How my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card pays for itself each year
Editor's Note
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) currently has a welcome offer of 175,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's June 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $875.
Even after you earn the welcome offer, the IHG Premier Card pays for itself each year.
It offers a range of useful benefits, such as automatic Platinum Elite status, every fourth night free when you redeem IHG points for stays of four nights or more and up to $50 in United® TravelBank Cash each calendar year.
But one benefit rises above the rest and effectively covers the card's annual fee each year: the account anniversary night certificate. Let's dive in.
IHG anniversary night certificate
Every year on your account anniversary with the IHG One Rewards Premier, you'll receive a certificate for a one-night stay at a property with a point redemption value of 40,000 points or less.
TPG's June 2025 valuations peg the value of 40,000 IHG points at $200, more than double the IHG One Rewards Premier's $99 annual fee. So, you should easily get enough value to cover your card's annual fee by redeeming your anniversary night certificate each year.
One of my favorite hotels to use an IHG anniversary night certificate at is the Kimpton De Witt in Amsterdam. During shoulder and low season, you often find award nights bookable for around 40,000 points. For example, for a stay on Jan. 19, I could redeem 39,000 points or pay $259 for a reservation that I can cancel for free until a day before my stay.
Of course, you could use an IHG anniversary night certificate in many other ways. Regardless of how you use it, you'll likely get at least $99 in value. You can also add points from your account to use the anniversary night certificate at more expensive properties if you can't find anything to your liking within the 40,000-point limit.
You must redeem your anniversary night certificate and complete your stay within 12 months of when IHG issues the certificate.
Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
Bottom line
I love my IHG One Rewards Premier for its ongoing perks. But the anniversary night alone makes it a winning choice. Even if you don't maximize your anniversary night certificate, using it for a single night's stay at an IHG property should easily give you more value than the card's annual fee.
To learn more, see our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier.
Apply here: IHG One Rewards Premier
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees