If you need to recharge your IHG points balance, or just want to test drive your shiny new IHG Diamond status, here’s an opportunity to take note of.
From now till 22 March 2023 12.59 p.m SGT, IHG One Rewards is offering up to a 100% bonus on purchased points. This is the highest public sale we see for IHG points, and works out to 0.5 US cents per point.
Buy IHG Rewards points with a 100% bonus
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| Buy IHG One Rewards Points |
IHG One Rewards members can now buy points with up to a 100% bonus. Do note that different accounts may be targeted for different bonuses, so you’ll need to login and see what offer you have.
A minimum purchase of 5,000 points is required, and a maximum of 150,000 points (pre-bonus can be purchased during this sale.
IHG One Rewards points never expire for elite members. For entry-level Club members, points will expire after 12 months if you do not earn or redeem at least one point.
What can I do with IHG One Rewards points?
IHG One Rewards does not publish an official award chart, and award nights are priced dynamically based on demand.
This means you should do a search for your preferred dates and destinations and do a cash versus points comparison. Here’s a quick snapshot of London, for a random date in March 2023.
| Property | Cash | Points |
| Hotel Indigo 1 Leicester Square | US$279 | 48,000 |
| InterContinental London Park Lane | US$447 | 85,000 |
| Kimpton Fitzroy London | US$299 | 65,000 |
| Crowne Plaza London Kings Cross | US$253 | 44,000 |
| Hotel Indigo London Paddington | US$246 | 42,000 |
| Hotel Indigo London Tower Hill | US$268 | 46,000 |
| InterContinental London The O2 | US$334 | 61,000 |
As you can see, buying IHG points at 0.5 US cents each could get you some savings at certain properties (remember, when you redeem points you don’t need to pay taxes or fees). If the difference between cash rates or buying points is marginal, however, I’d lean towards the former because you can earn IHG points and elite night credits on cash nights.
Don’t forget that IHG periodically runs discounts on hotel redemptions worldwide, which allow you to stretch your points even further. The most recent offer was 20% off for redemptions worldwide.
What card should I use to purchase IHG One Rewards points?
IHG One Rewards points purchases do not code as hotel transactions. Instead, they are processed by Points.com in USD (under MCC 7399) , which means you can use the following cards to maximise your miles:
| Card | Earn Rate | Remarks |
 Citi RewardsApply | 4 mpd | Cap of S$1K per s. month |
 UOB Visa SignatureApply | 4 mpd | Min S$1K Max S$2K FCY spend per s. month |
 SCB Visa InfiniteApply | 3 mpd | Min S$2K spend per s. month |
 UOB PRVI MilesApply | 2.4 mpd | No cap |
| S. Month= Statement Month | C. Month= Calendar Month | ||
Remember, you can always pair the Citi Rewards Card with the Instarem Amaze Card to earn 4 mpd on Points.com purchases, while enjoying competitive exchange rates.
I personally don’t recommending the DBS Woman’s World Card for Points.com purchases, as many people have reported issues with getting the bonus points properly credited.
Conclusion
IHG One Rewards is offering a 100% bonus on points purchases till 22 March 2023. Buying points can certainly help you save money in certain situations, though you shouldn’t buy points speculatively (especially since IHG’s programme is fully dynamic, and the prices you see now may not be the prices you see a few months down the road).
I only got 90% bonus