Hyatt replaces American with Delta in loyalty deal

Hyatt announced on September 9 that it will end its enhanced loyalty partnership with American Airlines and begin a new long-term collaboration with Delta, bringing back the dual-earning structure that American and Hyatt dropped at the end of 2024. Under the new arrangement, World of Hyatt elites will earn bonus Hyatt points on Delta airfare purchases in qualifying fare classes while still receiving their usual airline earnings. Delta SkyMiles Medallion members will earn SkyMiles on qualifying stays at participating Hyatt properties alongside their normal Hyatt points.

The shift marks a return to the simple double-dip benefit that made airline-hotel partnerships attractive before American and Hyatt replaced it with a more restrictive model. According to Hyatt, dual earning is among the benefits members request most. The previous American deal had required travelers to spend their own points or forgo another reward choice to access partner benefits, a cost-cutting measure that apparently failed to generate enough incremental business to justify its complexity.

Advertisement

Transition timeline for American partnership

Hyatt and American said they mutually decided not to continue their enhanced relationship. Members who link their AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts by 11:59:59 p.m. CT on November 15 can continue earning World of Hyatt awards through Loyalty Point Rewards through February 28, 2027, the newsroom announcement states. World of Hyatt members who link accounts by the same deadline can continue earning AAdvantage awards through Milestone Rewards through December 31, 2026. AAdvantage members will still be able to choose 500 AAdvantage miles in lieu of World of Hyatt points on eligible stays by providing their AAdvantage number at check-in even after the broader relationship concludes.

What dual earning means for travelers

For Hyatt Globalists and other elites who already fly Delta for work, the new partnership offers a path to build Hyatt point balances without adding hotel nights. The benefit may not be compelling enough to switch airlines, but it makes carrier choice marginally more important for travelers weighing options. Delta elites who stay at Hyatt properties gain the ability to collect extra SkyMiles without changing their earning preference, a departure from the existing 500-SkyMiles-per-stay option that requires choosing airline miles instead of Hyatt points.

One potential shortcut involves the World of Hyatt credit card, which grants automatic Discoverist status. If Discoverist-level members qualify for Hyatt points on Delta flights, cardholders would gain access to the dual-earning benefit without needing higher-tier status. Hyatt said it will announce additional benefits and experiences later this year as the Delta partnership takes shape.