Chase and IHG have again increased the welcome offer on the IHG Premier card to an incredible five 60K free night certificates, although with a slightly increased minimum spend requirement of $5K in ninety days (last time, it was $4K). This a huge offer for the Premier and, even accounting for the limitations of free night certificates, is among the best that we’ve ever seen on this card.
Unfortunately, unlike the 40K anniversary certificates that can be topped off with extra points for more expensive awards, the 60K certs that come with this welcome offer are only good for properties that cost up to 60K points. They cannot be topped off. That makes it much harder to maximize them, as you’ll most likely end up using them for something less than 60,000 points. To me, that knocks the appeal of this welcome offer down a notch.
There’s also an increased offer on the no-annual fee Chase IHG Traveler card of 120K points after doing $2k in spend.
Complete Guide to the Chase IHG Premier card
Key Card Details
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
 ⓘ $1118 1st Yr Value EstimateClick to learn about first year value estimates 5 x 60K Free Night Certificates ⓘAffiliateThis is an affiliate offer. Frequent Miler may earn a commission if you are approved for this offer Five 60K free night certificates after $5K spend in 3 months after account opening.$99 Annual Fee This card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule (click here for details). Recent better offer: Five 60K free night certificates after $4K spend in 3 months (Expired 6/2/24) Earning rate: 10X IHG ✦ 5X travel, dining, and gas stations ✦ 3X on all other purchases Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Chase. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: 10K bonus points + $100 statement credit after you spend $20K in a calendar year + make one additional purchase ✦ Diamond status after $40K in purchases + one additional purchase in a calendar year Noteworthy perks: Anniversary free night e-certificate good at IHG properties up to 40K points per night ✦ Ability to add an unlimited number of points to a free night certificate to book a higher-level hotel ✦ Fourth night free on award stays ✦ 20% discount on points purchases ✦ Platinum elite status ✦ Up to $50 in United TravelBank cash per year (must register your card with your United account) ✦ Complimentary Instacart+ for 3 months (must activate by 12/31/27) ✦ $10 monthly Instacart credit |
Quick Thoughts
This is only the second that time that we’ve seen an IHG 60K free night certificate. The usual ones that it offers for cardholder anniversaries and various promotions is 40K, but it’s hard to over-emphasize how many more properties can be had with a 60K limit. We’re estimating the value of this welcome offer to be ~$1200, currently the most valuable for a Chase consumer card on our Best Offers Page.
The Premier card comes with a 40K annual free night certificate that’s awarded every card anniversary. To me, the cert is easily worth the $99 annual fee, making this card a keeper even after the the first year anniversary. I’ll be interested to see whether these new 60K certificates will eventually be replacing that 40K version. If so, it would make holding onto the card even more of a no-brainer.
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My wife and I both have the IHG Premiere and Select cards already. I’m thinking about cancelling both of mine to get this offer by reapplying for the Premiere card after a few weeks with the understanding that I will no longer be able to get the Select card back. Is it worth getting this offer if I can no longer get the Select card? My family with 2 young kids usually stay at the Holiday Inn Express. Any insight is appreciated!
Over the weekend, I canceled my Select, Premier, and Traveler Cards. Also, I had just paid the Annual Fee for the Select card – I believe that they will refund the Annual fee and remove the free night certificate from my account. Hopefully, I made the right decision.
I will sign up for the IHG Premier Card on Wednesday.
In summary, I lose the Select but gain 5 nights for free. That is better than a 40,000 point free night for $49?
Thanks for that info! My only hesitation is that I lose the Select card with its $49 AF since it’s no longer being offered. But I agree that 5 nights for free should trump that. Plus Chase might cancel the Select card for everyone at any time. Maybe I will cancel both cards but my wife still keeps both so at least one of us still keeps the Select card.
I got this offer last year. The 12 months comes around quickly. Problem I’m having is I’m planning a trip to Athens in Oct. shortly before the 5 FNCs expire. Booked 4 of the nights with certs then ran into a roadblock. One night in my non-flexible 5 night time period is 61K. Despite the other 4 nights being less than 60K, the hotel will not do anything for me to accommodate the 5th FNC for the night that’s 61K. That’s total crap customer service, and definitely an issue with these 60K FNCs.
I will be getting a 40K FNC at my card’s anniversary. I see they can be topped off, though I don’t see any mention if there is a limit to how much you can top them off. Could I top off the 40K FNC with 21K points?
I took advantage of this offer the last time it was available and used the certs to book the Holiday Inn Express Queenstown in March. Great value! I also stayed at the Holiday Inn Remarkables Park (by the Queenstown airport) during the trip and for anyone interested I would recommend the Remarkables hotel over the Express if staying in Queestown. The Express felt tired and a little worn whereas the Remarkables hotel appeared to be recently built and much nicer. The only reason to choose the Express over Remarkables is if you don’t have diamond status and want free breakfast.
Does anyone know how to request an extension for these certificates?
I would encourage everyone to double check a few redemption rates for IHG hotels they are targeting prior to signing up for this card. Many of my favorite hotels that are typically in the 45K-55K range are now conveniently prices at 60.5K points. Not sure these certificates have much value at this point.
Not going for this offer, but do recall trying to burn five Marriott 50k FNCs a year ago. Bunch of nicer properties were just over 65k/night.
That’s true. They have been devaluing a lot. Not worth it anymore
I’d rather have the no fee card with 120k bonus and 2k MSR. For the premier $99 fee would buy 20k points. Extra 3k MSR at 3% = $90 MS would buy 18k points. Not being able to top off certs means more likely using them at a 40k property than a 60k one. Using free certs and not getting fourth night free – loses 40k value on a four or five night stay. Certs that expire vs points that don’t – ~20k points? 120k + 20k + 18k + 40k + 20k means the no fee card would like earn me a similar stay to the one the IHG Premier Welcome bonus would earn. For my needs at least.
Was the elevated offer available via referrals last time this came around?
Any recs for 60k certs? Seems like IHG jacked up the redemption rates in Europe
Check out properties in grand Cayman
Not just Europe, it’s everywhere, including SEA
Yeah, if anyone’s wondering. I end up using 3 of these in Tokyo when they had a 15% discount on awards. Planning to use the rest at NYC. pretty much everything is tied closely with cash prices now.
Can certificates be combined with cash?
for example when I select, Pay with points, there is an option for: 56,000points +69 USD
My same thoughts. If I can combine with cash, I’ll apply for the card.
Hi. I was wondering if I could split up the travel certificates or have to use all together?
You can use them individually, there’s no need to use them all at once (but they do expire 12 months from issue).
Also, does the 4th night free still apply so we can only use 3 free night certificates. Or only 4th night is free with points and not award free nights certificate
I checked on google and said it is not able to use on free travel certificates
Thanks for the update Tim.
I’ve read that IHG has better hotels overall in Europe. How are the domestic products? Any particular ones to recommend?
The Kimpton brand properties are the ones in the US that you want to look at. There are a few scattered throughout some touristy areas, and there’s usually at least one in every major city. One of my personal favorites is the Kimpton Arras in Asheville, NC
Given the 12 month expiry , the lack of fourth night free, the lack of top up, the lack of 10% back, and the lost value if redeemed for properties less than 60k, I’m curious how many IHG points you would trade these 5 certs for if you could?
My thoughts exactly. Not an offer I would take over straighht out points.
I would trade them for 575,000 points if I could!
Ha! Jeff I think I should’ve worded the question differently.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist!
Can I combine certicates to use for one night at a 120k+ point or plus property?
No.