Hyatt awards blowup, Resy doubles size, Chase adds Wyndham
Talking Points - Issue 27
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate disclosure
The shortest month somehow always sneaks up on me, and this one was no different. February always feels like it's trying to get away with something: fewer days, same bills. It's also when my brain starts wandering toward trips. A vague itch, a destination, and then the inevitable rabbit hole of where to burn points. Good week for that rabbit hole, as it turns out.
Key Points
💥 Hyatt overhauls its award chart, and it’s not pretty: Starting in May 2026, World of Hyatt is introducing five pricing tiers within each of its existing 8 categories—labeled Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top. The award price difference can be as high as 67% compared to current rates. The silver lining: existing free night certificates (Cat 1-4 and 1-7) will still be honored at their highest category tier, making those certs more valuable than ever. If you’ve been eyeing a specific property, it may be worth booking now at current rates. Moral of the story: Hyatt points are still more valuable than Marriott or Hilton, but the days of outsized sweet spots are numbered.
🍽️ Resy just got a lot bigger: Resy is absorbing Tock. Amex acquired both platforms and is now merging them into one. The combined network will have over 25,000 bookable venues, including Michelin-starred restaurants and more than 1,200 wineries. If you’re sitting on Amex Resy credits (up to $400/year on the Platinum, $100/year on the Gold), your options will expand significantly. Acclaimed dining at Alinea, Atomix, and Lazy Bear, and wineries like Antica Terra and Heitz Cellar—all coming to Resy.
🏨 Chase adds Wyndham as a transfer partner: Chase Ultimate Rewards now transfers to Wyndham Rewards at 1:1, making it Chase’s fourth hotel transfer partner alongside Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott. Wyndham’s portfolio runs from budget to all-inclusive, and all properties fall into one of three flat-rate award tiers: 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points per night—no dynamic pricing. Wyndham points are generally valued around 0.9¢ each vs ~1.8¢ for Chase UR, so you’ll want a strong redemption to justify the transfer. But for anyone eyeing a Wyndham Alltra all-inclusive resort, it’s worth a look.
✈️ Bilt March Rent Day: JAL takes the spotlight: On March 1 only, Bilt is offering a transfer bonus to JAL Mileage Bank, up to 100% for Platinum status. JAL is a legitimately great program, with award chart pricing of 110k pts for a first-class suite. It’s more than a lie-flat seat; it’s an entire private space with a door. After the transfer, this could be had for as little as 55,000 Bilt points. Note that JAL miles expire in 36 months with no extension option. If you’re a Bilt Gold or Platinum, this is a serious opportunity.
Pro Tips
Rental car companies are very good at one thing: making you feel like you’d be irresponsible to decline their insurance. The upsell happens fast, the language is confusing, and most people just say yes to make it stop.
If you’re carrying any of these three cards, you can confidently say no to Collision Damage Waiver (CDW):
All three include primary rental car coverage automatically, meaning the card handles any damage claim directly, without involving your personal auto insurance. No rate increases, no claims on your record.
Most other cards only offer secondary coverage, which kicks in only after your personal insurance pays out first. That distinction matters more than most people realize.
What it covers: Theft and collision damage to the rental vehicle, typically up to the car’s actual cash value. What it doesn’t cover: Liability if you hit someone else, personal injury, or damage in certain countries. Always check your card’s benefit guide before declining.
To activate: Charge the full rental to the card and decline the collision damage waiver at pickup. Keep your rental agreement and receipt in case you need to file a claim.
Trivia
You can tell a lot about human migration just by looking at which airline routes are busiest. Which route is the single busiest in the world based on total seats available?
□ A — New York JFK → London LHR
□ B — Jeju → Seoul Gimpo
□ C — Kuala Lumpur → Singapore
□ D — Tokyo Haneda → Osaka Itami
Answer revealed at the bottom of this issue.
Fresh Picks
Bank bonuses are an invitation to try new banking products, and they don’t require hard credit pulls like personal credit cards. On deck this week is $1,200 worth of bank bonuses.
Capital One 360 Checking - $300 bonus
Requires two direct deposits of $500+ each within 75 days
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking - $400 bonus
Requires $1,000+ direct deposit(s) within 90 days
Bank of America Advantage Banking - $500 bonus
Requires $10,000+ direct deposit(s) within 60 days
Terms apply. Offers subject to change. Refer to bank offer for full details.
Trivia Answer: (B) Jeju → Seoul Gimpo. With over 14 million available seats annually, it's the world's busiest route by a wide margin. New York JFK → London LHR, which many people would guess, doesn't even crack the top 10 overall.
Got questions? I’ve got answers. Stuck on a points strategy? Confused about which card to get next? Want me to cover a specific topic that’s been bugging you? Send me your questions – I read every message, and you might get your 15 minutes of fame if featured in a future Talking Points.
Live rewarded,
Jason
Editor’s note: Opinions shared in this article are solely the author’s and do not represent the views of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other organization. The content has not been evaluated, approved, or endorsed by any of the mentioned entities. These are recommendations, not financial advice. I may receive a commission if you click through any of the links in this article.