After earning a free night certificate for spending $15,000 on my World of Hyatt Visa, I learned a few lessons that weren’t immediately obvious. Despite hitting the required spending threshold late in the month, I was left in suspense, wondering when—and even if—the certificate would appear in my account. I expected some acknowledgment from Chase or Hyatt, but I only saw my certificate post quietly after my statement closed.
This experience taught me the importance of patience and knowing exactly how this process works. For others aiming for this bonus, here are a few insights to make the journey smoother:
When Will The Free Night Certificate Post To Your Account?
After reaching $15,000 in spending, expect the free night to show up in your account after the statement closing date. There’s no congratulatory email or alert when you qualify, so it’s easy to miss if you don’t know where to look.
Is The Spending Requirement Based On A Calendar Year?
Yes, it is based on the calendar year, from January 1 to December 31. Remember that the $95 annual fee, interest, or any fees do not count toward this requirement. It’s also unclear if spending is tracked by transaction date or post date, so plan carefully if you’re nearing the end of the year.
As a one-time bonus each calendar year, you, as the primary cardmember, will earn a Category 1 through 4 Free Night Award after you spend $15,000 in purchases
When Does The Free Night Certificate Expire?
The free night certificate expires one year from the date it is added to your account, and your stay must be completed by that date.
Can I Add Points To Use The Certificate At A Category 5 Hotel Or Above?
No, this certificate can only be used at a Category 1-4 property, but there are plenty of great options within that range, like the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress near Walt Disney World.
Can I Combine The Free Night With Cash/Points For A Longer Stay?
Yes, you can combine the free night with additional paid nights or points as long as you book a standard room. Availability may vary.
Is There A Way To Track My Progress With Chase Or Hyatt?
Not that I found. I kept track using my financial program to sort transactions on my card, removing the payments, annual fees, late fees (oops!) (Note from his wife, Sharon: #rolleyes) and interest payments. If you use the card for balance transfers or cash advances, remove them from your count.
Final Thoughts
Earning a World of Hyatt free night certificate by meeting spending requirements had more quirks than expected. But now that I understand how it works, I’m looking forward to making the most of this benefit. If you’re pursuing this, track your spending carefully and know that your certificate will arrive eventually—just without any fanfare.
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3 comments
Chase website tracks Hyatt spending. Click Hyatt cc>See all transactions>Spending summary. Don’t forget that 15K gets you the free night but 20K in spending getsyou the additional elite qualifying nights.
These certificates are my one major gripe about the WOH program. You should be able to use these certificates just as you would points for bookings, so if a 20k point room is available, then you should be able to use a Cat 1-4 cert. But Hyatt complicates things forcing (or allowing) properties to have to offer a ‘Free Night Stay’ option in order to use the certificate. There have been numerous times when point stays were available but they wouldn’t honor the certificate. I also don’t like how some certificates, including the ones you earn by reaching status levels, are only valid for 6 months. Thats cheapens their value and the WOH program overall as far as I’m concerned.
I actually got an email from Hyatt when I earned the $15k free night (received yesterday actually). It took about a week after the statement was paid. Check your email for a subject “Congratulations! You’ve Earned One Free Night”