Sometimes, provides to purchase elite standing aren’t compelling. For instance, American Airways AAdvantage’s provides to purchase elite standing are normally laughably dangerous. Nonetheless, IHG One Rewards is giving choose members a suggestion — first reported by LoyaltyLobby — that’s compelling.
If IHG focused you for this provide to purchase standing, you seemingly obtained an e-mail. The title of this e-mail is probably going much like the one TPG senior editor Christine Gallipeau obtained titled “Do not lose your Diamond Elite standing, Christine,” or the one TPG managing editor Matt Moffitt obtained titled “Improve to Diamond Elite standing, Matthew.”
These emails clearly state what number of elite qualifying factors you’d want to purchase by Dec. 31, 2024, to safe a specified standing by way of 2025. Nonetheless, the elite qualifying factors listed in your e-mail are primarily based in your account standing as of Dec. 6, so the quantity will not be correct for those who’ve earned elite qualifying factors since then.
Associated: IHG elite standing: What it’s and tips on how to earn it
Focused members will even see a tile after they log in to their IHG account, click on on their identify within the higher right-hand nook and scroll down.
When you click on the hyperlink within the e-mail, tile or right here, you may land on a web page the place you should purchase the required factors. Nonetheless, solely focused members will see a suggestion after logging in on that web page. Sadly, I am not focused, so I am unable to make the most of this provide.
As a reminder, you may want 40,000 elite qualifying factors for Gold Elite, 60,000 for Platinum Elite and 120,000 for Diamond Elite. When you think about that the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card provide complimentary Platinum Elite standing to cardholders — and members who aren’t eligible for both of those playing cards can get Platinum Elite standing as a good thing about paid InterContinental Ambassador membership — the first standing you may be enthusiastic about shopping for elite qualifying factors to assert is Diamond Elite standing.
Usually, while you purchase IHG factors, the factors aren’t elite qualifying factors. Nonetheless, throughout this provide, choose members should purchase elite qualifying factors which can be each redeemable and depend towards elite standing qualification. The phrases for this provide state, “EQP Factors should not refundable and are relevant towards all IHG One Rewards redemptions,” the place the phrases beforehand outlined EQP as elite qualifying factors. The phrases additionally state you’ll be able to solely make one buy of elite qualifying factors throughout this provide, so make sure to purchase all that you simply want directly.
Associated: When does it make sense to purchase factors and miles?
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Christine stated she’s at present at 20 elite qualifying nights and 69,470 elite qualifying factors, however she plans to remain 4 extra nights with IHG in 2024, which ought to get her an extra 37,822 elite qualifying factors. As such, she advised me, “After this keep, I plan on shopping for the remaining 15,000 factors wanted to retain my standing. I’ve a two-night mattress run keep I had deliberate for the very finish of the month, however the purchase factors provide will value lower than that keep, so I plan on canceling it now to as an alternative purchase the remaining factors.”
In the meantime, Matt at present has Platinum Elite standing by way of a bank card and has accrued 13 elite qualifying nights and 12,597 elite qualifying factors up to now in 2024. Matt stated he would not at present have any extra stays booked with IHG by way of the tip of 2024 however is strongly contemplating shopping for elite qualifying factors by way of this provide, noting, “Given I will be touring full-time for at the least Q1 and Q2 subsequent 12 months (doubtlessly into the second half of the 12 months), I am certain I can get worth out of the factors and standing.”
My husband JT can also be focused for this provide. He accrued 61 elite qualifying nights and 17,265 elite qualifying factors by way of Dec. 16, however he enrolled in a focused provide to get Diamond Elite standing after 10 paid stays between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. We simply checked out of the keep for the tenth night time on Sunday, so we cannot have any use for his provide.
Choose IHG cardholders take pleasure in a 20% low cost when buying factors, too, which makes this provide significantly compelling. If Matt has an eligible IHG card that provides the 20% low cost, he may purchase 110,000 elite qualifying factors — which value $770 — for an efficient value of $616 after the 20% low cost. That is 0.56 cents per redeemable level, simply 0.06 cents per level greater than TPG’s December 2024 valuation of IHG factors.
Associated: Final-minute methods for incomes IHG One Rewards elite standing
Backside line
If IHG has focused you for this provide, it is critically price contemplating. Via this provide, focused members should purchase elite qualifying factors at a price near — if not decrease than — the speed at which they will redeem them.
Despite the fact that my husband will requalify for Diamond Elite standing, I might seemingly purchase 120,000 elite qualifying factors throughout this provide to additionally requalify for Diamond Elite standing if IHG had focused me for this provide. In any case, 120,000 elite qualifying factors value $800 — successfully $640 after the 20% low cost — and I normally get at the least 0.7 cents per level when redeeming IHG factors and using the fourth-reward-night-free profit. So, with out even contemplating the worth of Diamond Elite standing, I might worth the factors greater than the associated fee I might must pay.
IHG Diamond Elite standing continues to supply my husband and me a ton of worth, together with a alternative of complimentary breakfast for 2 as a welcome amenity at just about any IHG resort or resort that does not provide free breakfast for all. We have discovered we additionally often get an upgraded room or suite upon request at check-in if the property continues to be at present promoting that room sort for our dates. Additionally, incomes 100% bonus factors on paid stays is a invaluable Diamond Elite perk.
Associated: How a lot worth does IHG One Rewards standing present while you e book instantly?
As for IHG Diamond Elite members who’ve earned (or deliberate to earn) the 70 elite qualifying nights or 120,000 elite qualifying factors by way of stays, this provide seemingly looks like a slap within the face. However these members do get some comfort in that IHG Milestone Rewards are primarily based on elite qualifying nights, not factors. So, even for those who purchase as much as a standing by way of buying elite qualifying factors, you continue to will not get entry to invaluable Milestone Rewards comparable to an annual lounge membership.
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