Rack Up Points With AA, Hyatt

Airlines loyalists will do just about anything to rack up more miles, and hotel devotees aren’t far behind in their pursuit of points. Now, there’s good news for both from American Airlines and Hyatt, who just launched enhanced loyalty benefits in a partnership conceived to make travel experiences more seamless by combining airline and accommodation relationships.

Under the new benefit plan, members of the American Airlines AAdvantage program will earn a bonus mile for each eligible dollar spent at a qualifying Hyatt property, and members of ConciergeKey (American Airlines’ invitation-only top tier) will also be granted Hyatt Globalist status to ensure a premium experience throughout the trip. Likewise, members of Hyatt’s World of Hyatt rewards program will receive one bonus point for each eligible dollar spent on qualifying American Airlines flights. This means miles can be earned for sleeping, hotel points can be earned for flying, and combining the two can double the rewards impact of a single trip.

Also new with the enhanced benefits program are status reciprocity challenges. Members who enroll in limited-time challenges will be immediately granted equivalent status with the partner brand (i.e., if you’re top tier with American Airlines, you’ll instantly become top tier with Hyatt) and can maintain that status after the period ends by completing a challenge, like flying a certain number of miles or spending a certain amount of dollars on hotel stays during the challenge period. The new benefits relationship with American Airlines and Hyatt officially launched May 13, so you can start earning now.