IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Review

IHG One Rewards Premier is a co-branded InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Chase Bank credit card. As the name suggests, it is part of the IHG Rewards program, which allows cardholders to enjoy points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. The points can be redeemed for rewards, including free hotel stays at over 5,000 participating IHG hotels worldwide.

New cardholders can earn 140,000 points and $3,000 purchases within three months of opening the account. This is enough for up to six free nights at select IHG hotels. The cardholders can earn 10 points per $1 spent when staying at IHG hotels and two points of $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores; other purchases earn one point per $1 spent.

Quick Highlights

Earn 165,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months.
Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at any IHG hotel (up to 40,000 points) worldwide.
Get a 4th night free when you redeem points for a 4-night stay.
Earn up to 26X points at IHG hotels and 5X on travel, gas, and dining.
Automatic Platinum Elite status with benefits like room upgrades and complimentary breakfast.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit of up to $100 every four years.
Points are redeemable at various IHG hotel brands, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, and Holiday Inn.

Rewards and Benefits

Rewards

Supercharge your hotel stays: Earn a whopping 26X complete points per dollar spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts. This combines:

- 10X points from the card itself.
- Up to 10X points from being an IHG One Rewards member (tiers vary).
- Up to 6X points from achieving Platinum Elite status (optional).
Earn on everyday spending:
- 5X points earned per dollar on travel, gas stations, and restaurants.
- 3X points per dollar on all the other purchases.

Redeem Rewards

Maximize value: While the base value of an IHG point is around 0.7 cents, strategic use can increase it.
Fourth Night Free: When redeeming points for a 4-night stay, the 4th night is free, increasing your point value.
Dynamic Pricing: Play the system by comparing point redemption rates and room prices for different dates and properties. This can boost your point value to 1 cent or more.
Airline Miles: IHG’s transfer ratio to most airline partners is unfavorable (5:1), making it a poor use of points.
Points and Cash: Combine points with cash for a booking, but be mindful of the value proposition compared to total points redemption.
Experiences/Tours: We can offer unique options but compare prices to ensure good value.
IHG One Rewards Access: Offers exclusive experiences but weighs the cost in points against other possibilities.
Gift Cards, Shopping, Donations: Consider whether these options offer better value than cash.
Digital Rewards: This may be suitable for small redemptions but may not be the best use for many points. Redeeming points for IHG stays and upgrades offers the best value. By being strategic and considering the redemption options carefully, you can maximize your rewards with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.

Benefits

Valuable Free Night:

Earn an annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points (approximately $280). This perk alone can offset a significant portion of the yearly fee.

Elite Status Perks:

Automatic Platinum Elite status unlocks benefits like:

- Complimentary room upgrades (when available)
- Early check-in to get settled in sooner
- Reward night discounts to stretch your points further
- Guaranteed room availability for 72 hours before arrival for added peace of mind

Feature Benefits

Redeem 3 Nights, Get 4th Free: Maximize your points by getting a complimentary fourth night on qualifying four-night stays.
Statement Credits: Earn a $100 statement credit plus 10,000 bonus points after reaching a spending threshold (around $190).
Travel Fee Reimbursement: Get up to $100 every four years to cover the TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application fee.
United Airlines Travel Bank Cash: Link your card with your MileagePlus account to earn up to $50 in Travel Bank Cash annually.
Earn Diamond Elite Status: Spend $40,000 annually and unlock even more significant benefits like:

- 10X points boost from your elite status
- Enhanced welcome amenities (like a hot breakfast for two)
- Dedicated Diamond Support agents for personalized assistance

Travel and Purchase Protections

Enjoy peace of mind with included travel insurance covering trip cancellation/interruption, lost luggage, and baggage delay.
Protection protects your purchases against theft or damage for up to $500 per claim.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a well-rounded package of benefits that can be valuable for frequent IHG travelers, those seeking elite status perks, and individuals who appreciate travel and purchase protections.

Rates and Fee

Interest Rate

Variable APR: 21.49% to 28.49% (based on your creditworthiness)
Intro APR: N/A
Intro balance APR: N/A

Fees

Annual Fee: $99
Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 5% of every transfer, whichever is greater.
Cash Advance Fee: $10 or 5% of every transaction, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fee: N/A

Eligibility Criteria

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers numerous benefits, so it’s essential to understand who can qualify for it. Here are the basic eligibility criteria:

Fico Score

While Chase doesn’t officially state the minimum required credit score, having a good to excellent credit score of 670 to 850 is generally recommended to increase your chances of approval.

Existing IHG Credit Cards

You are not eligible if you hold a personal IHG One Rewards credit card.
If you previously held a personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card and received a welcome bonus within the last 24 months, you are also not eligible.

Business Cards

This eligibility criteria only applies to personal IHG One Rewards credit cards. Business cards have different eligibility requirements.

Additional Considerations

When reviewing your application, Chase may consider your employment history, income, and debt-to-income ratio.
Being a member of the IHG One Rewards program is not required for application, but it can offer additional benefits when combined with the card.

Customer Service

For U.S. Personal: 1-800-698-0120
For Business: 1-888-871-4676

How to Apply

While I cannot directly provide a link to apply for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card due to search engine and user agreement limitations, I can guide you through the process:

Visit the official website:

Go to the Choice website and search for “IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.“
Alternatively, you can use a general search engine to find the card’s official page on Chase.com.

Review the card details:

Carefully read through the information on the card’s page, including benefits, rewards structure, annual fee, and eligibility criteria (as mentioned previously).

Start the application process:

The “Apply Now” button on the page. Clicking this will initiate the online application process.

Prepare your information:

Have readily available:

- Personal information: Name, date of birth, address, Social Security Number, etc.
- Financial information: employment information, income, and any relevant financial details.

Complete the application:

Follow the on-screen instructions and accurately fill out all the required information.
Please read your application carefully before submitting it.

Submit your application:

Once you have reviewed and confirmed the accuracy of your information, apply electronically.

Wait for a decision:

Chase will review your application and notify you of their decision within a few business days.

Conclusion

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is an excellent option for frequent travelers and loyal customers of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). With its numerous benefits and rewards, this credit card offers exceptional value and convenience.

By earning points on every purchase made with the card, members can quickly accumulate enough points to redeem for free hotel stays, upgrades, and other travel benefits. The card also offers additional perks, such as complimentary Platinum Elite status and a yearly free anniversary night.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card also has no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travelers.

What Card: Recommended Credit Cards:

What is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card's annual fee?

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has an annual fee of $99. This fee is essential when evaluating whether the card’s benefits are worth it for you.

What is 140,000 IHG One Rewards points worth?

Redeeming for hotel stays: This is the most valuable way to use your points. You can leverage strategic booking (like using the fourth-night free benefit or playing with dynamic pricing) to increase the value per point to 1 cent or more. This would make 140,000 points worth $1,400 or more.

Redeeming for other options: Using points for airline miles, gift cards, or merchandise usually offers a lower value per point, often around 0.5 cents or less. This would make 140,000 points worth $700 or less.

What is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card’s credit limit?

Guaranteed minimum: Everyone approved for the card receives at least a $2,000 credit limit.

8Expert Score

Rewards

The new cardholders can earn 140,000 points and $3,000 purchases within three months of opening the account. This is enough for up to six free nights at select IHG hotels. The cardholders can earn 10 points per $1 spent when staying at IHG hotels and two points of $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores; other purchases earn one point per $1 spent.

Rewards Rating:

9.3

Rewards Value:

9.5

Annual Percentage Rate:

Rewards Flexibility:

Features:

Issuer Customer Experience:

PROS

Points do not expire: As long as your card is active and you make at least one qualifying transaction every 12 months, your points won't expire. This ensures your points are available for future use.
No Need blackout dates: You can redeem your points for reward nights on any available date at any IHG hotel, offering greater flexibility than programs with blackout dates.
Variety of redemption options: While hotel stays are generally the best value, you can also redeem your points for various options like merchandise, gift cards, airfare, digital rewards, and even charitable donations.
Pay with Points + Cash: This feature allows you to combine points and cash for any hotel stay, offering flexibility in using your points.
Reserve a night with points, use certificate later: You can reserve a reward night using points and then apply a free night certificate later, potentially maximizing your point value.

CONS

Limited value outside hotels: While offering various redemption options, the best value is generally obtained from hotel stays. Redeeming for other options might be less rewarding compared to other programs.
Frequent devaluation: The program is known for devaluing its reward chart periodically, meaning the same number of points might get you fewer rewards over time.
Limited rewards inventory: Popular redemption options, particularly for high-end hotels or desirable locations, might sometimes be limited or unavailable.

Specification: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Best For:	IHG HOTEL POINTS
Recommended Credit	Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Intro Offer:	Earn 165,000 bonus points
Rewards	Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases., Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants., Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Annual Fee:	$99
Regular APR:	21.49% – 28.49% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR:	N/A
Intro Purchase APR:	N/A
Intro Purchase APR Period:	N/A
Balance Transfers Fee:	$5 or 5 percent of the transferred amount, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Cash Advance Fee	$10 or 5% of the amount of each advance, whichever is greater
Late Payment Fee:	Up to $40
Cash Equivalent Fee	N/A
Convenience Check Fee	N/A
Returned Payment Fee:	Up to $40
Over Limit Fee:	Up to $40.
ExtendPay Fee	N/A
Credit Card Limit:	minimum starting credit limit of $2,000
Credit Card Type	Hotel
Credit Card Features	Accidental Insurance, Auto Rental Insurance, automatic Platinum Elite status, Extended warranty protection, fourth night reward on every rewards stay, Free Checked Baggage, No Foreign Transaction Fee, Zero Fraud Liability