The IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase is one of those rare hotel cards that’s genuinely worth keeping for the long term, assuming you’re eligible under Chase’s 5/24 rule.
I think it’s an especially strong choice for anyone getting started with points and miles. IHG generally makes it easy to find award nights without too much frustration, and with thousands of properties worldwide, you’re rarely far from a place where your points will work.
Of course, this isn’t a card that’s going to land you a huge suite upgrade or deliver over-the-top elite perks. And the anniversary free night comes with a current redemption cap of 40,000 points, though you can add points from your IHG account if the hotel costs more. But before I talk myself out of recommending it, let’s look at what the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card actually offers—and why it’s still a great long-term value.
Annual Fee
$99 per year
Sign Up Benefits
We usually ask readers to use our referral link when applying for this card. If you do, we may receive a bonus at no additional cost to you — and we truly appreciate the support.
That said, credit card welcome offers change regularly. Sometimes our referral link matches the best public offer, and sometimes the public application link is better.
Right now, the better offer appears to be available through the public Chase application page. Before applying, it’s always worth comparing both links to make sure you’re getting the best available bonus and offer terms.
IHG has historically rotated between elevated-point bonuses and occasional free-night offers, so the exact welcome offer can change over time.
Spending Bonus Categories
The IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card earns the following bonus points on purchases:
- 10X points on purchases made at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points at gas stations, on travel purchases, and at restaurants
- 3X points on all other eligible purchases
IHG points aren’t the most valuable loyalty currency out there, but earning elevated multipliers in several everyday categories makes it easier to build your balance throughout the year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
As you’d hope from a card designed for use at IHG hotels around the world, the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees.
That makes it a reliable option for international travel or any stay outside the United States.
Automatic Platinum Elite Status
Cardholders receive IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status for as long as they keep the card. This status level normally requires 40 qualifying nights per year.
Platinum Elite isn’t IHG’s most powerful tier, but it does include a 60% bonus on base points earned during stays, priority check-in, and the possibility of complimentary room upgrades and extended checkout. As always, those last two perks are subject to availability — so don’t count on them being honored at every property.
Free Reward Night on Four or More Night Stays
When you redeem points for a stay of four or more consecutive nights, the fourth Reward Night is free.
That makes this one of the more generous long-stay perks among hotel credit cards, especially since many competing cards only offer a fifth night free on award stays.
Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre-Check Credit
The IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card now provides up to a $120 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and NEXUS.
This enhancement makes the IHG Premier one of the only non-premium hotel credit cards to offer a travel security credit of this size, and it removes another excuse for putting off applying to these programs.
Anniversary Free Night
Each year on your account anniversary, you’ll receive a Free Night certificate with a current redemption cap of 40,000 points.
If the hotel you want costs more than that, you can add points from your IHG One Rewards account to cover the difference. That flexibility makes the certificate much more useful than it may first appear.
Free Night certificates must be booked and the stay completed within 12 months of issuance.
$50 United TravelBank Cash
After linking your United MileagePlus account to your IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card, you’ll receive $25 in United TravelBank Cash twice per year, for a total of $50 annually.
The credits do expire if unused, but there’s often a short window where both $25 deposits overlap — giving you the chance to combine them for a single $50 use. Here’s how the timing usually works.
Spending Threshold Bonuses
The IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card offers additional perks if you put significant spending on the card each calendar year:
- Spend $20,000: Earn a $100 statement credit plus 10,000 bonus points.
- Spend $40,000: Earn IHG Rewards Diamond Elite status through the end of the following year.
While these thresholds won’t make sense for everyone, they can be worthwhile if you’re already planning to put heavy spend on the card and want to lock in higher elite status.
Final Thoughts
The IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card remains one of the strongest long-term values among hotel co-branded cards. Benefits like automatic Platinum Elite status, the fourth-night-free perk on award stays, a $120 credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA Pre-Check, and $50 in annual United TravelBank Cash all help offset the modest $99 annual fee before you even factor in the card’s generous sign-up bonus.
I value IHG points at roughly 0.5 cents each, which makes the 40,000-point Anniversary Free Night worth at least $200 on its own. With that certificate alone covering more than the annual fee, everything else the card provides is effectively gravy.
If you stay at IHG properties even a couple of times a year—or just want an easy keeper card that consistently delivers outsized value—the IHG Rewards Premier is absolutely worth a spot in your wallet.
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1 comment
I got the free 5 nights version of this card a few months ago. What a terrible mistake! Too many blackout dates and the nights expire in a year. Can’t find availability for any reasonable vacation destination unless it’s in super off season. I am afraid that the nights will go unused. This is my third IHG card in a decade and the previous ones were not this bad. Never again.