5 reasons why families should get the IHG Premier Credit Card

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

While a lucrative welcome offer might be one reason to get a new credit card, the ongoing annual benefits your family could receive from a card are a great reason to keep it in your wallet year after year.

For me, the value of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is top-notch. I keep it in my wallet because it helps me save money and points on travel. I personally love applying for cards that have ongoing benefits versus ones that only provide limited value after the first year. With just a $99 annual fee on the card, the yearly benefits are worth way more.

Here are the top reasons why this card will benefit your family.

Free night certificate year after year

One of the best benefits of this card is that you’ll receive a free night certificate on every anniversary year for properties that cost up to 40,000 points a night. If you can maximize this certificate on a yearly basis, this benefit alone is valued at $200 (per TPG’s October 2024 valuations).

If both you and your significant other hold this card, you can get two free nights a year (read: weekend getaway) in exchange for the annual fee. If you think of the annual fee as covering this perk (and then some), then all the other benefits you receive can be considered bonuses.

Fourth night free on award stays

My second favorite benefit of this card is that when booking award stays, you receive your fourth night free. Best of all, this applies to every fourth night of a single reservation. So if you have an eight-night stay, you’ll receive two free nights.

Although a few other hotel chains will give you a free night when using points, they typically apply to the fifth night.

This IHG Premier Credit Card perk allows the points you earn to go even further, and it’s a great opportunity to stay at some of IHG’s family-friendly properties.

Complimentary Global Entry Or TSA PreCheck

If you or a family member does not yet have Global Entry, this card will allow you to get it for free. All you have to do is pay for the $120 Global Entry application fee, and you’ll receive a $120 statement credit.

The best part is that the names do not need to match, so if you already have Global Entry, you can use it to pay for your child’s application. If your family is traveling internationally at all (including around most of the Caribbean), being able to zip through customs by using the Global Entry kiosk is a big win.

This isn’t a yearly benefit, but since Global Entry is valid for a five-year timespan, you can receive this credit once every four years. If you prefer, you can use the statement credit on TSA PreCheck instead; however, you automatically receive TSA PreCheck with Global Entry, so it makes the most sense to get Global Entry (especially since it’s free).

United TravelBank perk

You can also get up to $50 of United TravelBank cash per calendar year — a moderate but solid perk that can save you even more on your next trip.

Platinum Elite status

IHG is probably one of the weaker hotel loyalty programs when it comes to status, but walking into a hotel with some status is better than no status at all. Many families will also parlay their IHG Platinum status to complete a status match or status challenge with another hotel chain when available. This includes earning Hilton Honors status, Marriott Bonvoy status, Wyndham Rewards status, Choice Privileges status and Radisson Rewards status. And yes, just having Platinum status simply from the credit card can qualify.

Having Platinum status will also give your family some tangible benefits on every hotel stay, such as:

Bonus points: On paid stays, you’ll receive a 60% bonus on all points earned. Or, if you are using points for a free night stay, any incidentals you charge to the room will also earn the bonus.
Room upgrades: Upon check-in, you should receive a complimentary room upgrade, although suites are excluded. Unfortunately, award stays are also excluded from this benefit. While I wouldn’t walk into an IHG property and expect an upgrade, your chances of getting upgraded are definitely higher with Platinum status, so it’s better than nothing.
Late checkout: Although Platinum members receive late checkout, there is no exact rule to the extra time you’ll get. This is at the hotel’s discretion, but I suggest asking immediately upon check-in.

Unlike with other chains, Platinum status will not grant you lounge access or complimentary breakfast. However, free breakfast is an option as a welcome amenity at check-in for those in the next highest tier, Diamond Elite; you can qualify for this level if you spend at least $40,000 with the card in a calendar year.

Points never expire

Typically, IHG points expire if there is no activity on the account for a 12-month period. This card comes with Platinum status, and one of the better benefits of this status is that your points will never expire (even if you’ve been lacking activity on your account).

While there are a million ways to keep your points from expiring, parents are busy. If you are anything like I am, you have a laundry list of things to do on a daily basis. I try to keep my points and miles expiration dates as organized as possible, but sometimes it can feel like a full-time job.

Thanks to this card, I don’t have to worry about my IHG points expiring, which definitely helps simplify my life — especially since the chain’s expiration policy is on the shorter side

Bottom line

The annual free night certificate and fourth-night free perks will provide real savings every year you hold this card. Top that off with Platinum status and complimentary Global Entry, and you’re looking at a card that offers solid value right off the bat.

Apply here: IHG One Rewards Premier card