8,000 points.
- Platinum Pro status for 12,000 points.
These exciting new rewards will make it easier for members to enhance their travel experiences by offering more flexibility in using their points and miles.
A Bittersweet Goodbye to Double Dipping
One thing I am sad to see go is the Double-Dipping feature. One of my favorite perks has been the ability to earn both AA miles and WoH points on stays and flights at the same time. However, I am excited about some of the new Milestone Reward possibilities.
Overall, these changes reflect the evolving needs of today’s travelers, offering more customization, flexibility, and even more ways to make your travel experiences unique and rewarding. If you haven’t already, be sure to link your AAdvantage® and World of Hyatt accounts to unlock all these exciting benefits!
As always, stay tuned to my blog for more updates and tips on maximizing your travel rewards.
Sources:
- American Airlines Press Release: AA Newsroom
- World of Hyatt Announcement: Hyatt Newsroom
