Often, the offer of buying elite status is not an attractive one. However, IHG One Rewards is offering select members an attractive offer for purchasing elite status points.
This deal is so compelling that I’m considering using it myself. Therefore, here’s what you should know about this targeted offer designed to purchase Elite Qualifying Points and secure higher IHG Elite status by the end of 2025.
Offers discounts on purchasing IHG Elite Qualification Points
You may receive an email if IHG offers you this offer to purchase Elite Qualifying Points. The email I received was titled “Upgrade to Diamond Elite Status, Katherine.” If you’re a target of this offer, you may also see a tile in the Offers section of your IHG account.
If you click on the email, tile, or link here, you will be taken to the page where you can purchase the points you need. However, only targeted members will see the offer after logging into the page.
As a reminder, you need 40,000 Elite Qualification Points per year to achieve Gold Elite status, 60,000 Elite Qualification Points to achieve Platinum Elite status, and 120,000 Elite Qualification Points to achieve Diamond Elite status.
In my case, I can purchase 120,000 Elite Qualification Points before December 31, 2025 to achieve Diamond Elite status by 2026. IHG One Rewards Premium Credit Card (see rates and fees), I saved 20% when I purchased IHG points with my card through ihg.com. Therefore, I can purchase 120,000 Elite Qualifying Points for $800, which works out to a purchase fee of 0.67 cents per point.
The Purchase Points page shows your 2025 Elite Qualifying Points balance as of December 4th. However, if you’ve been staying at IHG since December 4, be sure to check your current Elite Qualifying Points balance to avoid accidentally buying more points than you need.
Typically, when you purchase IHG points, they are not elite qualifying points. However, during this offer, eligible members can purchase Elite Qualification Points, which are both redeemable and count toward Elite status. The terms of this offer state that “EQP applies to all IHG One Rewards redemptions,” where the previous terms defined “EQP” as “Elite Qualifying Points.” The terms also state that you can only purchase Elite Qualifying Points once during this offer, so be sure to purchase all the points you need at once.
Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
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Should you buy IHG Elite Qualification Points?
Whether you should purchase IHG Elite Qualification Points is a personal and detailed decision. In short, think about how much value you can get from the points you buy and the status you earn.
I have until December 31, 2026 to earn IHG Diamond Elite status and earn 120,000 redeemable IHG points for just $800. Even though my husband already has Diamond Elite status (and therefore doesn’t typically use my IHG account when we travel together), I was still eager to take advantage of this offer. After all, I typically get more when I redeem IHG points than the point purchase price (0.67 cents per point). This is especially true when I use my fourth night free bonus benefit IHG One Rewards Premium Credit Card.
Also, if my IHG Premier card comes with Diamond Elite status instead of VIP Elite status, I can choose breakfast as a welcome benefit at most hotels that don’t offer breakfast benefits to all guests. While I expect we will still book most stays under my husband’s account when traveling together, having Diamond Elite status will be useful when I redeem IHG free night certificates from my account and when traveling alone.
Related: 2 Easy Ways to Get More Value from IHG Points
bottom line
If you want value from a specific IHG elite status and typically get at least close to the purchase price when redeeming IHG points, this offer is worth serious consideration.
Now, there are more ways to achieve IHG elite status than ever before. However, if you want IHG Diamond Elite status but have not yet earned it organically or met the spending threshold for IHG Diamond Elite membership, IHG One Rewards Premium Credit Cardthis IHG One Rewards Premium Business Credit Card (See Rates and Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and charges) or Chase Sapphire Business Reserve℠ (See Rates & Fees) To secure this deal, this offer may be your best option.
Finally, remember that IHG Milestone Rewards are based on elite qualifying stays, not points. So even if you upgrade your status by purchasing elite status points, you still won’t be able to earn valuable milestone rewards like annual lounge memberships.
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