IHG One Rewards brought back a promotion two weeks ago to purchase Elite Qualifying Points (they are also award points) to either maintain your status or increase it by a level that ends tomorrow (December 31, 2024). You can read more about this offer here.
The offer is open for one Elite Qualifying Points purchase by December 31, 2024. Cobranded cardholders get a 20% discount on purchase EQPs.
You can access IHG’s page to buy points here.
READ MORE: IHG One Rewards Rate & Bonus Points Offers
The original email IHG sent about this offer was unclear and did not mention that the points you purchase are both elite qualifying and award points.
My friend’s offer to purchase these points was better than mine:
Reader Question: Buying IHG Diamond Status + 120K Award Points For $640 – Worth It?
IHG’s Email:
My Account Status:
I have 68 nights for the year (2 short of Diamond) and roughly 45K EQPs short.
The price for buying 45K EQPs is $416.
IHG One Rewards Diamond Benefits:
The two confirmed benefits of Diamond status are a 100% bonus on earned points and + a hot breakfast for two at all IHG brands.
Lounge access is not a benefit of IHG One Rewards but rather a Milestone Rewards option for 40 or 70 nights.
Conclusion
Additional fast-track offers to extend your Diamond status next year, such as in early 2024, may be available. These usually require you to stay a few nights within a short period.
Buying EQPs can be a good option if you are short on qualifying and staying at full-service or luxury IHG properties, where the breakfast benefit for two can be beneficial and would otherwise be expensive.
I just had a two-night IHG stay this past weekend, and I will reach the 70-night Diamond qualification requirement without this EQP boost.
Do you plan to participate, or if you already have? Please comment below.
Terms and Conditions of this promotion:
This Offer is available to IHG One Rewards members for qualifying purchases of IHG One Rewards points made during the period from 12:00 AM ET 16 December, 2024 and 11:59 PM ET 31 December, 2024 inclusive (“Offer Period”). A member may only make a singular points purchase under this promotion. Purchased EQPs (Elite Qualifying Points) will count toward a Member’s Year-To-Date EQP balance. The Member will have the opportunity to either maintain their current status or upgrade to the next tier. The Member’s purchase level is dependent upon their current status as of 6 December, 2024. If the Member purchases enough to cross the Elite Qualifying Points thresholds to maintain their status, that status will be granted automatically. EQPs will be awarded upon completion of the transaction, and new elite status will be reflected within 5-10 business days after the purchase. Renewed and Upgraded status gained from the purchase of EQPs will be valid for the remainder of 2024 and all of the 2025 calendar year. EQP points and resulting status will be awarded to the recipient of the EQP purchase only. Price includes all applicable fees. EQP Points are not refundable and are applicable toward all IHG One Rewards redemptions. Elite Qualifying Nights are not part of this offer and cannot be purchased. This is an exclusive, non-transferable offer for intended recipients only and may not be forwarded. Offer is subject to change. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer. If fraudulent activity is suspected, IHG reserves the right to withhold status level pending further investigation. Final determination of a member’s eligibility to receive the status level is at the sole discretion of IHG based on the findings of the investigation. Please allow up to 72 hours for points to post and appear in the recipient’s account. All other IHG One Rewards Terms and Conditions apply. All other IHG One Rewards Membership Terms and Conditions apply . Elite Qualifying Points balance pulled as of 6/12/24. For purposes of the Offer, the required Elite Qualifying Points balance required to maintain or upgrade member status is the number communicated to the member in the Offer and may not be contested by a member.
