Yearly, it is best to consider what’s in your pockets and resolve which playing cards you are holding. Sometimes, it is best to make that call earlier than the subsequent annual payment is due.
Among the many issues it is best to take into account are how a lot the annual payment prices and what sort of worth you are getting out of a card. And keep in mind, even when a card has a decrease annual payment, that does not routinely imply it is price holding.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card is a well-liked lodge card with a $99 annual payment — however is it price a spot in your pockets? Here is what it is best to know earlier than selecting.
Welcome supply
New candidates for the IHG Premier card can earn 165,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases on the cardboard within the first three months from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $825.
Observe that you would be able to’t get this bonus in case you at present have a private IHG bank card (such because the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card) or in case you’ve acquired a welcome bonus on any IHG private bank card previously 24 months.
Associated: The last word information to bank card utility restrictions
You may redeem your factors for luxurious stays at accommodations just like the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort or budget-friendly properties just like the Vacation Inn Agra — the town the place you’ll be able to go to the Taj Mahal. The worth you see when looking for accommodations would be the variety of factors required per night time.
Annual free night time award
On every account anniversary, you may obtain a free night time award price as much as 40,000 factors, legitimate for bookings with IHG One Rewards. If you wish to redeem it for a lodge that prices extra, you too can buy factors.
Associated: Methods to use the IHG Rewards anniversary night time certificates
Every day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
This free night time award can be utilized for $200 in worth with out a lot effort. Thus, this profit alone might justify the cardboard’s annual payment of $99.
$50 in United TravelBank credit score
In January and July, you may obtain $25 credit to your United TravelBank stability. These funds can be utilized to buy flights operated by United and United Specific. These funds can scale back your out-of-pocket prices when shopping for money fares though they do have limitations.
You may’t use these funds to pay taxes and charges on award journey, and you’ll be able to’t mix TravelBank funds with vouchers from canceled flights. You can also’t use these funds for inflight purchases.
Automated standing
You may get pleasure from complimentary Platinum Elite standing with the IHG One Premier card. That is the second-highest tier in IHG One Rewards.
Advantages at this stage embody complimentary upgrades at check-in (based mostly on availability), assured room availability, a welcome amenity of snacks or drinks, early check-in, use of a precedence check-in desk and incomes 16 factors per greenback whole on paid stays with IHG.
TPG values Platinum Elite standing at $1,290 per 12 months.
Fourth night time free on award stays
IHG cardholders can also use the “fourth night time free” profit when redeeming factors for award stays with IHG.
When utilizing factors to cowl a keep of 4 nights or extra, every fourth night time is free. The worth of this profit will range, based mostly on how typically you employ it and the worth of the accommodations the place you employ it.
Different perks
On prime of incomes 16 factors per greenback on paid stays at IHG (because of your Platinum Elite standing), you may additionally earn 10 factors per greenback at IHG when paying with the Premier card.
Moreover, you may earn 5 factors per greenback on journey, accommodations, gasoline stations and eating (together with takeout and eligible supply providers) and three factors per greenback on different purchases. That quantities to a 5%, 2.5% and 1.5% return on spending, respectively, based mostly on our valuations.
Different key advantages embody reimbursement (as soon as each 4 years) to your utility payment to International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus and a 20% low cost on factors purchases, although this cannot be added to different gross sales on IHG factors.
You may additionally earn a $100 assertion credit score and 10,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on purchases in your card in a calendar 12 months.
The IHG One Premier card additionally provides invaluable journey and procuring protections. You may get pleasure from journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage, buy safety, rental automotive insurance coverage (which is secondary within the U.S. however major protection elsewhere), misplaced baggage reimbursement and prolonged guarantee protection.
Backside line
If you need to use this card’s perks for common worth (or higher), you shouldn’t have any downside justifying its annual payment and holding it in your pockets.
But when your IHG stays are rare and you do not make the most of the cardholder advantages that include the IHG Premier card, then the $99 annual payment will not be price it for you.
Learn our full overview of the IHG One Rewards Premier right here.
Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card
