Points for 0.4 cents - good deal or not?
Jul 17, 2019, 8:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
Points for 0.4 cents - good deal or not?
What's the opinion of this forum, is it a good deal to buy ihg points for about USD $40 per 10,000? Would you buy speculatively, just to stock up for uncertain future use?
Jul 17, 2019, 9:25 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
The deal is relatively good. But when you look at the number of points required at most hotels you will find that even at that price the paid rates are similar or even cheaper. There are some hotels which are significantly cheaper with points at 0.4 cents. But keep in mind that on points stay you often don't get the status benefits / upgrades, especially when you are Ambassador or Royal Ambasador at ICs. And no points on point stays. Also you never know when the next devaluation is coming.
Jul 18, 2019, 4:59 am
#6
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire, UA Silver, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,457
I just randomly searched Liverpool (UK) for a cheap Friday night at the end of August. The $113 Indigo is 40,000 points, the $41 Runcorn HI is 15,000. Both come in at under 0.3c. The following night it’s $180 (0.5c) and $93 (0.6c).
0.4 isn't a dead cert winner but it’s easy enough to find value at that price. If I didn’t have so many points I’d probably be a buyer at that rate!
0.4 isn't a dead cert winner but it’s easy enough to find value at that price. If I didn’t have so many points I’d probably be a buyer at that rate!
Jul 18, 2019, 10:10 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
It's dead now when a blogger blogged about it:
https://onemileatatime.com/ihg-rewar...cash-discount/
Maybe there are lower ones out there still...
https://onemileatatime.com/ihg-rewar...cash-discount/
Maybe there are lower ones out there still...
Jul 18, 2019, 11:43 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,213
If you stay 4 nights in the Intercontinental Osaka and have both Chase Cards and are Ambassador you spend
60k per night > 4th night free = 180k - 20% for the chase/ambassador = 144k > 36k per night @ 0.384 cents = 138 USD per night versus a cash rate of $550 (lowest room for the dates I booked)
or in Ocean City Maryland high season
50k per night > 4th night free = 150k - 20% for the chase/ambassador = 120k > 30k per night @ 0.384 cents = 115 USD per night and the cash rate in the summer can be in the $450 area .... if you book in winter your cash rate is closer to 100-150 per night
>> this all shows some hotel are very good to use points but others (like the hotel in Bali in the OneMileAtaTime article) is a very poor redemption as on several dates it was either $29 cash or 5k Points and $24 (or 10k points) > if you travel in the high season it almost always makes sense but if you go to a hotspot in the off season cash is probably the better option (as i.e. the OC hotel changes the cash rate but stays at 50k points regardless)
60k per night > 4th night free = 180k - 20% for the chase/ambassador = 144k > 36k per night @ 0.384 cents = 138 USD per night versus a cash rate of $550 (lowest room for the dates I booked)
or in Ocean City Maryland high season
50k per night > 4th night free = 150k - 20% for the chase/ambassador = 120k > 30k per night @ 0.384 cents = 115 USD per night and the cash rate in the summer can be in the $450 area .... if you book in winter your cash rate is closer to 100-150 per night
>> this all shows some hotel are very good to use points but others (like the hotel in Bali in the OneMileAtaTime article) is a very poor redemption as on several dates it was either $29 cash or 5k Points and $24 (or 10k points) > if you travel in the high season it almost always makes sense but if you go to a hotspot in the off season cash is probably the better option (as i.e. the OC hotel changes the cash rate but stays at 50k points regardless)