Underrated Reasons Why You Need the World of Hyatt Card

For travelers who stay at Hyatt hotels, adding the World of Hyatt Credit Card to your credit card portfolio is almost a no-brainer. One perk alone, the card’s annual free night certificate, can single-handedly justify 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.

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 on top of the 5x earned as a member.

• 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:

Chance to earn an additional award night

When you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year (your account open date and 12 billing cycles after), you earn an additional Category 1-4 award night. That's on top of 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

You’ll earn a bonus of 4x World of Hyatt points on Hyatt purchases made on the World of Hyatt Credit Card for a combined 9x points per dollar spent at Hyatt (thanks to the 5x points you already receive as a World of Hyatt member).

Don’t overlook the fact that cardmembers also earn 2x points on airfare, local transit, fitness and gym memberships, and at restaurants.

Automatic 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.

Five 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.

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% per transaction compared to using a card that charges a fee.

Most travel cards don’t have foreign transaction fees, so this feature is good, but not exceptional.

Baggage delay insurance

We already like this card for booking airfare (you’ll get 2x points per dollar spent on airline tickets booked directly with the airline), but the lost luggage reimbursement is one more incentive to use this card to pay for plane tickets.

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. The definition of "essential" is a little nebulous, as it won’t cover some items you may personally deem essential, like contact lenses, hearing aids and documents (like passports).

If your luggage is gone for good, you’ll be covered for up to $3,000 per passenger whose ticket was booked on your Hyatt card.

For both situations, you’ll have to file the claim within 20 days of the item(s) being lost, and you need to include relevant documentation, like receipts. This benefit is on par with the coverage on the revered Chase Sapphire Reserve® — yet that card has a $550 annual fee.

Note that you must use the World of Hyatt Credit Card for these essential purchases to qualify for reimbursement.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

If a trip paid for with your card is delayed or completely canceled for reasons including sickness or severe weather, you and your immediate family members can be reimbursed for travel expenses up to $5,000 per person, for a maximum benefit of $10,000 per trip for prepaid nonrefundable expenses.

The benefit isn’t quite as generous as what you’ll get from the most premium travel credit cards (another Chase card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, covers up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip).

Auto rental collision damage waiver

If you get into an accident while driving a rental car or your rental car is stolen, you may be covered if you charge it to your Hyatt card.

The insurance is secondary coverage in the U.S., which means that your credit card will only pick up the fees and charges that your primary car insurance policy doesn't. Here’s how that works:

• If you don’t already have personal automobile insurance, you’ll be covered for theft or damage to the car, and you’ll be reimbursed for other related costs like administrative fees and towing charges.

• If you already have car insurance, you’ll be covered for the deductible portion, plus any other eligible charges that your insurance won’t cover.  Unfortunately, that means you still need to file a claim with your insurer. That likely means you’re still on the hook for paying the deductible, and your premiums may go up.

Some costs that are ineligible are theft of personal items left inside the vehicle, damage to motorcycles and mopeds, as well as “expensive, exotic, and antique automobiles.”

If you're considering the World of Hyatt Credit Card

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: