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Just a quick note to remind readers that the IHG Rewards Flash sale which started a few days ago will end tonight at 11:59pm Eastern. I wrote about the sale in detail on the day it launched (follow the link for full details and thoughts) but, for those who missed that, here’s a recap.
IHG Flash Sale
- The flash sale is available for IHG Rewards points purchases made by 11:59 PM on 22 March 2018.
- IHG Rewards members may purchase up to 60,000 points per calendar year (excluding bonuses)
- Purchases of IHG Rewards Points are processed by Points.com so they’re not eligible for a credit card category bonus
The Offer
- Buy 1,000 – 4,000 points and get no bonus
- Buy 5,000 – 60,000 points and get a 100% bonus
It really doesn’t come too much simpler than that!
The Math
There are two price points available for those buying points with a 100% bonus.
Some IHG Rewards members are seeing the regular offer which looks like this (when you buy 60,000 points):
Those seeing this pricing will be buying IHG Rewards points at a cost/point of 0.575 cents.
Others are seeing a slightly better offer which looks like this:
This offer is cheaper and, at a cost/point of just 0.5 cents, it’s the cheapest we’ve seen IHG sell its currency.
Is It Worth Buying Points In This Sale?
Bear in mind:
- IHG Rewards has devalued since the last time it offered a 100% bonus sale
- The way IHG Rewards manages its PointBreaks promotion has changed too
Top tier properties now cost 70,000 and a lot of the better non top-tier properties have gone up in price too.
Don’t buy points in the hopes that you can use them effectively some time in the future (that’s a terrible idea), buy points only if you can see an economical use for them in the near future.
- Check the award night costs at locations you’d like to visit
- Check the cash cost at the same locations
- Work out if buying points at 0.500 cents or 0.575 cents each would save you money on the booking(s) you’d like to make.
If the math doesn’t stack up then don’t buy points!
Bottom Line
IHG properties are more expensive now then they have ever been in the past (form an award night point of view) so it’s absolutely critical that you work out the math behind any trip you’re looking to book.
There will be some very good deals to be had (especially if you’re thinking of visiting expensive properties at peak times) but there will also be quite a lot of poor deals too – learn to separate the two and you’ll do just fine.
