An in-depth review of the new $350-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card, covering its welcome bonus, perks, and whether it's worth the cost.
Upgraded to this card earlier this week, and the 20 elite nights posted within 24 hours. Got to 60 nights for the year. I'm also a CSR cardholder and get IHG Diamond through the spend-based benefits. I use IHG mostly for higher-end stays; InterContinental, Kimpton, where I think the brand is strongest. I'm a UA 1K as well, so the partnership reinforces the math.
I don't plan to put much spend on the card, possibly just IHG stays once I've cleared the $75K CSR annual threshold. I upgraded primarily for the benefits, which paid for themselves and then some.
Here's my calculation:
20 elite nights — puts me closer to the 40-night Milestone Reward threshold for the club-membership perk. It's also 20 fewer nights I'd otherwise spend on mattress runs at a questionable/icky Holiday Inn Express or a depressing Avid.
$300 dining credit ($75/quarter) at IHG properties — easy win, will be used.
$50 United TravelBank cash — will be used.
$200 flight credit — going toward a United PQS run. For another $250 I can usually pick up 4 PQS in domestic first within Texas.
<= 60,000-point night — yes, please. Will be used.
IHG program is mediocre. And the credit cards are now sad (you’re likely just better off using sapphire reserve or even the preferred over IHG cards).
All that pissn and moaning IHG has done over the years to get a premium/luxury card out of Chase, and this is what they (co)develop with Chase??!! What a joke.