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While Diamond Elite sits at the top of the IHG One Rewards hierarchy, IHG Platinum Elite status arguably offers the best balance of value and accessibility. From bonus points on stays to complimentary upgrades to Milestone Rewards and more, it offers many of the benefits travelers actually use, without the heavy lift required for Diamond Elite.
Plus, you can earn IHG Platinum Elite status relatively easily — for as little as $99 annually if you carry one of two IHG co-branded credit cards.
Here's everything you need to know about how to earn IHG Platinum Elite status — and the benefits of doing so.
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IHG Platinum Elite Benefits
With a lengthy list of benefits, you'll quickly see why IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite is the brand's status sweet spot. Status holders can take advantage of several valuable benefits.
Bonus points
Platinum Elite members bank 60% bonus points on all eligible IHG stays. You'll earn these points on top of the 10 base points per dollar spent at IHG — meaning you'll earn 16 redeemable IHG points per dollar spent at IHG hotels.
Complimentary space-available upgrades
When availability allows, IHG offers complimentary room upgrades to Platinum members, including upgrades to standard suites. In my experience, this often means being moved to a more desirable room, such as one with a better view.
Welcome amenity
Platinum Elites can enjoy a complimentary drink, snack, or bonus points at participating properties as a welcome gift. These vary by property brand. Kimptons, for example, are known for their “raid the bar” option.
Rollover nights
Qualifying paid and reward nights earned above the Platinum Elite threshold will count towards next year's status qualification.
Milestone Rewards
Starting at 20 qualifying nights and every 10 nights after that, IHG members earn a choice of IHG Milestone Rewards. Depending on the milestone, the options might include bonus points, an annual lounge membership, a confirmable suite upgrade, and more.
Reward night discounts
Throughout the year, IHG periodically offers reward night discounts to IHG Platinum members. When these promotions come around, you could save, on average, between 15% and 20% on the points cost of a redemption. Depending on the property you redeem One Rewards points for, the savings can be substantial.
Guaranteed room availability
If you reserve a room at least 72 hours in advance of arrival, IHG will guarantee you room availability. Unfortunately, you may pay a lot for this privilege if close-in nightly rates are high.
Early check-in, late checkout
IHG One Rewards Platinum members can enjoy early check-in and a 2 p.m. late checkout — subject to availability.
Additional benefits
Alongside the above, Platinum Elite members can also enjoy the following:
- Your IHG One Rewards points won't expire
- No blackout dates for reward nights
- Exclusive member rates
- Complimentary internet
How To Earn IHG Platinum Elite
IHG One Rewards Platinum status stands out not just for its benefits, but for how attainable it is. Travelers can earn it through qualifying activity or receive it automatically by holding an IHG co-branded credit card that includes complimentary status.
Earning IHG Platinum Elite through stays
The most traditional path to IHG Platinum Elite status is by hitting the road. To achieve Platinum, you'll need to spend 40 nights at an IHG property in a calendar year. The good news: Award nights count as a qualifying night.
Alternatively, you can achieve Platinum Elite by earning 60,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. IHG members earn 10 qualifying base points per dollar spent at most IHG brands and five points per dollar spent on stays at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.
At a minimum, Platinum Elite is attainable after spending $6,000 on IHG stays if you take the points route. However, you can also earn qualifying points in a handful of other ways to speed up the status-earning process. Some examples include:
- Buying qualifying points while making an IHG reservation
- Earning points through IHG's Business Rewards program
- Spending on IHG credit cards from the U.K. and China
Get IHG Platinum Elite through credit cards
Presently, two IHG One Rewards credit cards offer complimentary Platinum Elite status as a perk. Even better, there's no spending requirement to pick up Platinum Elite. The status is yours as long as you pay the annual fee and keep your account open.
- For consumers, the $99-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is the key to unlocking instant Platinum Elite status without ever stepping foot in an IHG property. To learn more about the slew of benefits on this card, check out our full IHG One Rewards Premier Card review.
- Small business owners can also enjoy Platinum Elite status, courtesy of the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. This card also carries a $99 annual fee and offers IHG loyalists numerous perks. To learn more, check out our full review of the IHG One Rewards Business Card.
- Plus, both cards offer an anniversary free night certificate and the IHG Fourth Night Free benefit.
$99Rates & Fees
- Earn up to 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 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)
$99Rates & Fees
- Earn up to 26X total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on travel, dining, social media search engine advertising, and at office supply stores and gas stations
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for charging your stay to your IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
- Earn up to 6X bonus points for having IHG®Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 10X base 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)
More recently, Chase has added Platinum Elite status as a benefit of its Sapphire Reserve-branded cards. Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ offer complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status through December 31, 2027 — along with a slew of other benefits.
$795Rates & Fees
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
$795Rates & Fees
- 8X points on all Chase Travel℠ purchases
- 5X total points on eligible Lyft rides through 9/30/2027
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on advertising purchases made with social media platforms and search engines
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
You can also enjoy complimentary Platinum Elite status by carrying the United Club℠ Card. If you're a United frequent flyer, there's more utility to the $695-annual-fee card than just United Club access. All that is required is a simple registration.
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles
- 4x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- United Club℠ card membership - at least a $750 value
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply)
- Premier Access® travel services
- Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts annually
- Member FDIC
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Is It Worth Earning IHG Platinum Elite Status?
If you find yourself staying at IHG properties a few times a year, IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status can add value without requiring intense brand loyalty. You’ll earn bonus points on every paid stay, unlock Milestone Rewards as you accumulate nights, and occasionally benefit from redemption discounts that make your points go further.
However, Platinum Elite is comparatively weak compared to Marriott Platinum Elite and Hilton Honors Gold — two other mid-tier hotel elite status sweet spots — for a few reasons:
- IHG Platinum Elites don't get free breakfast.
- IHG doesn't offer guaranteed late checkout to any elites.
- Complimentary upgrades can be hit or miss compared to Marriott and Hilton.
But, keep in mind how easy it is to get IHG Platinum Elite. For just $99 annually, the status is yours to keep if you carry an IHG credit card that offers Platinum as a perk.
However, if you're planning to earn the status through stays alone, you'd probably be better off paying for IHG Ambassador status. For $225 per year, you can bank Platinum Elite status, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkouts, a complimentary weekend night, a restaurant and bar credit of $20 per stay, and more.
Ultimately, deciding whether it's right to pursue Platinum Elite is primarily a function of what perks you're after. If you want heavy perks with IHG, you'll need to set your sights on Diamond Elite or pay up for Ambassador status. But if you don't need much by way of perks, Platinum Elite might be sufficient.
Final Thoughts
For many travelers, IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status offers a solid return for relatively little effort. Bonus points, occasional upgrades, and Milestone Rewards can make stays more rewarding without requiring heavy brand loyalty or constant travel. For casual to moderate IHG guests, Platinum Elite may be all the status you need.
If consistent upgrades, late checkout, or complimentary breakfast are priorities, Platinum Elite will likely feel limiting. In that case, earning IHG Diamond Elite status or opting into IHG Ambassador status may provide a better fit. The right choice ultimately depends on how often you stay with IHG and which benefits matter most to you.
- 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, Hotel Indigo® & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Earn up to 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 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)
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 Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (Rates & Fees), and United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
