Are Hyatt Globalists Under 21 Entitled to Full Elite Benefits?
Hyatt Globalist status is the pinnacle of hotel elite status, offering a host of remarkable benefits that elevate your travel experience. If you’re like me, you treasure your Globalist status and all the perks that come with it, from those sought-after space-available suite upgrades to complimentary breakfast, 4 pm late checkouts, and even a dedicated My Hyatt Concierge once you’ve hit your 60th night. It’s a treasure trove of privileges, but what happens when a Globalist is under 21 years old? Do they still get to enjoy the full spectrum of Globalist benefits? A recent Reddit post in /r/Hyatt sheds light on this intriguing topic.
Captain_nonsense3738 shared their experience during a stay at the Confidante Miami Beach, a property soon to become the Andaz Miami Beach. While the property has a minimum check-in age of 21, the front desk agent allowed this Globalist, who was under 21, to check in. However, things took an interesting turn as they were denied complimentary breakfast – a benefit they had rightfully earned as a Globalist. The agent also informed them that they couldn’t charge anything to their room, which meant they couldn’t utilize the $100 property credit from AmEx The Hotel Collection (THC).
Now, let’s dive into some thoughts on this matter:
Minimum Check-In Age: It’s reasonable for the hotel to waive the minimum check-in age for a Globalist. These travelers have displayed loyalty to Hyatt and have built a history with the chain that vouches for their trustworthiness.
Breakfast Benefit: Refusing breakfast was a misstep. Breakfast is a well-earned benefit, and the excuse of being unable to charge it to the room isn’t sufficient. The hotel could have found an alternative way to provide breakfast, such as a voucher. It’s always puzzled me why domestic Hyatt hotels tend to require Globalists to charge to their folio and then manually remove the charge later; any foreign Hyatt property I’ve ever visited, the hotel restaurant usually receives a list of Globalists currently on property, and they simply don’t charge you. Maybe this has to do with American tipping culture, as a room charge gives you the opportunity to write down a specified gratuity amount on a receipt?
Room Charges: The decision to restrict the guest from making room charges, assuming they provided a valid credit card with enough available credit for the deposit, seems unnecessary. While it’s unclear which card was used to pay, the post implies that it might have been an AmEx Platinum, which typically doesn’t come with a preset credit limit and is typically issued only to those with excellent credit.
Age Restrictions: The only valid reason to modify or deny a Globalist benefit due to age might be in cases involving alcohol, especially in the United States, where the legal drinking age is among the highest in the world. For instance, a complimentary mimosa at breakfast could be legally problematic in some jurisdictions.
It’s always surprising how, in the United States, one can make life-altering decisions and even enlist in the military at 18, but can’t enjoy certain privileges like drinking alcohol or checking into many hotels until 21. The age restrictions seem arbitrary in many cases.
In the case of this Redditor, it appears that the hotel made some questionable decisions. Globalist benefits are earned and should be honored, irrespective of age. If the hotel is willing to check in a Globalist under 21, they should be prepared to extend the full array of benefits that come with the coveted Globalist status. It’s an interesting topic to consider, and it’s clear that there’s room for improvement in how these situations are handled, especially when it comes to ensuring that Globalists get the full experience they’ve earned.
What do you think about this situation? Have you encountered similar issues when traveling as a Globalist? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.