Chase IHG Premier: Five Free Nights at 40K Points Each (Plus 10K for Adding a User)

Chase and IHG have brought back the five free night certificate offer on the IHG One Rewards Premier card, but there's a catch: these certificates cap at 40,000 points per night, not the 60,000 we saw in a previous version. If you've been waiting for the higher-cap offer, you might want to hold off. But if you have specific redemptions in mind that fit within 40K, this could still be a solid deal—especially with the new 10,000-point bonus for adding an authorized user.

What You Get and What It Costs

The headline bonus is five free night certificates, each good for up to 40,000 points toward a stay. To earn them, you need to spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months from account opening. There's also a new twist: add an authorized user in the first three months and you'll pocket an extra 10,000 bonus points.

The card carries a $99 annual fee, and it's not waived for the first year. That's worth factoring into your math—the free nights can easily outweigh that cost if you use them, but it's still an upfront expense.

Earning Points and Perks

Beyond the sign-up bonus, the card earns points at a healthy clip. You'll get up to 26x points per dollar at IHG properties—that's 10x from the card plus up to 16x from your IHG One Rewards membership and Platinum Elite status. On everyday spending, you earn 5x on travel, dining, and gas, and 3x on everything else.

The benefits package is solid for frequent IHG guests. You get automatic Platinum Elite status, a free night certificate on each card anniversary (also capped at 40,000 points), and a fourth reward night free when you book a stay of four or more consecutive nights. There's also a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit of up to $120 every four years, a 20% discount on point purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.

• Up to 26x points at IHG properties
• 5x on travel, dining, and gas
• 3x on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status
• Anniversary free night (up to 40,000 points)
• Fourth reward night free on 4+ night stays
• Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit every 4 years
• 20% discount on point purchases
• No foreign transaction fees

Spending Bonuses and Status Upgrades

If you put a lot of spend on this card, there are additional rewards. Spend $20,000 in a calendar year and you'll get a $100 statement credit plus 10,000 bonus points. Rack up $40,000 in a calendar year and you'll earn Diamond Elite status through the end of the following year.

There's also a unique perk for United flyers: register your card with your MileagePlus account and you can receive up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash each calendar year.

Who Can Get This Card

Chase has strict eligibility rules for this offer. You can't currently hold any IHG personal credit card, and you must not have received a new Cardmember bonus on any IHG personal card in the past 24 months. Business versions of IHG cards don't count against you, so if you have one of those, you're still in the clear.

Also, the Chase 5/24 rule applies. If you've opened five or more new credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months, you'll likely be denied. Keep that in mind if you're planning a spree.

The Catch with Free Night Certificates

These certificates aren't as flexible as points. They expire one year after being issued, so you need to have a plan to use them before they vanish. And historically, you couldn't top them up with additional points—meaning if a hotel costs 70,000 points per night, you can't combine a 40,000-point certificate with 30,000 of your own points to cover it. That restriction may still apply, so don't count on using these at high-end properties.

The previous version of this offer came with certificates good for up to 60,000 points per night. That was a significantly better deal for anyone eyeing pricier IHG stays. If you're set on maximizing value at luxury resorts, you might want to wait and see if the 60K version returns.

Should You Apply?

This offer is a downgrade from the 60,000-point-per-night version, and there's also a flat 185,000-point offer that many people will find more appealing because points are more flexible than certificates. But if you already have specific stays in mind that cost 40,000 points or less per night, the five free nights can still deliver solid value—especially with the extra 10,000 points for adding an authorized user.

Just be honest with yourself about whether you'll actually use the certificates before they expire. If you're not sure, the points offer is probably the safer bet.

Bottom Line

• Five free nights (up to 40K points each) after $4K spend in 3 months, plus 10K points for adding an authorized user.
• $99 annual fee is not waived the first year.
• Certificates expire after 1 year and historically cannot be topped up with additional points.
• This is a downgrade from the previous 60K-per-night offer; a flat 185K points offer may be more flexible.
• Chase 5/24 rule and 24-month IHG bonus restriction apply.
• Strong earning rates and perks like Platinum Elite status and fourth night free make it valuable for IHG loyalists.

Common Questions