American Airlines Ends Partnership With Hyatt, Leading To New Agreement With Delta Air Lines

Photo: Hyatt Published Sep 10, 2026, 2:17 PM EDT Jack comes to Simple Flying with a lifelong interest in all things aviation. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, and is a certified private and remote pilot. Beyond these experiences, Jack previously worked for a corporate flight department where he gained first-hand experience in the world of business aviation. Currently, Jack works in the professional services industry and continues to build his flight hours outside of work. Sign in to your Simple Flying account American Airlines and Hyatt are ending their enhanced loyalty relationship, clearing the way for Hyatt to establish a new exclusive strategic relationship with Delta Air Lines. Announced September 9, the agreement brings together Delta SkyMiles and World of Hyatt programs, with the initial partnership allowing eligible elite members to earn rewards across both travel ecosystems. The change does not immediately eliminate all benefits for American and Hyatt members. Travelers who link their accounts by November 15 can continue receiving certain reciprocal rewards during the transition period, with AAdvantage members able to earn World of Hyatt awards through February 28, 2027, and World of Hyatt members able to earn AAdvantage awards through December 31, 2026. American also confirmed that some Hyatt earning options will remain available after the broader relationship concludes. Delta Takes Over Hyatt's Airline Loyalty Partnership Credit: Delta Air Lines Delta and Hyatt described their new arrangement as a long-term, exclusive relationship designed to connect the airline's SkyMiles program with Hyatt's hotel loyalty system. The partnership is scheduled to launch in the coming months, although the companies have not yet published all eligibility requirements or benefit details. The initial offering will center on a Dual Earn benefit. Delta Medallion members will be able to earn SkyMiles on qualifying Hyatt stays while receiving certain World of Hyatt benefits. In the other direction, World of Hyatt elite members will earn Hyatt points on qualifying Delta fares while retaining access to certain SkyMiles benefits. The companies also say the relationship will eventually extend beyond basic points accumulation. Planned additions include opportunities for members of both programs to access personalized experiences and exclusive events, although specific offerings have yet to be announced. American And Hyatt Are Ending Their Enhanced Arrangement Credit: American Airlines American and Hyatt said they mutually decided not to continue their enhanced relationship past the contract end date in November after reviewing the partnership. When requested for comment by Simple Flying, the airline emphasized that providing value to its customers remains a primary goal, and was a contributing factor in the decision. The Hyatt-American partnership was expanded in January 2025, when linked members gained the ability to select rewards across the two programs. The companies had maintained a broader loyalty relationship for more than seven years before that expansion. The enhanced version allowed greater interaction between AAdvantage and World of Hyatt, giving travelers additional ways to earn and redeem rewards based on activity with either company. "American is focused on providing more value to our AAdvantage members through partnerships that deliver global scale and premium experiences our customers value. ... Across all facets of our business, we are committed to building long-term partnerships that are mutually beneficial to both our customers and financial outlook." - American Airlines to Simple Flying American's announcement does not characterize the decision as a unilateral termination. Instead, both companies said they agreed not to continue the enhanced relationship. American also said it was pleased with the value delivered to members and would preserve benefits during the transition. The arrangement will therefore change gradually rather than ending all connections between the two brands at once. Existing Members Are Not Completely Out Of Luck Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis | Shutterstock For travelers currently using the American-Hyatt relationship, November 15 is the key date. AAdvantage members who link their World of Hyatt account by 11:59:59 PM Central Time can continue earning World of Hyatt awards through Loyalty Point Rewards until February 28, 2027. World of Hyatt members who link their accounts by the same deadline can continue earning AAdvantage awards through Milestone Rewards until December 31, 2026. American is also retaining a narrower earning option. AAdvantage members can continue choosing to receive 500 AAdvantage miles instead of World of Hyatt points on eligible Hyatt stays by providing their AAdvantage number at hotel check-in. That provision means the end of the enhanced relationship will not eliminate every way for American customers to earn airline rewards through Hyatt. For Delta customers, the new relationship instead points toward a broader integration between flying and hotel stays. Delta says additional terms, eligibility rules, and benefits will be announced as the program approaches launch. The shift gives Delta a new hotel loyalty partner while ending an arrangement that had connected Hyatt with American for years. It also reflects the growing importance of loyalty ecosystems that extend beyond the airline seat or hotel room, as carriers seek to capture more of the spending associated with an entire trip.