Yearly, you need to consider what’s in your pockets and resolve which playing cards you are preserving. Usually, it is best to make the choice on whether or not you are preserving a card when its annual price is due.
To make that call, you need to think about the price of the annual price and what you get from it. Even when a card has a seemingly-low annual price, that does not routinely justify it.
So is the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card‘s annual price of $99 price it? Let’s have a look.
Welcome bonus
New candidates for the IHG Premier card can earn 175,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 within the first three months from account opening. That is one of the best bonus we have ever seen on this card, and TPG values it at $875.
Be aware that you would be able to’t get this bonus should you at present have a private IHG bank card (such because the IHG Rewards Traveler Credit score Card) or should you’ve obtained a welcome bonus on any IHG private bank card up to now 24 months.
Associated: The final word information to bank card software restrictions
You’ll be able to redeem factors for luxurious stays at resorts just like the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort or budget-friendly properties just like the Vacation Inn Agra — town the place you’ll be able to go to the Taj Mahal. The value you see when trying to find resorts would be the variety of factors required per night time.
Annual free night time award
On every account anniversary, you may obtain a free night time award price as much as 40,000 factors, legitimate for bookings with IHG One Rewards. If you wish to redeem it for a lodge that prices extra, you’ll be able to add a vast variety of factors.
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Associated: The best way to use the IHG Rewards anniversary night time certificates
This free night time award can be utilized for $200 in worth with out a lot effort. Thus, this profit alone might justify the cardboard’s annual price of $99.
$50 in United TravelBank credit score
In January and July, you may obtain $25 credit to your United TravelBank steadiness. These funds can be utilized to buy flights operated by United and United Categorical. These funds can cut back your out-of-pocket prices when shopping for money fares.
You’ll be able to’t use these funds to pay taxes and charges on award journey, and you’ll’t mix TravelBank funds with vouchers from canceled flights. You can also’t use these funds for inflight purchases.
Automated standing
You will take pleasure in complimentary Platinum Elite standing with the IHG Premier card. That is the second-highest tier in IHG One Rewards.
Advantages at this degree embrace complimentary upgrades at check-in (based mostly on availability), assured room availability, a welcome amenity of snacks or drinks, early check-in, use of a precedence check-in desk and incomes 60% bonus factors (so 16 factors per greenback whole) on paid stays with IHG.
TPG values Platinum Elite standing at $1,245 per yr.
Fourth night time free on award stays
IHG credit score cardholders can also use the “fourth night time free” profit when redeeming factors for award stays with IHG.
When utilizing factors to cowl a keep of 4 nights or extra, every fourth night time is free. The worth of this profit will range, based mostly on how typically you utilize it and the value of resorts the place you utilize it.
Different perks
On prime of incomes 16 factors per greenback on paid stays at IHG (due to your Platinum Elite standing), you may additionally earn 10 factors per greenback at IHG when paying with the Premier card. Moreover, you may earn 5 factors per greenback on journey and gasoline stations, 5 factors per greenback on eating (together with takeout and eligible supply providers) and three factors per greenback on different purchases. That quantities to a 5%, 2.5% and 1.5% return on spending, respectively, based mostly on our valuations.
Different key advantages embrace reimbursement (as soon as each 4 years) to your software price to International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus and a 20% low cost on factors purchases, although this cannot be added to different gross sales on IHG factors. You will additionally earn a $100 assertion credit score and 10,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on purchases in your card in a calendar yr.
The IHG Premier card additionally affords precious journey and procuring protections. You will take pleasure in journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage, buy safety, rental automotive insurance coverage (which is secondary within the U.S. however main protection elsewhere), misplaced baggage reimbursement and prolonged guarantee protection.
Associated: IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card overview
Backside line
Understanding and utilizing your bank card’s advantages will help you get your cash’s price — making the annual price price it annually on playing cards just like the IHG Premier Credit score Card. If you need to use the cardboard’s perks for common worth (or higher), you’ll have no qualms about preserving this card in your pockets. Nevertheless, should you stick with IHG solely hardly ever and do not benefit from the cardholder advantages, then even $99 might sound too costly for this card.
Official software hyperlink: IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card
