IHG One Rewards has launched a new points sale, which runs from now till 30 June 2024, 11.59 a.m SGT.
During this period, members will receive up to a 100% bonus on points purchases, which reduces the cost per point to 0.5 US cents each. This is the highest bonus we ever see IHG offering, though it happens frequently enough that you shouldn’t feel FOMO.
Buy IHG Rewards points with a 100% bonus
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 11,000 points is required, and a maximum of 250,000 points (pre-bonus) can be purchased during this sale. This is a boost from the usual limit of 150,000 points.
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. A few things to note:
- When you redeem points, you don’t need to pay taxes or fees. Therefore, you should use the post-tax, post-fees cash rate when calculating the value you get per point
- If the difference between cash rates or buying points is marginal, the cash rate would make more sense because it lets you earn IHG points
Some properties which might be of interest include (remember that the prices below may change depending on which date you’re looking at):
- Six Senses Laamu Maldives (100,000 points per night, versus US$1,500 per night)
- InterContinental London Park Lane (120,000 points per night, versus US$820 per night)
- Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo (79,000 points per night versus US$527 per night)
- InterContinental Hotels Osaka (87,000 points per night versus US$547 per night)
Don’t forget that IHG periodically runs discounts on hotel redemptions worldwide, which allow you to stretch your points even further. We recently saw a 15% off sale for Diamond and Platinum Elite members, valid at all IHG properties worldwide.
IHG One Rewards offering 15% off award night 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 in USD by Points.com under MCC 7399 Business Services Not Elsewhere Classified.
Hereโs the best cards to maximize the miles earned on your purchase:
Card | Earn Rate | Remarks |
Citi Rewards Card Apply |
4 mpd | Cap of S$1K per s. month |
UOB Visa Signature Apply |
4 mpd | Min S$1K, max S$2K FCY spend per s. month |
Maybank Visa Infinite Apply |
3.2 mpd (till 31 Aug 24) |
No cap |
Maybank Horizon Apply |
3.2 mpd (till 30 Jun 24) |
Min. S$800 per c. month |
SCB Visa Infinite Apply |
3 mpd | Min S$2K per s. month |
HSBC TravelOne Card Apply |
2.4 mpd | No cap |
UOB PRVI Miles Apply |
2.4 mpd | No cap |
S. Month= Statement Month | C. Month= Calendar Month |
Remember, you can always pair the Citi Rewards Card with the Amaze Card to earn 4 mpd on Points.com purchases, while enjoying competitive exchange rates.
You should not be using the DBS Woman’s World Card for Points.com purchases, as this MCC is not eligible for bonus points.
Conclusion
IHG One Rewards is offering a 100% bonus on points purchases till 30 June 2024, which reduces the cost per point to 0.5 US cents each.
Buying points can help you save money on hotel stays, but you shouldn’t do so speculatively. IHG’s programme uses dynamic pricing, which means the prices you see now may not be the prices you see a few months down the road.
A 100% bonus is offered every few months, so there’ll definitely be another chance down the road.
HSBC T1 no longer award point for MCC 7399.
Can you please explain further how you calculate Maybank Visa gives 3.2 mpd (miles per dollar?) while UOB PRVI only gives 2.4 mpd?