Update: See this post on Frequent Miler for more leaked details. Short recap: free night stays (with possible restrictions), so does Platinum status, annual fee will be $89, no 10% rebate on points redemptions. Three new perks: you will get 4th night free on award stays, 20% discount on points’ purchases, plus Global Entry reimbursement every 4 years. All in all, I like the current version much better, but some might not.
This one may be a rumor, but it sounds credible enough to warrant a dedicated post. As Doctorofcredit blog reports, the link for IHG Rewards Select credit card ( see more details on it here) has been removed from Chase site. In addition, according to at least one person, Chase rep has confirmed that the current version of the card will be discontinued in April.
Instead, there will be two versions going forward, and neither of them will have a free annual certificate attached. The cert is what makes the juice worth the squeeze, figuratively speaking. Almost everyone in my husband’s family has this card, so that should tell you something. It is possible (likely?) that $89 card version will have the annual certificate attached despite what the reader was told. But nobody except Chase knows for sure. Besides, paying $49 each year sure beats paying $89.
This card is in our affiliate network and we appreciate readers’ support, as always. However, be aware that you may be able to pull up an offer of 80,000 points by doing a dummy reservation on IHG.com Very often, you will at least be able to see a link for 60,000 points +$50 if you go this route. That’s better than our affiliate link. Either way, I recommend you send a secure message to Chase and see if they give you 80,000 points since some have been targeted for that offer. It certainly doesn’t hurt to try.
Should you jump on this offer now?
If you’ve been holding out on this card in hopes of official 80,000 points offer returning later this year, I would consider pulling the trigger now. Sure, maybe it is just a rumor, but I seriously doubt it. In 90% of cases, the card ends up disappearing as predicted. Why take a chance? It’s not subject to 5/24, so as long as your credit score is high, you should have a good shot at approval.
We were able to use our annual certificates at beachfront hotel in Sarasota, all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, one night stay in San Francisco and the list goes on. One of the best deals for families who like to vacation near Disney is redeeming an annual certificate at Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange lake on a 2 bedroom/2 bath unit. I plan to review it next week, so stay tuned.
All of these hotels can be yours for only $49 per night as long as there is award availability. That being said, IHG program is a quirky one, so before applying, I recommend you read my post I love IHG, I hate IHG so you know what you are getting into. All in all, as I’ve said many times, this is my favorite credit card to hang on to year after year, hands down.
In the past, Chase has grandfathered those who have applied for a credit card product before it was discontinued, though I can’t guarantee anything, obviously. At the very least, you should get your renewal certificate once. If you and your spouse sign up for this card, you will have two certificates which you can leverage for a nice weekend somewhere. Redeem points from the bonus on additional nights, and you should be able to cover a family vacation. IHG has a huge footprint, so possibilities are endless.
If you’ve been wanting to visit Jamaica and like all-inclusives, I recommend taking a look at Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay During high season, using renewal certificates here is a steal. Burn points on a third night, and you can have a mini-vacation. Platinum status (comes complimentary with the credit card) usually means getting an upgrade to a suite at this particular property. Here is the view from the unit we stayed in. Not too shabby, eh?
Overall, I can’t think of a more generous credit card when it comes to ongoing perks, which is probably why it will be discontinued. So, it looks like it’s now or never, though only you can decide if you should jump on this offer. Feel free to ask questions in the comments.
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Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
Hmm.. my hubby has this card. it may be time to get it as I want to use it to stay at palazzo in las Vegas.
@Natasha I would definitely consider it if I were you. Honestly, we don’t have all the details, so I made sure to call it a rumor at the beginning of the post. Still, I think there is a very good possibility of negative changes coming our way. Even if the higher-fee version comes with renewal cert, the annual fee will double. That’s the best case scenario. It’s possible there won’t be a renewal cert attached. Definitely check IHG.com for a 80k points link, and if you don’t find it, apply for a non-affiliate offer with $50 credit. Chase will often match to 80k points, though I can’t guarantee it.
@Natsha Just saw new post on FM with more details: http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/03/26/new-ihg-card-will-carry-free-night-but-higher-fee/ It looks like the free night will stay, but annual fee will indeed be $89. Also, no 10% rebate on points redemptions. I definitely like the current version better, though 4th night free may be appealing for some.
So sad to see this! My wife and I are actually on an anniversary trip in Europe now and currently staying in an upgraded suite in the Intercontinental Amstel Amsterdam using our 2 free night certificates thanks to the card. It will be a real bummer if this rumor is true, but so glad we have squeezed such great value from the card!
@Doug Your trip sounds like fun! I’ve heard great things about this property. Amsterdam is a place I have been trying to visit for years, but things have never worked out. Please send me a few photos when you get back.
The good news for those of us who already have the card is that in all likelihood, we’ll be grandfathered in for at least a year or two. Beyond that it’s hard to say. So don’t shed your tears just yet! 🙂 And it may be just a rumor, though I seriously doubt it. There is enough evidence pointing to current version being discontinued soon. Few application links are still working, though probably not for long.