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The IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card is the most premium option in IHG’s recently refreshed card lineup. It is best suited for travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels and want to get more out of those stays through stronger points earnings, elite status, and extra perks — especially if they are comfortable with a higher annual fee.
That fee is paired with a long list of benefits that can be worth hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. Here are the top 29 advantages of the IHG Premier Select card.
IHG Premier Select Card Overview
This card is loaded with perks for IHG fans, starting with a strong welcome offer and generous bonus categories.
Although the card carries a $350 annual fee, the value can easily exceed that amount through benefits such as a free anniversary night, automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, and statement credits that include airline and food-and-beverage credits at IHG resorts.
The IHG Premier Select card is a strong choice for frequent IHG guests who want to earn more points on every stay.
Earning IHG One Rewards Points
Some of the card’s most attractive features center on earning points — and lots of them.
1. Strong Welcome Offer
The current welcome offer is:
- Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Hot Tip: If you earn the welcome bonus, look for the best ways to use your IHG One Rewards points for strong value, from InterContinental Madrid to Holiday Inn Bangkok.
2. Excellent Earnings at IHG Properties
Cardholders can earn up to 28 points per dollar spent at IHG properties.
The breakdown is:
- 12x points for using the card
- 10x points for being an IHG One Rewards member
- 6x points for having Platinum Elite status
Using the card for IHG stays is where it delivers the most value. For example, a $700 stay at an IHG hotel could earn 19,600 IHG One Rewards points.
3. Extra Bonus Category
Beyond IHG stays, the card also earns 6x points on travel purchases, including rideshares.
4. Better Rewards on Everyday Spending
You also earn 3 points per dollar on purchases that do not fall into one of the bonus categories.
That makes the card useful for everyday purchases, such as department store shopping, school fees, a new car, or anything else outside traditional bonus categories.
5. Bonus Points for Annual Spending
If you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, you can earn an additional 20,000 bonus IHG One Rewards points.
6. Discount When Buying Points
Cardholders receive 30% more value on points purchases when they use the card to buy IHG One Rewards points.
Elite Status Perks
The card includes automatic elite status, elite night credits, and a path to higher status through spending.
7. Automatic Platinum Elite Status
Once approved, you automatically receive Platinum Elite status, which includes benefits such as:
- Guaranteed room availability when booking 72 hours in advance
- Welcome amenity, such as points or a drink, at check-in
- Access to Milestone Rewards
- Early check-in and late checkout, subject to availability
- Room upgrades, when available
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star elite status
8. Path to Diamond Elite Status
You can reach Diamond Elite status by spending $25,000 per year. Diamond Elite includes the same perks as Platinum Elite, plus added benefits such as a choice between free breakfast and points as a welcome amenity and Hertz President’s Circle elite status.
9. Automatic Elite Night Credits
You receive 20 elite night credits automatically when your account opens and again at the start of each calendar year. Those credits can also unlock a Milestone Reward, such as a suite upgrade, 5,000 bonus points, or a food and beverage reward.
10. More Elite Night Credits Through Spending
For every $5,000 spent on the card, you get 2 elite night credits, which can help you move toward elite status faster.
You can also earn 5 additional elite night credits after spending $15,000 in a calendar year, on top of the credits earned for every $5,000 spent.
Hot Tip: If you want an IHG card but this one is not the right fit, there are other good options for IHG loyalists.
IHG Perks, Lifestyle and Travel Benefits, and Statement Credits
The card also offers travel and lifestyle benefits that can improve your stays at IHG properties.
11. Stay 3 Nights, Get the 4th Free
When you redeem points for a consecutive 4-night IHG hotel stay, the fourth night is free.
12. Food and Beverage Credit at IHG Hotels
You can use up to $300 in food and beverage credits annually at IHG hotels, which works out to a $75 voucher each quarter for drinks and meals during your stays.
13. Airline Statement Credit
Charge a flight of $250 or more to the card and receive a $200 statement credit each calendar year through the end of the stated promotional period.
14. Free Anniversary Night
Each card anniversary comes with a free night certificate worth up to 60,000 points, and you can add points if the hotel costs more than that cap. This benefit alone could offset the annual fee.
15. Extra Anniversary Night Through Spending
If you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you receive another free night certificate worth up to 60,000 points.
16. Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck Credit
Get up to $120 in statement credits once every 4 years when you use the card to pay for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck.
17. United TravelBank Credit
Link the card to your United MileagePlus account and receive $50 in United TravelBank credit, delivered as $25 twice per calendar year in January and July.
18. DoorDash Benefits
The card includes a 1-year complimentary DashPass membership from DoorDash, worth $120 annually, with unlimited deliveries and $0 delivery fees on eligible orders plus reduced service fees. Activation is required by the stated deadline.
You also get $10 off nonrestaurant DoorDash orders each month, such as groceries and essentials, through the stated promotional period.
19. Instacart Benefits
Cardholders receive a complimentary 3-month Instacart+ membership with unlimited deliveries and $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. After that, enrollment continues at 25% off the annual rate through the stated promotional period.
In addition, you receive $10 in Instacart credit each month, up to $120 per calendar year.
20. No Foreign Transaction Fees
The card charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for IHG stays and other purchases abroad.
Travel and Purchase Protections
This card also helps protect your purchases and travel plans.
21. Travel Accident Insurance
Charge even part of your trip to the card and you may be covered if a severe injury or death occurs on a common carrier or in another travel accident. Depending on the loss or injury, coverage can reach up to $500,000 for common carrier benefits and $100,000 for a 24-hour accident benefit.
22. Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
At any time, you can call for emergency or travel assistance. Help may include emergency transportation, legal and medical referrals, trip assistance, translation services, and more. There is no fee for referrals, though you are responsible for the cost of any services provided.
23. Lost Luggage Reimbursement
If your luggage is lost or stolen during a trip, you could receive up to $3,000 per person for each covered trip.
24. Baggage Delay Insurance
If your baggage is delayed for 6 hours or more, you may receive up to $100 per day for 3 days to cover necessities.
25. Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the full rental cost to your card. Coverage applies to theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad, for rental periods of 31 days or less. In the U.S., it is secondary to your own auto insurance.
26. Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
If a trip is canceled or cut short because of illness, severe weather, or another covered reason, you may be reimbursed for up to $5,000 per covered traveler and $10,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses such as airfare, tours, and hotels.
27. Purchase Protection
Items bought with the card receive 120 days of protection against theft and damage, up to $500 per item.
28. Extended Warranty
For eligible products with a warranty of 3 years or less, the card extends the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by one additional year, up to a maximum of 4 years from the date of purchase.
29. Fraud Protection
The card includes fraud alerts and zero-liability protection.
Final Thoughts
If you stay at IHG properties often, the IHG Premier Select card can be a very strong fit. It offers automatic elite status, multiple ways to earn points, and a range of statement credits and perks that can make your stays more rewarding. For heavy spenders, the value can continue to grow. The key is using the benefits to help make up for the annual fee.
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