Flash Offer! Buy IHG Rewards Points For Just 0.45 Cents Each

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IHG Rewards has got a targeted flash promotion on right now which allows travelers to, essentially, purchase IHG Rewards points at an incredible 0.45 cents each….and that’s a very good deal. Normally the best rate we see points sold for is around 0.575 cents each (and that’s only when there’s a 100% bonus on offer) so, if you’re in the market for IHG points this could be your chance.

The Targeted Flash Promotion

This is the offer from IHG (I’ll explain how you get points for 0.45 cents in a moment)

Flash sale! Save 25% now through 26 October

Right now, for 3 days only, you’ll save 25% on the cash portion of your Points & Cash bookings on stays through 31 December 2017.

Not only will you stay for less, you’ll keep more points in your balance—which you can save for another trip. If you’re looking to get in one last trip this year, here’s your chance.

The promotion is either running through 26 October or 28 October depending on whether you choose to believe the promotion page or the terms & conditions page but I would err on the side of caution and make any transactions you plan on making asap.

The Key To “Buying” IHG Rewards Points At 0.45 cents each

You’ll have to forgive the lack of screenshots in this section as none of the IHG accounts I control was targeted for this promotion….but the details below have been checked so the information is all correct.

The key is to getting cheap IHG Rewards points is to select a hotel that allows you to use cash in lieu of 10,000 points and you’ll usually find this option where an award night costs 20,000 points (category 3 properties).

At some category 3 properties (where an award booked with points only costs 20,000 points) you’ll see the option to book a room for 10,000 points + a cash supplement of $45 (reduced from $60 in this promotion thanks to the 25% discount)

In effect the Cash & Points option is allowing you to purchase the additional 10,000 IHG Reward points (to reach 20,000) for $45 – which means that you’re buying the points at just 0.45 cents each.

The trick here is that, thanks to the way IHG Rewards processes refunds, if you were to cancel such a reservation, rather than refunding you 10,000 points and $45 in cash, IHG will refund you 20,000 points.

You would have effectively just purchased 10,000 points at 0.45 cents each.

Is This A Good Deal?

If you were fortunate enough to have been targeted for this promotion you’re effectively being given the chance to buy points at a 21% discount to the cheapest rate at which we see IHG points sold….so that makes this very interesting.

How good a deal this is will depend on how good a deal you choose to make it.

If all you do is use the points to book a cheap hotel where the nightly rate is pretty low in the first place you’re not going to do too well. But, if you use the points to buy nights at a more premium hotel, then you could find yourself with a great deal.

Let’s use my favorite European InterContinental hotel as an example – the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam – where an award night costs 50,000 points.

The InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam

If you purchase points for 0.45 cents each and then spend them at a great property like the IC Amstel Amsterdam (50,000 x $0.0045) your room will effectively cost you $225 (there are no taxes to pay on award bookings) – that’s a fantastic price for a property which, in busier times, can cost over double that amount.

Even if you were to book one of the most expensive InterContinental properties (60,000 points per night) your room would still only cost $270/night which, considering how much rooms at those properties can go for, is a great deal.

Bottom Line

First and foremost don’t be greedy.

Please don’t go out there and try to manufacture tens of thousands of points using this loophole because you’ll just draw attention to yourself and you risk having your account shut down.

I have no doubt that IHG is aware of this loophole and, for some reason, they’re clearly choosing to turn a blind eye….for the moment.  Let’s not give them a reason to close this down.

It’s also important that you don’t simply use this loophole to stockpile points.

I say this every time there’s a points buying opportunity but that doesn’t make it any less important that you take heed. Points will only ever devalue, they’re not an appreciating asset, so you shouldn’t be sitting on large balances.

Have a plan as to what you’re going to do with them and only then dive in for a purchase.