A friend messaged me yesterday about the IHG’s buying Elite Qualifying & Award Points to reach Diamond status with 120K award points offer and whether I thought this would be worth it.
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You can access IHG’s page for buying points here.
READ MORE: IHG One Rewards Rate & Bonus Points Offers
IHG started a new promo on Monday that allows IHG One Rewards members to buy award points that are also Elite Qualifying Points, but only for this time, as they usually are not. IHG had a similar promotion last year.
IHG Buy Elite Qualifying & Award Points To Renew Or Up Your Status In 2024
IHG has had Diamond fast-track offers throughout the year. First, for those whose status was about to drop, and then later, you could reach Diamond by spending a specific number of nights within a time period.
However, the offer that IHG launched on Monday is quite lucrative. It allows members to buy these points at a discount (the discount varies between accounts), and they all count towards the status as well.
My friend’s offer is 120,000 points for $640.
IHG Diamond Benefits:
Buying status if you don’t use the chain, stay at hotels where the status would matter, or if the benefits are weak, doesn’t necessarily make much sense.
The guaranteed Diamond benefits are:
- 100% bonus on based points earned (Diamond bonus)
- Breakfast for 2 (hot) at brands where this is not included
I don’t believe that there is a Diamond customer service per se; instead, you may get more experienced agents, and your queries will be handled more promptly.
Early check-in and late check-outs are not guaranteed but are based on availability.
There are occasional reward night and Points & Cash discounts for Platinum and Diamond members, but these are not continuously available.
If you stay at InterContinental hotels, Regents, or other IHG hotels that have lounges (some Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels do have them), you should stay enough to get access to the Annual Lounge Pass that you can choose at 40 or 70 nights.
The InterContinental Ambassador paid membership program can be beneficial if you stay at this specific brand. It offers a guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out, one category upgrade, and F&B credit. However, these benefits only apply to stays at InterContinental hotels.
The Annual Lounge Pass is valid for the year you choose it and the following year, not when the Milestone Rewards option becomes available (you should choose it on January 1st to make it valid for two years).
Conclusion
The IHG Diamond benefits are weak and not competitive with those offered by Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, or even Marriott for their top-tier members.
However, if you combine it with the Ambassador program, suite upgrade certificates, and the Annual Lounge Pass, it is more comparable to what others offer.
Whether paying for IHG Diamond makes sense depends on whether you decide to stay with IHG in 2025, at which properties, and for how many nights. You are also buying award points that turn out to be elite qualifying ones, but only this time.
