Hyatt is breaking up with American Airlines and getting in bed with Delta.

World of Hyatt and American AAdvantage will wind down their enhanced partnership over the coming months, while Hyatt launches a new exclusive U.S. loyalty relationship with Delta SkyMiles that will bring back something travelers actually liked: dual earning.

The American-Hyatt split is effective for new earning purposes after the current program year, with key benefits disappearing through late 2026 and early 2027. Meanwhile, Delta and Hyatt say their new partnership will launch “in the coming months,” with initial perks focused on elite members.

And unlike the increasingly anemic American-Hyatt relationship, this one might be fairly compelling, at least at the start.

Delta and Hyatt Will Bring Back Dual Earning

At launch, eligible elite members of both programs will be able to earn rewards in both currencies on qualifying travel.

Delta Medallion members will earn SkyMiles on qualifying stays at participating Hyatt properties while still earning applicable World of Hyatt points and benefits.

World of Hyatt elite members, meanwhile, will earn Hyatt points on qualifying Delta airfare in eligible fare classes, in addition to the usual SkyMiles earnings and benefits.

The exact earning rates have not yet been announced.

That essentially resurrects one of the best parts of the original American-Hyatt partnership, which once allowed reciprocal earning before that benefit was eliminated at the end of 2024.

Hyatt and Delta also say more benefits are coming, including exclusive experiences and additional elite recognition, though neither company has yet explained exactly what that means other than it will be very premium.

American and Hyatt Are Winding Things Down

American and Hyatt first launched their partnership in 2019, originally allowing eligible members to double dip across the two programs.

That became less useful in 2025, when reciprocal earning disappeared, and the relationship shifted toward selectable rewards through AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards and World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards.

Those perks are now heading out the door too.

AAdvantage and World of Hyatt members must link their accounts by November 15, 2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. Central to retain access to remaining crossover rewards.

AAdvantage members with linked accounts can continue earning Hyatt awards through Loyalty Point Rewards through February 28, 2027, and can choose eligible Hyatt rewards through the normal selection period, including through March 31, 2027 where applicable.

World of Hyatt members with linked accounts can continue earning AAdvantage rewards through Milestone Rewards through December 31, 2026.

Hyatt’s updated terms also confirm that no American AAdvantage reward options will be offered for Milestone Rewards earned in 2027. Awards earned in 2026 will still be honored under their original terms, including where the standard 90-day selection window stretches into 2027.

Some Existing Status Benefits Will Last Into 2028

There is one important bit of good news for members who have already earned or selected reciprocal elite benefits.

AAdvantage members who select World of Hyatt status benefits as a Loyalty Point Reward for the 2026-2027 program year can keep that Hyatt status through February 29, 2028.

Likewise, previously awarded reciprocal status benefits, including Hyatt Globalist status for eligible ConciergeKey members, are expected to remain valid through their stated expiration dates.

That creates a mildly amusing possibility: View From The Wing flags that “American’s highest spenders could wind up earning Hyatt points on Delta tickets using hotel status American gave them”.

One American-Hyatt Earning Option Survives

The relationship is not being completely erased.

AAdvantage members will still be able to choose 500 AAdvantage miles per eligible Hyatt stay instead of earning World of Hyatt points by providing their AAdvantage number at check-in.

That option existed independently of the enhanced partnership and will continue afterward.

It is also, for most, fairly unexciting. Hyatt points are more valuable than surrendering them for a flat 500-mile payout unless the stay is exceptionally cheap or you have a particular reason to prioritize AAdvantage miles.

The Interesting Part Is Still To Come

For now, the biggest unanswered questions are the earning rates and elite perks.

Hyatt has not said how many World of Hyatt points elites will earn per dollar on qualifying Delta tickets. Delta has likewise not disclosed how many SkyMiles Medallion members will earn on Hyatt stays.

There is also no confirmation yet on whether Hyatt Discoverist members will qualify, whether elite status matches will be offered, whether Delta Medallion Qualification Dollars could somehow enter the equation, or whether benefits will vary by elite tier.

Those details will determine whether this is genuinely lucrative. Those details will decide whether this becomes interesting for Delta elites and Hyatt loyalists.

For American loyalists, the clock is now ticking: link accounts by November 15, 2026, earn any remaining crossover rewards before the applicable deadlines, and enjoy the final scraps of the relationship while they last.