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Earn Up to 8 AAdvantage Miles per Dollar Spent at IHG Hotels

May 12, 2018
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4 min read
Crowne Plaza New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida
Earn Up to 8 AAdvantage Miles per Dollar Spent at IHG Hotels
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An often-overlooked aspect of hotel loyalty programs is the ability to earn airline miles instead of hotel points from a stay. And, in many cases, that's not a bad thing. Usually, mileage earning rates are set low enough that it's more valuable to earn hotel points instead of airline miles.

But, there's a new promotion that's temporarily making it lucrative to earn AAdvantage miles instead of IHG points. For stays from May 15 to July 31, you can earn up to 4x the standard number of miles for IHG hotel stays. That's up to 8x AAdvantage miles per dollar spent — a return of 11.2% at current TPG valuations of AAdvantage miles.

Here's how the promotion works: Register for the promotion and you'll earn 3x the standard AA mileage earning rate for IHG stays when choosing American Airlines as your earning preference. For Crowne Plaza stays, the bonus is 4x the standard earning rate. (The standard rate is 2x miles per dollar spent, except at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites where the standard earn rate is just 1x miles per dollar spend.)

Hotel BrandStandard Mileage EarningsMiles per $1 spent during promotionReturn on Spend
Crowne Plaza
2
8
11.2%
InterContinental Hotels & Resort
2
6
8.4%
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
2
6
8.4%
Hotel Indigo
2
6
8.4%
Holiday Inn Hotels
2
6
8.4%
Holiday Inn Express
2
6
8.4%
Holiday Inn Resort
2
6
8.4%
Holiday Inn Club Vacations
2
6
8.4%
EVEN Hotels
2
6
8.4%
Hualuxe Hotels & Resorts
2
6
8.4%
Staybridge Suites
1
3
4.2%
Candlewood Suites
1
3
4.2%

For reference, you'd earn 10x IHG points per dollar spent at all brands except Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. At current TPG valuations, that's just 6% return on spending. For Staybridge and Candlewood stays, you're forgoing 5x IHG points per dollar spend — which is a 3% return at TPG valuations.

To take AAdvantage of this promotion, you're going to have to switch your earning preference to AA miles and then register for the promotion. Let's walk through this process step-by-step:

1. Log into your IHG Rewards account and browse to the Preferences page
2. Select "Airline Miles" instead of "IHG Rewards Club points"
3. Choose American Airlines from the drop-down menu, enter your AAdvantage number and full name
4. Click "Save"
5. Browse to the promotions page
6. Enter your IHG Rewards number, pin and AAdvantage number
7. Agree to the promotion terms and agree to receiving emails about this promotion
8. Click Register
9. Take a screenshot of the confirmation page (it never hurts)

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In order to earn miles from your stay, you need to book the stay directly through the IHG website. Stays booked through online travel agencies (OTAs), "Non-Qualifying Room Rates" and "Non Qualifying Stays" won't earn miles or points. According to the terms and conditions, these include the following:

Net wholesale individual and group rate, certain package rates, employee discount rate, friends and family rate, crew rate, special discounted contract rates, seasonal worker/crew rate, 50% travel club discount rate, travel industry discount rate, distressed passenger rate, IHG Rewards Club Reward Nights/Airline Hotel Reward rate, most rates booked through most third party web sites, complimentary hotel stays and any other rates not defined as a Qualifying Room Rate.

Frequent stayers need to beware of the 15,000 maximum miles that can be earned through this promotion. That cap would be hit after spending $1,875 at Crowne Plaza hotels or $2,500 combined at all other brands except Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

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  • 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.
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 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.
4XEarn 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.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    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.