IHG One Rewards Transfer Partners & How To Use Them [2024]

Key Takeaways

• IHG One Rewards points can be transferred to 37 airline partners like British Airways, Delta, and United.
• Most IHG One Rewards point transfers to airline partners are at a 5:1 ratio, meaning 5,000 IHG points convert to 1,000 airline miles.
• Transferring IHG One Rewards points requires a phone call and takes 14 to 21 days to process.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s largest hotel management and hospitality companies. This U.K.-headquartered company has over 6,000 properties in more than 100 countries worldwide, making it easy to rack up points.

One of the great features of IHG One Rewards points is that they can be used in many different ways.

So if you’ve got a generous stash of these points sitting around and are looking for unique ways to redeem them, you should consider transferring IHG One Rewards points to airline partners.

We’ll show you how in this guide. Let’s begin!

IHG One Rewards Airline Transfer Partners

At the moment, IHG One Rewards has 37 airline partners, which is an astonishing number! Each program has unique transfer terms and conditions, but most of them transfer at a 5:1 ratio.

This means you’ll earn 1,000 airline miles with most of these partners when you transfer 5,000 IHG One Rewards points.

Transfers usually take around 14 to 21 days, which is appreciably faster than other hotel currencies that can sometimes take up to 2 months!

Here is the complete table of transfer partners, as well as the transfer ratios and minimum transfer amounts associated with each partner.

Out of all the transfer partners above, just 3 of them stray away from the 5:1 transfer ratio.

Let’s look at some transfer examples:

• 5:1 ratio (the rate for the majority of partners) — Transfer 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to United and earn 2,000 United MileagePlus miles.
• 40:1 ratio — Transfer 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to Air Miles and earn 250 Air Miles.
• 250:1 ratio — Transfer 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to EL AL Matmid and earn 40 EL AL Matmid points.
• 400:1 ratio — Transfer 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to Air New Zealand Airpoints and earn up with 25 Airpoints.

Earning IHG One Rewards Points

One of the best ways to earn IHG One Rewards points is to use the co-branded credit cards issued by Chase. These cards earn up to 26 IHG One Rewards points total per dollar spent.

Recommended IHG One Rewards Cards

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

80,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$400

Annual Fee

$0

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who is looking to enhance your IHG stays by earning more points and benefits, without paying an annual fee, then the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card might be the perfect fit for you.

In this guide, we will provide a detailed view of what the card can offer so you can decide if it makes sense to add to your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 17x total points per $1 on IHG stays
• 3x points per $1 on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 2x point per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Not as rewarding as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Bonus Points
• No Annual Fee
• Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Redeem 3 Nights, Get the 4th Night Free
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

IHG Rewards Loyalty Program Review

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

140,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$700

Annual Fee

$99

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you regularly visit IHG hotels throughout the year, then the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably a perfect card to have in your wallet.

The IHG Premier card offers a great bundle of perks and benefits, including automatic Platinum elite status, an annual free night certificate, and travel protections.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
• 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG^® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The IHG Premier Business card is the perfect option for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

The IHG Premier Business card is the perfect option for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

140,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$700

Annual Fee

$99

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

IHG Rewards and Chase have teamed up to offer the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card, a compelling option for those who travel often for their business and stay at IHG hotels.

In this review, we will cover all of the benefits of the card, including earning rates, perks, fees, and more to help you determine whether the card is a good fit for your travel goals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x total points per $1 spent on IHG Hotels and Resorts
• 5x points per $1 spent on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG^® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier Business cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

With the generous bonus categories and multipliers, it’s easy to earn lots of IHG One Rewards points.

However, if you’re short on IHG One Rewards points, the program is a Chase transfer partner so you can transfer points from a Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card at a 1:1 ratio to IHG One Rewards. We don’t recommend this transfer because you’re almost guaranteed to devalue your points, and there are so many fantastic ways to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points other than transferring them to IHG!

Recommended Chase Cards

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

How To Transfer IHG One Rewards Points

Unlike most other hotel programs, it’s not possible to transfer IHG One Rewards points without picking up the phone.

Luckily, the process is super easy. Simply call 888-211-9874 to transfer your points. Provide the agent with your IHG One Rewards number, choose which transfer partner you’d like to move points to, and confirm the transfer amounts.

Points are transferred in 14 to 21 days.

Should You Transfer to a Partner or Book Hotel Stays?

IHG One Rewards points are generally considered to be some of the most valuable. The rewards program is one of the “Big 4” hotel loyalty programs, alongside World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hilton Honors.

We value IHG One Rewards points at 0.5 cents each, which means 10,000 points are worth around $50, but it’s certainly possible to get better (or worse) value, especially when redeeming at upscale or luxury hotels.

For example, the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort charges 100,000 IHG One Rewards points per night, while cash rates are usually around $1,100 per night, enabling you to get 1.1 cents per point in redemption value.

You probably won’t get that much value when booking a stay at your local Holiday Inn.

But if you don’t see yourself needing to book a stay at an IHG property anytime soon, you should consider transferring points to airline partners.

When It Makes Sense To Transfer IHG One Rewards Points

If you feel confident that you can get at least 2.5 cents for every airline mile you earn through IHG One Rewards transfers, then it makes sense to transfer IHG One Rewards points at a 5:1 ratio.

In most cases, getting 2.5 cents per mile from frequent flyer programs is difficult, unless you’re booking premium cabin flights via Saver-level award tickets.

Another situation when it makes sense to transfer IHG One Rewards points to frequent flyer programs is if you are just a few thousand miles short of what you need to book a specific flight.

If you need 50,000 Delta SkyMiles to book a flight but only have 48,000 SkyMiles, you can simply transfer 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to Delta and book it.

Other Ways To Use Your Points

In addition to free nights and airline miles, there are a handful of creative ways to redeem your IHG One Rewards points, including:

• Charitable donations
• Ambassador memberships
• Shopping
• Magazines
• Media (eBooks, games, music, movies, etc.)

Taking a closer look at each method, you can donate IHG One Rewards points in 2,500-point increments, up to 10,000 points in a single transaction. Eligible charities include The American Red Cross, The Global FoodBanking Network, and the National Urban League. It’s not clear what your donation will translate to in terms of value for the charity.

InterContinental Ambassador is a benefit program offering elevated elite recognition, room upgrades, late checkout, and more. Normally, a 12-month membership costs $200, but you can redeem 40,000 IHG One Rewards points for it — a value of 0.5 cents per point.

When you shop for merchandise, your IHG One Rewards points will be worth around 0.2 to 0.4 cents each, depending on what you purchase.

Although the redemption catalog for magazines and media varies across geographies and locations, you’ll get an approximate redemption value of 0.3 to 0.4 cents per point. For example, a single issue of National Geographic is 1,550 IHG One Rewards points ($5.99 value) and a 12-issue subscription is 11,450 IHG One Rewards points ($39 value).

Bottom Line: IHG One Rewards points are worth up to 0.5 cents each through “alternate” redemptions, including an InterContinental Ambassador membership, shopping, and magazine subscriptions. Unfortunately, this redemption value is subpar, so we don’t recommend going out of your way to redeem points like this.

Combining IHG One Rewards From Multiple Accounts

IHG allows you to transfer points from one member to another for a flat rate of $5 for every 1,000 points. You can do this for an unlimited number of points.

So if you want to transfer 20,000 IHG One Rewards points to your friend, it’ll cost $100. Unfortunately, this negates much of the redemption value you’d get from any of your points, so we don’t recommend doing it.

Visit the transfer page and fill in the details to transfer your points to another member via points.com.

Redeeming IHG One Rewards Points

IHG One Rewards points can be very valuable when redeemed optimally. Our favorite way to redeem IHG One Rewards points is for hotel stays. That’s because you can squeeze outsized value from IHG’s reward pricing structure, especially at luxury properties.

For example, if you redeem your IHG One Rewards points for a peak-season hotel stay during a spring break holiday in Miami, you’re probably going to get great value.

The best way to figure out the value of your points on a particular booking is to compare your points price to the cash rate.

The second-best way to get lots of value from IHG One Rewards points is to transfer points to airline frequent flyer programs.

Final Thoughts

IHG One Rewards is a valuable hotel loyalty program used by those deep in the points landscape. Considered to be one of the “Big 4” loyalty programs along with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards points are incredibly popular.

One of the best ways to redeem IHG One Rewards points (other than hotel stays) is to transfer them for airline miles.

Normally, you’ll transfer your IHG One Rewards points at a 5:1 ratio, but a few of the 35+ transfer partners have different transfer ratios.

Nonetheless, if you can get at least 2.5 cents per mile in redemption value (which is really only possible when redeeming for business or first class flights), then it makes plenty of sense to transfer IHG One Rewards points at a 5:1 ratio.

Whatever the case, we hope you’ve learned a bit about IHG One Rewards’ transfer partners and how to use them.