Hyatt Partners With Delta Just Hours After Breaking Up With American Airlines

Updated: September 9, 2026, 1:52pm CDT

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Delta and Hyatt’s Newest Partnership
Final Thoughts

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World of Hyatt and Delta SkyMiles have just announced a new reciprocal partnership, which will soon give members opportunities to earn rewards on both flights and hotel stays.

The news comes just hours after World of Hyatt and American Airlines announced they’re ending their 2-year partnership, which has been a popular way for members to earn rewards and enjoy benefits across both programs.

Let’s take a closer look at this major shakeup in the loyalty world and what we know so far about the newly inked Hyatt and Delta partnership.

Delta and Hyatt’s Newest Partnership

There isn’t an official launch date just yet. According to a press release from Hyatt, the official details will be revealed in the coming months.

With the existing World of Hyatt and American Airlines AAdvantage partnership officially ending on November 15, 2026, that timing sets the stage for Delta to swoop in as Hyatt’s official airline loyalty partner. In theory, the new partnership could begin as soon as November 16, 2026, to provide a seamless transition for members.

That would be similar to the way Hyatt ended its Small Luxury Hotels partnership and moved right into a partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith.

Delta Comfort Plus Cabin on Boeing 767 — Basic economy fares will likely be excluded. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

While the public details are still limited, we know that World of Hyatt members will be able to earn World of Hyatt points on qualifying Delta flight purchases. Notably, Hyatt specifies that only certain fare classes count. Under the current AA partnership, basic economy fares are specifically excluded, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Delta’s most restrictive fare classes subject to the same restrictions.

More SkyMiles and World of Hyatt benefits will come as part of the partnership, too, beyond earning rewards. Upgraded Points will report on the full details as soon as they’re released.

Hot Tip:

Members who link their AA and World of Hyatt accounts by November 15, 2026, will preserve some access to reciprocal benefits for a limited time. AAdvantage members can earn World of Hyatt Loyalty Point Rewards through February 28, 2027, while Hyatt members can select AAdvantage Milestone Rewards through December 31, 2026. Even after the partnership ends, AAdvantage members can also continue earning 500 miles instead of Hyatt points on eligible stays.

Final Thoughts

It’s good to know that this type of reciprocal airline and hotel loyalty partnership isn’t going away. According to Hyatt, the ability to earn rewards across both programs has been “one of the most requested loyalty benefits” and “[Delta and Hyatt] share a vision for delivering thoughtful, premium experiences.”

That wording is particularly interesting given that World of Hyatt and American Airlines AAdvantage already maintained such a partnership for 2 years. Either members have requested a partnership with Delta, or Hyatt sees a stronger fit with Delta long-term — or more likely, a combination of both.