Hyperlink: Apply now for the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit score Card
The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit score Card (overview) is phenomenal — it’s price getting for the excellent welcome bonus, and it’s price conserving for the long-term perks. Not solely did the IHG Premier Card not too long ago bear a refresh, however IHG’s general loyalty program additionally underwent a refresh, and the modifications are virtually completely excellent news.
On this put up, I wished to take a look at 9 causes to use for this $99 annual price IHG Premier Card. In no specific order…
Wonderful welcome bonus
The IHG Premier Card has a welcome bonus of 140,000 IHG factors after spending $3,000 inside the first three months. This is a superb bonus, and on prime of that, the cardboard has an affordable spending requirement that most individuals ought to have the ability to obtain.
I worth IHG factors at 0.5 cents every, so to me the 140,000 factors are price ~$700.
Anniversary free evening certificates
Arguably the one finest advantage of the IHG Premier Card, which greater than justifies the continuing annual price, is the anniversary free evening certificates. This certificates could be redeemed at an IHG property retailing for as much as 40,000 factors per evening, which covers a overwhelming majority of IHG properties around the globe.
With the current modifications to the cardboard, you may as well use factors to prime off a free evening certificates, in an effort to redeem at a costlier property. For instance, you may ebook a lodge costing 60,000 factors per evening by redeeming the free evening certificates plus 20,000 IHG factors.
I’ve gotten numerous worth with this free evening certificates. For instance, I’ve stayed on the InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut, InterContinental Johannesburg Airport, and Kimpton EPIC Miami utilizing free evening certificates, all with out having to prime off these awards. In every case, an evening would have in any other case value $250+.
Fourth evening free on award redemptions
The opposite finest perk of the IHG Premier Card is that it presents a fourth evening free on award redemptions. In the event you keep for 4 consecutive nights on an award redemption you then solely need to redeem factors for the primary three nights.
That is an superior perk, since it may be used an infinite variety of instances (you possibly can even use it to ebook a number of rooms on the identical lodge, and you’ll even use it at Six Senses properties). In the event you often redeem factors for stays in increments of 4 nights, that is like getting 25% off all of your redemptions. It is a improbable perk.
IHG One Rewards Platinum standing
Only for having the IHG Premier Card, you get IHG One Rewards Platinum standing, which is legitimate for so long as you’ve got the cardboard. IHG One Rewards Platinum standing consists of the next perks:
- Room upgrades, topic to availability (together with probably to suites)
- A 60% bonus on base factors
- Early check-in and late check-out, topic to availability
- A welcome amenity
- Entry to award evening gross sales all year long
- The power to earn Milestone Rewards, which may get you membership lounge entry, confirmed suite upgrades, and extra
With the current modifications to IHG’s loyalty program, standing is extra invaluable than ever earlier than.
IHG One Rewards Diamond standing with spending
Whereas the IHG Premier Card presents Platinum standing for being a cardmember, you possibly can earn Diamond standing while you spend $40,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr. That is IHG’s new prime tier elite standing, which incorporates legitimately invaluable perks. Amongst different issues, Diamond members obtain a 100% factors bonus and free breakfast.
In the event you keep at IHG properties with any frequency, it may very well be price going out of your method to earn this standing.
As much as $50 in United TravelBank Money annually
As a brand new perk, the IHG Premier Card now presents as much as $50 in United TravelBank Money every calendar yr:
- Every calendar yr you’ll obtain one $25 United TravelBank Money deposit round January 1, and one other round July 1
- Deposits made between January 1 and June 30 expire on July 15, and deposits made between July 1 and December 31 expire on January 15
- You could full one-time registration to obtain this profit
In the event you fly United with any frequency, then that is like $50 price of journey on United per yr.
World Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit score
For some, this will probably be invaluable, and for others, it received’t supply a lot worth. The IHG Premier Card presents an announcement credit score of as much as $100 while you use your card for a World Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS enrollment price, as much as as soon as each 4 years.
It is a good perk that might simply get you extra worth than the annual price.
Worthwhile rewards for spending
Whereas the IHG Premier Card has lengthy had sturdy perks for being a cardmember, the worth proposition of spending cash on the cardboard has improved significantly:
- The IHG Premier Card presents 10x factors on IHG spending, 5x factors on journey, fuel stations, and eating, and 3x factors on different purchases
- The IHG Premier Card presents a $100 assertion credit score plus 10,000 bonus factors if you happen to spend $20,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr, plus make one further buy
- As talked about above, the IHG Premier Card presents Diamond standing if you happen to spend $40,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr
Previously the cardboard was exceptionally unrewarding for spending, whereas I’d say for some folks there may now be worth in spending on the cardboard.
Anecdotally straightforward approval
Traditionally Chase is likely one of the harder issuers with which to get a card accredited. The IHG Premier Card has all the usual Chase approval restrictions, and this card is subjected to the 5/24 rule.
Nevertheless, anecdotally many report that the IHG Premier Card is less complicated to get accredited for, and that additionally matches my expertise, as I acquired immediately accredited once I utilized (and I don’t keep in mind the final time previous to that the place I used to be immediately accredited for a Chase card).
It’s my understanding that Chase has completely different approval necessities for some co-brand playing cards, relying on the shopper base the cardboard is concentrating on, and it positive looks as if the IHG Card is among the many best of the journey rewards playing cards to get accredited for.
Assuming you’ve in any other case struggled to be accredited for Chase playing cards (whereas nonetheless being underneath 5/24, and many others.), then this may very well be a very good card to think about.
In search of a enterprise bank card?
If this card sounds intriguing however you’re as an alternative curious about a enterprise card, there’s excellent news — the IHG® Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card (overview) was not too long ago launched. The cardboard has a wonderful welcome bonus, and really related perks to the non-public model of the cardboard.
Better of all, you’re eligible for each of those playing cards, so you may decide up each the non-public and enterprise model of the cardboard to essentially maximize your perks.
Backside line
The IHG Premier Card is a helpful lodge bank card that virtually everybody who’s eligible ought to have, even when they’re not in any other case IHG loyalists. Personally, I’d get the cardboard for the anniversary free evening certificates alone, although there are probably invaluable advantages past that, together with the fourth evening free on award redemptions, IHG Platinum standing, $50 in United TravelBank Money, and many others.
This card is much more compelling with the current refresh, given the perks that have been added, together with extra flexibility with free evening awards.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a enterprise card as an alternative, take into account the IHG Premier Enterprise Card, which has equally good perks.
In case you have the IHG Premier Card, what has your expertise been like?
