While we’re used to IHG One Rewards having promotions on buying points, the program is currently offering a year-end promotion for buying elite qualifying points, which is essentially a way to buy elite status. We saw a similar promotion at the end of last year, though this one isn’t quite as generous.
IHG One Rewards selling elite status boost
It’s not uncommon to see airline and hotel loyalty programs offer ways to buy up to elite status at the end of the year, whether members are struggling to requalify for their current status, or are hoping to achieve a higher status tier.
Along those lines, between December 16 and December 31, 2025, IHG One Rewards is selling elite qualifying points, to help members earn status in 2025, for the 2026 program year. As a reminder:
- IHG One Rewards Gold status requires 40,000 elite qualifying points
- IHG One Rewards Platinum status requires 60,000 elite qualifying points
- IHG One Rewards Diamond status requires 120,000 elite qualifying points
With this promotion, members can buy enough elite qualifying points either to requalify for their current elite tier, or to qualify for the next tier. This opportunity is based on the status that a member had as of December 4, 2025.
New elite status earned through this promotion will be awarded within 5-10 business days of making the purchase. Note that it appears that not all members are eligible for this offer, and pricing even differs between accounts. So you’ll have to log into your account to see what you’re eligible for.
What’s the cost to purchase points? It depends on how many you buy, as the cost per elite qualifying point gets lower the more elite qualifying points you purchase. For example, looking at my account:
- Buying 5,000 elite qualifying points costs $250, or $200 with the 20% cardmember discount; that means you’re paying 4-5 cents per elite qualifying point
- Buying 120,000 elite qualifying points costs $1,000, or $800 with the 20% cardmember discount; that means you’re paying 0.67-0.83 cents per elite qualifying point
As an existing Platinum member with virtually no elite qualifying points, this means that I can outright buy Diamond status for $800 (factoring in the 20% cardmember discount).
What’s interesting here is that the elite qualifying points that you purchase can also be redeemed toward award stays. So you’ll earn the same number of elite qualifying points as you earn redeemable points — buying 120,000 elite qualifying points also earns you 120,000 redeemable points.
Keep in mind that when IHG offers a 100% bonus on purchased points, the cost is typically 0.5 cents per point.
Is it worth buying IHG One Rewards elite status?
Let’s assume you’re eligible for the offer of 120,000 points (elite qualifying and redeemable) for $800. Assuming you’d consider buying IHG points for 0.5 cents each, you’re basically spending $200 or so on Diamond status (since buying 120,000 points with a 100% promotion would ordinarily cost $600). A few thoughts:
- Even a couple of stays (or a longer stay) as an IHG Diamond at a full service property would probably allow you to breakeven on this, given that Diamond offers complimentary breakfast
- A lot of IHG’s best elite perks are tied to the IHG Milestone Rewards program, as this is how you can receive confirmed suite upgrades, get club lounge access, etc.; this is tied to elite nights and not elite qualifying points, so this promotion wouldn’t help you with that
- Another pathway to IHG Diamond status is to just spend $40,000 per year on one of IHG’s premium co-branded credit cards, so if you do really value Diamond status and have access to the cards, that’s another option to consider
If you’re a relatively frequent IHG guest who gets value from IHG points and would consider buying them for 0.5 cents each, then I’d absolutely consider this offer. Meanwhile if you wouldn’t otherwise buy IHG points, or if you only very rarely stay at IHG properties, I’d save your cash.
Bottom line
For a limited time, IHG One Rewards is selling elite qualifying points, for those looking for a year-end status boost. The price for outright being able to buy top tier status is quite attractive, especially since these also count as redeemable points. For some people, if you’d otherwise consider buying points, this is like spending $200 on Diamond status, which is potentially quite a good deal.
Do any OMAAT readers plan on buying IHG elite qualifying points to earn status?
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