And an equally all encompassing statement in reply! Rare indeed is the CP free lounge access, despite staying in many CP's around UK and Europe it's only happened once to me!

In my experience in UK and Europe meaningful upgrades are rare to nonexistent, generally I'd say plat ensures you avoid the dumpster view.

The 72 hour availability guarantee ensures you are guaranteed a room at the IHG hotel of your choice... Unless it's full! Honest... That's the explanation I received when I tried to avail myself of the facility!

Recently I have noticed 500 point arrival vouchers/free beer in bar/ free water. TBH, that and the 50% points are about all there is by way of plat bennies. But then, as I've repeatedly stated, IHG is about points, lots and lots of points, and reasonable redemption, make that bonkers great redemption with pointbreaks! I've earned over 80,000 points on 12 nights, spending no more than £1000 ($1,500). The bonus points codes here still ROCK!

If I'm a few points or a few nights short of Plat by the end of the year I might consider a mattress run but only upon working out the value to be gained from the 50% plat bonus and welcome vouchers. The rest is in the main admans spin, because with IHG nothing is guaranteed, except the points!

As for HIX, well in my experience that's where Plat bennies are worth the very least, no lounges, and only 1 room class leaves you nowhere... But worry not, for the stays could still be worth putting IHG way. Sign up for all the offers you can on the sticky, that'll be time well spent. My last $50 HIX stay netted me a 20,000 point cascade and from now till Xmas my offers will pay an extra 6,000 points each stay. Combined with the Big Win my next 7 nights (5x1 night stays plus 1 weekend) at IHG will bring in another 100,000 points! A little work here should be very rewarding!