In general, an offer to purchase a special status is not binding. For example, American Airlines AAdvantage offers for elite purchases are often ridiculously bad. However, IHG One Rewards is offering some members an offer — first reported by LoyaltyLobby — that’s compelling.
If IHG directed you to this purchase to purchase status, you may have received an email. The subject of this email is probably the same as one from TPG senior editor Christine Gallipeau with the subject line “You can lose your Diamond Elite status, Christine,” or TPG managing editor Matt Moffitt with the subject line “Upgrade to Diamond Elite status, you – Matthew.
These emails clearly state how many qualifying points you must purchase on Dec. 31, 2024, to secure the said status in 2025. However, the special qualifying points listed in your email are based on your account status as of Dec. 6, so the number will not be accurate if you have earned a higher qualifying score since then.
Related: IHG elite status: What it is and how to get it
Target members will see a tile when they log into their IHG account, click on their name in the top right corner and scroll down.
If you click on a link in an email, tile or here, you will be taken to a page where you can purchase the required points. However, only targeted members will see the offer after entering that page. Unfortunately, I’m not targeted, so I can’t use this offer.
As a reminder, you will need 40,000 qualifying points for Gold Elite, 60,000 for Platinum Elite and 120,000 for Diamond Elite. Considering the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offer complementary Platinum Elite status to cardholders — and members who don’t qualify for either of these cards can earn Platinum Elite status as a paid InterContinental benefit. Ambassador membership — the main status you may be interested in is purchasing qualifying points to claim Diamond Elite status.
Usually, when you buy IHG points, the points are not eligible points. However, during this offer, selected members can purchase qualifying points that can be used both and count towards qualifying for special status. The terms of this offer state, “EQP Points are non-refundable and apply to all IHG One Reward redemptions,” where the terms previously defined EQP as qualifying special points. The terms also state that you can only buy one of the qualifying points during this offer, so make sure you buy all you need at once.
Related: When does it make sense to buy points and miles?
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Christine said she currently has 20 elite nights and 69,470 elite points, but plans to stay another four nights with IHG in 2024, which should earn her an additional 37,822 elite points. So, he told me, “After this stay, I plan to buy the remaining 15,000 points needed to maintain my status. I have a mattress for two nights that I planned for the end of the month, but the purchase points. offer will cost less than that stay, so I plan to cancel it now to buy the remaining points instead. “
Meanwhile, Matt currently holds Platinum Elite status on the credit card and has earned 13 exclusive nights and 12,597 qualifying points so far in 2024. Matt said he currently has no other accommodations booked with IHG until the end of 2024 but he still has. is strongly considering purchasing qualifying points using this offer, noting, “Since I will be traveling full time for at least Q1 and Q2 next year (probably in the second half of the year), I’m sure I can get value out of the points and status.”
My husband JT was also directed to this offering. Accumulated 61 qualifying special nights and 17,265 qualifying points through Dec. 16, but enrolled in a targeted application for Diamond Elite status after 10 paid stays between Oct. 1 and Dis. 31. We just checked out the stay at 10 p.m. on Sunday, so we won’t be able to use any of his offers.
Select IHG cardholders enjoy a 20% discount on points purchases, too, making this offer especially compelling. If Matt has an eligible IHG card that offers a 20% discount, he can purchase 110,000 eligible points – worth $770 – for an effective cost of $616 after the 20% discount. That’s 0.56 cents per redeemable point, only 0.06 cents per point higher than TPG’s December 2024 valuation for IHG points.
Related: Last-minute strategies for achieving IHG One Rewards elite status
Bottom line
If IHG referred you to this offer, it’s worth considering. With this offer, target members can purchase eligible points at a value close to – if not lower than – the value they can be redeemed for.
Even though my husband would qualify for Diamond Elite status, I could purchase 120,000 qualifying points during this offer to qualify for Diamond Elite status again if IHG were to direct me to this offer. After all, 120,000 qualifying points are worth $800 – effectively $640 after the 20% discount – and I usually get at least 0.7 cents per point when I redeem IHG points and use the free fourth night bonus. So, without even considering the value of Diamond Elite status, I would value the points higher than the cost I would need to pay.
IHG Diamond Elite status continues to provide my husband and I with a ton of value, including the option of complimentary breakfast for two in the lobby at any IHG hotel or resort that doesn’t offer free breakfast to everyone. We have found that we always get an upgraded room or suite upon request upon check-in if the property is currently selling that type of room on our dates. Plus, earning 100% bonus points for paid stays is a key Diamond Elite benefit.
Related: How much value does IHG One Rewards offer when you book directly?
For IHG Diamond Elite members who have earned (or plan to earn) 70 exclusive nights or 120,000 qualifying points per stay, this offer almost feels like a slap in the face. But these members take solace in the fact that IHG’s Milestone Rewards are based on special qualifying nights, not points. Therefore, even if you buy up to the level by purchasing the highest qualifying points, you will not be able to access the Premium Rewards like an annual lounge membership.
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