AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Offers for the IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card are not available through this site. All information has been independently collected by AwardWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers.
UPDATE: Applications are now live for the new IHG Cards.
We recently reported that the IHG® Rewards Select Credit Card may be going to the wayside and replaced by two new card products. Nothing is confirmed at this point, but signs are pointing to either a completely new product offering or a modified product or products. As posted in our Facebook community, Award Travel 101, an image has surfaced showing a new premium IHG co-branded credit card.
How the Card Stacks Up
If confirmed, there are a few stand out benefits on this new card offering that would give the current IHG Select Card a run for its money. That said, at this point, none of this is confirmed and we have a few questions:
First, what is considered an “eligible hotel” when using the free night certificate. We've already seen a reduction in the value of the certificate, where those issued as of May 1, 2018, will only be valid at properties with a standard room pricing at no more than 40,000 points per night.
Next, is what are terms of the 4th night free for award stays? Is there a limit to how much it can be used? Can the benefit be gifted?
Last is, will the 20% discount on points purchasing stack with the frequent sales IHG has with their points? If so, there is a significant amount of additional value to be added here — buying points at an already discounted price and then getting a 4th night free on a redemption could be an interesting way to use your points.
A noticeable benefit removed is the 10% points rebate on award bookings (up to 100,000 points rebated per year). If this is indeed a new card product and you can keep the old (current) IHG card, could you still leverage both benefits?
That said, the fourth night free on award stays, the introduction of the $100 TSA or Global Entry credit, and the improvided earning rates at IHG are some night benefits for a sub-$100 annual fee card.
Our Take
As of now, we're skeptically optimistic. We're not sure if this new product will be released and if the benefits will match what we're seeing. For now, sit tight and wait for an official announcement.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Can you apply for the new IHG Premier card if you currently have the previous IHG version?
Yes, you can.
Besides the signup bonus I’m not seeing much else here.
traveler card doesn’t seem to be worth the $29 fee… feels like a $0 AF card
I thought there would be two cards? So it’s just the one then? I don’t know if I’ll go for it. With my other cards it’ll be a big bite.
They were really high up there with me but now, I just don’t know. They’re on par with the other hotels now.
There is the Traveler card — https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/ihg/travelernaep
I think it is bad news.. they are keeping to devalue the $49 version that I have.. bad one
but indeed thanks for the headsup
Any word on what will happen with the current IHG $49 annual fee?
At this point, no.
@Jamie says: “It really will depend on the value of the certificate (even if it went from 40,000 to 50,000 there’s some value there), and the restrictions as noted above. The value could be there. We’ll have to see.”
@Ed says: “I will wait to see what the terms of the 4th night free on award stays are before deciding whether or not to get this credit card.”
I’m with Jamie and Ed here. It all hinges on the free night certificate terms and how they shake out.
Thanks. Let’s hope they don’t further devalue the $49 version for those who have it.
The annual fee is a bit steep for what it offers. I think I’ll pass.
So many choices! It is great to have to decide which profit maker to sign up for!
I think after the way the handle the Free Night Cert, people are going to be hesitant to apply for any IHG cards imo. This card will suffer.
Thanks, interesting. Any sense for whether this new card would be limited by 5/24?
my gut says no.
Doesn’t seem great, but not bad either. I personally will pass.
Considering that both retention of existing cardholders & new client acquisition has to figure in to the mathematics of the new card offering(s) in some fashion, I’m still holding onto a modicum of hope that the Annual Free Night Cert accompanying the new “Premier Credit Card” will be more usable than the now-limited version to be offered to existing IHG Select MC holders. If it’s the same limited free night benefit, what would be the impetus to switch or “upgrade” from existing accounts to the “Premier Credit Card” (other than the IHG select MC being discontinued for new applications, of course)?
Do IHG have some card without annual fee?
not in the US. Elsewhere, I do not know.
Platinum Elite status for $89 a year seems good.
Currently, it is $49!
I am loving the Award Wallet tip of the day!
I will wait to see what the terms of the 4th night free on award stays are before deciding whether or not to get this credit card.
It really will depend on the value of the certificate (even if it went from 40,000 to 50,000 there’s some value there), and the restrictions as noted above. The value could be there. We’ll have to see.
I agree with Lee Ann. There really doesn’t seem to be anything with this card that makes it a whole lot better than the current card. I definitely prefer getting 10% back (as I currently get) of award Points redeemed than a 20% discount on buying points. I hate buying points.
Doesn’t sound like anything I would want to waste my time on.