Don’t Always Transfer Points to Hyatt!

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Million Mile Secrets reader Mrs. Fliz commented:

Hi Daraius,

It appears you can book Hyatt stays directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall versus transferring points to Hyatt, then booking my stay using Hyatt points?

Remember that you can use Ultimate Rewards points to book hotels through the Ultimate Rewards portal.  Or you can transfer the points to Hyatt hotels and book a room through Hyatt.

If Mrs. Fliz is booking her Hyatt stay using points, she should consider checking the price through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall.

That’s because sometimes she could spend fewer points by booking her Hyatt stay using Chase Ultimate Rewards points than by transferring the Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt.

And I’ll explain why!

Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall

Link:   Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall

Link:   Chase Ink Bold

Link:   Chase Ink Plus

Link:   Chase Sapphire Preferred

Link:   Chase FreedomMrs. Fliz earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points when she uses her Chase Ink Bold, (no longer offered) Chase Ink Plus, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Chase Freedom cards.

And she can also almost instantly transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to certain airlines and hotels, like Hyatt, on a 1:1 ratio.  However, Mrs. Fliz’s Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned from the Chase Freedom card can’t be transferred to certain airlines and hotels UNLESS she has the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Bold, or Chase Ink Plus card.

Mrs. Fliz can follow my step-by-step guide on transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points from her Chase Freedom to her Chase Ink Bold, Chase Ink Plus, or Chase Sapphire Preferred account.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.25 cents when she books travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall.  The advantage of booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards mall is that she can book travel without restrictions.

If Mrs. Fliz has Hyatt Platinum elite status or Hyatt Diamond elite status, she will also get her elite benefits when she books a room through the Ultimate Rewrds website. Hyatt is one of the few hotel chains which honor elite benefits even when not booked from the Hyatt website. These include:

• Free internet
• Free breakfast (Hyatt Diamond benefit)
• Free upgrades (Hyatt Diamond benefit)
• Late check-out (Hyatt Diamond benefit)

However, she won’t get elite stay credit for a stay not booked on the Hyatt website.

When You Should Use the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall to Book Your Hyatt Stay

If Mrs. Fliz is using Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book her Hyatt stay, she should check the price on the Ultimate Rewards site before transferring Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt.

That’s because she could pay fewer Ultimate Rewards points if the price is lower on the Ultimate Rewards portal (as opposed to transferring points to Hyatt).

Although, this isn’t always the case because the point rate on the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal fluctuates because it’s linked to the cash price.

1.   Washington, DC

Staying 1 night at the Hyatt Dulles on November 8, 2014, Mrs. Fliz would pay 8,000 Hyatt points IF she booked her stay through the Hyatt website or by calling Hyatt at 800-228-3360.

But if she booked the same night through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall, Mrs. Fliz would only pay 6,618 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

She would NOT have to transfer points to Hyatt AND she would save 1,382 Chase Ultimate Rewards points (8,000 Hyatt points to redeem 1 night booked through Hyatt – 6,618 Chase Ultimate Rewards points cost for 1 night through Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall).

2.   New York

One night at the Grand Hyatt New York on January 19, 2015, costs 25,000 Hyatt points.

But if Mrs. Fliz used her Chase Ultimate Rewards points via the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall, she would only pay 20,117 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

She would save 4,883 Chase Ultimate Rewards points (25,000 Hyatt points to redeem 1 night booked through Hyatt – 20,117 Chase Ultimate Rewards points cost for 1 night through Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall).

But sometimes booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall will cost Mrs. Fliz more Chase Ultimate Rewards points.  So she should compare prices on the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall, the Hyatt website, and discount sites, like Kayak.

When You Should NOT Use the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall to Book Your Hyatt Stay

1.   When It Costs More Points

Mrs. Fliz won’t always pay fewer Chase Ultimate Rewards points on Hyatt stays through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall.  Sometimes she could pay more.  And she won’t get Hyatt elite status benefits or stay credit.

For example, the Andaz San Diego for the night of February 13, 2015, costs 21,137 Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall.

But booking directly on Hyatt.com, Mrs. Fliz would only pay 20,000 Hyatt points, a savings of 1,137 Chase Ultimate Rewards points (21,137 Chase Ultimate Rewards points cost for 1 night through Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall – 20,000 Hyatt points to redeem 1 night booked through Hyatt)

Bottom Line

Mrs. Fliz could save some Chase Ultimate Rewards points if she books her Hyatt stay through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall.

But she should always compare prices on the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall and the Hyatt website before she books her stay, because the rate on the Ultimate Rewards portal varies depending on the cash rate.

Also by booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall, Mrs. Fliz can’t earn cash back and elite credit for Hyatt stays.  But it could be worth the points saved!