Earn 140K Points Plus a Free Night

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If you stay at IHG properties even just a few times a year, the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is a great way to save money on your hotel stays and enjoy extra benefits. The annual free night alone can easily be worth much more than the annual fee, and perks like up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash and valuable annual spending incentives make the card even more compelling.

Review: Is the IHG Rewards Premier the best credit card for you?

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card offers tremendous value for hotel stays. It doesn’t take much to get your money’s worth out of the card if you stay at IHG properties even a few times a year.

It’s currently offering one of the best welcome bonus offers we’ve ever seen: IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card. The welcome bonus points alone are worth $980 in stays, based on Insider’s valuations, and you can redeem the bonus free night at hotels that cost up to 40,000 points (up to another $280 in value). With the bonus points, you can get two nights at an upscale hotel, or up to 14 free nights at IHG’s lower-level properties.

Aside from the huge sign-up bonus, the recurring benefits make this card a keeper. The yearly anniversary free night alone is worth the annual fee of $99, and the fourth night free on award stays can help your points stretch further. You’ll even get automatic IHG Platinum Elite status — a nice bonus that can translate to valuable benefits and point earnings on paid stays.

Any good hotel credit card sign-up bonus offer should offer a minimum of one free night at a top-tier hotel. The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card delivers on that front and offers plenty of options for redeeming those rewards.

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card offers cardholders up to 26x points per dollar spent on eligible IHG hotel stays. You’ll get 10x points by using the card on eligible purchases, another 10x points by being an IHG Rewards Club member (that’s the hotel chain’s loyalty program, which is free to join), and another 6x points for having Platinum Elite status (a complimentary benefit of the card).

If you’re interested in booking a stay at an IHG hotel but you don’t want to tie yourself to one hotel brand, you could consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® instead. That’s because these two cards earn Ultimate Rewards points that you can transfer to the IHG Rewards program to book hotel stays — and you have access to 13 other transfer partners (including Hyatt and Marriott) as well.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

How to earn points with the IHG Rewards Premier card

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with a generous earning rate at IHG hotels, and it earns bonus points in a couple of everyday spending categories. Cardholders earn:

• 10 points per dollar at participating IHG hotels (this is in addition to up to 10x points for being an IHG Rewards Club member and a 60% bonus on points earned from stays due to having Platinum status from the card)
• 5 points per dollar for travel, dining, and at gas stations
• 3 points per dollar for all other eligible purchases

How to use IHG points

Whether it’s an overwater villa in French Polynesia or a Candlewood Suites in the suburbs, there’s a wide range of ways to get maximum value out of IHG points. While IHG now has variable award pricing depending on demand and season, free nights typically range from 10,000 to 70,000 points (with super high-end exceptions that cost up to a jaw-dropping 120,000 points per night).

The sign-up bonus from the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card could cover a short luxury hotel stay, or multiple nights at lower-level IHG properties. That doesn’t even include the fourth night free benefit offered to cardholders. 

If you don’t have IHG hotel stays planned in the near future, you don’t have to worry about your points expiring as long as your IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is open. When you have IHG elite status (including the automatic Platinum status that comes with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card), your points won’t expire — otherwise, IHG points normally expire after 12 months of account inactivity.

There are other ways to use IHG points apart from hotel award stays, but you typically won’t get as much value from your points with these options:

• Transfer IHG points to airline partners
• Donate IHG points to charity
• Redeem points for gift cards, digital rewards, merchandise, and magazines
• Cash in points for exclusive events and experiences

Benefits and features

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card offers lots of impressive benefits — in fact, for an annual fee of $99, it’s hard to beat the range and value of perks you’ll receive as a cardholder.

Free anniversary night

The most compelling benefit of the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is one that can easily make up for the annual fee (and more) each year. Cardholders receive a free night each year after their card anniversary, valid for use at any IHG hotel worldwide that costs up to 40,000 points per night. It’s possible to get $200 or $300 in value from this benefit if you redeem your free night at upscale, expensive properties.

Plus, you can now use your annual certificate alongside your IHG points to stay at hotels costing more than 40,000 points per night. For example, if you want to stay at a hotel costing 60,000 points per night, you can redeem your 40,000 point certificate and 20,000 IHG points. That makes this free night award much more flexible.

IHG elite status

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with automatic IHG Platinum elite status — one of the chain’s middle elite tiers. Platinum elite members receive room upgrades (where available), late checkout, complimentary internet, a welcome gift, 60% bonus points on paid bookings, free drinks in some hotels, and more.

This card also allows you to achieve top-level Diamond elite status when spending $40,000 on purchases in a calendar year and making one additional purchase. To otherwise earn Diamond status, you’d have to stay 70 nights or earn 120,000 points per calendar year.

Fourth reward night free on IHG points stays

Cardholders also get a fourth night free on point stays of three or more consecutive nights. That translates to a 25% savings on four-night award stays, and can help stretch your sign-up bonus from the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card even further.

Up to $50 per year in United TravelBank Cash

After registering, you’re eligible to receive two $25 deposits into your United TravelBank Cash account. You’ll receive the first around January 1 of each year, and the second around July 1.

TravelBank deposits expire before each new deposit. In other words, you can’t collect and use them together for the same ticket. Deposits made on or after January 1 will expire June 30, and TravelBank deposits made on or after July 1 will expire on December 31. 

10,000 bonus points plus a $100 statement credit

You can earn 10,000 bonus IHG points and a $100 statement credit each account anniversary year you spend $20,000 on purchases (and make one additional purchase at least one day after you spend $20,000).

Application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS

Cardholders receive a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit of up to $100 every four years, and this perk has recently been expanded to include NEXUS (which offers expedited entry into Canada as well as Global Entry and TSA PreCheck benefits).

This is a benefit that is usually included on cards with higher annual fees like the The Platinum Card® from American Express
and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Even if you’ve already enrolled in one of these trusted-traveler programs, you can use your card to pay someone else’s fee and get reimbursed.

20% discount when you purchase points with your card

It doesn’t usually make sense to buy loyalty program points unless you need to top off your account for an award. But if you find yourself in that situation, you’ll get a 20% discount on IHG points purchases when you use your IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card. Keep in mind this discount won’t stack with other IHG points purchase promotions.

Car rental insurance

When you use your IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card to pay for your car rental and decline the rental company’s collision insurance, you can be covered for damage due to theft or collision on most cars. Coverage is secondary in the US and primary otherwise, but read the terms and conditions for country and vehicle exclusions.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

If you’ve paid for your trip with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and it’s cut short or canceled for a covered reason like illness or severe weather, you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses.

Travel accident insurance

When you pay for your air, bus, cruise, or train transportation with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card, you’re eligible for accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $500,000.

Lost luggage reimbursement

When you pay for your fare with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and the carrier damages or loses your bags, you and your immediate family members could be covered for up to $3,000 per passenger. 

Baggage delay insurance

If your bags are delayed for six hours or more, you could be reimbursed for essential purchases (like clothing and toiletries) up to $100 per day for up to three days.

Purchase protection

If an eligible item you’ve bought with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase, you could be eligible for up to $500 in reimbursement per claim, and up to $50,000 per account.

Extended warranty

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card extends the time period of a US manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items by an additional year, on warranties of three years or less when you pay with your card.

Travel and emergency assistance services

If you’re traveling away from home and run into a problem, you can get help with medical and legal referrals or other emergency assistance. This service is free, but any third-party costs are the cardholder’s responsibility.

Monthly Gopuff credit

Through December 31, 2023, cardholders receive $10 per month in Gopuff credits when they add the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card as the default payment method in the Gopuff app. Gopuff is a rapid delivery service that offers common items like food, alcohol, health and beauty aids, and other household supplies.

The Gopuff credit automatically appears on your card statement shortly after you make a qualifying purchase with Gopuff. The minimum order amount is $10 and you’ll pay a flat $2.95 delivery fee per order. 

Fees and costs

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card currently has an annual fee of $99. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card anywhere in the world without incurring extra charges.

Like most other cards, the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card charges fees for balance transfers, cash advances, and late or returned payments.

IHG Premier card vs other IHG credit cards

* Bonus points at IHG hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay

IHG Premier credit card vs other hotel cards

* Bonus points at IHG, Marriott, and Hilton hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay

IHG Rewards Club Premier credit card frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What credit score do you need for the IHG Rewards Premier credit card?

Usually, most people who get approved for the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card have a credit score in the good to excellent range. This means a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 700.

If your score isn’t quite there yet, read our guides on improving your credit score and how using credit cards can help boost your score.

Is the IHG Premier card worth it?

If you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts even a couple of times a year, the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is worth it for the free anniversary night alone, which can be worth much more than the card’s annual fee.

And other perks, like the fourth reward night free and automatic Platinum status, can help you stretch your points and make your travels more comfortable. That said, if you rarely stay with IHG, you may do better with a card that earns transferable points you can transfer to IHG, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, because you’ll have more flexibility in how you earn and redeem your rewards.

Who is eligible for the IHG Premier card?

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, which means if you’ve opened five or more credit cards from any bank (excluding some small-business cards), you won’t be approved for the card. You’re also not eligible if you already have a personal IHG credit card, such as the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card or the legacy Chase IHG Select (not available to new applicants), or if you’ve earned the welcome bonus from an IHG personal card in the past 24 months.

You are, however, eligible to open this card and earn its bonus if you have the IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. None of the above restrictions apply to holders of this card. 

Is the IHG Premier a Visa or Mastercard?

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is a World Elite Mastercard, which means it comes with great travel insurance and purchase protection, along with other perks.

How do you get TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS with the IHG Premier card?

When you use your IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card to pay the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee, you’ll receive a statement credit (up to $100) for the charge on your account. There’s no requirement to activate the credit — it will show up automatically after you make a qualifying transaction.

You’re eligible for the benefit once every four years, and you can use the credit for your own or someone else’s application.

Jasmin Baron, CEPF

Editor