March 16, 2026
Hyatt Award Chart Update: Analyzing the Points Pricing Changes & Redemption Impact
Episode Description
Over the past decade, Hyatt has had one of the most beloved hotel loyalty programs in the points world—and a big reason for that has been its simple, predictable award chart that made it possible to get incredible value from Hyatt points.
That’s (potentially) about to change as Hyatt recently announced a major overhaul to its award chart structure that will introduce dozens of new pricing levels and dramatically shift how award nights are priced at properties around the world. In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly, the Points and Miles Doc, to dig into what Hyatt announced, what these changes mean in practice for people who use Hyatt points, and whether this fundamentally shifts the value of Hyatt points going forward.
We talk about the mechanics of the new evolved award chart, the potential impact on different types of travelers, why Hyatt made this change now, how it compares to what could have happened, and what strategy adjustments—if any—points users should consider making in response to these changes.
If you’ve been following this announcement or you use Hyatt points for hotel stays, this episode walks through the details you need to understand what’s shifting, what’s staying the same, and how to position yourself for these changes.
Turn your expenses into points and save tens of thousands of dollars a year on your wishlist travel. Don’t miss out! Click here to know more about my comprehensive online program, Points Made Easy.
What You’ll Learn from this Episode
- How Hyatt’s new award chart structure expands from three pricing tiers to five per category
- Why the top-tier properties saw the most dramatic points pricing increases
- The factors driving Hyatt’s decision to overhaul the award chart now
- How the new structure compares to earlier Reddit rumors and what didn’t happen
- Which types of travelers and redemptions will feel these changes most
- Strategic considerations for earning and using Hyatt points moving forward
Featured On the Show
- Follow Kelly on Instagram
- Follow me on Instagram
- Get on the waitlist for the Points Made Easy Course here!
- Get My Cash-Back Credit Card Cheat Sheet!
- If you have any questions or you want me to dive deeper into a specific topic, email me here: podcast@pointmetofirstclass.com
Click here to download the full episode transcript
Enjoy the Show?
- Don’t miss an episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.
- Leave me a review in Apple Podcasts.
Point Me to First Class is the show for professionals and business owners with higher-than-average personal or business expenses, who want to learn to leverage these expenses into credit card points they can spend on travel.
Each week, I share valuable tips, tools, and strategies to help you uplevel your skills earning and redeeming credit card points, so you can expand your travel and expand your experiences.
