Here’s an interesting predicament that many of us are facing: the 29th of February is the last day to book Diamond Suite Upgrades before they expire. The current rules allow for reservations to be made after the expiration date. On March 1st, the new suite upgrades will be credited to Diamond accounts but the new ones arrive with a key restriction, the reservations must have a check in date before February 28, 2017. As a result of this inconvenient change, I am implementing an interesting strategy. I am going to use my expiring DSUs to speculatively book rooms in Hyatts around the globe in 2017 and use my 2016 upgrades for stays that I have confirmed for this year. In the past, I have been able to change the dates for suite upgrade awards well after I lost my Diamond status. I am hoping that I will be able to do the same thing with these expiring upgrades.
I lose nothing by trying this strategy because the current upgrades were going to expire anyway and the new ones have a one year shelf life. Since I will not requalify for Diamond for 2017 because I am focused on requalifying for SPG Platinum, I am hoping to enjoy the perks of Diamond in 2017 by implementing this method. Next year, I may become a Hyatt loyalist should Marriott ruin my SPG relationship.
This brings me to one of my favorite parts of being a points man, imaginary trip planning. Where should I go in 2017 and what hotel in the Hyatt portfolio should I stay at?
Here is what I am considering:
Park Hyatt
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Andaz
- Andaz Amsterdam
Grand Hyatt
- Grand Hyatt Chengdu
Hyatt Regency
- Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro
- Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
- Hyatt Regency Trinidad
Fabulous! We are also in the midst of planning an imaginary trip to the Andaz Amsterdam in 2017. Fun! Maybe we could meet you in Amsterdam, ride bikes, and cruise the canals. I’ll buy you an imaginary beer and you can share how you avoid all the charges to your credit card for the Hyatt rooms you’ll be upgrading to suites.
BTW — it’s a real pain in the a to post to your blog using Disqus.
Haahaha. Excellent comment! Let’s do it. I think I’ll book AMS for Queens Day celebration actually.
Regarding Disqus, I’ve yet to find find a good comment plugin and the default one is terrible.
in!
My wife and I are planning a trip to Hawaii in April 2017. How would I go about prebooking a room? Do I just grab any points + cash night and move it when my dates open up?
That’s my plan then hope Hyatt says its okay to change it.
it seems the hyatt calendar doesn’t go past March 2017, at least in the app. has anyone been able to book a hyatt past March 2017 and if so, through what channel?
You can’t book past March and in my experience end of February is as far as they’d confirm suites.