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
#346
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: UA Premier Exec; AA Platinum; SPG Gold; PC Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 285
Fortunately we had a business visitor coming to town, so I convinced the company to let me use the coupon for a room at the local IC, and charge in the equivilent amount. Paid for my card fee for the next 5 years!
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
iirc, you should get it right after you pay your annual fee....
#349
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PHL
Posts: 656
Just data point for anyone interested:
Partner and I got this card in June 2011, paid AF in June (or thereabouts) 2012. I did get an email in June 2012 saying that my anniversary was coming up and to look for the email with the free night, but I never got second email (I searched inbox and spam folder). Partner never got either email. Anyway, we called last night to redeem partner's cert, they said it arrived June 1, 2012 and expired June 30, 2013. Redeemed it with no problem for a room that otherwise was $525, so we're very happy with that. Still need to redeem my own that will no doubt have the same expiration date.
Just thought I'd put in the dates they gave us when we spoke to them incase that helps anyone. Love this card.
Partner and I got this card in June 2011, paid AF in June (or thereabouts) 2012. I did get an email in June 2012 saying that my anniversary was coming up and to look for the email with the free night, but I never got second email (I searched inbox and spam folder). Partner never got either email. Anyway, we called last night to redeem partner's cert, they said it arrived June 1, 2012 and expired June 30, 2013. Redeemed it with no problem for a room that otherwise was $525, so we're very happy with that. Still need to redeem my own that will no doubt have the same expiration date.
Just thought I'd put in the dates they gave us when we spoke to them incase that helps anyone. Love this card.
#350
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Far too many
Posts: 315
#351
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
#354
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Diego,CA,USA
Programs: Southwest Companion Pass American Admirals Club Lifetime,IHG Rewards Spire,HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,358
#355
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Diego,CA,USA
Programs: Southwest Companion Pass American Admirals Club Lifetime,IHG Rewards Spire,HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,358
#356
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Programs: All major programs
Posts: 1,403
#357
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Your question may no doubt garner various answers as it really depends on the check-in agent and the stance they assume. I don't think you will get a definitive answer and if you try you will just have to risk it.
#358
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Flyover Territory
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 687
IC Times Square
I just booked two nights (one with my PC Visa, one with my husband's) at IC Times Square. Current flexible rate on the PC website was $620 per night before taxes.
I booked a third night with points that I earned as a signup bonus. That will be a nice little vacation for $98 worth of annual fees.
Plus one leg of my flight was a free one way tacked onto a roundtrip to Hawaii.
I love this hobby.
I booked a third night with points that I earned as a signup bonus. That will be a nice little vacation for $98 worth of annual fees.
Plus one leg of my flight was a free one way tacked onto a roundtrip to Hawaii.
I love this hobby.
#359
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,933
Any ideas if the certificate will remain valid until the expiry date if the credit card is canceled? Or does it disappear if it's unused and you cancel the credit card account?
I got mine earlier this year with the card anniversary, but I'm thinking that it might make sense to cancel the card before it gets converted to an IHG Rewards Club card. With Chase, it seems likely that when the co-branded card changes from Priority Club to IHG Rewards Club, it will be considered a "new" card and be eligible for the bonus again.
The change in the program name happening in a few months, and I likely won't want to use the free night until December/January, so it may come up that I'll want to cancel before I can redeem the night.
I got mine earlier this year with the card anniversary, but I'm thinking that it might make sense to cancel the card before it gets converted to an IHG Rewards Club card. With Chase, it seems likely that when the co-branded card changes from Priority Club to IHG Rewards Club, it will be considered a "new" card and be eligible for the bonus again.
The change in the program name happening in a few months, and I likely won't want to use the free night until December/January, so it may come up that I'll want to cancel before I can redeem the night.
#360
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 249
I used my wife's certificate for the Intercontinental in Hong Kong. It was booked under her name with me as an additional guest. No problem checking in.