Evaluating IHG Rewards Club and Other Auction Programs
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available – IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card
Airline and hotel program auctions might be an easy way to blow hundreds of thousands of points without even taking a trip, but they also offer exclusive experiences that you couldn’t otherwise buy. Today, TPG Senior Points & Miles Correspondent Jason Steele explores one such auction program, IHG Rewards Club.
Last week, I showed you how United's MileagePlus Exclusives auctions off some truly unique experiences, like a chance to pilot a United Airlines full-motion aircraft simulator. Today, I want to tell you about a newly created auction site from IHG Rewards Club, and take a look at some of the other auctions offered by airline and hotel loyalty programs.
IHG Auctions
Intercontinental Hotels Group offers its IHG Rewards Club, which it just released in April. So far, auctions have included:
- A VIP Colonial Golf Tournament Experience - Lodging and accommodations for two, along with access to hospitality areas.
- BMW One-Day M School - Lessons in Spartanburg, SC, for two people in BMW's high-performance M models.
- InterContinental Chicago American Girl Experience and Ambassador Status - A day filled with a variety of American Girl doll-themed perks and activities.
According to Monica Brosman, IHG's Manager of Corporate Communications, some of the experiences are exclusive opportunities, while others are available for sale. She explained,"This is just a taste, but we will have a much broader offering this summer and later this year. We'll also have more once-in-a-lifetime experiences that we're really excited to share!"
Earning IHG Rewards Club points
There are three primary ways to earn points in the IHG Rewards Club:
1. Using the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card from Chase. This card currently offers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend just $1,000 within three months of account opening. You'll earn 5x points at IHG properties and 2x at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. The other great perk of this card is the free night certificate earned each year. There is a $49 annual fee for this card that is waived the first year.
2. Transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can transfer points earned with a Sapphire Preferred or an Ink Plus Business credit card to the IHG Rewards Club program on a 1:1 basis. The Sapphire Preferred offers double points on all travel and dining purchases, while the Ink Plus offers 5x on your first $50,000 spent in combined purchases each cardmember year on office supplies and on telecommunications services. 2x points are earned on up to $50,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and hotel accommodations (when purchased directly with the hotel).
3. Staying at IHG hotels. General members earn 10 points per dollar spent at most IHG properties (but only 5 points per dollar at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites). Those who use their IHG Rewards Club Select credit card from Chase receive Platinum Elite status, which earns an additional 50% bonus on top of base points. That would equal a total of 20 points per dollar spent at IHG properties (12.5 total at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites).
Tips for IHG Auctions
Like other auctions, IHG requires that you have enough points in your account before you can bid. And like competing programs, IHG Rewards Club has taken a step to curtail bid sniping (something I mentioned in last week's post about United MileagePlus Exclusives). The terms state: "If a bid is placed in the last 5 minutes of an auction, Auto Bid Extend automatically extends the auction for 5 minutes. Once all bidding has stopped for 5 minutes, the auction closes."
So not only does this mean that bid sniping cannot be used very effectively, it also means that the end time of an auction is not fixed, just like a live auction. So you can think of this as having an auctioneer saying "Do I have a higher bid?" for five minutes before declaring a winner. But the website also shows the bid history of previous auctions, so I can see that it doesn't appear that most had their ending extended for a bidding war — at least so far.
Other loyalty program auctions
While IHG Rewards Club is new to this game, others have been around for some time. Nearly three years ago, TPG looked into Redeeming Miles and Points for Auctions and Experiences and found that even when the experiences were not completely unique, there were some fantastic deals to be had from auction sites.
Here are some of the other auctions that you can win using points and miles:
Alaska Mileage Plan Auctions. This site's homepage states that it "does not currently offer auctions on a regular basis, but you never know when that once-in-a-lifetime auction package might show up." The last auction was an opportunity to participate in a charity event with Seattle Seahawk Russell Wilson.
American Airlines AAdvantage Auction. This site appears to be inactive, with the last auction having been won back in 2013.
Delta SkyMiles Experience. This auction site appears to be active with a mix of widely available ticket and vacation packages (like two tickets to an Atlanta Braves game, and a parking pass) as well as some exclusive opportunities such as:
- Concert tickets for acts such as Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band and Florida Georgia Line, including the opportunity to meet the performers.
- Tickets to a Detroit Tigers Baseball Game, including field access and meeting star second basemen Ian Kinsler.
Very few rules are published, but auction members must login, register and have sufficient miles in their account when bidding and if they win.
Hilton's auction site looks to contain a mix of publicly available and exclusive opportunities, as well as buy-it-now and auction formats. Available events include:
- USA Gymnastics P&G Championships VIP Experience - Indianapolis, Indiana - August
- Private Meghan Trainor Hilton @Play Concert In Chicago + 1 Night Stay At Palmer House Hilton - July 10, 2015
This auction program is how TPG realized his Favorite Use of Points Ever, a VIP experience with the NY Knicks. Auctions also include cultural events and concerts such as:
- Meet and greet with Britney Spears for Britney: Piece of Me tour in Las Vegas.
- Attend an exclusive Fan Day with Amaluna from Cirque du Soleil in Madrid.
- Witness the big finish of the 2015 Giro d'Italia (bicycle race) between Torino and Milano in a VIP car.
Like with eBay, SPG moments allows you to submit a maximum bid that you are willing to pay, and ups your bid automatically until that price is reached.
Should You Bid?
Of course, you're likely to get the best value for your miles by redeeming miles for premium-cabin travel. For example, the same number of miles required to spend a few days at United's A320 simulator can buy you a round-trip first-class ticket to pretty much anywhere in the world. Still, if you're swimming in millions of points and miles and you'd rather redeem for a once-in-a-lifetime experience than yet another long-haul flight or five-star hotel stay, these auction programs can be a good bet.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.