IHG One Rewards Premier Card Offering 180,000 Points Welcome Offer
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Chase has just launched it’s new welcome offer on the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, making now an excellent time to consider adding this hotel credit card to your wallet. The card is currently offering 180,000 IHG One Rewards bonus points (plus 10,000 for adding an authorized user), one of the most valuable offers we’ve seen on this product.
Let’s examine this launch offer and explore why the IHG Premier Card remains one of the most compelling hotel credit cards on the market, even beyond the initial bonus.
IHG® One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Unlock Premium Travel Benefits with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Launch Offer: Earn 180,000 Bonus Points with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Earn 180,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening, plus an extra 10,000 Bonus Points after you add an authorized user in your first 3 months from account opening!
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card delivers exceptional value that extends well beyond its annual fee. This card is worth getting primarily for its anniversary free night certificate, which can easily outvalue the annual fee. Plus, with the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, you’ll enjoy:
- Automatic IHG One Rewards Gold Elite status
- Fourth night free on award redemptions
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck®/NEXUS credit up to $120 every 4 years
IHG One Rewards Premier cardholders earn up to 24 total points per $1 at IHG properties, 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines, car rentals, dining, grocery stores and gas stations, and 3 points per $1 on all other purchases. Your points can be redeemed at InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®.
With the current elevated welcome bonus and stellar ongoing benefits, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a no-brainer even if you don’t put significant spending on it long-term.
Apply now to secure this launch offer!
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,140Total$1,140Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,140
- Welcome offerEarn up to 190,000 IHG One Rewards bonus points: 180,000 after $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 after adding the first authorized user in the first 3 months. The authorized-user bonus is awarded once.
- Up to 190,000 points
Apply Now
on Chase's website
IHG Premier Card Welcome Bonus Details
The current welcome offer on the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is earned in two chunks:
- Initial bonus: Earn 180,000 IHG One Rewards points after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening
- Second bonus: Earn an extra 10,000 IHG One Rewards points after adding an authorized user within the first three months of account opening
- Annual fee: $150 (not waived the first year)
This offer is the best we’ve seen for this product (in terms of points-only welcome bonuses), with the previous highest coming in at 175,000 IHG One Rewards points. At a valuation of approximately 0.5 cents per IHG point, this welcome bonus is worth around $900 in hotel stays – making it one of the most valuable mid-tier hotel card offers currently available.
How Far Can 180,000 IHG Points Take You?
To put this welcome bonus in perspective, here are some examples of what 180,000 IHG points could get you:
- 3-4 nights at a luxury property like InterContinental or Kimpton (40,000-60,000 points per night)
- 6-9 nights at a mid-tier property like Crowne Plaza or Hotel Indigo (20,000-30,000 points per night)
- 11+ nights at budget-friendly options like Holiday Inn Express (10,000-15,000 points per night)
When you factor in the card’s fourth night free benefit on award stays, you can stretch these points even further for longer vacations.
Who Is Eligible for the IHG Premier Card Bonus?
Before applying, it’s important to understand Chase’s eligibility requirements for this welcome bonus:
- You must not currently have any IHG personal credit card
- You must not have received a new cardmember bonus on an IHG personal credit card in the past 24 months
- This includes the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
- Having or having had the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card does not affect your eligibility
- Being an authorized user on someone else’s IHG credit card does not affect your eligibility
Additionally, you’ll need to consider Chase’s general application rules:
- 5/24 Rule: You generally need to be under 5 new credit card accounts opened across all banks in the past 24 months (though there have been recent reports of approvals for applicants over this limit)
- Credit score: A good to excellent credit score (typically 700+) is recommended
Key Benefits of the IHG Premier Card
Beyond the solid welcome bonus, the IHG Premier Card offers several valuable ongoing benefits that easily justify its modest $150 annual fee:
Automatic IHG One Rewards Gold Elite Status
Cardholders receive complimentary IHG One Rewards Gold Elite status for as long as they hold the card. Gold Elite normally requires 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 qualifying points a year, and it includes:
- 40% bonus points on top of base points for every stay
- Rollover of extra qualifying nights toward next year’s status
- Milestone Rewards starting at 20 nights, with a choice of reward every 10 nights up to 100 nights a year
- Complimentary internet and 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability)
- Complimentary Hertz Five Star® status through the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® status match
Annual Free Night Certificate
Each year on your account anniversary, you’ll receive a free night certificate valid at IHG properties costing up to 50,000 points per night. This benefit alone can easily outweigh the card’s annual fee, especially when used at properties that would otherwise cost $200+ per night.
Additionally, you can now top off these certificates with points from your account to book properties that cost more than 50,000 points per night, adding tremendous flexibility to this benefit.
Fourth Night Free on Award Stays
When you redeem points for a stay of four nights or more, you’ll automatically receive the fourth night free. This effectively gives you a 25% discount on four-night award stays, stretching your points even further.
$100 Airline Statement Credit
Each calendar year through December 31, 2027, cardholders receive a $100 airline statement credit after spending at least $250 on flights purchased directly with the airline.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit
The card provides a statement credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fees, helping you speed through airport security and immigration.
Elite Night Credits From Your Spending
The card also helps you move beyond Gold. You earn 2 Elite Night Credits for every $5,000 spent on purchases, plus 5 more Elite Night Credits after you spend $15,000 on purchases each calendar year. These credits count toward IHG One Rewards elite status and Milestone Rewards, just like qualifying nights.
Earning Structure
The card offers a competitive earning structure for hotel credit cards:
- 10x points at hotels participating in IHG One Rewards
- 5x points on dining, grocery stores and gas stations
- 5x points on flights purchased directly with the airline and car rentals (5x on all other travel through December 31, 2026, then 3x)
- 3x points on all other purchases
At IHG hotels, the 10x from the card combines with up to 10x as an IHG One Rewards member and up to 4x from Gold Elite status, for up to 24 total points per dollar.
How the IHG Premier Card Compares to Other Hotel Cards
When evaluating the IHG Premier Card against other popular hotel credit cards in the same annual fee range, it stands out in several areas:
| Feature | IHG Premier ($150) | Marriott Boundless ($95) | Hilton Surpass ($95) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 180,000 points (+10,000 with an authorized user) | Typically 75,000-100,000 points | Typically 130,000-180,000 points |
| Free Night Certificate | Up to 50,000 points (with top-off option) | Up to 35,000 points | None (earn with $15k spend) |
| Elite Status | Gold | Silver (entry-level) | Gold (mid-tier) |
| 4th Night Benefit | Yes (4th night free) | No | No |
| Additional Credits | $100 airline credit (after $250 in airline purchases) | None | 10 Priority Pass visits |
While each program has its strengths, the IHG Premier Card offers a particularly compelling combination of immediate elite status, a valuable free night certificate, and unique benefits like the fourth night free on award stays.
Maximizing the IHG Premier Card
To get the most value from your IHG Premier Card:
- Use the welcome bonus strategically: Target high-value redemptions where you’d get more than 0.5 cents per point in value
- Book four-night award stays: Take advantage of the fourth night free benefit to stretch your points
- Maximize the anniversary free night: Use it at properties that would otherwise cost $200+ per night
- Use your Gold status: Earn 40% bonus points on stays and track the Elite Night Credits you earn from spending toward higher tiers
- Use the airline credit: Spend at least $250 on flights booked directly with an airline each year to trigger the $100 credit
- Stack with IHG promotions: Combine with quarterly IHG promotions for even more value
Bottom Line
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is currently offering a record-high welcome bonus of 180,000 points after meeting the minimum spending requirement. At a valuation of approximately $900, this offer represents an excellent rewards opportunity.
Beyond the initial bonus, the card offers substantial ongoing value through its annual free night certificate, automatic Gold Elite status, fourth night free on award stays, and additional travel benefits. For most travelers, these perks easily justify the $150 annual fee, making this a card worth holding onto year after year.
If you’ve been considering adding an IHG credit card to your wallet, now is an ideal time to apply while this elevated welcome offer is available.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,140Total$1,140Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,140
- Welcome offerEarn up to 190,000 IHG One Rewards bonus points: 180,000 after $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 after adding the first authorized user in the first 3 months. The authorized-user bonus is awarded once.
- Up to 190,000 points
Apply Now
on Chase's website
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is this 180,000-point offer available?
The 180,000-point offer doesn’t have a published end date; however, welcome offers tend to change multiple times each year. Given this, make sure to apply sooner rather than later then if you’re interested in taking advantage of this lucrative bonus.
Can I upgrade from the IHG Traveler Card to the Premier Card?
Yes, existing IHG Traveler cardholders may be eligible for an upgrade to the Premier Card, but upgrade offers typically don’t include the full welcome bonus. If you’re eligible for a new account, applying directly for the Premier Card would be more beneficial to receive the 180,000-point bonus.
How does the free night certificate work?
The annual free night certificate is automatically deposited into your IHG account after your card anniversary each year. It can be used at any IHG property costing up to 50,000 points per night. If you want to book a property that costs more than 50,000 points, you can now supplement the certificate with points from your account to cover the difference.
Can I have both the personal and business IHG Premier cards?
Yes, you can hold both the personal IHG Premier Card and the IHG Premier Business Card simultaneously, and earn the welcome bonus on each if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Do the points from this welcome bonus count toward IHG elite status?
No, points earned from credit card welcome bonuses do not count toward elite status qualification in the IHG One Rewards program. However, the card automatically provides Gold Elite status regardless of your stay activity, and the Elite Night Credits you earn from card spending do count toward higher tiers.
How long do IHG points last before expiring?
IHG One Rewards points expire after 12 months of inactivity. However, having the IHG Premier Card keeps your account active through your card spending, effectively preventing point expiration as long as you use the card occasionally.
