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
#751
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 588
Frustrating Error code that would not go away!
I got the "OfferCode is required to book Special Nights" when trying to book either the IC San Francisco or IC Mark Hopkins for a Friday night in Jan 2017.
Called to book and was told no award availability. Online was showing Deluxe Room available at both properties but could not finish booking. It kept saying "OfferCode is required to book Special Nights". Used Virtual Assistant to get to LiveChat and "Maria Imelda C" was able to confirm my one night booking using Chase Anniversary Night in less than 5 minutes!
A frustrating online and phone call was fixed with LiveChat! that's a first ^ Usually it's the other way around - frustrating chat that requires a phone call (or two or more) to figure out a solution.
Called to book and was told no award availability. Online was showing Deluxe Room available at both properties but could not finish booking. It kept saying "OfferCode is required to book Special Nights". Used Virtual Assistant to get to LiveChat and "Maria Imelda C" was able to confirm my one night booking using Chase Anniversary Night in less than 5 minutes!
A frustrating online and phone call was fixed with LiveChat! that's a first ^ Usually it's the other way around - frustrating chat that requires a phone call (or two or more) to figure out a solution.
#752
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 51
Had the same error and had to use the live chat agent to book my free night at the IC Singapore a couple days ago, checking in today. Just looked at the app confirmation for the stay and it shows the chase free night, but also a room rate charge (of about half the rate I saw online when booking). The confirmation email clearly said "free." I guess I'll see what happens at the hotel...
#754
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 588
Had the same error and had to use the live chat agent to book my free night at the IC Singapore a couple days ago, checking in today. Just looked at the app confirmation for the stay and it shows the chase free night, but also a room rate charge (of about half the rate I saw online when booking). The confirmation email clearly said "free." I guess I'll see what happens at the hotel...
#756
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 48
I received the same thing. On the same days too. Chase 'annual free night' posted on the 17th, and the 19th. I also assumed it was an error, but it has not yet been corrected in my account. I haven't attempted to use them yet
#757
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 103
#758
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 249
Increased scrutiny at IC Hong Kong
Used the wife's Chase Free night at IC Hong Kong. Her IHG account did not have her middle name listed , so there was not an exact match with her passport. The check-in clerk said he needed to see her IHG membership card to verify the stay. He explained that they were experiencing a lot of "fraud" with the free night certificates (I guess he meant people selling them online). Needless to say we didn't have her IHG membership card , but luckily her driving licence address matched the address on the reservation so he accepted that everything was above board.
#759
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Diamond Inner Circle Royal Ambassador
Posts: 345
I know the free night certs from Barclaycard UK are refundable rates. If I cancel a booking I have already made (cert expires in Dec 17) does this become immediately available again in my account to use? I don't want to lose it by cancelling a stay!
#760
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
If I make a reservation using my free-night certificate and then need to cancel, are there any special procedures? Do I have to call IHG?
#762
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: AMEX PLT, AA PPro, Spire AMB
Posts: 1,617
Used the wife's Chase Free night at IC Hong Kong. Her IHG account did not have her middle name listed , so there was not an exact match with her passport. The check-in clerk said he needed to see her IHG membership card to verify the stay. He explained that they were experiencing a lot of "fraud" with the free night certificates (I guess he meant people selling them online). Needless to say we didn't have her IHG membership card , but luckily her driving licence address matched the address on the reservation so he accepted that everything was above board.
#763
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 249
Hopefully you will be able to continue doing this. Technically the Chase awards are not transferable. In Hong Kong the award owner now has to phone IHG at least 7 days in advance in order to add a guest to the booking. This new restriction may just be the start.
#764
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Free Night email notification
My account always receives not one, but two, emails about the upcoming free night cert.
1st one is to tell me you soon will earn my annual free night and came weeks before the anniversary date.
2nd one is to tell me the free night cert is now in my account. came right on the anniversary date.
However for whatever reason, husband's account has not received such emails - his anniversary date is January 6th.
Looking back the records of January 2016, I dont see any emails to inform him about his free night status. He did receive the free night cert and we used it in Sept at IC Hong Kong if IIRC and per the trip records I kept.
Has anybody not gotten any email on their upcoming free night certs?
1st one is to tell me you soon will earn my annual free night and came weeks before the anniversary date.
2nd one is to tell me the free night cert is now in my account. came right on the anniversary date.
However for whatever reason, husband's account has not received such emails - his anniversary date is January 6th.
Looking back the records of January 2016, I dont see any emails to inform him about his free night status. He did receive the free night cert and we used it in Sept at IC Hong Kong if IIRC and per the trip records I kept.
Has anybody not gotten any email on their upcoming free night certs?
#765
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
My account always receives not one, but two, emails about the upcoming free night cert.
1st one is to tell me you soon will earn my annual free night and came weeks before the anniversary date.
2nd one is to tell me the free night cert is now in my account. came right on the anniversary date.
However for whatever reason, husband's account has not received such emails - his anniversary date is January 6th.
Looking back the records of January 2016, I dont see any emails to inform him about his free night status. He did receive the free night cert and we used it in Sept at IC Hong Kong if IIRC and per the trip records I kept.
Has anybody not gotten any email on their upcoming free night certs?
1st one is to tell me you soon will earn my annual free night and came weeks before the anniversary date.
2nd one is to tell me the free night cert is now in my account. came right on the anniversary date.
However for whatever reason, husband's account has not received such emails - his anniversary date is January 6th.
Looking back the records of January 2016, I dont see any emails to inform him about his free night status. He did receive the free night cert and we used it in Sept at IC Hong Kong if IIRC and per the trip records I kept.
Has anybody not gotten any email on their upcoming free night certs?
I don't think I've never got an e-mail saying it has been posted - but then again, I usually use it to book a night at the same day it is posted.