IHG One Rewards selling Elite Qualifying Points for Diamond requalification

Expired

IHG One Diamond members who fall short of requalification can now purchase EQPs to get them over the finish line.

If you’re an IHG One Diamond member who is falling short of the requalification requirement, IHG is selling Elite Qualifying Points  (EQPs) from now till 31 December 2023.

This allows members to purchase up to 120,000 EQPs, requalifying for Diamond status for another year. It’s not the cheapest way of going about things, but could be worth considering if you’re just shy of requalification.

IHG Elite Qualifying Points Sale

Targeted IHG One Diamond members can now purchase EQPs at the following rates till 31 December 2023. Do note that offers will differ from person to person. Here’s what mine looks like:

EQP Price Cost per EQP
10,000 US$250 2.50 cents
20,000 US$475 2.38 cents
30,000 US$550 1.83 cents
40,000 US$625 1.56 cents
50,000 US$700 1.40 cents
60,000 US$800 1.33 cents
70,000 US$875 1.25 cents
80,000 US$1,000 1.25 cents
90,000 US$1,125 1.25 cents
100,000 US$1,250 1.25 cents
110,000 US$1,375 1.25 cents
120,000 US$1,500 1.25 cents

As a reminder, requalification for Diamond status requires:

  • 70 elite qualifying nights, or
  • 120,000 elite qualifying points

In other words, you could buy all the way up to Diamond status, even if you currently have zero EQPs.

Per the eDM, the EQPs you buy can also be used for reward nights, which offsets the cost in a sense.

These points lock in your Diamond Elite status through 2024 and can also be redeemed for Reward Nights, experiences, catalogue items, and much more.

I value 1 IHG One Rewards point at 0.5 US cents, so if we adjust for that, the picture becomes a bit more favourable. 

EQP Price
(Less value of points)*
Cost per EQP
10,000 US$200 2 cents
20,000 US$375 1.88 cents
30,000 US$400 1.33 cents
40,000 US$425 1.06 cents
50,000 US$450 0.90 cents
60,000 US$500 0.83 cents
70,000 US$525 0.75 cents
80,000 US$600 0.75 cents
90,000 US$675 0.75 cents
100,000 US$750 0.75 cents
110,000 US$825 0.75 cents
120,000 US$900 0.75 cents
*Valued at 0.5 US cents per point

Points purchases made under this offer will not count towards the yearly 150,000 points purchase cap.

EQPs may only be purchased once under this promotion, so you need to decide upfront how many you think you’ll need. If you requalify for Diamond status via EQP purchases, you’ll hold that status for the entire 2024 calendar year.

EQPs will be awarded upon completion of the transaction, and new Elite status will be reflected within 5-10 business days.

Is it worth it?

Kimpton Koh Samui

Whether buying EQPs makes sense really boils down to how far short you fall of requalification. 

If you’re starting from zero, I think it’s difficult to argue that US$900 is worth it for Diamond status (because the very fact you’re starting from zero means you haven’t been doing a lot of IHG stays in the first place!).

However, if you’re just shy of requalification and don’t have plans to travel, then buying the remaining EQPs could be tempting. Of course, the problem is the cost per EQP is significantly higher for small purchases. 

It used to be that members could extend IHG Diamond status for another year by buying a US$200 InterContinental Ambassador membership (itself a good deal because it comes with additional perks and a complimentary weekend night), but this is no longer possible. 

By the way, if all you want to do is buy redeemable points (and not EQPs), you should be aware that IHG is running a concurrent promotion that sells them with up to a 100% bonus, or 0.5 US cents each.

IHG One Diamond benefits

Intercontinental Hanoi Landmark72

As an IHG Diamond member, you’ll enjoy benefits such as:

  • Complimentary breakfast
  • 100% IHG bonus points
  • Room upgrades up to standard suites (subject to availability)
  • Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)
  • Dedicated customer support

The detailed list of benefits can be found below.

IHG Diamond members enjoy a hot breakfast for two guests. Alcoholic beverages or speciality coffees may be excluded by hotels (even if they’re offered to all other breakfast-paying guests), but at least the wording means we shouldn’t see any continental breakfast shenanigans. 

Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, InterContinental Alliance properties (in Las Vegas and Macau) and Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties are excluded from the breakfast benefit. 

Do note that club lounge access is not an automatic benefit of IHG Diamond status. Instead, this needs to be earned through the Milestone Rewards programme. As a reminder, here’s the current list of Milestone Rewards; you’ll need at least 40 elite nights to earn a lounge pass.

Milestone Rewards
20 nights
  • 5,000 bonus points
  • 2 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)
  • 1 confirmable suite upgrade

(Pick one)

30 nights
  • 5,000 bonus points
  • 2 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)

(Pick one)

40 nights
  • 10,000 bonus points
  • 5 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)
  • 1 confirmable suite upgrade (limit one)
  • Annual lounge membership (limit one)

(Pick two)

50 nights
  • 10,000 bonus points
  • 5 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)

(Pick one)

60 nights
  • 10,000 bonus points
  • 5 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)

(Pick one)

70 nights
  • 10,000 bonus points
  • 5 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)
  • 2 confirmable suite upgrades (limit one)
  • Annual lounge membership (limit one)

(Pick two)

80 nights
  • 10,000 bonus points
  • 5 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)

(Pick one)

90 nights
  • 10,000 bonus points
  • 5 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)

(Pick one)

100 nights
  • 10,000 bonus points
  • 5 F&B rewards (US$20 ea.)

(Pick one)

Conclusion

IHG One Rewards is now selling EQPs to Diamond members falling short of the requalification threshold. If you’d like to retain your status for 2024 but lack the requisite nights/EQPs, it might be worth considering depending on your travel plans for the upcoming year.

Remember that this is a targeted offer, so check your emails and see whether you received anything.

Aaron Wong
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to help people travel better for less and impress chiobu. He was 50% successful.

Similar Articles

Comments

4 COMMENTS

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

4 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
CSS

I have been diligently clocking the IHG status towards diamond (since i am gonna lose my Accor Platinum) this year since the company moved their contract from Accor to IHG (but IHG properties in Japan are terrible especially those ANA Crowne Plazas).

Buying EQP towards diamond seems not a good deal for me…

SSS

Aaron what do you know about the Annual Lounge Membership available at 40 nights? Is this for 1 person or for all room guests? And can this be purchased / gained other ways?

Totalf1

What are you going to do Aaron? Renew by purchasing or not?

CREDIT CARD SIGN UP BONUSES

Advertisment

Featured Deals

Advertisment

Follow us

7,110FansLike
12,236FollowersFollow

TAGS