Underrated Reasons Why You Need the World of Hyatt Card

World of Hyatt cardholders can earn an extra award night and a higher level of elite status.

Michael McHughJuly 3, 2020
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For travelers, an upgrade of your credit card portfolio by adding the World of Hyatt Credit Card can make a ton of sense. The benefits make it relatively easy to offset the card’s $95 annual fee. But if you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card or are looking to apply for one, don’t overlook some of the lesser-known benefits it provides if you want to maximize your value.

First, the well-known benefits

World of Hyatt Credit Card is packed with a number of well-known benefits, including:

  • Welcome bonus: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

  • Hyatt bonus points on purchases: You earn 4x points on purchases at Hyatt hotels and resorts.

  • One award night every renewal year: A Category 1-4 award night is credited to your account within 10 weeks after your cardmember anniversary year.

» Learn more: The complete guide to the World of Hyatt

The underrated benefits

Along with the well-known benefits, the World of Hyatt Credit Card also has a number of underrated benefits, including:

1 additional award night

When you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year (your account open date and 12 billing cycles after), you earn a Category 1-4 award night. This award night is in addition to the Category 1-4 award night that comes automatically with your card anniversary.

» Learn more: Guide to the World of Hyatt award chart

Bonus points on other purchases

Earning 4x World of Hyatt points on Hyatt purchases is where the World of Hyatt Credit Card shines, but cardmembers also earn 2x points on airfare, local transit, fitness and gym memberships, and at restaurants.

Elite status

Hyatt offers three levels of annually achievable elite status: Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist. The World of Hyatt Credit Card comes with Discoverist status, which saves you the time, effort and cost of the 10 nights or 25,000 base points normally required to earn that level. Discoverist perks include a 10% earning bonus, premium internet, preferred room upgrades (when available), expedited elite check-in and late checkout.

5 World of Hyatt elite night credits

Speaking of elite tiers, the World of Hyatt Credit Card comes with five elite night credits every calendar year. These elite night credits help you on your path to earn the next level of status, no matter where you are in the process.

Hyatt incentivizes you to spend on this card by offering additional elite night credits as well. With every $5,000 in spending on World of Hyatt Credit Card, you earn two additional elite night credits. There’s no limit to how many elite night credits you can earn — so if you’re chasing Explorist or Globalist status, your credit card spending might get you the additional elite night credits you need.

Nerd tip: Download the World of Hyatt app to track all your bookings, elite night credits, status perks and more.

No foreign transaction fees

When you use the World of Hyatt Credit Card internationally, you will not pay foreign transaction fees. This is typically a savings of 1% to 3% compared to using a card that charges a fee.

Baggage delay insurance

Baggage issues can happen when you travel. That’s why it's important to book travel with credit cards that offer insurance. If your bags are delayed more than six hours, you will be reimbursed for spending on essentials like clothing and toiletries up to $100 per day for five days. Note that you must use the World of Hyatt Credit Card for these essential purchases to qualify for reimbursement.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

Another valuable insurance benefit is trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Cardmembers are reimbursed for travel expenses up to $5,000 per trip for prepaid nonrefundable expenses incurred as a result of covered cancellation or interruption reasons. Reimbursable expenses include airfare, hotels and tours. Again, the World of Hyatt Credit Card must be used for these travel expenses to be reimbursed.

The bottom line

The World of Hyatt Credit Card’s well-known benefits can provide immediate value to cardmembers, but underrated benefits like earning additional award nights, earning higher elite status, no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance make this a card to consider holding on to.

How to Maximize Your Rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for:

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