Written by Hyatt and Southwest Airlines are offering bonus Rapid Rewards points when you stay at Hyatt hotels. Choosing Rapid Rewards points normally gets you 600 points per stay. This time you can earn quadruple (4x) points after your second and third stays, or quintuple (5x) points after your fourth through eleventh stays. You must complete one stay where you earn the base miles option in order to begin receiving the 4x and 5x points.
This promotion runs from May 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012. Registration is required. The earnings for this promotion are capped at 11 stays, which will be equal to 29,400 Rapid Rewards points. While you’ll forfeit your base hotel points when choosing miles, you’ll still receive stay credit and points for room charges. Diamond members will still earn their 500 or 1,000 points amenity.
When to take the Rapid Rewards points and when to take the Gold Passport points
Rapid Rewards points on Wanna Get Away fares have a fixed cost of 1.67 cents per point. A safe valuation for Hyatt Gold Passport points is 1.5 cents per point. Using those valuations, here are some comparison charts for Gold, Platinum and Diamond members. Calculations are based on 1-night stays.
*Note: In the charts below, the Rapid Rewards Points Earned are a fixed amount and NOT associated with the Hyatt Rate. Use Hyatt Rate and GP Dollar Value to compare against RR Dollar Value.
Gold members vs. Rapid Rewards
Analysis: Whether you’re at a full service Hyatt or a Hyatt Place or Hyatt House, Gold members come out way ahead selecting Rapid Rewards points over Gold Passport points. Once the 4x and 5x bonus multipliers kick in, you really will be receiving four or five times the value.
Platinum members vs. Rapid Rewards
Analysis: The figures above include the Platinum 15% bonus. The GP Points Value doesn’t change all that much from Gold members so your best bet is also to take the Rapid Rewards points.
Diamond members vs. Rapid Rewards
Analysis: The figures above include the Diamond 30% bonus plus the 500 or 1,000 points Diamond amenity, which are separated into two columns. After you take a small loss with the first stay of this promotion, you’ll also come out ahead when you choose Rapid Rewards points, unless you’re spending over $300/night.
Final Thoughts
Earning 4x and 5x Rapid Rewards points really changes the scope of your earnings. This promotion works best if you’re making one night stays. Of course, choose whichever earnings option works best for your travel needs.
This promotion is not limited to Southwest Airlines. There a number of other airlines participating, including United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines and more. LoyaltyLobby shares some charts that show the breakdown of your earnings with Southwest and the other participating airlines. Here’s the breakdown for Southwest:
