$89 Annual Fee

I have been a long time cardholder of the less premium version of this credit card which offered a free night at any IHG property (among other benefits) for only $49 per year.  

That card has since been discontinued and Chase has come out with a more premium card offering a higher signup bonus and better card benefits.

Signup Bonus

Chase is currently offering a 125,000 point signup bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of card membership.  This bonus is among the best we have seen for an IHG co branded credit card.

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Who is This Card For?

The IHG Rewards Club Premier is the perfect card for those who already stay frequently at IHG properties or are looking to.  Even semi frequent travelers should be able to get their money’s worth from the 125,000 points and annual free night, making it a worthwhile deal for most travelers in the first year especially.

Card Benefits

Bonus Point Categories

Cardholders receive 10x points spent on purchases at IHG hotels, 2x points spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and 1x point spent on all other purchases.

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Anniversary Free Night

Each year of card membership, the primary cardholder may redeem one free night at any IHG hotel valued at 40,000 points per night or less.  This includes hotel like the Intercontinental Bangkok, Intercontinental Budapest, Intercontinental Athens, and Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv Beach.

IHG Platinum Status

The primary cardholder receives IHG’s mid-tier Platinum status as long as they have the card. As a platinum member, you will receive two complementary drinks per stay, bonus IHG points, and priority for early check in/late check out, and room upgrades. Room upgrades are extremely rare in my experience though, with only one upgrade in 20+ stays.

Global Entry/TSA Pre Check

If you apply for Global Entry/TSA Pre Check using your IHG Premier card, the $100 fee will be fully reimbursed.  This benefit is offered by many credit cards now, however if you don’t already have a credit card with this benefit and plan to apply for Global Entry, this is easy money back in your pocket.

Bottom Line

The IHG Premier card offers a compelling signup bonus and useful benefits which should offset the annual fee for most travelers, at least in the first year.  I have been a long time fan of the IHG credit card for its annual free night and ability to earn and redeem points at some excellent properties like the Intercontinental Hong Kong.

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For a full list of card benefits, click here.