"How big is your mystery bonus?" promotion
Jun 22, 2016, 2:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
"How big is your mystery bonus?" promotion
I got a targeted email today advertising "How big is your mystery bonus?" It's a promotion from points.com and IHG to buy IHG points.
The body of the email reads:
I clicked through the link to points.com, signed in with my IHG credentials, and found out that I've gotten an 80% bonus.
The base price for the points, when you purchase more than 20k, is 1.15cpp. With my 80% bonus the rate drops to a hair under 0.64cpp. That's not significantly cheaper than how I reliably value points based on my travel patterns so I don't plan to buy any. If I had a 100% bonus, though, which would drop the cost to 0.575cpp, I might seize the opportunity.
The body of the email reads:
How big is your mystery bonus?
You could get up to 60,000 bonus points!
Dear Darth,
Your mystery bonus is here, and it's going to help you reach your next reward faster, from name brand merchandise and gift cards to Reward Nights at our most exclusive properties. Now through July 18, you'll enjoy up to a 100% bonus on all points purchases. Who knows? This could be your most rewarding points purchase yet.
You could get up to 60,000 bonus points!
Dear Darth,
Your mystery bonus is here, and it's going to help you reach your next reward faster, from name brand merchandise and gift cards to Reward Nights at our most exclusive properties. Now through July 18, you'll enjoy up to a 100% bonus on all points purchases. Who knows? This could be your most rewarding points purchase yet.
The base price for the points, when you purchase more than 20k, is 1.15cpp. With my 80% bonus the rate drops to a hair under 0.64cpp. That's not significantly cheaper than how I reliably value points based on my travel patterns so I don't plan to buy any. If I had a 100% bonus, though, which would drop the cost to 0.575cpp, I might seize the opportunity.
Jun 22, 2016, 2:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,832
I got a targeted email today advertising "How big is your mystery bonus?" It's a promotion from points.com and IHG to buy IHG points.
The body of the email reads:
I clicked through the link to points.com, signed in with my IHG credentials, and found out that I've gotten an 80% bonus.
The base price for the points, when you purchase more than 20k, is 1.15cpp. With my 80% bonus the rate drops to a hair under 0.64cpp. That's not significantly cheaper than how I reliably value points based on my travel patterns so I don't plan to buy any. If I had a 100% bonus, though, which would drop the cost to 0.575cpp, I might seize the opportunity.
The body of the email reads:
I clicked through the link to points.com, signed in with my IHG credentials, and found out that I've gotten an 80% bonus.
The base price for the points, when you purchase more than 20k, is 1.15cpp. With my 80% bonus the rate drops to a hair under 0.64cpp. That's not significantly cheaper than how I reliably value points based on my travel patterns so I don't plan to buy any. If I had a 100% bonus, though, which would drop the cost to 0.575cpp, I might seize the opportunity.
You’ve revealed a bonus of 100% more points on your purchase! Buy points today and get the award you want sooner than ever. This offer ends on July 18, 2016.
So, should I buy some?
Jun 22, 2016, 3:22 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: TUL
Programs: AA GLD,DL,UA
Posts: 306
The effective cost is 0.675 up to 20,000, 0.625 up to 46,000, and 0.575 after 52,000. So you would want to get at least 52,000 for the best rate.
If you have an IHG credit card you get a 10%, lowering the effective cost one-ninth to 0.511.
Also note that you do not pay taxes with award nights, so your effective cost of the points purchased is further reduced when compared to the base room rate. For example. if I'm figuring this correctly, a 10% tax rate further reduces the cost compared to the base room rate one-eleventh to 0.465.
So if you can save money or upgrade your experience by using less than half-penny points instead of cash, then you may as well.
If you have an IHG credit card you get a 10%, lowering the effective cost one-ninth to 0.511.
Also note that you do not pay taxes with award nights, so your effective cost of the points purchased is further reduced when compared to the base room rate. For example. if I'm figuring this correctly, a 10% tax rate further reduces the cost compared to the base room rate one-eleventh to 0.465.
So if you can save money or upgrade your experience by using less than half-penny points instead of cash, then you may as well.
Jun 22, 2016, 7:20 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,531
80% here. But it doesn't matter since I've already maxed out, months ago, on the amount of points I can purchase with bonus this year...yet they still send offers I can't redeem to me.
Jun 22, 2016, 7:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
100% second time in a row. This after years of never being offered the 100% uplift, and thus always passing on the purchase.
Just wonder that last 2x i am offered 100% bonus, my ihg points balance is in the 500k-1000k range minimum, so do ihg only offer 100% when you dont really need to buy the points in the first place, but if balance less than 100k you get offered 25% or 50% like my previous offers?
Just wonder that last 2x i am offered 100% bonus, my ihg points balance is in the 500k-1000k range minimum, so do ihg only offer 100% when you dont really need to buy the points in the first place, but if balance less than 100k you get offered 25% or 50% like my previous offers?
Jun 22, 2016, 8:33 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: YUL & SIN
Posts: 340
100%
100% second time in a row. This after years of never being offered the 100% uplift, and thus always passing on the purchase.
Just wonder that last 2x i am offered 100% bonus, my ihg points balance is in the 500k-1000k range minimum, so do ihg only offer 100% when you dont really need to buy the points in the first place, but if balance less than 100k you get offered 25% or 50% like my previous offers?
Just wonder that last 2x i am offered 100% bonus, my ihg points balance is in the 500k-1000k range minimum, so do ihg only offer 100% when you dont really need to buy the points in the first place, but if balance less than 100k you get offered 25% or 50% like my previous offers?
Jun 23, 2016, 10:10 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
1) Do you value the points significantly above the cost based on your travel patterns?
2) Do you have near-term plans to spend a significant number of points? Especially if the answer to this is "No", the answer to #1 needs to be "Yes" to hedge against deflation and account for discount for the present value of cash.
3) Do you have a cheaper alternative to generate the point you anticipate needing in the near future, such as signing up for the credit card or shifting stays from another brand to score big with IHG's periodic promotions?
Jun 24, 2016, 8:41 pm
#15
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I got 100% here. I have 50,000 points on hand and a couple of HI stays coming up so I see no need to take advantage of it.