American Airlines and Hyatt End Enhanced Partnership as Delta and Hyatt Announce New Strategic Relationship
American Airlines and Hyatt are ending their enhanced relationship, while Hyatt and Delta prepare to launch a new strategic loyalty partnership.
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American Airlines AAdvantage® and World of Hyatt® are ending their enhanced loyalty relationship, marking a significant change for members who have used the two programs together.
On September 9, American Airlines and Hyatt separately announced that they had “mutually decided to not continue” their enhanced relationship. At the same time, Hyatt and Delta Air Lines announced a new, exclusive strategic loyalty relationship that is expected to launch in the coming months.
For existing American Airlines-Hyatt members, however, the changes will not happen immediately. Both companies say members will have time to continue earning and using eligible benefits during the transition.
What is happening to the American Airlines-Hyatt partnership?
American Airlines and Hyatt say they will preserve eligible member benefits through the remainder of each program’s current earning year.
That means AAdvantage® and World of Hyatt® members should see no interruption in earning, selecting and redeeming eligible benefits during the applicable transition period.
There is also an important deadline for members who want to continue receiving certain cross-program rewards after the enhanced relationship winds down.
November 15, 2026, is an important deadline
Members who want to take advantage of the remaining enhanced benefits should pay attention to November 15, 2026.
- AAdvantage® members who link their American AAdvantage® and World of Hyatt® accounts by 11:59:59 p.m. CT on November 15, 2026, can continue earning World of Hyatt® awards through AAdvantage® Loyalty Point Rewards through February 28, 2027.
- World of Hyatt® members who link their accounts by November 15 can continue earning AAdvantage® awards through World of Hyatt® Milestone Rewards through December 31, 2026.
In other words, the November 15 deadline matters even though some of the benefits continue into 2027.
One American Airlines-Hyatt benefit is staying
The end of the enhanced relationship does not eliminate every connection between the two programs.
AAdvantage® members will still be able to choose to earn 500 AAdvantage® miles instead of World of Hyatt® points on eligible Hyatt stays by providing their AAdvantage® number at check-in. American Airlines and Hyatt specifically confirmed that this option will remain available even after the broader enhanced relationship concludes.
Hyatt and Delta announce a new loyalty relationship
At the same time American Airlines and Hyatt announced their separation, Hyatt and Delta announced a new, exclusive long-term strategic loyalty relationship.
The new collaboration is expected to launch in the coming months, but Hyatt and Delta have not yet announced a specific launch date or all of the eligibility requirements and terms.
The initial benefit will focus on dual earning between Delta SkyMiles® and World of Hyatt®.
How the new Delta-Hyatt partnership is expected to work
According to Delta and Hyatt, eligible elite members will be able to earn rewards in both programs:
- World of Hyatt® elite members will be able to earn World of Hyatt® points on qualifying Delta airfare, in addition to earning certain other Delta SkyMiles® benefits.
- Delta SkyMiles® Medallion members will be able to earn Delta miles on qualifying stays at participating Hyatt properties, in addition to earning certain other World of Hyatt® benefits.
The companies also say the relationship is intended to go beyond basic points and miles earning. Future opportunities may include personalized experiences and exclusive member events, although specific details have not yet been announced.
What does this mean for travelers?
The biggest change is that travelers who have benefited from the American Airlines-Hyatt relationship will need to adjust how they think about the two programs.
For now, existing American Airlines-Hyatt members do not need to make an immediate change. Eligible benefits continue during the transition, and members who meet the November 15 linking deadline can preserve access to certain rewards beyond the current earning period.
For Delta and Hyatt loyalists, the new partnership creates a different opportunity. Once launched, eligible elite members will be able to earn across both programs when they fly Delta and stay with Hyatt.
However, the full value of the new partnership cannot yet be determined. Delta and Hyatt have not announced all eligibility requirements, earning rates, launch timing or additional benefits.
What Big4credit readers should know:
If you currently use both AAdvantage® and World of Hyatt®, the November 15 deadline is the key date to remember.
If your accounts are already linked, there is no need to panic about an immediate loss of benefits. American Airlines and Hyatt have specifically stated that eligible benefits will continue through the applicable earning periods.
If you have not linked your accounts and want to take advantage of the remaining enhanced benefits, November 15, 2026, is the date to keep on your calendar.
Meanwhile, Delta and Hyatt’s new relationship is one to watch. The initial dual-earning structure could be particularly relevant for travelers who regularly fly Delta and stay at Hyatt properties, but more details are needed before members can determine exactly how valuable the new arrangement will be.
Bottom line
American Airlines and Hyatt are ending their enhanced loyalty relationship, but existing members have time to use the benefits they have already earned and preserve certain future rewards.
The most important date for current members is November 15, 2026, when the account-linking deadline arrives.
At the same time, Hyatt is moving into a new exclusive loyalty relationship with Delta, initially focused on allowing eligible elite members to earn both SkyMiles® and World of Hyatt® points across qualifying flights and hotel stays.
For now, the biggest unanswered questions are when the Delta-Hyatt partnership will officially launch, who will qualify, and exactly how much members will earn. Hyatt and Delta say more details will be announced in the coming months.