Yearly, you need to consider what’s in your pockets and determine which playing cards you are conserving. Usually, it is best to make the choice on whether or not you are conserving a card when its annual price is due.
To make that call, you need to think about the price of the annual price and what you get from it. Even when a card has a seemingly-low annual price, that does not mechanically justify it.
So is the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card‘s annual price of $99 price it? Let’s have a look.
Welcome bonus
New candidates for the IHG Premier card can earn 175,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 within the first three months from account opening. That is one of the best bonus we have ever seen on this card, and TPG values it at $875.
Word that you may’t get this bonus for those who presently have a private IHG bank card (such because the IHG Rewards Traveler Credit score Card) or for those who’ve acquired a welcome bonus on any IHG private bank card up to now 24 months.
Associated: The final word information to bank card utility restrictions
You’ll be able to redeem factors for luxurious stays at accommodations just like the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort or budget-friendly properties just like the Vacation Inn Agra — town the place you’ll be able to go to the Taj Mahal. The worth you see when trying to find accommodations would be the variety of factors required per night time.
Annual free night time award
On every account anniversary, you will obtain a free night time award price as much as 40,000 factors, legitimate for bookings with IHG One Rewards. If you wish to redeem it for a resort that prices extra, you’ll be able to add a vast variety of factors.
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Associated: How one can use the IHG Rewards anniversary night time certificates
This free night time award can be utilized for $200 in worth with out a lot effort. Thus, this profit alone might justify the cardboard’s annual price of $99.
$50 in United TravelBank credit score
In January and July, you will obtain $25 credit to your United TravelBank steadiness. These funds can be utilized to buy flights operated by United and United Categorical. These funds can scale back your out-of-pocket prices when shopping for money fares.
You’ll be able to’t use these funds to pay taxes and charges on award journey, and you’ll’t mix TravelBank funds with vouchers from canceled flights. You can also’t use these funds for inflight purchases.
Automated standing
You may take pleasure in complimentary Platinum Elite standing with the IHG Premier card. That is the second-highest tier in IHG One Rewards.
Advantages at this degree embrace complimentary upgrades at check-in (based mostly on availability), assured room availability, a welcome amenity of snacks or drinks, early check-in, use of a precedence check-in desk and incomes 60% bonus factors (so 16 factors per greenback whole) on paid stays with IHG.
TPG values Platinum Elite standing at $1,245 per 12 months.
Fourth night time free on award stays
IHG credit score cardholders can also use the “fourth night time free” profit when redeeming factors for award stays with IHG.
When utilizing factors to cowl a keep of 4 nights or extra, every fourth night time is free. The worth of this profit will fluctuate, based mostly on how typically you utilize it and the worth of accommodations the place you utilize it.
Different perks
On high of incomes 16 factors per greenback on paid stays at IHG (because of your Platinum Elite standing), you will additionally earn 10 factors per greenback at IHG when paying with the Premier card. Moreover, you will earn 5 factors per greenback on journey and fuel stations, 5 factors per greenback on eating (together with takeout and eligible supply providers) and three factors per greenback on different purchases. That quantities to a 5%, 2.5% and 1.5% return on spending, respectively, based mostly on our valuations.
Different key advantages embrace reimbursement (as soon as each 4 years) to your utility price to World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus and a 20% low cost on factors purchases, although this cannot be added to different gross sales on IHG factors. You may additionally earn a $100 assertion credit score and 10,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on purchases in your card in a calendar 12 months.
The IHG Premier card additionally gives useful journey and buying protections. You may take pleasure in journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage, buy safety, rental automotive insurance coverage (which is secondary within the U.S. however major protection elsewhere), misplaced baggage reimbursement and prolonged guarantee protection.
Associated: IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card evaluate
Backside line
Understanding and utilizing your bank card’s advantages can assist you get your cash’s price — making the annual price price it annually on playing cards just like the IHG Premier Credit score Card. If you should use the cardboard’s perks for common worth (or higher), you’ll have no qualms about conserving this card in your pockets. Nonetheless, for those who stick with IHG solely hardly ever and do not benefit from the cardholder advantages, then even $99 may appear too costly for this card.
Official utility hyperlink: IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card
