I’ve been following the miles and points world for close to two decades. When it comes to hotel loyalty programs, one of the biggest gripes is how hotels exploit their “guarantees” with the “when available” exception. No matter if it’s suite upgrades, club access, or early check-in/late check-out, hotels always find a way to say that while that is a benefit, unfortunately, they’re unable to provide it for your stay because they’re fully booked.
How Hyatt Compares to Other Hotel Loyalty Programs
This is a major point of contention with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards – they all often fail to deliver on these requests. However, Hyatt loyalists claim their hotel of choice is better than the rest because they honor these benefits more often than not.
That is, except when Hyatt allows properties to not offer late check-out.
Yes, even Hyatt lets some properties sidestep the late check-out benefit.
World of Hyatt Late Checkout Policy
A look at the World of Hyatt benefits shows that Explorists and Discoverists are eligible for a 2 PM checkout, while Globalists get a 4 PM late checkout:
You have to click on the “LATE CHECKOUT (AS AVAILABLE AT SOME LOCATIONS)” link to learn more.
However, that first click doesn’t provide much information. Only when clicking further into the “LOCATIONS” hyperlink do you see the full details.
The Fine Print: Resorts and Late Checkout
If you’re a Discoverist, like many who hold the World of Hyatt credit card, you might expect to get a 2 PM late checkout. However, some properties, particularly resorts, do not honor this benefit. For example, when I requested a 2 PM checkout at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, I was denied. The desk agent thanked me for being a Discoverist member and instead offered me a delayed checkout of 12 noon—only one hour past the usual 11 AM checkout time. While this worked out for our plans, it was nowhere near the promised 2 PM.
Diving deeper into the program terms reveals that Hyatt allows properties designated as resorts to be exempt from offering late checkout. This means even Globalists, who are otherwise guaranteed a 4 PM checkout, may not receive it at these locations.
Hyatt’s Late Checkout Loophole
While the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is easily identified as a resort, Hyatt acknowledges that distinguishing between a hotel and a resort may not always be obvious. The only way to know for sure is to call a Hyatt Global Contact Center.
PLEASE NOTE: The distinction between a Hyatt resort and a Hyatt hotel may not always be obvious and Members are encouraged to call a Hyatt Global Contact Center for help determining a hotel’s or resort’s designation. Please visit hyatt.com for contact information
For a program that prides itself on clear benefits and transparency, this policy is a notable loophole. Rather than listing which properties are exempt, Hyatt leaves it to guests to inquire themselves.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Hyatt is on the same level as other chains in terms of denying elite benefits. However, it does show that even Hyatt isn’t above adding fine print that allows properties to opt out when convenient.
If you’re planning a stay at a Hyatt property and are counting on a late checkout, it’s best to call ahead and confirm whether the benefit will be honored. This is particularly important at resorts, where late checkout may not be available.
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