The Starwood Preferred Guest credit card, issued by American Express, has long been the darling of the miles-and-points set. But with the pending merger of Starwood with Marriott, the card’s future is in doubt.
27.07.2023 - 18:45 / smartertravel.com / Tim Winship
InterContinental Hotel Group’s next points promotion, Share Forever, begins next month and features bonuses for both the member’s own IHG Rewards account and to share with other program members.
Offer Details
Between May 1 and September 5, IHG Rewards members can earn “at least 65,000 bonus points – plus a free night to share.”
This is another personalized promotion, with various different offers available to program members with different profiles and stay histories. As an IHG Rewards member with very little activity, my offer was as follows:
4,000 bonus points after the first night stayed by May 31; 1,000 bonus points for the first night between June 1 and September 5 1,200 additional bonus points for completing two nights 2,800 additional bonus points after four nights 20,000 additional bonus points after nine nights 40,000 additional bonus points after 34 nightsThat’s a total of 68,000 bonus points, after 34 paid nights. In addition, I was offered 1,000 bonus points to share with another member after one night, and a free night to share after 15 nights.
As discussed on FlyerTalk, more active program members are receiving more lucrative offers. To determine your personalized offer, log onto the IHG website with your Rewards membership credentials.
Registration is required.
RELATED: The 10 Best Hotel Booking Sites
Deal or No Deal
For me, the outsize payoff comes early (4,000 bonus points after the first night) and late (68,000 bonus points after 34 nights). With the exception of the free night after 15 nights, the in-between bonuses are less than compelling.
But that’s my offer; yours may be quite different.
One definite upside to the promotion is its duration, at more than four months. That at least gives travelers a fighting chance of achieving some of the higher bonus thresholds.
Reader Reality Check
How many bonus points are you likely to earn from this promotion?
More from SmarterTravel: When It Comes to Airports, Smaller Is Better Alaska-Virgin America Merger Begets Sadness, Skepticism American Nixes No-Fee 24-Hour Reservations HoldAfter 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Starwood Preferred Guest credit card, issued by American Express, has long been the darling of the miles-and-points set. But with the pending merger of Starwood with Marriott, the card’s future is in doubt.
It’s been awhile since Hyatt’s last systemwide bonus promotion. That will be remedied beginning next month, with a new offer that, at least for high-frequency travelers, will have been well worth the wait.
Bad news for the airlines often translates as good news for travel consumers.
With the high probability of Virgin America’s being folded into Alaska Airlines within the next two years, Virgin loyalists are in the market for an alternative. And JetBlue wants to be that alternative.
In a first for a U.S. airline loyalty program, Alaska Airlines is offering members of its Mileage Plan program the option to redeem miles to pay for TSA PreCheck service.
There’s a storm brewing in the rarefied air occupied by the priciest of the travel-rewards cards.
Judging by their load factors, U.S. airlines are doing just fine. For June, Alaska Airlines filled 86 percent of its seats; Delta flew 87.7 percent full; other carriers’ results are expected to be similarly robust.
Flying to Europe between now and July 31? Good. Flying on a first-, business-, or full coach-fare ticket? Even better. Because, bonus miles.
Alaska Airlines is justly lauded for its Mileage Plan loyalty program, which among other features boasts 17 airline partners, allowing program members to earn and redeem miles for flights throughout the world.
In February, when Starbucks announced it was converting its frequent-drinker program to a revenue-based scheme, there was a collective groan from the caffeinated crowd. As with similar conversions by the major airlines, Starbucks’ new earning rules would mean fewer rewards for most customers.
Until yesterday, American Airlines customers dismayed at the airline’s August 1 pivot to a spend-based mileage program had a fallback option: Earn miles for their American flights in Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan program, which still awards miles the old-fashioned way, according to the distance flown.
Tickets go on sale today from a brand-new airline.