IHG points now cheaper to purchase

Old May 12, 2016, 8:50 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, IHG Diamond AMB, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National EE
Posts: 1,083
IHG points now cheaper to purchase

I noticed that some hotels are now offering three tiers of points+cash options.

There are two options that have always been there:

5k points for $40 ($0.008 per point)
10k points for $70 ($0.007 per point)

But now there is a third option that is cheaper:

15k points for $95 ($0.0063 per point)

It makes sense that points are cheaper now given the recent increases in points required to book (i.e. some IC properties going from 45k to 60k per night). But for the hotels that didn't increase, this is a nice option to have to buy more points for even cheaper than before.

For those of you not familiar with points+cash, you can book a room using this option and then cancel the reservation. The points you purchased will be redeposited into your account.
TravelTheWorld66 is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 10:42 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
Originally Posted by TravelTheWorld66
I noticed that some hotels are now offering three tiers of points+cash options.

There are two options that have always been there:

5k points for $40 ($0.008 per point)
10k points for $70 ($0.007 per point)

But now there is a third option that is cheaper:

15k points for $95 ($0.0063 per point)

It makes sense that points are cheaper now given the recent increases in points required to book (i.e. some IC properties going from 45k to 60k per night). But for the hotels that didn't increase, this is a nice option to have to buy more points for even cheaper than before.

For those of you not familiar with points+cash, you can book a room using this option and then cancel the reservation. The points you purchased will be redeposited into your account.
Which property?
mitpat474 is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 10:50 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
That is pretty much getting near the cheapest price for points, which has been the sales for 0.56 cents per point.
s0ssos is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 11:17 am
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, IHG Diamond AMB, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National EE
Posts: 1,083
Originally Posted by mitpat474
Which property?
I saw it for the IC Times Square.
TravelTheWorld66 is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 1:43 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Programs: IC/AMB - Diamond Elite, AC E50K, AA, AM-Onyx, HH-Diamond, BW, Choice - Gold
Posts: 1,736
IHG Daily Getaways

I just noticed that IHG is promoting the sale of IHG points until tomorrow, May 13, 2016, through the US Travel website:

https://dailygetaways.ustravel.org/O...3-843e72dc322e

It is under the IHG Offers tab at the bottom right - Daily Getaways on the IHG website.

mxm135
MXM135 is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 1:48 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,055
I wasn't aware of the way this worked - so to clarify if I say book a points+cash promo where a hotel is (say) 20,000 points and pay 10,000 + a cash difference I'll get back 10,000 points if I then cancel the booking rather than a refund of the cash difference price?
sbiddle is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 2:12 pm
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, IHG Diamond AMB, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National EE
Posts: 1,083
Originally Posted by sbiddle
I wasn't aware of the way this worked - so to clarify if I say book a points+cash promo where a hotel is (say) 20,000 points and pay 10,000 + a cash difference I'll get back 10,000 points if I then cancel the booking rather than a refund of the cash difference price?
Correct.

Sometimes it's a smart thing to do. For example, say you want to stay at a hotel this weekend that is $160 or 15,000 points per night. You can book a reservation at a hotel that offers the 15,000 points for $95 option, cancel it, and use the 15,000 points to book a rewards night at the hotel you want...saving some considerable cash.
TravelTheWorld66 is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 2:43 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
These rates have been around for a while, a couple months ago there was an additional discount on points+cash which made them even better.
Ambraciot is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 3:57 pm
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,974
I've also seen properties that were charging more than the standard $70 for 10K points. (I can't recall which but I believe I was recently looking in the LAX area)

It would appear to me that IHG are experimenting with the individual hotels keeping some of all of the cash portion of Cash & Points bookings? While the minority who pay attention will gravitate to a "book and cancel" at the cheapest rate for P+C, there are probably loads more members without a clue who will think that the hotel is charging the going rate.
craigthemif is offline  
Old May 15, 2016, 2:10 am
  #10  
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Cheshire
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Am Elite, Best Western Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,704
Originally Posted by TravelTheWorld66
I noticed that some hotels are now offering three tiers of points+cash options.

There are two options that have always been there:

5k points for $40 ($0.008 per point)
10k points for $70 ($0.007 per point)

But now there is a third option that is cheaper:

15k points for $95 ($0.0063 per point)

It makes sense that points are cheaper now given the recent increases in points required to book (i.e. some IC properties going from 45k to 60k per night). But for the hotels that didn't increase, this is a nice option to have to buy more points for even cheaper than before.

For those of you not familiar with points+cash, you can book a room using this option and then cancel the reservation. The points you purchased will be redeposited into your account.
Do points obtained in this way count towards tier status like normal points or are they classed as bonus points that don't count towards tier status?

I'm not too far off Spire and this may be a way of easily "bridging the gap"!
adobbing is online now  
Old May 15, 2016, 2:21 am
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
Originally Posted by adobbing
Do points obtained in this way count towards tier status like normal points or are they classed as bonus points that don't count towards tier status?

I'm not too far off Spire and this may be a way of easily "bridging the gap"!
Just regular non-elite points unfortunately with P&C or points purchase.
chrism20 is offline  
Old May 16, 2016, 2:02 am
  #12  
Moderator, Hilton Honors
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,419
Originally Posted by adobbing
I'm not too far off Spire and this may be a way of easily "bridging the gap"!
Bonus point packages that are included in a room rate are counted as qualifying points.
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old May 17, 2016, 4:54 am
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,508
When they first added the 15K buy option last year, the price was just $90.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...ts-90-new.html
swag is offline  
Old Feb 12, 2017, 11:33 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, C1, AA, UA, WN, BA, AS, AV, AC, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott
Posts: 1,959
Will IHG credit card give me a 5x when doing cash + points? Last time I was using AT&T Access More card and it gave me 3x. But I guess that 3 TYPs are better than 5 IHG points?
How about Chase Sapphire Reserve? Will it give 3x? I guess not, it coded as Merchandise - Buying/Shopping Services Clubs on Citi MC.

Last edited by yugi; Feb 12, 2017 at 12:28 pm
yugi is offline  
Old Feb 12, 2017, 4:51 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DUB
Programs: AA EXP HH DIAMOND IC AMBASSADOR/DIAMOND Tk/ELITE (*G)
Posts: 484
There are properties that offer 20k at 125 USD. Plenty of hotels specially in the 50k or 60k a day award rate
palermo is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.