How to get Hyatt Diamond benefits without status

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Last year I decided not to mattress run to keep my Hyatt Diamond status.  It was a tough decision: Hyatt Diamond status is awesome.  But, I was simply too far from re-qualifying.  Then, a very lucky thing happened.  In November of last year, Hyatt briefly offered a Diamond status match to anyone with mid or top tier status in a competing chain.  I didn’t think I would qualify since I had Hyatt Diamond status at the time, so my wife submitted a match request instead.  And, soon enough, she turned Diamond.  Hyatt quickly changed the terms of the match to only give Diamond status to those with SPG Platinum status, but luckily for us (and many others), they did not withdraw the matches already given.  And so, throughout this year, we’ve booked all of our Hyatt stays from my wife’s Diamond account and have greatly enjoyed the perks that come with it.

Hyatt Diamond requirements

To earn or requalify for Hyatt Diamond status, you must complete 25 paid stays or 50 paid nights.  Points + Cash stays count.  Award stays (stays booked entirely with points) do not count.

Not gonna make it

Even though we’ve enjoyed a number of Hyatt stays this year, my wife is still nowhere close to re-qualifying for Diamond status.  What to do?  We can wait and hope for another (unlikely) generous status match.  Or, in 2017 Hyatt might offer a new Diamond Fast Track challenge like the one that was available until April 30th 2016.  That would give me Diamond status after only 12 qualifying nights within 60 days.  Or, we can find ways to enjoy Diamond benefits without Diamond status…

Diamond benefits

Here are my favorite Hyatt Diamond benefits, along with Hyatt’s description of each:

  • Club Lounge / Full Breakfast: “Receive exclusive access to the Regency Club or Grand Club lounge featuring complimentary continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres. Enjoy daily complimentary full breakfast in hotels without a club lounge.”
    Hyatt Diamond benefits without status
  • Suite upgrade: “Treat yourself to a suite upgrade at the time of reservation four times annually on eligible paid nights.”
    Hyatt Diamond benefits without status
  • Welcome gift: “Receive a special welcome point bonus or food and beverage amenity during each stay. Welcome amenity consists of the following: at Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Hyatt properties in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean; a choice of 1,000 bonus points or Food and Beverage option; at Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Hyatt properties outside of U.S., Canada and Caribbean; a choice of 1,000 bonus points or a Food and Beverage amenity will be provided; at Andaz hotels worldwide; a choice of 1,000 bonus points or a locally inspired amenity; at Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva hotels worldwide 1,000 bonus points will be awarded; at Hyatt Place a choice of 500 bonus points or a complimentary beverage; at Hyatt House properties a choice of 500 bonus points or $5 credit in the Guest Market; at Hyatt Residence Club Resorts 500 bonus points will be awarded.”
  • 4pm late checkout: “Extend your stay until 4:00 p.m. with a late check out request. Subject to availability at Hyatt resorts and casinos. Not available at Hyatt Residence Club resorts.”

Hyatt Diamond benefits without status

With Hyatt, it is possible to forgo Diamond status altogether and still get the benefits that Diamond elites enjoy.  Here’s how…

Guest of Honor

The best way to get Diamond benefits without status is to take advantage of Hyatt’s Guest of Honor program.  If you have a friend with Hyatt Diamond status they can book an award stay for you via Hyatt’s Guest of Honor program and you’ll receive all of the benefits of Diamond status during your stay.

Hyatt Guest of Honor

A downside to this approach is that the points will come out of your friend’s Hyatt account.  While that could be great for you, there’s a good chance that your friend won’t like it.  Fortunately, there’s an easy solution.  Unlike most other points programs, Hyatt lets members transfer points to others, for free.  All you have to do is fill out Hyatt’s Point Combining Request Form (found here) and email it to goldpassport@hyatt.com.  There is a slight restriction: you can only transfer or receive points once every 30 days, so plan accordingly.

The only major benefit that this approach doesn’t give you is the ability to apply a suite upgrade certificate.  If a suite is important to you, then have your Diamond friend book a suite award for you.  Suite awards cost 60% more points than standard room awards (found here).

Other Options

If you don’t have a friend with Diamond status, or you don’t have enough points to book a full award stay, there are other options for getting Diamond-like benefits:

Club Lounge Access

If your primary goal is to get club lounge access, there are a couple of easy options:

  • Book a Club award stay.  You can find the award chart here.
  • Book a paid stay and use points to upgrade.  Hyatt charges 3000 points per night to add club access to your paid stay.

Suite Stay

If you want to stay in a suite, your options include:

  • Book a Suite award stay.  You can find the award chart here.  Hyatt’s suite award stays require a minimum of a 3 night stay.
  • Book a paid stay and use points to upgrade.  Hyatt charges 6000 points per night to upgrade your paid stay to a suite.
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