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Chase and IHG recently launched a refreshed co-branded card lineup, and each card includes a variety of new benefits. Now, cardholders of all IHG cards receive a set number of IHG Elite Night Credits in addition to complimentary elite status.
After much speculation, Chase confirmed that you can stack these Elite Night Credits if you hold multiple IHG cards. Here's what we know.
Confirmed: You Can Stack Elite Night Credits
A Chase spokesperson confirmed to AwardWallet that you can stack IHG Elite Night Credits (ENCs) by holding multiple IHG
“Cardmembers may hold both an
Business Credit Card and an eligible consumer card. Elite Night Credits (ENCs) will be awarded separately for each card. For example, a cardmember who holds both the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card will receive 15 ENCs from each card, for a total of 30 ENCs annually.” IHG One Rewards
This is great news for those hoping to achieve top-tier IHG status. However, note that you generally cannot hold multiple consumer cards at one time. Stacking is possible with one consumer card and one business card, but you can't apply for all four IHG cards to get as many elite nights as possible.
Here are the automatic Elite Night Credits you can get on each card:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card: 20 Elite Night Credits
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: 15 Elite Night Credits
- IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card: 15 Elite Night Credits
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card: 5 Elite Night Credits
In addition, you can earn more Elite Night Credits through your spending:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card: Earn 2 additional ENCs for every $5,000 spent, plus 5 bonus ENCs after spending $15,000 on your card.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card: Earn 2 additional ENCs for every $5,000 spent, plus 5 bonus ENCs after spending $15,000 on your card.
- IHG Business Card: Earn 2 additional ENCs for every $5,000 spent, plus 5 bonus ENCs after spending $25,000 on your card.
- Earn up to 17X points spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining, at grocery stores, and 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 Card member
- Earn up to 2X points from IHG® with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of this Card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG®
Rewards loyalty program
$150Rates & Fees
- Earn up to 24X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, 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 Card member
- Earn up to 4X points from IHG® with Gold Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 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)
$350Rates & Fees
- Earn up to 28 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 6X points per $1 spent on dining and all other travel, including rideshare
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 12X points for being an IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card member
- Earn up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 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)
Stack Nights To Fast Track Diamond Status
The IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card comes with automatic IHG Platinum Elite status, which offers perks like space-available room upgrades, bonus points, and a welcome amenity on arrival.
However, IHG Diamond Elite status is where the program shines even brighter. Notably, IHG Diamond includes breakfast as a welcome amenity and dedicated Diamond support. On paper, IHG Diamond status requires 70 elite nights. However, if you hold both the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card and IHG Business Card, you're already halfway there with a combined 35 ENCs.
To get the remaining 35 nights, IHG often runs double elite night promotions on paid stays. For example, I was recently targeted for one that lasts until the end of this calendar year. If I max out the promotion, I can earn 10 elite night credits (5 ENCs from staying five nights, plus 5 bonus ENCs). Then, I'm only 25 ENCs away from Diamond.
It's worth noting that the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card also offers a spend-based path to Diamond that might be even faster. Cardholders who spend $25,000 or more during a calendar year can earn Diamond status through December 31 of the following year.
Using the Elite Night Credits for IHG Milestone Rewards
Maybe reaching 70 ENCs to earn IHG Diamond status feels too daunting, or you only want to hold one IHG co-branded card. You aren't entirely out of luck. What makes the addition of ENCs to IHG's credit cards so exciting is that they count toward IHG's milestone rewards. Starting at 10 ENCs, you'll receive a milestone reward every 10 nights.
The reward offerings run the gamut from Food & Beverage Rewards to Confirmable Suite Upgrades and even an Annual Lounge Membership:
| Milestone | Choices | Bonus Points | Food & Beverage Rewards | Confirmable Suite Upgrades | Annual Lounge Membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 nights | 1 | 5k | 2 | 1 | |
| 30 nights | 1 | 5k | 2 | ||
| 40 nights | 2 | 10k | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 50 nights | 1 | 10k | 5 | ||
| 60 nights | 1 | 10k | 5 | ||
| 70 nights | 2 | 10k | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 80 nights | 1 | 10k | 5 | ||
| 90 nights | 1 | 10k | 5 | ||
| 100 nights | 1 | 10k | 5 |
These Milestone Rewards are not something you should overlook. For example, the 20-night Milestone Reward lets you choose between 5,000 IHG points, two Food & Beverage Rewards, or a Confirmable Suite Upgrade (we'd advise taking the upgrade here). By simply holding the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card, you'll be able to select your first milestone.
If you also hold the IHG Business Card, you can select your 30 ENC milestone reward, and you'll only be a few nights away from your 40 ENC reward (when you can select two rewards!).
Bottom Line
Stacking Elite Night Credits is welcome news for those who hold multiple IHG co-branded cards. Combined with paid stays, double elite night promotions, and credit card spend, the right strategy should make top-tier IHG status fairly attainable. Even better? You can unlock valuable milestone rewards by simply being a cardholder. That perk alone makes applying for a new card worth considering.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
