Yesterday Hyatt Gold Passport posted on social media sites like FlyerTalk that Diamond Suite Upgrades (DSU) deposited on March 1, 2016 will actually expire on their expiration date of February 28, 2017.
This may seem like an unnecessary redundancy in member communications, but among the points and miles community, booking Hyatt hotel stays and redeeming the DSU before its expiration to confirm a suite upgrade at time of booking for a hotel stay past the Diamond Suite Upgrade expiration date apparently is not uncommon.
Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond Suite Upgrades
Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond members receive four Diamond Suite Upgrades on March 1 each membership year and they expire at the end of February the following year.
Hyatt Gold Passport has allowed members to use their Diamond Suite Upgrades for hotel reservations made before the suite upgrade expiration for Hyatt stays after the DSU expiration date.
For example, I can use my Diamond Suite Upgrade certificates received March 1, 2015 to upgrade revenue reservations for summer 2016, even though my certificates expire next month on February 29, 2016.
WTF? I have not used any of my Diamond Suite Upgrades from 2015.
Your Suite Upgrade Awards are available to use on paid room nights at any participating Hyatt hotel or resort worldwide between now and February 29, 2016.
The Suite Upgrade Award page states you can use them until February 29, 2016. For this year, I can redeem my suite upgrade awards on reservations I make by February 29, 2016 for stays later in 2016.
Beginning March 1, 2016 Hyatt Gold Passport has set a firm expiration date on Diamond Suite Upgrades on the last day of February the following year. Diamond members will not be allowed to upgrade a hotel stay using 2016 suite upgrade certificates for hotel stays past February 28, 2017, the date 2016 HGP diamond suite certificates expire.
Diamond members enjoy many exclusive privileges including suite upgrades at the time of reservation four times annually on eligible paid nights. On March 1, 2016, Diamond members will receive four new Diamond Suite Upgrade Awards, and we want to provide clarity on an upcoming modification to the redemption period:
What’s changing?
Suite awards issued on or after March 1, 2016 must be redeemed for reservations with a checkout date prior to the expiration date of the award. Suite awards not redeemed prior to the expiration date of the award will be forfeited.
What’s not changing?
Suite awards issued prior to March 1, 2016, must be redeemed by making a reservation no later than the last day of February 2016 for future reservations. In the event one of these Suite awards is redeemed for stay dates beyond the expiration date and the reservation is cancelled after the last day of February 2016, the Suite award will be forfeited.
These changes will be reflected on our website and within our Terms and Conditions on February 1, 2016.Hyatt Gold Passport Concierge on FlyerTalk (Jan 21, 2016)
The primary complaint voiced by Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond members is the depositing of Suite Upgrade awards on March 1 means there is suite upgrade uncertainty on hotel reservations booked in advance for March or April 2017 hotel stays. The Diamond member is not allowed to use a 2016 DSU for a hotel stay in March 2017. Members will have to wait until March 1, 2017 when new certificates are deposited to upgrade a march or April 2017 hotel stay. Diamond members have to risk making hotel plans without a confirmed suite upgrade at time of booking.
I predict Hyatt Gold Passport will be busy on March 1, 2017 handling suite upgrade requests on existing reservations.
