Last edit by: beltway
FAQs
1. What are the current types of free-night certificates (FNC)?
2. Where do I find the FNC(s) in my IHG online account?
3. Is a FNC revoked if I cancel my Chase card?
4. If I make a reservation using my FNC and then need to cancel, are there any special procedures? Do I have to call IHG?
5. Can I use my FNC for a date past the certificate's expiration, provided that I make the reservation prior to that expiration date?
6. Can I trade/gift my FNC?
7. If I have multiple IHG cards (other than the Traveler card), do I get more than one FNC?
1. What are the current types of free-night certificates (FNC)?
As of April 2023, there are four different active FNC types. Described below in order from newest to oldest (roughly), they will appear in your account under the following headings:
2. Where do I find the FNC(s) in my IHG online account?
After you log into the website, click on the section at the top of the window showing your first name and current point balance. This will take you to the Overview page of the My Account section. Underneath the gray box showing your status level, member number, and points balance you will see a submenu with "Overview" selected. Click on "Rewards Wallet" to go to the page summarizing your FNCs. Click "Details" to see the type(s) of FNC(s) in your account.
You can also go directly to the Details page by logging in and visiting http://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/us/en...gmt/freenights (for English-speaking US members).
3. Is a FNC revoked if I cancel my Chase card?
No.
4. If I make a reservation using my FNC and then need to cancel, are there any special procedures? Do I have to call IHG?
You may cancel your reservation online using the same process as for any other reservation. The certificate is normally returned to your account immediately and available for re-use with no wait and no need to call IHG. For unknown reasons, on rare occasions a FNC will not instantly reappear; in such cases, call IHG customer service to have the FNC redeposited manually.
5. Can I use my FNC for a date past the certificate's expiration, provided that I make the reservation prior to that expiration date?
As of January 2019, members are reporting that they are unable to do this.
Formerly, some members reported success in doing this. (See, for example, the discussion at post #516.) Two basic recommendations:
6. Can I trade/gift my FNC?
No. FNCs are non-transferable.
7. If I have multiple IHG cards (other than the Traveler card), do I get more than one FNC each year?
Yes. The Select card (legacy), the personal Premier card, and the Premier Business card all include an anniversary FNC as a benefit. But note the difference, discussed above, between the Select card FNC--capped at 40K value--and the "flex" FNCs associated with the other cards. The no-fee Traveler card does not provide a FNC benefit.
In previous years, Chase issued the anniversary FNC shortly before the annual fee was billed. More recently, Chase has begun delaying issuance of FNCs until at least 8 weeks after the annual-fee statement date, presumably to prevent accountholders from canceling their cards while keeping the FNC.
Questions related to the extension of the certificate due to the Coronavirus are discussed in its own thread, which is here.
1. What are the current types of free-night certificates (FNC)?
2. Where do I find the FNC(s) in my IHG online account?
3. Is a FNC revoked if I cancel my Chase card?
4. If I make a reservation using my FNC and then need to cancel, are there any special procedures? Do I have to call IHG?
5. Can I use my FNC for a date past the certificate's expiration, provided that I make the reservation prior to that expiration date?
6. Can I trade/gift my FNC?
7. If I have multiple IHG cards (other than the Traveler card), do I get more than one FNC?
1. What are the current types of free-night certificates (FNC)?
As of April 2023, there are four different active FNC types. Described below in order from newest to oldest (roughly), they will appear in your account under the following headings:
- Premier Credit Card Annual Flex Night: The anniversary FNC, good for a base room up to 40K points, for the personal Premier card. This FNC is described as “flex” because you can redeem for an award in excess of 40K by adding points on top of the FNC (aka "topping up").
- Note: points used to top up a Flex FNC are not subject to the 10% rebate for Select cardholders.
- Business Credit Card Annual Flex Night: The anniversary FNC for the IHG Business card. This is identical in all respects to the Premier flex cert.
- New Cardmember Bonus Free Night: Some recent offers for the personal Premier card have included one or more FNCs in the signup bonus. These FNCs are capped at 40K value; there is no "flex"/"top-up" option.
- Select Credit Card Anniversary Night: The anniversary FNC for the older Select card, for which Chase stopped accepting applications in 2018. As with the previous category, this FNC type has a hard cap of 40K redemption value.
- Premier Credit Card Anniversary Night: Prior to March 24, 2022, the personal Premier card FNC was hard-capped at 40K value. On March 24, all unused FNCs of this type were automatically converted to Premier "flex" FNCs as described above.
- Credit Card Anniversary Night: Prior to May 1, 2018, anniversary FNCs for the Select card were uncapped--that is, they could be used at any IHG property.
2. Where do I find the FNC(s) in my IHG online account?
After you log into the website, click on the section at the top of the window showing your first name and current point balance. This will take you to the Overview page of the My Account section. Underneath the gray box showing your status level, member number, and points balance you will see a submenu with "Overview" selected. Click on "Rewards Wallet" to go to the page summarizing your FNCs. Click "Details" to see the type(s) of FNC(s) in your account.
You can also go directly to the Details page by logging in and visiting http://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/us/en...gmt/freenights (for English-speaking US members).
3. Is a FNC revoked if I cancel my Chase card?
No.
4. If I make a reservation using my FNC and then need to cancel, are there any special procedures? Do I have to call IHG?
You may cancel your reservation online using the same process as for any other reservation. The certificate is normally returned to your account immediately and available for re-use with no wait and no need to call IHG. For unknown reasons, on rare occasions a FNC will not instantly reappear; in such cases, call IHG customer service to have the FNC redeposited manually.
5. Can I use my FNC for a date past the certificate's expiration, provided that I make the reservation prior to that expiration date?
As of January 2019, members are reporting that they are unable to do this.
Formerly, some members reported success in doing this. (See, for example, the discussion at post #516.) Two basic recommendations:
- It is advisable to obtain advance written confirmation, ideally from the hotel itself, that your certificate will be honored under these circumstances.
- Once the certificate expiration date passes, you will not be able to make any changes to the reservation (occupancy, date, room type, etc).
6. Can I trade/gift my FNC?
No. FNCs are non-transferable.
7. If I have multiple IHG cards (other than the Traveler card), do I get more than one FNC each year?
Yes. The Select card (legacy), the personal Premier card, and the Premier Business card all include an anniversary FNC as a benefit. But note the difference, discussed above, between the Select card FNC--capped at 40K value--and the "flex" FNCs associated with the other cards. The no-fee Traveler card does not provide a FNC benefit.
In previous years, Chase issued the anniversary FNC shortly before the annual fee was billed. More recently, Chase has begun delaying issuance of FNCs until at least 8 weeks after the annual-fee statement date, presumably to prevent accountholders from canceling their cards while keeping the FNC.
Questions related to the extension of the certificate due to the Coronavirus are discussed in its own thread, which is here.
Annual Free Night Cert from IHG (Rewards Club) Visa / Mastercard
#616
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
When you book the free night can you put another persons name on the reservation like you can with point stays ?
My dad doesn't travel and I have used his points by putting my name on the reservation with no problems.
I would keep this card if I could use his free night, has anyone done this ?
Thanks
My dad doesn't travel and I have used his points by putting my name on the reservation with no problems.
I would keep this card if I could use his free night, has anyone done this ?
Thanks
#617
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Far too many
Posts: 315
When you book the free night can you put another persons name on the reservation like you can with point stays ?
My dad doesn't travel and I have used his points by putting my name on the reservation with no problems.
I would keep this card if I could use his free night, has anyone done this ?
Thanks
My dad doesn't travel and I have used his points by putting my name on the reservation with no problems.
I would keep this card if I could use his free night, has anyone done this ?
Thanks
#618
Formerly known as hcampana
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AMS
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 463
as a data-point:
I recently redeemed my chase free night on the day it expired (the last day possible to use it)
To my surprise when I logged into my account the next anniversary free night had also appeared. So I was able to redeem both free nights at once for a free 2 night stay. So far so good, I have a confirmation but haven't stayed yet.
It's worth noting, as others have, that if you cancel the free night that expired you don't get it back.
I recently redeemed my chase free night on the day it expired (the last day possible to use it)
To my surprise when I logged into my account the next anniversary free night had also appeared. So I was able to redeem both free nights at once for a free 2 night stay. So far so good, I have a confirmation but haven't stayed yet.
It's worth noting, as others have, that if you cancel the free night that expired you don't get it back.
#619
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
as a data-point:
I recently redeemed my chase free night on the day it expired (the last day possible to use it)
To my surprise when I logged into my account the next anniversary free night had also appeared. So I was able to redeem both free nights at once for a free 2 night stay. So far so good, I have a confirmation but haven't stayed yet.
I recently redeemed my chase free night on the day it expired (the last day possible to use it)
To my surprise when I logged into my account the next anniversary free night had also appeared. So I was able to redeem both free nights at once for a free 2 night stay. So far so good, I have a confirmation but haven't stayed yet.
FWIW, my new Chase IHG free night hit my account approximately 1 week before the old one expires.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24693494-post609.html
#620
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Marriott, Radisson, AA, UA
Posts: 360
My wife and I both have Chase Free night certificate. We're trying to book the free night online for an expensive hotel such as InterContinental or Crowne Plaza. But I found nothing in big cities such as NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, DC, even Toronto.
All I found are cheaper Holiday Inns. I thought the Annual Free nights cert is for any IGH hotel. What is going on? Is it just me or what?
All I found are cheaper Holiday Inns. I thought the Annual Free nights cert is for any IGH hotel. What is going on? Is it just me or what?
#621
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
My wife and I both have Chase Free night certificate. We're trying to book the free night online for an expensive hotel such as InterContinental or Crowne Plaza. But I found nothing in big cities such as NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, DC, even Toronto.
All I found are cheaper Holiday Inns. I thought the Annual Free nights cert is for any IGH hotel. What is going on? Is it just me or what?
All I found are cheaper Holiday Inns. I thought the Annual Free nights cert is for any IGH hotel. What is going on? Is it just me or what?
#622
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: London
Programs: United: 1K, BA: Silver, IHG: Plat, Hyatt: Plat, Marriott: Gold, SPG: Gold, Avis: Chairman
Posts: 178
I had three free night certs (2 from ITTN promo and 1 from chase card). I just went to book them, but I no longer have the 'Free Night Status' option showing in my account :-( Anyone else experiencing this?
#623
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 43
EDIT: User in another thread suggested changing the site language. I changed from English to Spanish and the free night link appeared. Changed it back to English and the free night status link is still there!
Last edited by hazzardgal; Jun 3, 2015 at 7:19 pm
#624
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: London
Programs: United: 1K, BA: Silver, IHG: Plat, Hyatt: Plat, Marriott: Gold, SPG: Gold, Avis: Chairman
Posts: 178
EDIT: On testing... the link is now there, but it doesn't do anything, just takes me back to the account page. If I leave the site in Spanish, then the free night page loads.... weird!
EDIT 2: Putting the site into Country = UK and then English language.... the link shows up AND works ;-)
#625
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Portland, OR USA
Programs: BA Silver, Icelandair, IHG Diamond Elite Ambassador, Hertz 5*
Posts: 610
Thank you - worked for me too! ^^^^
#626
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SC USA
Programs: Delta, AA, Hilton, Priority Club, USAir, American Express Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rew, United
Posts: 503
I was unable to see my free night either (for mine or my husbands account). Changing the language to Spanish did not fix it but changing my country to UK did. I was on the phone with IHG forever and they could not tell me how to get them to display with expiration dates. The CSR told me that it had been removed from the site. She just didn't know how in the world to fix it. After I got it figured out (from reading this thread), I told her that they need to fix it otherwise no one in the US will see their free night. Also, my award wallet is not picking it up, even after I changed the country.
#627
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,018
I was unable to see my free night either (for mine or my husbands account). Changing the language to Spanish did not fix it but changing my country to UK did. I was on the phone with IHG forever and they could not tell me how to get them to display with expiration dates. The CSR told me that it had been removed from the site. She just didn't know how in the world to fix it. After I got it figured out (from reading this thread), I told her that they need to fix it otherwise no one in the US will see their free night. Also, my award wallet is not picking it up, even after I changed the country.
#628
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
When you book the free night can you put another persons name on the reservation like you can with point stays ?
My dad doesn't travel and I have used his points by putting my name on the reservation with no problems.
I would keep this card if I could use his free night, has anyone done this ?
Thanks
My dad doesn't travel and I have used his points by putting my name on the reservation with no problems.
I would keep this card if I could use his free night, has anyone done this ?
Thanks
Maybe you can call and add a name