Mar 21, 2014, 1:39 pm
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
Aug 17, 2016, 12:22 pm
#691
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
like i said before, i have always got the cert in october every year....i checked my emails from ihg from the previous years & i always got the 'free night is on the way' email in september....for some reason its a month early this time....
Aug 21, 2016, 4:07 pm
#692
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
Is anyone in the UK having difficulty redeeming the Free Night from the Barclaycard?
When I click the link, it takes me to the reservation page but does not give the free night option. Very frustrating.
When I click the link, it takes me to the reservation page but does not give the free night option. Very frustrating.
Aug 22, 2016, 11:31 am
#693
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
IHG and Kimpton's Karma people are still working out the negotiations on how to keep the Kimpton folks happy. Likely bookable next year.
Aug 23, 2016, 10:09 am
#694
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: Chase UR, IHG, HHonors, JetBlue
Posts: 3
Hi there - first time poster, just getting into the rewards/miles/points game.
Question about people's experience with the free anniversary night on this card. Is it only usable for a standard room rate, or can it be applied as some type of a discount on a higher-end room?
Asking because there is a particular IHG property I visit every year usually twice a year (CP Lake Placid), and I always opt for a room in the more recently upgraded wing of the hotel, which is treated as a higher tier room than the standard rooms in the main wing. Would love to be able to use the anniversary night from this card on one of my visits every year, but not sure if it would fit my travel routines if it only covers standard room rates.
Might still opt for the card anyway for the bonus (I have a targeted 80k offer) to add to my high IHG Rewards balance I've accrued over the years, and the fee is quite low if I can use the anniversary night every year. Just curious about this particular feature. Thanks!
Question about people's experience with the free anniversary night on this card. Is it only usable for a standard room rate, or can it be applied as some type of a discount on a higher-end room?
Asking because there is a particular IHG property I visit every year usually twice a year (CP Lake Placid), and I always opt for a room in the more recently upgraded wing of the hotel, which is treated as a higher tier room than the standard rooms in the main wing. Would love to be able to use the anniversary night from this card on one of my visits every year, but not sure if it would fit my travel routines if it only covers standard room rates.
Might still opt for the card anyway for the bonus (I have a targeted 80k offer) to add to my high IHG Rewards balance I've accrued over the years, and the fee is quite low if I can use the anniversary night every year. Just curious about this particular feature. Thanks!
Aug 24, 2016, 8:45 am
#695
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NJ (EWR) - USA
Programs: UA Silver - IHG Spire AMB - Hilton Gold - Choice Hotels Platinum - Hertz Gold FiveStar
Posts: 396
Hi there - first time poster, just getting into the rewards/miles/points game.
Question about people's experience with the free anniversary night on this card. Is it only usable for a standard room rate, or can it be applied as some type of a discount on a higher-end room?
Asking because there is a particular IHG property I visit every year usually twice a year (CP Lake Placid), and I always opt for a room in the more recently upgraded wing of the hotel, which is treated as a higher tier room than the standard rooms in the main wing. Would love to be able to use the anniversary night from this card on one of my visits every year, but not sure if it would fit my travel routines if it only covers standard room rates.
Might still opt for the card anyway for the bonus (I have a targeted 80k offer) to add to my high IHG Rewards balance I've accrued over the years, and the fee is quite low if I can use the anniversary night every year. Just curious about this particular feature. Thanks!
Question about people's experience with the free anniversary night on this card. Is it only usable for a standard room rate, or can it be applied as some type of a discount on a higher-end room?
Asking because there is a particular IHG property I visit every year usually twice a year (CP Lake Placid), and I always opt for a room in the more recently upgraded wing of the hotel, which is treated as a higher tier room than the standard rooms in the main wing. Would love to be able to use the anniversary night from this card on one of my visits every year, but not sure if it would fit my travel routines if it only covers standard room rates.
Might still opt for the card anyway for the bonus (I have a targeted 80k offer) to add to my high IHG Rewards balance I've accrued over the years, and the fee is quite low if I can use the anniversary night every year. Just curious about this particular feature. Thanks!
You could always request your prefered room and hope for the best, but that is where the IHG CC would give you a little more pull, Platinum Elite..... not sure what status you currently carry.
That on top of the 10% points rebate, annual free night and 5X earning with CC bookings it's a no-brainer in my book. Never getting rid of this card, I got it last year with the same 80K bonus.
Aug 24, 2016, 2:03 pm
#696
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
1. 80k points (obviously)
2. The cert issue/expiration date for my old card was really not at a good time for us - it was dead center of the summer, so if we took a big trip in June we were good, but if we went in July, the cert would have already expired.
It seemed to me like the certificate was issued at the beginning of the month your anniversary fell in, but that could have just been the way it worked out for us. Anybody else have any details on this? Trying to get my next app timed correctly.
Aug 24, 2016, 5:14 pm
#697
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: Chase UR, IHG, HHonors, JetBlue
Posts: 3
I should be getting my 1st free CC night certificate any day now, so not sure about how they handle them in all situations, but I would be willing to bet it will be a standard room, just like when you book a reward night using points.
You could always request your prefered room and hope for the best, but that is where the IHG CC would give you a little more pull, Platinum Elite..... not sure what status you currently carry.
That on top of the 10% points rebate, annual free night and 5X earning with CC bookings it's a no-brainer in my book. Never getting rid of this card, I got it last year with the same 80K bonus.
You could always request your prefered room and hope for the best, but that is where the IHG CC would give you a little more pull, Platinum Elite..... not sure what status you currently carry.
That on top of the 10% points rebate, annual free night and 5X earning with CC bookings it's a no-brainer in my book. Never getting rid of this card, I got it last year with the same 80K bonus.
Aug 24, 2016, 8:12 pm
#698
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
In that light you can plan the timing of your next application, assuming the application would be quickly approved.
Aug 24, 2016, 9:22 pm
#699
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
It is issued on the week of your anniversary, close to the anniversary date, often on the dot but could be a couple days earlier or a couple days later. Never have anything to do with which part of the month. Always be around the anniversary date.
In that light you can plan the timing of your next application, assuming the application would be quickly approved.
In that light you can plan the timing of your next application, assuming the application would be quickly approved.
Aug 25, 2016, 6:30 am
#700
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: GOT, LAX, CDG, NRT, ICN
Programs: M&M, FB, DL, BA, UA...
Posts: 790
If you are mixing paid and reward nights on one stay, you could book a better room as usual and the award stay at the end. A majority of the time you'll be allowed to keep the better room instead of moving to a standard one. The card's Plat status might help as well.
Hi there - first time poster, just getting into the rewards/miles/points game.
Question about people's experience with the free anniversary night on this card. Is it only usable for a standard room rate, or can it be applied as some type of a discount on a higher-end room?
Asking because there is a particular IHG property I visit every year usually twice a year (CP Lake Placid), and I always opt for a room in the more recently upgraded wing of the hotel, which is treated as a higher tier room than the standard rooms in the main wing. Would love to be able to use the anniversary night from this card on one of my visits every year, but not sure if it would fit my travel routines if it only covers standard room rates.
Might still opt for the card anyway for the bonus (I have a targeted 80k offer) to add to my high IHG Rewards balance I've accrued over the years, and the fee is quite low if I can use the anniversary night every year. Just curious about this particular feature. Thanks!
Question about people's experience with the free anniversary night on this card. Is it only usable for a standard room rate, or can it be applied as some type of a discount on a higher-end room?
Asking because there is a particular IHG property I visit every year usually twice a year (CP Lake Placid), and I always opt for a room in the more recently upgraded wing of the hotel, which is treated as a higher tier room than the standard rooms in the main wing. Would love to be able to use the anniversary night from this card on one of my visits every year, but not sure if it would fit my travel routines if it only covers standard room rates.
Might still opt for the card anyway for the bonus (I have a targeted 80k offer) to add to my high IHG Rewards balance I've accrued over the years, and the fee is quite low if I can use the anniversary night every year. Just curious about this particular feature. Thanks!
Aug 26, 2016, 3:29 am
#702
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
Aug 26, 2016, 6:40 am
#703
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NJ (EWR) - USA
Programs: UA Silver - IHG Spire AMB - Hilton Gold - Choice Hotels Platinum - Hertz Gold FiveStar
Posts: 396
P&C Example: Total room cost 30,000 Reward Points but you paid 25,000 points + $40 as P&C option - Refund would be the full 30,000 points.
Some people use the P&C packages refund policy as a way to "buy" cheap points. Sometimes it works out just need to do the math. @:-)
Aug 26, 2016, 4:41 pm
#704
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,470
Checking availability for a Free Night reservation
I am already holding a reservation for a Free Night hotel and hence my account shows 0 available free nights, hence I cannot check the availability of free nights elsewhere.
Cancelling the existing booking is not an attractive prospect, since the booking that I am holding now is during a period of peak demand and hence I may not be able to get the room again once I cancel the booking.
Can I check the availability of Free Nights elsewhere by simply looking for Reward Night booking space?
Cancelling the existing booking is not an attractive prospect, since the booking that I am holding now is during a period of peak demand and hence I may not be able to get the room again once I cancel the booking.
Can I check the availability of Free Nights elsewhere by simply looking for Reward Night booking space?
Aug 26, 2016, 7:28 pm
#705
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Think of Points and Cash this way: you are using the cash to buy the difference in points on an immediate non-refundable basis (usually half or less the "retail" purchase rate).
I think Hilton folks get confused as Points + cash there is handled quite differently: if one cancels more than 24 hours out, the points are returned to the account, and no cash is involved as that's done at check out by the hotel (as a sort of "non qualifying, steeply discounted" room rate).
I think Hilton folks get confused as Points + cash there is handled quite differently: if one cancels more than 24 hours out, the points are returned to the account, and no cash is involved as that's done at check out by the hotel (as a sort of "non qualifying, steeply discounted" room rate).