If you’re looking for a hotel loyalty card that offers free nights, a solid return on hotel spending, and stellar perks, the card_name is a winning choice.
This card is loaded with valuable benefits, including an anniversary reward night, a fourth-night-free reward, statement credits, and extensive protection plans – all for only $99 per year.
You’ll also automatically get Platinum Elite status, which offers complimentary room upgrades, milestone rewards, a 60% points bonus, and other premium perks.
Let’s explore everything you need to know about the IHG Rewards Premier credit card.
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- bonus_miles_full
- 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
The IHG Premier Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Earning IHG 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
The IHG Premier Card comes with a $99 yearly fee, which is easily justified by the anniversary free night certificate.
Plus, the complimentary Platinum Elite status, fourth-hotel-night-free perk, statement credits, and comprehensive travel insurance plans make the card well worth the annual cost.
Card Benefits and Perks
The IHG Premier Card offers all of these benefits and perks:
Free Anniversary Hotel Night
One of the top benefits of the Chase IHG Rewards Premier card is the 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.
It’s also possible to top off your award using points so you can enjoy a more luxurious stay.
For example, you can redeem an extra 30,000 points to book a premium room costing 70,000 points with your free night certificate.
IHG Platinum Elite Status
If you’re aiming for higher IHG elite status, getting the IHG Premier Card is the fastest route to obtaining Platinum Elite status.
IHG revamped its loyalty program, now called IHG One Rewards, to make your stays much more rewarding and enjoyable than ever.
Some of the premium perks Platinum elites receive include the following:
- 60% points bonus – You’ll earn 16 points per dollar at IHG hotels and 8 points per dollar at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites
- Complimentary upgrades – You can receive upgrades to suites and other better rooms.
- Reward night discounts – Platinum and Diamond elites get exclusive reward night discounts.
- Priority check-in – You can request to check in as early as 10 a.m.
- Late check-out – If you need more time to prepare for your next flight, you can request up to 2 p.m. late check-out.
- Milestone rewards – After earning 20 qualified nights, IHG lets you pick rewards you love the most for every 10 nights stayed until 100 nights. You can choose bonus points, food and beverage credits, confirmable suite upgrades, or even an annual lounge membership.
- Welcome amenity at check-in – Options include points, a drink, or a snack.
We have an ultimate guide that explains all the benefits of each IHG elite status if you want to learn more.
Fourth Hotel 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.
This is an amazing perk that you can use with no limit. You can even apply it when booking multiple rooms at a hotel.
Spend Your Way to Diamond Elite Status
The IHG Premier Card lets you reach top-tier 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.
For example, if you obtain Diamond status in June 2022, you will stay a Diamond elite until December 31, 2023.
Diamond status boasts the best perks for IHG elites, including a 100% points bonus, an exclusive Hertz five-star status, a full hot breakfast as a welcome amenity, complimentary suite upgrades, and milestone rewards.
Up to $50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash Annually
IHG has partnered with United to offer up to $50 in United Airlines TravelBank Cash every year.
- You should register your IHG Premier Card with your United MileagePlus account to get the benefit.
- You’ll receive a $25 cash deposit in January and a second deposit in July per year.
- TravelBank Cash applies to United or United Express purchases only.
This is a nice perk that saves you money if you travel on United.
$100 Statement Credit and 10,000 Bonus Points
You’ll receive a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 in a calendar year and making one additional purchase.
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus Statement Credit
You’ll receive up to $100 of Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus credit every four years if you charge the membership fee to your Premier Card. You can pay for anybody’s membership fee and get a reimbursement as long as you use your card.
20% Off Points Purchases
We generally don’t recommend purchasing points. But if you need more points for a reward night, IHG lets you buy points with a 20% discount with your Premier card. The maximum amount of IHG points you can purchase is 150,000 points per calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the U.S., which is helpful if you travel internationally to help you avoid paying a 3% fee on those international purchases.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance reimburses you for non-refundable expenses if your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason such as illness, severe weather, or an accidental injury when you pay for your travel expenses with this card.
Baggage Delay Insurance
Baggage delay insurance can reimburse you for the cost of necessary personal and business items if (1) you purchased your trip with this card and (2) your bag is delayed by a common carrier like an airline, train, ferry, or cruise ship, etc.
Common reimbursable items include clothing, toiletries, and phone chargers, which can be a life-saver when you are without your bag.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Baggage insurance covers the cost to repair or replace your luggage and the contents inside if your bag is lost or damaged during a covered trip.
You must purchase the trip with this card, and it will also cover immediate family members traveling with you.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance
Secondary rental car insurance covers any damage to or theft of a rental car not covered by your primary insurance when you pay for the rental using this card.
Other credit cards offer primary rental car insurance, which pays before your insurance and saves you the hassle of filing multiple insurance claims.
You still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Purchase Protection
Purchase protection can save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 120-days.
For example, if accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if it was purchased within the last 120 days.
Extended Warranty
Credit card extended warranty protection adds up to an additional year of coverage for eligible purchases on manufacturer’s warranties up to 3 years.
Coverage matches the protection provided by the original warranty so that damage or defect would have to be covered by the original warranty for extended warranty coverage.
The Verdict
Overall, the IHG Premier Card is definitely a must-have for most travelers, whether you’re a loyalist who frequents IHG properties or an occasional out-of-towner who books IHG stays several times a year.
IHG has a large global footprint with over 6,000 hotels and 17 brands across 100 countries worldwide, so you’ll likely find a hotel that fits your preferences wherever you go. You can book lavish stays at world-class InterContinental Hotels and Resorts or enjoy a family vacation at budget-friendly Holiday Inn resorts.
You can easily offset the $99 annual cost with the free night certificate, fourth night free on award stays, statement credits, sizeable welcome bonus, and a lot more.
This card is also the easiest shortcut to Platinum Elite status. And if you covet the top-tier status, the IHG Premier Card lets you spend your way to Diamond Elite status.
card_name
- bonus_miles_full
- 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
