This week, American Airlines launched a new partnership with Hyatt Hotels. American Airlines AAdvantage members with Platinum or higher status have been offered a complimentary status match to an equivalent tier in the World of Hyatt program. So, in addition to benefits when flying, AAdvantage Platinum members can now receive perks such as late check-out and room upgrades when staying at Hyatt hotels.
American Airlines is not the only airline to offer complimentary hotel status to frequent flyers. United Airlines has its own agreement with Marriott Bonvoy. And closer to home, Virgin Australia offers one-off status matches with Hilton or IHG to Velocity Gold and Platinum members.
Hilton Honors or IHG Rewards Club status match for Velocity members
Virgin Australia frequent flyers with Gold or Platinum status are eligible for a complimentary status match to an equivalent tier with Hilton Honors or IHG Rewards Club. Velocity Gold status can be leveraged to receive Gold elite status with Hilton or IHG. And Platinum status is equivalent to Hilton Diamond or IHG Platinum elite status. That’s quite a great perk of Virgin Australia status and is not matched by Qantas.
The Velocity hotel status match is available only once per Velocity member upon reaching both Gold and Platinum status. This means you can get one hotel status match as a Gold Velocity member, then another when you reach Velocity Platinum status. But you won’t be eligible for a second Gold match if your Velocity status drops from Platinum back to Gold.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: About to tick over to Platinum – Can I activate both IHG and Hilton premium memberships?
Marriott Bonvoy status match for United MileagePlus members
United Premier Gold members (and above) are eligible for complimentary Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy.
Like the Velocity status match, obtaining your hotel status is a very easy process and can be done online. But unlike the Velocity arrangement, the reciprocal status benefits work both ways. If you have Titanium or Ambassador status with Marriott Bonvoy, you can also receive complimentary United Silver status.
World of Hyatt status match for AAdvantage members
The partnership between American AAdvantage and Hyatt is not yet as thorough as those of Virgin Australia and United. There are not yet any instant, guaranteed status matches available for AAdvantage members. Rather, American Airlines has been sending targeted offers of trial World of Hyatt status to AAdvantage members with Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum or higher status. These typically give the member 90 days of complimentary World of Hyatt status, and come with a challenge to extend the status (typically requiring the member to stay a certain number of nights at Hyatt hotels within 90 days).
It is possible that, in return, Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members could be offered shortcuts to AAdvantage status in the future.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: AA and Hyatt to enter Closer Relationship
