Hyatt Replaces American With Delta—And Will Bring Back Extra Points On Flights And Hotel Stays

Hyatt has chosen Delta for a new exclusive loyalty partnership, and plans to bring back the extra points on flights and hotel stays that American and Hyatt eliminated at the end of 2024. Earlier today I covered the end of the American–Hyatt partnership. Now Hyatt has announced a long-term collaboration with Delta, beginning in the coming months. Elites will earn both currencies on qualifying travel. What Hyatt And Delta Have Announced Eligible member Qualifying travel Additional reward World of Hyatt elite Delta airfare purchases in qualifying fare classes Hyatt points alongside the usual airline earnings Delta SkyMiles Medallion Qualifying stays at participating Hyatt properties SkyMiles alongside the usual Hyatt points Hyatt says dual earning is among the benefits members request most. That’s a dig at their previous American deal. They’re also promising additional benefits and experiences, with more announcements later this year. How To Get The Most Out Of The New Partnership For Hyatt elites who fly Delta, the attraction is earning more of a useful hotel currency on airfare. A Globalist who already flies Delta for work could build their Hyatt balance without adding hotel nights. This doesn’t strike me as rich enough to encourage switching carriers over, but it makes choice of airline a little more focal. For Delta elites who stay at Hyatt, the opportunity is extra SkyMiles while keeping normal Hyatt earnings. The existing 500 SkyMiles per stay option involves choosing airline miles instead of Hyatt points. Here you can double dip (like Hilton used to!) without changing your earning preference. The easiest status shortcut to watch is the World of Hyatt credit card’s automatic Discoverist status. If even Discoverist is eligible, a card many readers already hold could qualify them for Hyatt points on Delta flights. But let’s be realistic. These are Delta miles. There’s no reason to book extra nights or get a new card to earn more of… those. Park Hyatt Dubai Why Hyatt Would Move From American To Delta When American and Hyatt announced their 2025 changes, they eliminated the simple double dip. American elites had earned an extra mile per dollar at Hyatt, and eligible Hyatt elites had earned an extra Hyatt point per dollar flying American. As I explained at the time, cutting that back made a certain cost-focused business sense. They were buying extra points for people who were already loyal to both companies. The replacement had members spend their own points or give up another reward choice to get something from the partner. That cut costs, but it also cut the incentive to move business. Choosing Hyatt Explorist through American could mean giving up systemwide upgrades. Earlier today I suggested the cheaper, more complicated version presumably wasn’t generating enough additional business to justify continuing it. The Delta announcement has Hyatt bringing back a benefit the previous deal had stopped funding, and they are doing it with an airline that has a more premium reputation (Hyatt’s own portfolio skews premium). It’s interesting that American and Delta wanted to partner with Hyatt on this, since Hyatt is so much smaller than Hilton, Marriott and IHG. But Hyatt certainly hits above its weight with Chase. It has premium hotels, and customers airlines want in the current environment. Meanwhile, Delta earns a significant margin (stage-length adjusted 8-10 points) over America. Back To The Future The closest analog is Delta and Starwood’s 2013 Crossover Rewards partnership. Starwood elites earned hotel points flying Delta, Delta elites earned miles staying at Starwood hotels, and top members received reciprocal elite benefits. Delta lost that hotel partner after Marriott acquired Starwood and kept its United deal instead. So Delta is returning to a model it helped establish, with Hyatt taking the place Starwood once occupied. But airlines used to go much further and actually own hotel chains. Pan Am founded InterContinental in 1946 because it needed good places for passengers to stay at its international destinations. TWA owned Hilton International. United’s parent later owned both Hilton International and Westin, along with Hertz, trying to sell customers the whole trip through its Allegis conglomerate. American even had Americana Hotels, including what’s now the Sheraton New York Times Square. These loyalty partnerships let airlines and hotels go after each other’s best customers without having to buy and run another travel business. Air Canada Offers Another Way Into This Hyatt also launched its expanded Air Canada Aeroplan partnership in July. Today’s Delta announcement calls the new relationship exclusive, but that’s clearly for the U.S. market. The Aeroplan status challenge is useful now. Eligible Aeroplan elites, including 25K members, and eligible premium Aeroplan cardholders can link accounts and register by December 31, 2026, for a 90-day Hyatt challenge. Four qualifying nights earns Discoverist, 10 earns Explorist, and 20 earns Globalist. Air Canada, laundered through Hyatt may get you Hyatt points when flying Delta and potentiall Delta status. You Can Still Collect The Remaining American Benefits The Delta announcement is about the future, while the American–Hyatt benefits remain live: Have your American and Hyatt accounts linked by November 15, 2026, at 11:59:59 p.m. Central. Hyatt members can earn American awards through Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards through December 31, 2026. American members can earn Hyatt awards through Loyalty Point Rewards through February 28, 2027. Normal selection windows remain available after earning the rewards. Linked American ConciergeKey members retain Hyatt Globalist through February 2028. If that status qualifies for the new Delta benefit, American’s highest spenders could wind up earning Hyatt points on Delta tickets using hotel status American gave them. Topics on this page