The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card stands out with its combination of IHG elite status, reward night benefits, and nice rewards on hotel stays. The card provides good value even for moderate IHG travelers through perks like the anniversary free night certificate (up to 40,000 points) and the ability to top it off with points for higher-priced properties.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let's dive right in.
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- 10x Points at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- 5x Points on Travel, Dining, and Gas
- 3x Points on All Other Purchases
- IHG Platinum Elite Status
- Anniversary Free Night
- 4th Night Free on Awards
- Baggage and Trip Interruption/Cancellation Insurance
- Purchase Protection for 120 Days
- $99 Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus of IHG PRemier
The IHG Premier Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
Other valuable benefits include Platinum Elite status, fourth night free on award stays, and up to $50 in United TravelBank cash per year. You can also add additional authorized users for no extra cost.
Earning IHG One Rewards Points
The IHG Premier Card earns IHG Rewards points at the following rates:
- 10 points per dollar spent when you stay with IHG® Hotels & Resorts;
- 5 points per dollar on travel purchases;
- 5 points per dollar at gas stations;
- 5 points per dollar on dining at restaurants; and
- 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee of IHG Premier
The IHG Premier Card has a $99 annual fee. The card's benefits can easily justify this cost, particularly through the anniversary free night certificate (valid at properties up to 40,000 points) which can be worth significantly more than the annual fee when redeemed.
IHG Premier Benefits and Perks
The IHG Premier Card offers the following benefits to cardholders:
Free Anniversary Night: Receive a free night certificate for each card anniversary at a hotel worth up to 40,000 points. Most 40,000-point hotels are worth at least $125+ per night, so this easily covers your $99 annual fee.
IHG Platinum Status: This card offers automatic IHG Platinum Elite status, which gets you access to special benefits such as a 60% points bonus, complimentary space-available upgrades, late check-out, and a welcome amenity.
Potential IHG Diamond Status: The IHG Premier Card lets you reach top-tier Diamond elite status by spending $40,000 within a calendar year. Upon qualifying, your Diamond Elite status will remain valid until December 31 of the following year.
Fourth Reward Night Free: You can get a fourth night free when booking a hotel stay of four nights or more with points. For example, if the hotel costs 25,000 points per night, and you are staying 4 nights, it would only be 75,000 points in total.
United Airlines TravelBank: Get up to $50 in United® TravelBank Cash which can be used when you book United® or United Express® flights.
Spending Bonus: You can receive an extra bonus each year of $100 Statement Credit and 10,000 Bonus Points after spending $20,000 in a calendar year and making one additional purchase.
Purchase Points Discount: The IHG Premier card offers a 20% discount when you purchase IHG points with your card. However, you cannot combine the discount with other sales, which typically offer a 100% bonus.
Travel Benefits
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / Nexus Credit: Receive an application fee credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every four years for either TSA PreCheck (expedited airport security), Global Entry (expedited airport security and customs), or NEXUS (expedited crossing between the US and Canada) for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®. These trusted traveler programs can save you time and hassle at the airport.
Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.
Purchase Benefits
No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.
120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.
Redeeming IHG Rewards
IHG One Rewards points offer flexibility and value for travelers seeking hotel stays and unique experiences. The primary and most valuable use of IHG points is for hotel bookings across the brand's extensive portfolio.
Point requirements vary based on the property and season, starting from 5,000 points per night. IHG's dynamic pricing model aligns point costs with cash rates, ensuring consistent value. Members can book stays entirely with points or opt for a points-plus-cash combination. Based on our data study, we value points at 0.73 cent per point.
To maximize value, IHG credit cardholders can take advantage of the fourth-night-free benefit on award stays of four nights or more. This effectively provides a 25% discount on longer stays. It's worth noting that award stays booked with points waive most taxes and fees, potentially leading to significant savings, especially in areas with high tourism taxes.
For those seeking more than just accommodations, IHG One Rewards Access provides opportunities to redeem points for exclusive events and experiences in entertainment and sports. This feature allows members to bid on or directly book special activities, adding an extra dimension to their travel rewards. While IHG points can be redeemed for gift cards or merchandise, these options generally offer lower value compared to hotel stays.
Pros and Cons
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this card:Pros:
Anniversary Free Night Certificate: Receive a free night certificate each year, valid at properties costing up to 40,000 points, with the ability to top off with additional points for more expensive properties.
Elite Status Benefits: You will automatically earn Platinum Elite status, which includes room upgrades, 60% bonus points on stays, late checkout, and priority check-in.
Fourth Night Free Benefit: Pay zero points for every fourth night when redeeming points for award stays of four nights or longer, effectively giving you a 25% discount on longer award stays.
Cons:
Limited Value Outside IHG: The card’s earning rates and benefits are primarily focused on IHG stays, offering limited value for general spending.
Points Value: We value IHG points at 0.73 cents per point, which is lower than many other hotel programs.
Annual Fee: While benefits can offset the $99 annual fee, it may not be worth it for infrequent IHG guests who won’t maximize the card’s perks.
The Verdict
The IHG Premier Card is a compelling option if you want to maximize your hotel stays, offering a generous welcome bonus and valuable ongoing benefits that easily outweigh its $99 annual fee.
You’ll get a free night certificate every year that you can use at properties costing up to 40,000 points (with the ability to add more points for higher-priced hotels), which alone can provide several hundred dollars in value.
The card gives you automatic Platinum Elite status, which includes perks like room upgrades and late checkout, plus you’ll get a fourth night free when using points for stays of four nights or longer. On the earning side, you’ll collect bonus points on IHG stays, travel, dining, and gas purchases, though the real value comes from the card’s benefits rather than its earning potential.
Even if you only stay at IHG properties occasionally, this card can be worth getting just for the anniversary free night certificate and status benefits, making it a solid choice for your wallet.
Learn How to Apply: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- 10x Points at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- 5x Points on Travel, Dining, and Gas
- 3x Points on All Other Purchases
- IHG Platinum Elite Status
- Anniversary Free Night
- 4th Night Free on Awards
- Baggage and Trip Interruption/Cancellation Insurance
- Purchase Protection for 120 Days
- $99 Annual Fee
