Great Card If
- You frequently stay at IHG hotels.
- You want IHG Platinum Elite status.
- You’ll get more value from the card benefits than the annual fee.
Don’t Get If
- You seldom stay at IHG hotels.
- You prefer a card that earns flexible rewards.
IHG Premier Select Card: Is It Worth It?
If you frequently stay at IHG hotels and care about having elite status within the IHG One Rewards program, then the IHG Premier Select card would be worth it for you.
Although it does charge the highest annual fee of the entire IHG credit card lineup, it offers plenty of benefits to help offset that fee, including automatic IHG Platinum Elite status, an annual free night certificate, up to $300 in annual food and beverage rewards at IHG properties, a $200 annual airline statement credit, and more.
The card would help you earn more points and receive better benefits for all of your stays at IHG hotels.
IHG Premier Select Card Top Benefits
Here is a look at the benefits you can expect as an IHG Premier Select Cardholder:
- Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status: This includes perks like 60% bonus points on stays, complimentary room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and more. You can earn Diamond Elite status by spending $25,000 on the card.
- Anniversary Free Night Award: This is redeemable at IHG properties costing up to 60,000 points per night. You can top off these rewards with additional points.
- Annual Elite Night Credits: Receive 20 Elite Night Credits each year, plus a further 2 Elite Night Credits for every $5,000 spent on the card annually, to help you achieve higher levels of elite status and earn Milestone Rewards.
- Fourth night free: When you book a stay using your IHG One Rewards points for at least 3 nights, you receive your fourth night free.
- Up to $300 in annual Food & Beverage Rewards: This is redeemable at IHG properties in the amount of $75 per quarter. Note that these amounts do not roll over quarter to quarter.
- $200 annual airline statement credit: This applies to qualifying flight purchases with any airline of $250 or more.
- Up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash: This is applied as $25 into your account every 6 months.
- Get a 30% points purchase discount.
Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your IHG One Rewards Points
Using your IHG Premier Select card for as many purchases as you can, especially for your stays at IHG hotels, is one of the best ways to earn IHG points. That said, you have other options too, like Milestone Rewards, purchasing IHG points, the IHG dining program, and more.
Once you’ve built up a large stash of points and you’re ready to redeem, read our guide to the best ways to redeem your IHG One Rewards points to help you maximize the value of your points. Remember that you also get your fourth night free on award bookings with your points.
Alternative Cards to the IHG Premier Select Card
If you’re a fan of IHG hotels but are put off by the annual fee of the IHG Premier Select card, then the IHG Premier card would be a better fit.
You earn 10x points on IHG stays. You also receive automatic Gold Elite status, up to $100 in food and beverage rewards annually, a $100 airline statement credit annually, an annual free night award redeemable at properties costing up to 50,000 points per night, your fourth night free on award stays, and more, for a $150 annual fee.
If you want to earn extra IHG points and receive benefits during your stays for the lowest cost possible, the IHG One Rewards card offers 5x points on IHG stays, automatic Silver Elite status, 5 Elite Night Credits per calendar year, and more, without needing to pay an annual fee.
