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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card(Rates & Fees) is a solid hotel card with valuable benefits for anyone who stays with IHG at least a couple of times each year. Right now is a great time to get this card, with a welcome offer of 140,000 Bonus Points — worth around $952 toward award stays booked through IHG — after you meet the minimum spending requirement.
But this card's value lies in more than just its welcome bonus. In this post, we'll break down the ongoing benefits to help you decide whether the IHG One Rewards Premier Card is a good fit for your upcoming travel goals and if it merits a place in your wallet.
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card member
- Earn 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
Page Contents
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card Pros
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card Cons
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card Welcome Offer
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card Benefits
- Anniversary free night
- Fourth night free on award stays
- Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status
- Earn IHG Diamond Elite status via spending
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit
- Earn 10,000 bonus points and $100 statement credit
- $50 United credit each year
- 20% discount on points purchases
- Trip insurance and purchase protection
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card Earning Rates
- Redeeming Points With the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
- Application Restrictions and Strategy
- Cards That Compete With the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
- Final Thoughts
IHG One Rewards Premier Card Pros
- Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status.
- Receive an annual free night certificate on each account anniversary.
- Fourth-night-free benefit on award stays.
IHG One Rewards Premier Card Cons
- IHG points aren't as valuable as some other hotel points.
- $99 annual fee.
- The 20% discount on points purchases does not stack with IHG buy points promotions.
IHG One Rewards Premier Card Welcome Offer
Applicants for the IHG One Rewards Premier Card can earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Recent AwardWallet user redemptions of IHG points average around 0.68¢ apiece, making this welcome offer worth over $950 toward free nights booked through IHG.
Related: The Best Credit Card Offers This Month
IHG One Rewards Premier Card Benefits
Anniversary free night
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card anniversary free night is redeemable for hotels costing up to 40,000 points per night. Moreover, IHG members can top up their certificates with points from their IHG Rewards account and redeem the certificate at properties worth more than 40K per night. This makes the IHG Rewards Night Certificate even more valuable. That's because it opens up almost every property in the IHG Rewards portfolio if you have enough points to combine with your certificate.
Just keep in mind that the reward night stay must be booked and completed within 12 months of the certificate's issue date.
Related: How To Earn and Use IHG Award Night Certificates
Fourth night free on award stays
Cardholders receive the fourth night free on all award bookings of four or more consecutive nights. What's more, the IHG fourth night free is included automatically at the time of booking, rather than offering the savings as a rebate. Therefore, you’ll only require enough points for three nights in your account to take advantage of this benefit.
Combining this with the option to purchase IHG points at a 20% discount (explained below) can significantly lower the cost of acquiring IHG points and redeeming them for stays at less than the cash cost.
Related: How To Get and Use the IHG Fourth Night Free Benefit
Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status
While IHG One Rewards elite status doesn’t have quite the same luster as some other hotel rewards programs, IHG Platinum Elite status does entitle members to 60% bonus points on paid stays, rollover nights for next year's status, complimentary upgrades at check-in (based on availability), and a welcome amenity at check-in.
Plus, holding elite status will keep your IHG One Rewards points from expiring.
Earn IHG Diamond Elite status via spending
You can spend your way to top-tier status with IHG, opening the door to premium perks like guaranteed availability, lounge access, better upgrades, and choice benefits. Cardmembers can earn IHG Rewards Diamond Elite status after spending $40,000 on qualifying purchases each calendar year.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit
If you already hold a card that offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit, this benefit likely won’t pique your interest, although you can gift the credit to a family member by charging their fee to your card. The IHG One Rewards Premier Card receives a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit, up to $120 in value, every four years.
Related: Expedited Security Screening Programs: How To Get Them for Free
Earn 10,000 bonus points and $100 statement credit
IHG cardholders can earn 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit after spending $20,000 on the card each year. While this card isn't one of the best everyday spending cards, this spending threshold bonus makes it more appealing to put spending on the IHG One Rewards Premier Card.
$50 United credit each year
Receive $50 in United TravelBank credit each year after registering your card with your MileagePlus account. You'll get $25 in TravelBank cash around January 1 (valid through July 15) and another $25 around July 1 (valid through January 15 of the next year).
20% discount on points purchases
Cardholders can purchase IHG Rewards points at a 20% discount, bringing the everyday price to as low as 0.8 cents per point. Unfortunately, this benefit applies only to full-price purchases and does not stack with promotions like the frequent offer to buy points with up to a 100% bonus.
Trip insurance and purchase protection
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- No foreign transaction fees
- Purchase protection
For policy particulars, please refer to the Chase IHG Premier Benefits Guide.
IHG One Rewards Premier Card Earning Rates
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card receives a higher earn rate on IHG purchases than its predecessor. Factoring in card spending rates and elite bonuses, cardholders will earn 26X points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel, 5x points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants, and 3x points per $1 on all other purchases.
The earnings for spending at IHG hotels can be a bit deceiving if you're comparing head-to-head with other cards. In reality, you will earn up to 16X extra points per dollar out of the 26X marketed by Chase if you already hold Platinum Elite Status in the IHG One Rewards program. Here is how it breaks down:
- 10X points for being an IHG One Rewards member (being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG loyalty program)
- 6X bonus points with IHG Platinum Elite Status — a benefit of having this card
- 10X points through spending on the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
Cardholders also earn:
- 5X points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Redeeming Points With the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
Reward nights
Earned IHG points will be deposited straight into your IHG One Rewards account, making it easy to use the points to book hotel rooms. IHG's vast worldwide footprint and breadth of hotel choices make redeeming your points convenient. For fancy vacations, use rewards to book nights at one of these luxury properties. Alternatively, stretch your IHG points for family travel at one of the thousands of Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world.
For example, like all Holiday Inn Express properties, the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki offers free breakfast plus standard rooms that sleep four. Rooms regularly cost under 40,000 IHG points per night, and if you factor in the cardholder fourth-night-free benefit, you'll get an even better deal on your family vacation to Hawaii. This property might also be a good place to use the cardholder annual free night reward (worth up to 40,000 points).
A couple of things to remember: If you're a little short on points, IHG also allows you to book rooms using a mixture of points and cash. Also, IHG's dynamic pricing model means that as the cash price increases, the points price generally does so as well. Use that to your advantage: If the points price decreases, modify your booking and get your points back!
Transferring IHG points to airline partners
You won't hear many people talking about transferring IHG points to one of IHG's 40+ airline partners, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. And that's for a reason: the less-than-ideal 5:1 transfer rate for most partners. Still, if you're desperate for some airline miles, your IHG points balance is low, or your IHG points are near expiration, it's good to know you have an option.
Other ways to redeem IHG One Rewards
You typically won't get great value out of your points through these lesser-known redemptions, but IHG offers even more ways to use your points. Use your IHG rewards to enhance a trip through experiences or to gain exclusive VIP access at participating events. Additionally, shop through IHG's catalog, donate your points, purchase magazines, and more.
Application Restrictions and Strategy
Since the IHG One Rewards Premier Card is issued by Chase, there are a few rules you need to know about. First, the card is subject to the 5/24 policy, meaning you won't be approved for the card if you've opened five or more cards in the previous 24 months, based on what's showing on your credit report.
Moreover, you'll see these terms on the application page:
“This product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any IHG® Rewards credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any IHG® Rewards credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months.”
Therefore, if you have another IHG personal credit card right now or received a welcome bonus on one in the past 24 months, you won't be eligible for this card. Additionally, if you've opened two credit cards with Chase in the past 30 days, it's unlikely that you'll be approved for another.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Cards That Compete With the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
Before settling on the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, you may find it helpful to compare the card against some of its top competitors:
- If you want an IHG card with no annual fee, consider the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card(Rates & Fees). You'll earn a generous welcome bonus with a lower minimum spending requirement while still enjoying the fourth-night free benefit and won't pay an annual fee. While the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card doesn't come with an annual free night, other benefits include no foreign transaction fees and competitive earning rates at IHG properties. More details are in our IHG One Rewards Traveler Card review.
- If you want to earn points you can use with IHG and other rewards programs, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card(Rates & Fees) is one of our top picks. Transfer the Ultimate Rewards points earned from this card to IHG, Hyatt, or Marriott or book hotels in the Chase travel portal. You'll also enjoy a $50 annual hotel spending credit, as well as top-notch travel insurance and solid earning rates. Our full Sapphire Preferred review has further details.
- If you want IHG points but aren't eligible for a Chase card, The Bilt Mastercard® earns Bilt Points you can transfer to IHG and multiple other hotel and airline programs. The card's standout feature is the ability to earn rewards on rent payments without extra transaction fees, plus you can earn 2X on travel and 3X on dining, along with double points (on nearly everything, but not on rent, unfortunately — up to 1,000 points) on the first of each month, so long as you remember to make at least five purchases on your card each billing cycle. Learn more in our Bilt Mastercard review.
- 17X points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining, utilities, select streaming services, and at gas stations
- 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 5X points for being a IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Cardmember
- Earn 2X points from IHG® with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of this Card
- Earn 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® Rewards Club Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x points on other purchases
Related: Top Hotel Rewards Cards for Earning Points and Free Nights
Final Thoughts
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card offers lots of value for IHG loyalists. If you stay with IHG at least once each year, the anniversary reward night should easily cover the card's ongoing $99 annual fee. Once you factor in the fourth night free on award bookings and the benefits of complimentary elite status, it's easy to justify keeping this card for the long term.
Right now is an ideal time to add the IHG One Rewards Premier Card to your wallet and pick up 140,000 Bonus Points. That gives you the chance to test out the card's benefits — and lots of points to do it in style.
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card member
- Earn 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees)
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