topic Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG in Credit Cards

Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:58:15 GMT

I am a Hyatt credit card member, and my husband is an American Express SPG credit card member.

I know these fast track status programs existed several years ago, and we in fact were able to fast track to Hyatt Diamond. It helped us tremendously on an international trip that year.

From what I can tell, these types of programs no longer exist.

I'm not interested in other hotel chains at all (only SPG and Hyatt - and I do not like Marriott hotels at all nor ever plan to stay in one), so this post relates specifically to Hyatt and SPG. (not Marriott hotels).

I'm also not interested in getting an Amex Platinum or any other card for $450 just to obtain a specific status.

Here are my questions:

1) Is there a way to status match between the two programs (Hyatt and SPG)? Are there any ways to fast track closer to a specific status (other than # of stays)? What I'm referring to here is a method that helps you get a bit closer even if it doesn't help you fully achieve a specific status.

I already have Hyatt Platinum status due to being a Hyatt credit card member. Would love to have Diamond status as we have a 2-week major trip scheduled for next year where the free breakfast benefits would be very helpful.

Breakfast in the location we are going to will be about $64 per day ($32 per person) for two of us. That's just for breakfast. It's a very remote island so no other options will be available for breakfast.

However, the cost of the stays to achieve Diamond just by completing conventional stays would exceed the breakfast costs, so that's not going to be helpful to try.

2) Any unconventional methods to help one get closer to a specific SPG status? My husband has the SPG American Express credit card, which in and of itself does not confer any status level.

We're close to gold right now and will probably just complete 2 more stays to get there, but it would be nice to know of other, unconventional methods to get there or to even get closer to Platinum.

Any unconventional methods to get a little closer to status levels in Hyatt and SPG programs would be appreciated.

Ideas specific to Hyatt credit hard holders and SPG Amex credit card holders are also appreciated, in addition.

We sign up for extra points bonuses, etc., within those rewards programs, but looking for something else. The Diamond status for Hyatt would be especially valuable given what we are embarking upon next year.

Thanks everyone!

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

NRB525 — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:51:57 GMT

It seems like not many easy options. Maybe just use the Hyatt card to pay for the meals and enjoy the 3 Hyatt points?

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 19:01:14 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
It seems like not many easy options. Maybe just use the Hyatt card to pay for the meals and enjoy the 3 Hyatt points?

We use the Hyatt card often, and will be using it on the trip, but that doen't really help the situation or answer the question. Thanks, though, definitely appreciate the thought.

Hoping someone will share some experiences they have had with each that will at least allow an accelerated way (or a creative way) to achieve levels, or at least make progress toward a level. Regular use of the card doesn't help us get closer to a level, unfortunately.

There are other benefits to the Diamond level that would be helpful as well ( i.e., priority upgrade to a villa with private pool); I just used the almost $70 per day in breakfast costs as an example. Saving those costs would certainly be helpful.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 19:45:19 GMT

Currently there are no options at all for you unfortunately. Last round of Hyatt matches was about a year ago. SPG is now Marriott of course, so the only status match they offer is SPG will match Marriott and vice versa works also, but that is it.

For now SPG points and program is staying separate, but in about a year or so they are expected to merge so if you like SPG you'll soon be a Marriott person like it or not unfortunately. I have not bothered with Marriott status myself, but I'm top teir at three other brands. None of those helps with gaining SPG or Hyatt though.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 19:59:20 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Currently there are no options at all for you unfortunately. Last round of Hyatt matches was about a year ago. SPG is now Marriott of course, so the only status match they offer is SPG will match Marriott and vice versa works also, but that is it.

For now SPG points and program is staying separate, but in about a year or so they are expected to merge so if you like SPG you'll soon be a Marriott person like it or not unfortunately. I have not bothered with Marriott status myself, but I'm top teir at three other brands. None of those helps with gaining SPG or Hyatt though.

Thanks, slowlane. I definitely won't be a Marriott person and will never stay at an actual "Marriott" hotel; hopefully they will leave the W hotels and Westins as they are because they are unique and interesting, and those are the ones we like to stay at in addition to Hyatt. Really disappointed about the merger and hope they don't tear apart and devalue the SPG program too badly.

Any other unconventional methods of acquiring points/levels? It seems with both programs you can acquire a ton of points through regular spend, but the points acquisition still does not help you advance toward a level. Only x number of nights or x number of stays seem to matter.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:02:39 GMT

I know this off topic, but what's wrong with Marriott?

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:14:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I know this off topic, but what's wrong with Marriott?

Have zero interest in Marriott. None at all.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:58:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I know this off topic, but what's wrong with Marriott?
Have zero interest in Marriott. None at all.

Even Ritz Carltons?

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 21:00:48 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I know this off topic, but what's wrong with Marriott?
Have zero interest in Marriott. None at all.
Even Ritz Carltons?

Possibly Ritz Carlton if you twist my arm and there is no Hyatt or W hotel nearby, but I would choose Hyatt or W first.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Saleen099 — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 21:21:19 GMT

Question did you have a bad experience at a Marriott property?

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 21:41:59 GMT

@Saleen099 wrote:
Question did you have a bad experience at a Marriott property?

No insult intended to anyone who enjoys them, please understand,, but I think the Marriott hotel group are all bland, boring, overpriced, and not fun to stay at. They are just not interesting, unique, or special. Not worth my money. It's not an experience, and I pay for an experience. Nothing interesting to me about any of their hotels.They are also no comparison to W hotels or Park Hyatts.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 21:47:01 GMT

Depends how many stays you have and where you are located. Apply for the small business SPG and get two more stay credits.

Category 1 and 2 SPG weekend nights are 2k and 3k respectively, or 3k and 4k respectively for weekdays You are able to earn stay credit for up to 3 rooms each time, so if you had a low category hotel around, you could generate 3 stays per Saturday night for 6k SPG points for category 1 or 9k for category 2.

Repeat until you have 25 stay credit. Starting from scratch, that's 7 weekends driving to a low end hotel plus 4 stay credit from 2 amex cards

Does not work for Hyatt because only cash plus points count, straight award does not count as a qualifying stay or night

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 21:58:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Depends how many stays you have and where you are located. Apply for the small business SPG and get two more stay credits.

Category 1 and 2 SPG weekend nights are 2k and 3k respectively, or 3k and 4k respectively for weekdays You are able to earn stay credit for up to 3 rooms each time, so if you had a low category hotel around, you could generate 3 stays per Saturday night for 6k SPG points for category 1 or 9k for category 2.

Repeat until you have 25 stay credit. Starting from scratch, that's 7 weekends driving to a low end hotel plus 4 stay credit from 2 amex cards

Does not work for Hyatt because only cash plus points count, straight award does not count as a qualifying stay or night

Thank you, canadian! We don't really have a small business that would be applicable, but I like how you think.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:05:21 GMT

If no amex business SPG, just do another weekend of multiple rooms

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:06:07 GMT

Well, here are a few ideas the new merger has opened up, found these while looking for shortcuts for you.

http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2016/09/26/marriott-spg-new-shortcuts-to-platinum-elite-status/?utm_source=milesfeed.com&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=MilesFeed.com

I am Diamond at Hyatt, Spire in IHG, and Diamond at Hilton. I figured out how to keep Spire next year, but Hyatt will expire and it is the one I value the most by far. I got matched to Hilton Diamond but it too expires in 3-4 months and I have yet to stay at a Hilton. I'm not sure I've ever stayed at a Hilton actually and I want to try it but there are just better options when I go looking and I end up somewhere else. Still want to get a stay in before Diamond expires to see how it goes.

I too have had no desire to stay at a Marriott. Not stayed at one in maybe 15 years I believe. I do like SPG locations though, even though the customer service has been a little more miss than hit in my experiance lately. So far Hyatt is my hands down favorite, but there are not enough of them.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:10:55 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Well, here are a few ideas the new merger has opened up, found these while looking for shortcuts for you.

http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2016/09/26/marriott-spg-new-shortcuts-to-platinum-elite-status/?utm_source=milesfeed.com&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=MilesFeed.com

I am Diamond at Hyatt, Spire in IHG, and Diamond at Hilton. I figured out how to keep Spire next year, but Hyatt will expire and it is the one I value the most by far. I got matched to Hilton Diamond but it too expires in 3-4 months and I have yet to stay at a Hilton. I'm not sure I've ever stayed at a Hilton actually and I want to try it but there are just better options when I go looking and I end up somewhere else. Still want to get a stay in before Diamond expires to see how it goes.

I too have had no desire to stay at a Marriott. Not stayed at one in maybe 15 years I believe. I do like SPG locations though, even though the customer service has been a little more miss than hit in my experiance lately. So far Hyatt is my hands down favorite, but there are not enough of them.

Thank you, slowlane, appreciate your help! It sounds as if paid nights on SPG Amex do not count toward the challenges, though, and that is most of the nights we have already.

Did you complete stays to get to Hyatt Diamond Level and Spire as well? That is a lot of stays!

Hyatt is definitely the most valuable, in my opinion.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:19:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

I too have had no desire to stay at a Marriott. Not stayed at one in maybe 15 years I believe.

Glad to know I am not alone in this! Thanks, slowlane!

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:34:47 GMT

No, I lucked into the status, and a little bit of good timing too.

I got the IHG card last year kinda late, well after the points counted towards status. Still, I grabbed the 80,000 offer and was glad to get it. After a long time waiting for points after hitting my spend they found they had credited them to the wrong account somehow. In the mess of getting my points to me they somehow credited all my points as elite qualifing points! I was an instant Spire! Got my 25k point bonus for hitting Spire to boot so I really made 105k on that offer which was pretty sweet.

Then Hyatt had a very brief, as in hours long, status match on twitter one night and I managed to get in and get matched.

Hilton then matched me during another status match a couple months after that.

So I made top level in three programs with no actual stays required. Well, one stay was required to be showing to be matched on the other two and I already had one so that worked out well. Then I figured out how to keep Spire for next year via some magic, hopefully I can again status match at some point to another program. I love to travel but have little time to do so. I follow the programs closely though, I want the stays I can take to be nice ones. I get a lot more of the little weekend trips than I do true vacations. Though I did take a great trip to New Orleans this year and spent 9 days in hotels all on points and or otherwise free. Couple nights at the W in the French Quarter and then a couple nights at the Hyatt Regency were the hotel highlights.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:42:20 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
No, I lucked into the status, and a little bit of good timing too.

I got the IHG card last year kinda late, well after the points counted towards status. Still, I grabbed the 80,000 offer and was glad to get it. After a long time waiting for points after hitting my spend they found they had credited them to the wrong account somehow. In the mess of getting my points to me they somehow credited all my points as elite qualifing points! I was an instant Spire! Got my 25k point bonus for hitting Spire to boot so I really made 105k on that offer which was pretty sweet.

Then Hyatt had a very brief, as in hours long, status match on twitter one night and I managed to get in and get matched.

Hilton then matched me during another status match a couple months after that.

So I made top level in three programs with no actual stays required. Well, one stay was required to be showing to be matched on the other two and I already had one so that worked out well. Then I figured out how to keep Spire for next year via some magic, hopefully I can again status match at some point to another program. I love to travel but have little time to do so. I follow the programs closely though, I want the stays I can take to be nice ones. I get a lot more of the little weekend trips than I do true vacations. Though I did take a great trip to New Orleans this year and spent 9 days in hotels all on points and or otherwise free. Couple nights at the W in the French Quarter and then a couple nights at the Hyatt Regency were the hotel highlights.

Very well done, slowlane. I LOVE the W in the French Quarter! And the Hyatt has some great New Orleans grilled oysters in their restaurant.

I need to talk to you more about being accidentally credited to Spire, too, that is amazing, and being able to keep it for another year.

I am not on Twitter but clearly would have liked to have seen that window for Hyatt Diamond. That is the most valuable one, and the most dificult to get.

Re: Fast track to Hyatt and SPG

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 23:09:57 GMT

What did the 20,000 spend get I was reading about?