Hyatt External Exchange

[hcarman]

I know we have some experts on TUG at using their Hyatt points through Interval. We have not yet - but do have points in the EEE. I have used Interval through Marriott, but Hyatt’s process seems a bit different.
1). Do the EEE points stay with Hyatt until you use them in Interval? And does this mean you have to call Hyatt to actually book the Interval exchange? Which means you can only book during business hours, or am I missing something? I don’t see the EEE points when logging into Interval. I only see them on Hyatt.
2). If the EEE is good for two years, does that mean the Interval exchange must be completed by then or just booked within this time.

Thanks for any clarification you can provide on this. We spoke with Hyatt but don’t think the rep really understood the program himself.

 

[ScoopKona]

1) They don't stay in Hyatt. They wouldn't be worth anything to Interval if they did.. You have to move them to Interval at least four months before your week. Once there, they stay in Interval.
Since Hyatt owners never see Hyatt properties in Interval, someone who owns more than one system will have to comment how it works trading into Hyatt from Interval.

2) I don't know this one. Call 800-GO-HYATT and ask. I always spend my points almost as soon as I receive them.

 

[hcarman]

1) They don't stay in Hyatt. They wouldn't be worth anything to Interval if they did.. You have to move them to Interval at least four months before your week. Once there, they stay in Interval.
Since Hyatt owners never see Hyatt properties in Interval, someone who owns more than one system will have to comment how it works trading into Hyatt from Interval.

2) I don't know this one. Call 800-GO-HYATT and ask. I always spend my points almost as soon as I receive them.

Thanks. But not sure what you mean by you have to move them to Interval? We moved them to EEE but Hyatt told us that is where they stay until you make an Interval reservation?

 

[ScoopKona]

Thanks. But not sure what you mean by you have to move them to Interval? We moved them to EEE but Hyatt told us that is where they stay until you make an Interval reservation?

The sooner you ignore Hyatt's alphabet soup of CUP, LCUP, EEE and similar, the better.

If you put your points into Interval -- even partial points (not a full week like I usually do) -- those points are converted into as many whole weeks as possible -- breaking up the lock-offs at Sunset Harbor and Pinon Point, for instance. Then those weeks can be traded as normal by other non-Hyatt Interval members. (Hyatt owners don't even see what Hyatt timeshares are available for trade. We're stuck with our own internal point system for that. It keeps people from gaming the system -- depositing a 2200 point week and exchanging it back "on the cheap" in Interval.)

Now that the Interval exchange system has been devalued, it's not even really "on the cheap" any more. The points show up on your Hyatt owner page as EEE points. But once put into Interval, there is no way to exchange them back. It is a one-way trip. (Which makes sense because it would be patently unfair to the person who traded into your unit to have the reservation taken away if you change your mind.)

The system used to be simple and was an outstanding value for traders -- so much so that they nerfed the system. I think they devalued it way too much. A bronze owner can barely do anything in Interval now.

 

[DAman]

2). If the EEE is good for two years, does that mean the Interval exchange must be completed by then or just booked within this time.

The II exchange must be booked not completed before the points expire.

You do all your II bookings on the II website. That’s what I do. II and Hyatt work it out and I get my confirmation a day or so later. Or you call 800-GO-HYATT and ask for the II desk.

 

[GTLINZ]

I know we have some experts on TUG at using their Hyatt points through Interval. We have not yet - but do have points in the EEE. I have used Interval through Marriott, but Hyatt’s process seems a bit different.
1). Do the EEE points stay with Hyatt until you use them in Interval? And does this mean you have to call Hyatt to actually book the Interval exchange? Which means you can only book during business hours, or am I missing something? I don’t see the EEE points when logging into Interval. I only see them on Hyatt.
2). If the EEE is good for two years, does that mean the Interval exchange must be completed by then or just booked within this time.

Thanks for any clarification you can provide on this. We spoke with Hyatt but don’t think the rep really understood the program himself.

I think I am interpreting your question differently that Scoop.

You have to move your points to EEE as stated at least 4 months before your owned week. Once you move them, they stay in Hyatt but are in the EEE bucket and not usuable for anything but Interval. Once you make a reservation, they are spent/moved to Interval.

You book from the Interval site, which does not see your points. You can search and make reservations for more points than you have - but it will fail once they try and get the points from Hyatt. So it usually takes a day to confirm a reservation.

The points are good for 2 years past your use date - not from when you move them. So if you moved them 6 months before your use date, they are good for 30 months. And you just have to spend them within 30 months - not travel. But if you did reserve past their expiration date and wanted to cancel after the expiration date but before the travel date, you would not get the points back since they are past expiration.

Hyatt has different points buckets, and they all are similar as far as the life of the points - it is just about the expiration of those points and any limitations put on them (like LCUP).

EEE is great in that you basically buy another 2 years to use the points. Once could argue that it is 18 months because LCUP (Hyatt resv only) goes another 6 months - but LCUP reservations have a 2 month restriction on booking so EEE (Interval only) really gives you 2 extra years of life for point to use within Interval.

The Hyatt rules are not really complicated, but the application of them can be.

 

[ScoopKona]

Once you move them, they stay in Hyatt but are in the EEE bucket and not usuable for anything but Interval.

From the owner's perspective on the Hyatt clubhouse website, that's true. But from Interval's perspective, once points are moved into Interval, there they stay. That's how Interval acquires Hyatt inventory to make available to their other members. The original deal was that a Bronze owner had parity with every other Interval member as far as an even swap 2-bedroom for 2-bedroom was concerned. Higher-tier Hyatt owners got better deals because they owned more attractive weeks.

 

[hcarman]

I think I am interpreting your question differently that Scoop.

You have to move your points to EEE as stated at least 4 months before your owned week. Once you move them, they stay in Hyatt but are in the EEE bucket and not usuable for anything but Interval. Once you make a reservation, they are spent/moved to Interval.

You book from the Interval site, which does not see your points. You can search and make reservations for more points than you have - but it will fail once they try and get the points from Hyatt. So it usually takes a day to confirm a reservation.

The points are good for 2 years past your use date - not from when you move them. So if you moved them 6 months before your use date, they are good for 30 months. And you just have to spend them within 30 months - not travel. But if you did reserve past their expiration date and wanted to cancel after the expiration date but before the travel date, you would not get the points back since they are past expiration.

Hyatt has different points buckets, and they all are similar as far as the life of the points - it is just about the expiration of those points and any limitations put on them (like LCUP).

EEE is great in that you basically buy another 2 years to use the points. Once could argue that it is 18 months because LCUP (Hyatt resv only) goes another 6 months - but LCUP reservations have a 2 month restriction on booking so EEE (Interval only) really gives you 2 extra years of life for point to use within Interval.

The Hyatt rules are not really complicated, but the application of them can be.

Thank you - you understood my question exactly. That is what I didn't understand - why I wasn't seeing the points in the Interval account. But sounds like I am not supposed to as they stay with Hyatt until something is booked. And great clarification on the time to use - I have a little longer than I thought. I had contacted Hyatt a few times and no one at owners services or Interval really could explain as well as you just did. That is why Tug is great.

 

[heathpack]

Thank you - you understood my question exactly. That is what I didn't understand - why I wasn't seeing the points in the Interval account. But sounds like I am not supposed to as they stay with Hyatt until something is booked. And great clarification on the time to use - I have a little longer than I thought. I had contacted Hyatt a few times and no one at owners services or Interval really could explain as well as you just did. That is why Tug is great.

The other thing to realize is that if you’re selling your unit, points that you “moved” to EEE are not ”moved” to Interval. They’re still sitting in your Hyatt account and stay with it when you sell. Whereas booked Interval reservations are actually “in” Interval and stay with the Interval account when you sell the Hyatt ownership.

 

[GTLINZ]

The other thing to realize is that if you’re selling your unit, points that you “moved” to EEE are not ”moved” to Interval. They’re still sitting in your Hyatt account and stay with it when you sell. Whereas booked Interval reservations are actually “in” Interval and stay with the Interval account when you sell the Hyatt ownership.

Good point. I am also counting on that.

If i ever sell, i would make reservations before with some/most of the EEE points I stuff away. I would put a GC on them in my name. I would not be able to change them after the account closes (I have one contract) - but I am thinking i could use the reservations.

I am curious about the closing of the Interval account. I assume it would not close when my ownership ceases - but would close at the end of the year when not paid for out of my dues.

 

[hcarman]

The other thing to realize is that if you’re selling your unit, points that you “moved” to EEE are not ”moved” to Interval. They’re still sitting in your Hyatt account and stay with it when you sell. Whereas booked Interval reservations are actually “in” Interval and stay with the Interval account when you sell the Hyatt ownership.

Thanks - good tip. Not selling just yet but we could get to that point with the ever increasing maintenance fees at Carmel.

 

[heathpack]

Good point. I am also counting on that.

If i ever sell, i would make reservations before with some/most of the EEE points I stuff away. I would put a GC on them in my name. I would not be able to change them after the account closes (I have one contract) - but I am thinking i could use the reservations.

I am curious about the closing of the Interval account. I assume it would not close when my ownership ceases - but would close at the end of the year when not paid for out of my dues.

That’s a great question about the closing of the II account. I’m about to complete the sale of my High Sierra week but will keep the Highlands Inn unit for the time being. I need to consider the timing of any sale of Highlands Inn relative to existing II reservations, hadn’t thought of that!

 

[hcarman]

This is an old thread but I have been trying to use some points that I have in my EEE to book an Interval reservation and keep going around and around with Hyatt and Interval - neither seems to know the process. In my Interval account I see my Highlands Inn 2024 week but not my EEE points from the prior year. Interval thinks we should just book using this account but has never heard of the EEE bucket of points. I am afraid if I book with the Highlands Inn they won't apply the points from EEE, but will instead use points from my 2024 reservation which is next week and I of course don't want to mess that up. Hyatt has been very hard to get through to and the time we did speak with them they said to have Interval book something and they will give them the EEE points? But Interval needs to know how to book it. I am a pro at using my Marriott for an Interval Exchange but this Hyatt process is extremely confusing to all involved apparently.

 

[heathpack]

This is an old thread but I have been trying to use some points that I have in my EEE to book an Interval reservation and keep going around and around with Hyatt and Interval - neither seems to know the process. In my Interval account I see my Highlands Inn 2024 week but not my EEE points from the prior year. Interval thinks we should just book using this account but has never heard of the EEE bucket of points. I am afraid if I book with the Highlands Inn they won't apply the points from EEE, but will instead use points from my 2024 reservation which is next week and I of course don't want to mess that up. Hyatt has been very hard to get through to and the time we did speak with them they said to have Interval book something and they will give them the EEE points? But Interval needs to know how to book it. I am a pro at using my Marriott for an Interval Exchange but this Hyatt process is extremely confusing to all involved apparently.

Your EEE points do not actually ever go to II until you book something. We say we “deposited” the points into II for EEE but that’s not what really happens. They stay in your HVC account but are designated for use in II only. When you book something in II, II contacts HVC and HVC applies the EEE points to the reservation.

Generally, I find the II reps who specialize in Hyatt to be quite knowledgeable. I used to say the same about the HVC reps but many are clueless nowadays. I doubt the II reps are the confused ones, because they have nothing to do with HVC points. In your case, it’s the Hyatt reps who are confused. They should understand exactly how EEE works, and be able to articulate it.

Recent Hyatt incompetence aside, I’ve never had Hyatt screw up an II exchange by failing to use my EEE points first. Never say never but I think you are fine to just book your II exchange and trust they will take the points from EEE. That process is inherent to the HVC system, and even if the Hyatt rep can’t explain it to you, the system seems very well designed to get this right.

 

[hcarman]

Your EEE points do not actually ever go to II until you book something. We say we “deposited” the points into II for EEE but that’s not what really happens. They stay in your HVC account but are designated for use in II only. When you book something in II, II contacts HVC and HVC applies the EEE points to the reservation.

Generally, I find the II reps who specialize in Hyatt to be quite knowledgeable. I used to say the same about the HVC reps but many are clueless nowadays. I doubt the II reps are the confused ones, because they have nothing to do with HVC points. In your case, it’s the Hyatt reps who are confused. They should understand exactly how EEE works, and be able to articulate it.

Recent Hyatt incompetence aside, I’ve never had Hyatt screw up an II exchange by failing to use my EEE points first. Never say never but I think you are fine to just book your II exchange and trust they will take the points from EEE. That process is inherent to the HVC system, and even if the Hyatt rep can’t explain it to you, the system seems very well designed to get this right.

Thank you! We did finally get a Hyatt rep that was competent and explained it kind of like you did. He said the only points in our account were EEE points. The week reservation was not converted to points so that wouldn't even be something that could be mistakenly done. So thanks. We own Marriott as well as several others, but Hyatt has always been more difficult for me to understand and we have never used EEE for that reason.

 

[GTLINZ]

We own Marriott as well as several others, but Hyatt has always been more difficult for me to understand and we have never used EEE for that reason.

EEE points are a big draw for me, as i use a lot of my points for Interval. Once you move points to EEE, they are good for 2 years past your use date (not the deposit date, which could be as much as another year added). Thats a big advantage.

I could see none of this matters if you use where you own. But for those of us who use the points for a mixture of Interval and Hyatt reservations, it works well. If nothing else you stuff unusable points there. But this all has to be planned ahead of time and the EEE move executed 4 months before your use week.

And of course Hyatt holds onto EEE points in case they are never spent in Interval, just like LCUP points or RCUP points that are not spent. That works well for them when points expire and are not used. Smart model.