Did you know that it’s possible to gift a Hyatt Free Night Certificate? Hyatt is one of the most generous hotel brands when it comes to earning free night certificates. There are a few ways to earn Free Night Certificates. Through credit card spending, annual nights stayed, and by staying at different brands within the Hyatt portfolio. The account holder typically must use free night certificates. However, I recently learned that’s not the case with Hyatt. Learn more about my experience using a friend’s free night certificate in this basic breakdown!
Earning a Hyatt Free Night Certificate
Earning Hyatt Free Night Certificates can be done in two ways. First, with The World Of Hyatt Credit Card. Second, with the World of Hyatt Rewards Program.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card earns a Category 1-4 Certificate annually after paying the annual fee. Spending $15,000 in a calendar year can earn a second Category 1-4 Certificate.
With the World of Hyatt program, a Category 1-4 Certificate can be earned after earning 30 elite qualifying nights or 50,000 base points in a calendar year. Another Category 1-7 Certificate is awarded after earning 60 elite qualifying nights or 100,000 base points in a calendar year. Finally, Hyatt members who stay at five distinct brands under the Hyatt Umbrella earn a Category 1-4 certificate.
Hyatt Free Night Certificate Breakdown
- Earn up to two Category 1-4 Certificates via the The World Of Hyatt Credit Card
- One Annually after paying the annual fee
- A second after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
- World Of Hyatt Program
- First ~ Category 1-4 Certificate for earning 30 elite qualyfing nights or 50,000 base points in a calendar year
- Second ~ Category 1-7 Certificate fro earing 60 elite qualifying nights or 100,000 base points in a calendar year
- Third ~ Earn one Category 1-4 Certificate for every five brands stayed at via the Brand Explorer Program
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Gifting a Hyatt Free Night Certificate
I’m going to start by saying YMMV! When I reached out to Hyatt, the representative informed me that only Hyatt Globalist members can gift free night certificates to friends and family. I asked if it’s possible for other status members to transfer certificates to which the representative indicated it’s not possible. My experience contradicts what I was told above which is where the YMMV comes into play.
My Experience
On our recent trip to Puerto Rico, a friend offered us a Category 1-4 Hyatt Free Night Certificate that was set to expire. He reached out to Hyatt for an extension or compensation but was offered nothing. Instead of letting it go to waste, he offered it to us. It’s important to note that my friend is not a globalist member.
Steps to gifting the Hyatt Free Night Certificate
- I called the Hyatt Globalist number and explained that my friend was gifting me the certifcate. The customer service agent said not a problem. He indicated he would need to verify from my friend before transferring it over. I provided his first name, last name, and hyatt loyalist number.
- Instead of having my friend reach out, I three way called him along with the Hyatt globalist representative. This seemed to help expidite the tranfer provided the representative verfied the request on the spot.
- After my friend hung up, the Globalist representative was able to use the certificate for a night at the Hyatt House in San Juan Puerto Rico.
- The night immediately appeared in my Hyatt Account and the whole phone call took ten minutes.
Is Hyatt’s policy flexible based on the agent?
Based on the representative, the certificate gifting should have been ineligible since my friend was not a Globalist. Can anyone transfer Hyatt Free Night Certificates to anyone else? Or did I get lucky with a great Globalist representative when I called in who pushed my request through despite it not being eligible?
Value from my stay
The Hyatt House San Juan was going for $580.21 the night that I used my friend’s Category 1-4 Certificate. The property is a Category 3 with an average rate of 12,000 points per night. I’ll assume that my friend earned this certificate from paying the $95 annual fee which would result in over a 6X redemption value here. Most folks who are skeptical about paying annual fees are blown away with the value that comes from that $95 investment.
Basic Breakdown
The jury is still out about whether a Hyatt Free Night Certificate can be transferred to anyone or if it truly is a Globalist perk. Despite the confusion, the World of Hyatt program is still at the top of my list as my go-to hotel option. Between the credit card spend and reaching globalist status annually, I’m earning a minimum of four Hyatt Free Night Certificates. These certificates provide tremendous value like on my recent trip to Puerto Rico!
