Hyatt devaluates the Gold Passport Award chart

By Joe Brancatelli

Hyatt is devaluing the award chart of its much-admired Gold Passport program. This shouldn’t come as a surprise after a major devaluation in the Hilton Honors program in January and a less-severe increase in prices in the Starwood Preferred Guest program several months ago. Besides, you didn’t think all of these bonus-points offers and stay-twice-get-a-free-night deals would come without inflation, did you?

In the case of Hyatt, the devaluation is effective on June 4. Gold Passport will now have a sixth tier, cleverly called “Category 6.” It’ll cost 22,000 points for a free night in a standard room and about two dozen hotels in major cities–including New York, Paris, Moscow and Tokyo–are being shifted into the new award band.

Meanwhile, 65 hotels will move down one or more categories and 89 other properties (including 20 moving into the new Category 6) are shifting up one or more notches. The upward changes are spread out between Hyatt properties in major business cities and those in desirable resort destinations.

American AAdvantage and Marriott Rewards players take note: Marriott will be stepping out of AAdvantage, effective July 1. The last day to earn AAdvantage miles for Marriott stays is June 30. It’s also the last day you can convert Marriott Rewards points to miles.

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles members take note: Effective June 1, you’ll get to check a bag for free if you carry a Delta SkyMiles American Express Card. The benefit matches what several other carriers offer travelers who hold a credit card tied to their frequency program.

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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

Tagged: Hotels