These Benefits Make the IHG Rewards Club Premier Card a Keeper

The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card offers an array of valuable benefits, especially considering it only costs $89 a year. If you frequently stay at IHG hotels, this card is definitely worth consideration.

Today, we’ll walk you through the benefits you get from adding the IHG Premier to your wallet.

Sign-up Bonus

The card is currently offering 80,000 points after you spend $2,000 in the first three months.

The InterContinential Hotel & Golf Resort in Fiji

While IHG Rewards Club points aren’t as valuable as Hilton or Marriott points, this sign-up bonus is still enough for one night at the Crowne Plaza: Key West-La Concha (which starts at 60,000 points for a standard room) or even two nights at the InterContinental Fiji Hotel & Golf Resort.

Elite Status

IHG Premier cardholders receive automatic IHG Rewards Platinum Elite Status, which comes with:

  • Late checkout, subject to availability
  • No expiration date on points
  • Priority check-in
  • 50% points bonus on paid stays
  • Welcome amenity (typically bonus points or a food/drink voucher)
  • Guaranteed availability on paid rooms with 72 hours of notice (conditions apply)
  • Complimentary room upgrades (conditions apply)

The most valuable perk of Platinum Elite Status is complimentary room upgrades. There are a few exceptions (they aren’t available on award night stays and exclude suites), but anyone who frequently stays at IHG properties can save quite a bit of money with this perk throughout the year.

Cardholders who make the most of their Platinum Elite status each year will make up for the $89 annual fee with this benefit alone.

Fourth Award Night Free

If you frequently book longer hotel stays, this benefit could potentially be worth thousands of dollars. IHG Premier cardholders get their fourth consecutive award night free. The process for booking is simple — a points discount is automatically applied during the reservation process.

Let’s say you book an eight-night stay at the Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island, which starts at 25,000 points for a standard room. You’ll end up saving 50,000 points, which is worth $250 according to MMS valuations.

This is another perk that makes up for the card’s annual fee all on its own.

Anniversary Free Night

New Chase IHG Cards
The Intercontinental Budapest 

Each year on your card anniversary, you’ll earn a free night’s stay worth 40,000 points or less at any participating IHG property. Unfortunately, some of IHG’s top hotels are excluded from eligibility. However, you can still find a lot of great locations to redeem your night at, such as the InterContinental Budapest.

You can get even more value out of this benefit by combining it with fourth-night-free award stays. If you booked six nights at a hotel costing 40,000 points per night, you’d be saving 80,000 points over the course of your stay.

Bonus Points Earning Opportunity

Cardholders earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 (and making an additional purchase) on the card each year. While 10,000 points is only worth $50 according to TPG valuations, this is still a nice perk for anyone who spends regularly on hotel stays with the IHG card each year.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Fee Credit

You’ll receive a statement credit up to $100 every four to five years when you use your card to pay for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. It’s rare for a card with such a low annual fee to offer this benefit to cardholders, which makes it an excellent perk.

Bottom Line

If you’re staying at IHG hotels frequently throughout the year, this card has a lot to offer. The value of the benefits you’re receiving far outweighs the cost of the credit card — without even factoring in the rewards earned each year.

Just keep in mind that this card is restricted by Chase’s 5/24 rule. It will take up one of your existing slots, and if you have applied for five credit cards within the past two years, it’s likely you won’t be eligible for the card.

For those who don’t stay at IHG hotels often, it might not be worth it. For those who know you’ll take full advantage of what this card offers, it’s certainly worth the spot in your wallet.