[2021.7 Update] Hyatt elite members can now earn AA elite status through flying, and AA elite members can earn Hyatt elite status through hotel stays. The requirements are a bit easier than a standard status challenge. If you already have Hyatt stays or AA flights coming up, you might as well register first. Details below:

Status challenges available to Hyatt elite members (must register and complete flights by September 30; earned elite status is valid through January 2023)

  • World of Hyatt Explorist: eligible to challenge for AAdvantage Gold; requires 1,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) and 7,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) or 8 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs)
  • World of Hyatt Globalist: eligible to challenge for three tiers
    • Gold requires 1,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) + 7,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) or 8 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs)
    • Platinum requires 2,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) + 12,500 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) or 16 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs)
    • Platinum Pro requires 3,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) + 20,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) or 24 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs)

Status challenges available to AA elite members (must register by October 2 and complete stays within 30 days after registration; earned elite status is valid through February 2022)

  • Platinum & Platinum Pro: eligible to challenge for Explorist; requires 10 elite qualifying nights
  • Executive Platinum: eligible to challenge for
    • Explorist status, requires 10 elite qualifying nights
    • Globalist status, requires 20 elite qualifying nights

About cross-program partnerships

It’s common for loyalty programs to partner with each other. For example, a flight can earn both airline miles and hotel points, or elite members in one program may receive perks from a partner program. Today, here’s a roundup of several loyalty partnerships worth paying attention to.

AirBnB partnerships with BA, Delta, and Qantas

Airbnb and British Airways

  • Partnership details: If you book through Airbnb via BA’s dedicated landing page, you can earn an extra 3 mile/$. In addition, first-time airbnb bookers can earn an extra 500 points, and first-time host users can earn an extra 8000 BA miles.
  • Comments: Earning 3 miles per $1 spent is quite competitive. The downside is that you have to click through from BA’s dedicated page to Airbnb, so you can’t stack with other cashback portals. Also, the 8000-mile bonus for first-time hosts is pretty nice if you’re able to take advantage of it.
  • Related link: BA and AirBnB partnership details

AirBnB and Delta

  • Partnership details: If you book through AirBnB via Delta’s dedicated landing page, you can earn an extra 1 mile/$.
  • Comments: Earning 1 mile per $1 spent is fairly average and not as strong as BA’s 3x. Same downside here: you need to go through Delta’s dedicated page to Airbnb, which means you can’t use another cashback portal.
  • Related link: Delta and AirBnB partnership details

airbnb and qantas

  • Partnership details: If you book through AirBnB via Qantas’ dedicated landing page, you can earn an extra 1 mile/$. In addition, first-time airbnb bookers can earn an extra 500 points, and first-time host users can earn an extra 20000 qantas miles.
  • Comments: Earning 1 mile per $1 spent is just okay and not as good as BA. The downside is that you need to go through BA’s dedicated page to Airbnb, so you can’t use another cashback portal. Also, the 20000 bonus for first-time hosts is pretty attractive if you can make use of it.
  • Related link: Qantas and AirBnB partnership details

AA and Hyatt

  • Hyatt benefits: Hyatt Discoverist members and above can link their AA account and, when paying cash for AA flights, earn AA airline miles as usual plus an extra 1 Hyatt point per dollar deposited into their Hyatt account. In addition, Hyatt explorist and globalist members may also have access to AA elite fast-track opportunities, allowing them to earn AA elite status more quickly after completing certain requirements.
  • AA benefits: AA Gold members and above can link their Hyatt account and, when paying cash at Hyatt hotels, earn Hyatt points as usual plus an extra 1 AA mile per dollar.
  • Comments: Hyatt Discoverist is easy to get because it comes automatically with the Hyatt credit card, so this perk is pretty accessible. It’s worth linking your accounts since the points post automatically anyway. The reverse path via AA Gold may be harder for many people.
  • Related links: AA and Hyatt partnership details, AA and Hyatt account-linking page

Lyft partnerships with Hilton and Delta

Lyft and Samsung Rewards

After teaming up with Delta and Hilton, Lyft also partnered with Samsung Rewards. The first 60,000 people to complete account linking can instantly get 1,000 Samsung Rewards points. After linking, every $1 spent on Lyft earns 1 Samsung Rewards Points. This should not conflict with the points earned from linking Delta and Hilton.

Lyft and Hilton

Newly linked users who complete one ride will receive 1000 Hilton points. Promotion dates: 2010.10.03-2019.11.15.

This is a pretty small promo overall. Unless you specifically need it, it can still be decent when paired with the $5 off for new users on a short $10 ride.

  • Hilton benefits: After linking a Lyft account, Hilton members earn 3 Hilton points per $1 spent on Lyft economy, luxury, and extra seats rides; on rideshare spending, they earn 2 Hilton points per $1. Annual cap: the first $10,000 in Lyft spend.
  • Lyft benefits: New Lyft members can get $5 off on their first three rides
  • Comments: This is a solid promotion. Reportedly, you may be able to earn bonus points from both the Delta and Hilton offers at the same time, so it may be worth trying. Also, for new Lyft users, it’s worth checking other promotions online rather than relying only on these account-linking offers.
  • Related links: Lyft and Hilton partnership details, Lyft and Hilton account-linking page

Lyft and Delta

  • Delta benefits: After linking a Lyft account, Delta members earn 1 Delta mile per $1 spent on Lyft; the limited-time offer is 2x Delta miles on Lyft rides to the airport.
  • Lyft benefits: New Lyft members can get $20 in ride credit
  • Comments: This is a solid promotion. Reportedly, you may be able to earn bonus points from both the Delta and Hilton offers at the same time, so it may be worth trying. Also, for new Lyft users, it’s worth checking other promotions online rather than relying only on these account-linking offers.
  • Related link: Lyft and Delta partnership details (includes account-linking link)