IHG Rewards has just become the latest hotel program to announce plans to extend elite status for a second year in a row, following Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.
In this post:
IHG Rewards extending elite status by 12 months
IHG Rewards will automatically be extending all members’ elite status through February 2023, which represents a 12 month extension. This applies to all active Gold, Platinum, and Spire Elite members. This update was posted to IHG’s travel advisories page.
Prior to this, IHG had announced a reduction in elite status requirements for 2021, but not an outright status extension. For example, the requirements for Spire Elite were reduced from 75,000 points to 55,000 points (and that could still be useful if you’re qualifying for the status for the first time, rather than requalifying).
Back in May, IHG Rewards also announced a further extension of free night certificates. All certificates issued in 2020 are now valid through December 31, 2021. I hope there’s a further extension, but there haven’t been any further updates on that front.
This is the right thing to do, but…
It’s good to see IHG Rewards extending elite status for another year, though I’m sure I’m not the only one who has IHG status but won’t benefit from this. That’s because IHG makes it very easy to earn elite status with credit cards.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (review) is a phenomenal credit card that offers IHG Rewards Platinum status for as long as you have the card, along with all kinds of other great benefits. I find the card to be worth keeping for the other perks alone, and therefore IHG Platinum status is just an additional benefit that’s not costing me anything.
Then again, IHG Rewards elite status is also just about the weakest of any program — no elite tiers offer complimentary breakfast, guaranteed suite upgrades, guaranteed late check-out, etc. The status doesn’t make me seek out IHG properties, but rather if an IHG property happens to be the best option for my travels, I stay there.
Bottom line
IHG Rewards will be extending status by a further year, through February 2023. IHG Rewards is now the third major hotel loyalty program to extend status a second time, along with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.
Are you happy to see IHG extending elite status by a year?
Did anybody ever get their status extended to February 2023?
I did eventually get an extension to December 2022 which I'm thinking is related to my having earned over 60,000 qualifying points this year. (But I never got the extra 25,000 points for qualifying as Spire).
There is a message showing on my account stating my status has been extended to February 2023. But as at 30th December, its not happened.
Can't...
Did anybody ever get their status extended to February 2023?
I did eventually get an extension to December 2022 which I'm thinking is related to my having earned over 60,000 qualifying points this year. (But I never got the extra 25,000 points for qualifying as Spire).
There is a message showing on my account stating my status has been extended to February 2023. But as at 30th December, its not happened.
Can't work out if they just do whatever they want or whether they don't like me.
I note that the IHG website uses the past tense: "All members’ program status has been automatically extended through February 2023." Does this mean I should actually see something on my account?
I hit 60,000 points about six weeks ago, but my status is still due to expire at the end of December 2021. I'm not sure what happens then. Presumably I go back to 'club' level and my points expire at the end...
I note that the IHG website uses the past tense: "All members’ program status has been automatically extended through February 2023." Does this mean I should actually see something on my account?
I hit 60,000 points about six weeks ago, but my status is still due to expire at the end of December 2021. I'm not sure what happens then. Presumably I go back to 'club' level and my points expire at the end of 2022.
All things considered, I don't think they want me as a customer any more.
While it probably is the right thing to do, if they are trying to keep existing elites who 'haven't had as many chances due to Covid' happy, my opinion is the same as 12 months ago: I don't expect much to change in the next 12 months.
I don't think these companies acting like Covid will end or get a lot better quicker is right overall vs. adapting, but I benefit from these changes so...
While it probably is the right thing to do, if they are trying to keep existing elites who 'haven't had as many chances due to Covid' happy, my opinion is the same as 12 months ago: I don't expect much to change in the next 12 months.
I don't think these companies acting like Covid will end or get a lot better quicker is right overall vs. adapting, but I benefit from these changes so I'm also happy to go along with it, but I don't see me qualifying any easier next year than this (which I wasn't going to achieve).
Yes .traveling in times like these it's nice to see a company considering people .
Do qualified nights rollover again? I'm 10 away from Spire, hopefully they do.
Glad they're extending it. I earned it this year but they're now closing all credit cards that were linked to Curve so in the UK we no longer have any method of earning status/points from spending.
To be honest, I haven’t been able to go anywhere so far this year, due to Covid-19 ‘stay at home’ policies, international destinations closing to visitors, my travel partner suffering a heart attack in April and a stroke in June, my home getting flooded in August and an accident in September that meant I had to go to the hospital every three days for dressing changes! Hopefully 2022 will be much better and I will...
To be honest, I haven’t been able to go anywhere so far this year, due to Covid-19 ‘stay at home’ policies, international destinations closing to visitors, my travel partner suffering a heart attack in April and a stroke in June, my home getting flooded in August and an accident in September that meant I had to go to the hospital every three days for dressing changes! Hopefully 2022 will be much better and I will be able to travel and earn my status. But, I think that IHG are doing the right thing for all members. I would seriously have considered changing hoteliers if I lost my Platinum status and had to start again from Gold status (IHG credit card benefit). By extending our statuses IHG is preventing us from moving away! We are locked in! Thank you IHG!!
I have worked hard this year to achieve Spire Elite by staying away and spending money. Now it seems I didn't have to if I would automatically qualify for another year. I agree about breakfast. We should be able to use points for meals.
Any updates on ambassador?!?!?
Radisson extended as well
What about extending IHG Night Certificates as Marriott just did?
My question as well
Same here. If I lose all my nights to date it will hurt. Too risky for my husband to travel at the moment.
My question as well
Just got an email today saying that "Certificates awarded in 2021 can be redeemed through December 31, 2022."
But I'd like to know if my certs expiring on Dec 31, 2021 will also be extended?
Does this include Royal Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle ?
For those of us who have been Spire the entire time the level has existed, this represents yet another devaluation of the program.
IHG points/status are the easiest to earn, but are now becoming the worst redemption to value.