New IHG Pay With Points Feature: Is It A Good Deal?

@ Ben -- Told you the points weren't worth .5 cpp. This is the proof.

@Gene - go start a blog.

@Gene Your logic is invalid. This proves it's worth at least .4 cpp, and not that it's "not worth .5 cpp".

@ David -- Of course my statement is bs. However, you can be sure that this $40 for 10,000 points offer will look amazing in a couple years. Mark my word, this unfortunately marks the high end, not the low end of the value.

This is actually not that bad to cash out odd number of points you have left. This gives a conservative base line when all hell breaks lose just like DL pay with miles.

@Gene
From actual redemption, I do get roughly 0.5 cents.

@David
A lot of readers here have broken logic, you just have to point it out and get use to it.

Rawr!

Next comes dynamic pricing and eventually every redemption will be the simple math of a conversion ratio. Nearly every rewards program is headed this way and technology is making it possible for them to wring out all of the inefficiencies in their points program that used to be the out-sized values we all loved.

Reward charts were almost a necessity when they were first rolled out because technology couldn't handle dynamic pricing across multiple systems, now there is no such barrier.

Another reminder to earn and burn and not try and save for years for an aspirational redemption that will likely increase in cost faster than your points will accumulate.

@ ryan -- It doesnt pay well enough. It is more profitable to comment here.

@Gene
How do you make money here? I need some extra money to qualify for 1K.

@DLPTATL
I actually disagree, there is always a market for non fixed value reward. A good example is credit cards, you have cash back cards and you still have points cards. Guess what, both type of card still make money for banks. While the less sophisticated goes for cash back, the more creatives go for points. Another thing of having fixed return is it becomes very easy to compare. Why would you get a 1% cash back card if you can get 2%. For credit cards, you are still bound by approvals and credit reports. Your hands are not tied picking a hotel reward program.
One thing many people forget about points is they go to waste, they get forgotten, they made a wrong transfer, etc. Banks have to pay up with cash back, no excuses, no waste, no spoilage.

@ Eskimo -- I'll tell you after you fly 54 segments on United.

@Gene
I already did. Just landed from my 54th segment hours ago.
Now tell me.

I can see this being helpful if traveling with family. In some regions, it can be very difficult to find a room that allows 4 people when redeeming points.