Wyndham Rewards switched to a new four-tier award chart on September 15, 2026. It’s the first new award tier since Wyndham moved to fixed pricing in 2019. Free nights now cost 5,000, 15,000, 30,000 or 45,000 points per night, up from three tiers before. A month in, here’s what changed, who wins, who loses, and how to decide whether Wyndham points, or a transfer from Chase or another bank, make sense for your next stay.
Old chart vs. new chart
| Before September 15, 2026 | From September 15, 2026 |
|---|---|
| 7,500 points | 5,000 points (new lowest tier) |
| 15,000 points | 15,000 points |
| 30,000 points | 30,000 points |
| No higher tier | 45,000 points (new top tier) |
The 7,500-point tier is gone. Wyndham also redistributed hotels across the tiers. According to One Mile at a Time, a lot of hotels moved from 7,500 to 15,000 points, while some dropped to 5,000. A Wyndham spokesperson told The Points Guy the 45,000-point tier is “for a small number of our most elevated hotels.” Wyndham didn’t publish a full list of which hotels moved, so check the points price for your specific hotel on Wyndham’s site or app.
Key details
- Existing bookings: Award stays booked before September 15 are honored at the old price. If a booked hotel’s price dropped under the new chart, Wyndham said it would refund the points difference automatically, according to The Points Guy, NerdWallet and Rewards Canada.
- Still a fixed chart: One Mile at a Time notes Wyndham is the only major hotel program without dynamic award pricing. A hotel’s points price doesn’t rise just because cash rates do.
- Cardholder discounts: NerdWallet reports Wyndham co-branded cardholders get 10% to 25% off award redemptions, depending on the card. Check your own card’s current terms.
Who wins and who loses
The winners are travelers who book simple, inexpensive hotels that landed in the 5,000-point tier. That’s a third cheaper than the old minimum. The losers are anyone who redeemed at hotels that moved from 7,500 to 15,000 points, which doubled in price, or from 30,000 to 45,000 points, a 50% jump. One Mile at a Time cut its valuation of Wyndham points from 0.7 cents to 0.6 cents each after the change.
Should you transfer bank points to Wyndham?
Wyndham is a transfer partner of several bank programs. Chase Ultimate Rewards added Wyndham on February 25, 2026, at a 1:1 ratio, according to Frequent Miler. As of September 2026, Upgraded Points also lists Capital One, Citi ThankYou and Bilt at 1:1, and Wells Fargo at 1:2.
Our rule of thumb: transfer only for a specific booking, after you’ve confirmed award availability and the points price, and only when the cash rate is high relative to the points needed. Transfers can’t be reversed. Frequent Miler notes Chase says most transfers process by the next business day but can take up to seven business days. A 5,000-point night at a hotel charging $80 or more in cash can be a solid use. A 45,000-point night usually isn’t, given that Chase points can also go to World of Hyatt and airline partners.
Also, if you’ll be paying cash for Wyndham stays this winter, Wyndham is running a 4X base points promotion. Register before booking, book directly by January 15, 2027, and stay by January 19, 2027. Bonus points are capped at 15,000 for standard members, with higher caps for Insiders and cardholders. Third-party bookings and award nights don’t qualify.
Want points you can send to Wyndham, Hyatt and airlines? Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Wyndham and other partners, so you can pick the best option for each trip. If you’re thinking about a Chase card, consider applying through our Chase referral link.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
This is a mixed change that leans negative. The new 5,000-point tier is a real improvement for road trippers and budget travelers. But many hotels got more expensive, and the best Wyndham properties now cost 50% more. Wyndham’s fixed chart still sets it apart from programs with dynamic pricing, and that predictability matters.
Our advice: don’t build up a big stash of Wyndham points speculatively, and don’t move bank points over “just in case.” Look up the exact points price for the hotel you want, compare it with the cash rate, and transfer only when the math clearly works. For most Chase points holders, Hyatt and airline partners will still be the better default.
Sources: One Mile at a Time: Wyndham’s new four-tier award chart is live; The Points Guy: Wyndham Rewards adds 45,000-point award tier; NerdWallet: Wyndham Hotels changes its award chart; Rewards Canada: Wyndham Rewards moving to four-tier award chart; Frequent Miler: Wyndham added as Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner; Upgraded Points: Wyndham transfer partners; Wyndham Rewards 4X points offer terms
