Get IHG Rewards Platinum hotel status with just five nights

IHG Rewards has extended its ‘fast track’ promotion for status. It is, on the face of it, very generous but you still need to accept the fact that IHG Rewards status has virtually no concrete benefits.

EDIT: The link has now been updated to automatically include the promo code needed. If you still need the code, use 52392.

How does the IHG Rewards Fast Track promotion work?

Full details, and registration, can be found here.

The offer was due to end on 31st August but is now open for registration until the end of November.

You will get:

• IHG Rewards Gold Elite status until December 2022 when you stay two nights within 90 days

• IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status until December 2022 when you stay five nights within 90 days

Note that the criteria relate to nights, and not stays, so it is even easier to hit the target.

It’s probably best not to register now

Since you only have 90 days to achieve the five qualifying nights, there is little value in signing up today with hotels closed.

You can now register until 30th November 2021 which would give you until late February to complete your five nights if you registered at the last minute.

As stays booked prior to registration count, the best time to sign up would be the day before your next IHG Rewards stay.

Reward nights do not count towards your five nights.

It is possible, but by no means certain, that if you triggered your status upgrade after 1st January 2022, you would actually get status until the end of 2023.

What happens if I already have IHG status?

It isn’t clear. The terms and conditions are badly written and do not say what would happen to existing members.

Can an existing Gold Elite member do this, and get upgraded to Platinum Elite after five nights? I would imagine that you can.

Can an existing Platinum Elite member do this, and get an extension of their status until December 2022? I would imagine not. There is even a risk that IHG could downgrade you to Gold Elite after your 2nd night.

This is all speculative, unfortunately.

Does this offer work alongside other IHG promotions?

Yes. However, IHG’s last promotion ended in mid August and we don’t yet know what will replace it. Some people have received a targeted offer.

Is IHG Rewards Gold and Platinum status worth having?

You can see the benefits of IHG Rewards status on this page of their website.

I used to say that IHG status was better than nothing and would ‘stop you getting the room overlooking the bins’. I then did a night at Holiday Inn Rotherham and did get the room overlooking the bins, so I don’t say that any longer.

Gold Elite members get a 10% points bonus whilst Platinum Elite members get a 50% points bonus. A Platinum Elite member will also be considered for upgrades, but you need to remember that Spire Elite members will outrank you.

At most European hotels, you will also receive a welcome gift – usually 500 points or a drink and snack. The secret is to take the drink and snack regardless, partly because it is worth far more than 500 points (worth £2) and partly because the hotel is very likely to give you points anyway. This trick still worked at Crowne Plaza Sheffield three weeks ago!

Does this promotion help me get Spire Elite status?

No. Because you are upgraded via a status change, rather than by being given an equivalent credit of status nights, you would still need to complete the full number of nights required for Spire Elite. This currently requires 55 nights.

I think this is a mistake by IHG Rewards. A member who is given Platinum Elite (currently 30 nights) via this promotion could easily be encouraged to do the extra 20 required to get up to 55 nights for Spire Elite.

I doubt anyone who does five nights and is given Platinum Elite is going to be motivated to do another 50 for the marginal extra benefits of Spire Elite.

Conclusion

There is no way that you can justify a mattress run for this promotion. However, if you need a few hotel nights anyway and a Holiday Inn or other IHG brand is suitable, this may be a reason to jump in.

You need to register for the IHG status fast track here.

IHG Rewards update – December 2021:

Get bonus points: You can earn up to triple IHG Rewards base points with IHG’s new Autumn promotion. It runs from 1st October to 31st December. You can register here and our full article on the offer is here.

New to IHG Rewards?  Read our overview of IHG Rewards here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on ‘What are IHG Rewards points worth?’ is here.

Buy points: If you need additional IHG Rewards points, you can buy them here.

You will get a 100% bonus when you buy IHG Rewards points by 4th January 2022. Click here to buy or learn more.

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from IHG and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.