From now till 28 February 2020, 12.59 p.m SGT, IHG Rewards Club is offering a 75% bonus on purchased points. This isn’t the highest public sale we normally see- that’s usually 100%.
Buy IHG Rewards Club Points at a 75% bonus here
Unlocking the 75% bonus requires purchasing a minimum of 15,000 points. Here’s how the bonus tiers:
- 1,000-4,000 points: No bonus
- 5,000-14,000 points: 50% bonus
- 15,000+ points: 75% bonus
You can normally buy a maximum of 100,000 points a year (before bonus), but for this sale they’ve increased the cap to 150,000 points. With a 75% bonus, your cost per point is 0.57 US cents per point.
IHG Points do not expire so long as there is at least one earning or redemption activity in your account every 12 months.
What can I do with IHG Rewards Club points?
The cost of an IHG rewards night ranges from 10,000 to 70,000 points, depending on category.
Category | Points Per Night |
Category 1 | 10,000 |
Category 2 | 15,000 |
Category 3 | 20,000 |
Category 4 | 25,000 |
Category 5 | 30,000 |
Category 6 | 35,000 |
Category 7 | 40,000 |
Category 8 | 45,000 |
Category 9 | 50,000 |
Category 10 | 55,000 |
Category 11 | 60,000 |
Category 12 | 65,000 |
Category 13 | 70,000 |
There are a few hotels in Macau and the Maldives that cost in excess of 75,000-100,000 points on certain nights |
As you might expect, you get the most value out of buying IHG points by redeeming them for properties at the top of the spectrum, like the InterContinental Paris (70,000 points a night). Given that room rates here can start at upwards of US$950 a night before tax, buying points and redeeming a room represents a big saving on revenue rates.
There can be some value in buying points for lower tier properties, especially if you find them on PointsBreak. During PointsBreak, properties start at 5,000 points, or just US$28.50 if you buy points with a 75% bonus.
The current PointsBreak promotion is scheduled to end on 31 January 2020.You can book two PointsBreaks stays per eligible hotel per quarter.
What card should I use to purchase IHG Rewards Club points?
IHG Rewards Club points purchases are processed by Points.com in USD, which means you can use the following cards for the most miles:
Earn Rate | Cap | Remarks | |
OCBC 90N Card Apply here |
4 mpd | None | Until 29 Feb 2020 |
Citi Rewards Visa Apply here |
4 mpd | S$1,000 per statement period | |
UOB Visa Signature Apply here |
4 mpd | S$2,000 per statement period | Min FCY spend of S$1,000 per statement period |
DBS Woman’s World Card Apply here |
4 mpd | S$2,000 per calendar month | Use caution- some people report not getting the bonus 2.8 mpd, only the base 1.2 mpd |
SCB Visa Infinite Apply here |
3 mpd | None | Min spend S$2,000 per statement period |
BOC Elite Miles Apply here |
3 mpd | None |
Conclusion
Although you shouldn’t buy points speculatively, IHG Rewards Club points can come in very useful if you already have confirmed travel plans. Do a quick check of the property you’re interested in staying at, and see if buying points can help you save money off the revenue rate.