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Limited time signup bonus:
Through 7am ET on 3/20:
- You can earn 170,000 points for signing up for the Chase IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and spending $4,000 within 3 months.
- You can earn 100,000 points for signing up for the Chase IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card and spending $2,000 within 3 months.
The Premier consumer card normally offers 100K-140K points. The record-high bonus was 175K points last May, though that offer required $7K in spending. IHG often sells points for 0.5 cents each, which can be a great value for hotel redemptions and would value a 170K bonus at $850.
Annual fee:
Welcome bonus terms:
You can receive the bonus on the IHG Traveler or Premier card if you haven’t received a bonus on an IHG consumer card in the past 24 months and don’t currently have an IHG consumer card, though there have been reports of people getting the card and bonus even if they have a grandfathered IHG Select card.
5/24:
Some Chase cards are subject to 5/24 restrictions, meaning that you might not be approved if you have been approved for 5 or more consumer credit cards in the past 24 months. Enforcement of 5/24 has been patchy for the past several years and the only way to know if you can get approved is by trying to apply.
However, a pattern has developed where Chase often waives 5/24 rules when they launch a limited time offer like this, so it can be worth trying, even if you are over 5/24. If you try, be sure to leave a comment with the results!
Typically, the only way to bypass the 5/24 rules is if the system decides to approve you, so if you are over 5/24, do not call for an approval if your application is pending!
Note that the Chase system automatically counts cards like authorized user cards and store cards as cards that count towards 5/24, but if you explain to Chase that those cards are merely authorized user cards or store cards they can manually approve you for a new card.
You can check your credit report for free at the federally authorized annualcreditreport.com to check how many accounts are shown as being open in the past 24 months.
$50 Annual United TravelBank Cash
The IHG Premier card awards $50 in United TravelBank card every calendar year, with $25 deposited every 6 months.
You can register for that credit here.
Annual free night with top up feature:
The IHG Premier card come with an annual anniversary night for hotels that cost up to 40,000 points. Plus you can use points to top up the 40K free night certificates earned on this card for hotels that cost more than 40K points. There is no limit to how many points you can use for a top-off, which means that certificates are now much more valuable as you can better maximize the 40K points value.
The night must be used within 12 months of when it’s awarded.
For example, if a night at the Intercontinental David Tel Aviv is 50K points, you can use 10K points to use a free night certificate there.
A paid night in a overwater villa at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa can set you back some $1,500, but can be had for 160,000 points or a 40K free night plus 120,000 points.
Elite status for cardholders:
Having the IHG Traveler card gives you Silver elite status. If you spend $20K and one additional purchase in a calendar year you’ll earn Gold elite status.
Having the IHG Premier card gives you Platinum elite status, which gives free internet, 50% bonus points, upgrades, welcome amenity, late checkout, and more.
You can earn Diamond elite status with $40K spend on the IHG Premier card in a calendar year. Diamond status gives 100% bonus points, access to the Diamond phone line, and a free full hot breakfast on stays.
Non-expiring points:
IHG cardmembers’ IHG points will not expire for as long as they remain a cardholder.
4th award night free:
IHG Traveler or Premier cardholders can book an award stay and every 4th night will be free!
If you have both the discontinued IHG Select card and the IHG Premier or Traveler card you’ll get every 4th award night free AND a 10% rebate on award nights!
Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check/NEXUS:
IHG Premier Cardholders will get reimbursed for Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check charges every 4 years.
Cardholders can also get reimbursed for NEXUS, which includes Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check.
Those programs make flying so much easier, read about them here!
Card earnings:
- IHG Traveler earns 3 points per dollar on gas, 3 points per dollar on dining, 3 points per dollar on utilities, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services purchases, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Cardholders earn 17 points per dollar at IHG hotels, which consists of 5 points per dollar on the card, 10 points per dollar from IHG for the stay, and 2 bonus points per dollar from IHG for being a Silver elite member, which is automatic for cardholders. Bookings must be made directly on IHG.com.
- IHG Premier earns 5 points per dollar on all travel, 5 points per dollar on gas, 5 points per dollar on dining, and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Cardholders earn 26 points per dollar at IHG hotels, which consists of 10 points per dollar on the card, 10 points per dollar from IHG for the stay, and 6 bonus points per dollar from IHG for being a Platinum elite member, which is automatic for cardholders. Bookings must be made directly on IHG.com.
There are no foreign transaction fees on these cards.
Spend Threshold:
You’ll need to spend $2,000-$4,000 within 3 months to receive the bonus.
You can pay your federal taxes for a 1.75% fee. If you overpay your taxes you can request a refund or apply it to your next year’s taxes.
My local natural gas company allows me to prepay up to $1,000 on a credit card for a $1.65 flat fee. That’s a great way to earn miles and help meet a spend threshold. My electricity supplier allows me to pay with a credit card for free as long as I am enrolled in autopay.
Annual Point Bonus and Statement Credit:
IHG Traveler cardholders earn 10K points every calendar year if you spend $10K on the card.
IHG Premier cardholders earn 10K points and a $100 statement credit every calendar year if you spend $20K on the card.
Will you signup for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card? Where will you use your anniversary nights?
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