Hotel room with a large bed and seating

How to Book Hyatt Award Nights: Categories and Redemption Levels

Not financial advice. Program rules change, so check the official page before you transfer or book. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by Kevin.

Hyatt is one of the few big hotel programs that still publishes a fixed award chart. That makes it easy to plan around once you know how it's built.

How Hyatt categories work

Every Hyatt hotel sits in one of eight categories. The higher the category, the more points a free night costs. Hyatt reviews categories once a year and says it announces those changes in April (Hyatt newsroom).

Five redemption levels

Since May 2026, each category has five redemption levels: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top. The same hotel can cost a different number of points depending on the night. Hyatt says it's keeping fixed point thresholds rather than moving to dynamic pricing, and that only a limited number of hotels and nights move into the Upper and Top levels in 2026. I'm not listing point prices here; check Hyatt's chart for current numbers.

Searching award nights

  1. Search on hyatt.com or the app with "Use points" turned on.
  2. Use the calendar view to see which nights price at lower levels.
  3. Shift your dates by a night or two if a stay crosses into a higher level.

Points + Cash and upgrades

Hyatt also offers other ways to use points, like combining points and cash or applying points toward upgrades. Availability and pricing vary by hotel, so check the options shown at booking.

Transfer timing from Chase or Bilt

Find the room first, then transfer. Chase says most transfers post by the next business day but can take up to 7 business days (Chase). The Chase-to-Hyatt ratio depends on your card, so check it first. My guide to the Bilt and Chase Hyatt transfer change covers the details, and Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners covers the rest of Chase's list.

Cancellation rules

Each hotel sets its own cancellation deadline, and it's printed on your reservation. Cancel before that deadline and Hyatt puts the points back with no fee. Cancel late and the hotel's cancellation fee goes on the card you have on file (NerdWallet). Deadlines vary a lot, especially at resorts, so read yours before you book.

Sources

All guides