When a new credit card launches, it can be hard to see how its benefits could be useful on a real-world trip. That’s how I felt when I first read about the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card (see rates and fees), which is now available to applicants.
The card has an impressive lineup of benefits, from elevated earning rates (you’ll earn at least three points per dollar on every purchase) to hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits to automatic elite status. But the question many IHG fans may be asking is how this card can be used in practice during travel to save money and improve their overall experience.
I recently stayed at an IHG property while on a trip to the Seattle, WA, area, and this last-minute trip showed me how valuable the new card’s benefits can be for the right traveler.
Using the $200 airline credit to upgrade the flight experience
It’s no secret that flights are incredibly expensive right now, so any way I can save on airfare is a huge win.
I booked a nonstop economy flight from my home airport, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on Alaska Airlines, which ended up costing $796.80. I knew I would need to get work done on the six-hour flight, so I also splurged on upgraded seat selection for a little extra legroom (and the hope of an empty middle seat) for $92 each way.
The IHG Premier Select Card comes with a $200 airline statement credit for purchases made directly with airlines (usable once per calendar year when you make a purchase of at least $250 with your card for flight tickets booked directly with the airline through Dec. 31, 2027). It’s a generous benefit compared to some other travel credits that require booking with a pre-selected airline or via a travel portal. The fact that travelers can use this benefit when booking directly with airlines is really compelling.
This benefit could have covered my upgraded seat selection entirely (or just cut down overall costs had I not opted to pay for premium seat selection).
Stacking flexible benefits on IHG stays
For my Seattle trip, I stayed at the InterContinental Seattle Bellevue, situated around 20 minutes from downtown Seattle. I booked a King Premium City View room for four nights, totaling $2,288.98 (including taxes and fees). Had I booked with IHG One Rewards points, it would have cost an average of around 90,000 points per night.
Of course, IHG stays are where the benefits of the IHG Premier Select Card really shine. With the card’s myriad hotel perks, ranging from an anniversary free night to automatic elite status, it can save travelers hundreds of dollars during a single hotel stay.
Anniversary free night
Each year upon your cardholder anniversary, you get one free night worth up to 60,000 points. For hotel stays that cost more than that per night, you can also use your IHG account to top off the additional points needed.
Given that my InterContinental Seattle Bellevue stay would have cost an average of 90,000 points, I would have needed an additional 30,000 points to cover one night (which would be easy to earn given the card’s earning structure, plus its 200,000-point welcome bonus, earned after spending $5,000 in the first three months).
TPG values IHG points at .6 cents apiece (as of our October 2026 valuations), making this benefit worth $360. But given the cost of this specific trip, I could have saved $572.24 by combining the free night and the account top-off.
Fourth night free benefit
In addition to the free anniversary night, the IHG Premier Select Card offers cardholders a valuable fourth-night-free benefit when redeeming points. When you book four consecutive nights on points, your fourth night is free.
On this trip, it could have saved me an additional 90,000 points, or $572.24 at the cash price.
Automatic Platinum Elite Status
Cardholders get Platinum Elite Status (the second-highest tier available), which comes with perks including early check-in when available, complimentary room upgrades, a welcome amenity (points or a drink and snack) and more.
As someone who prefers early morning flights, early check-in alone is a game changer. My flight to Seattle landed before noon, which meant I had hours between arriving and the standard hotel check-in time.
Milestone Reward
Yet another perk cardholders receive is Elite Night Credits: 20 Elite Night Credits within six to eight weeks of opening their card and 20 Elite Night Credits by Feb. 1 each calendar year thereafter. Those initial 20 credits are enough to unlock a Milestone Reward, where you can choose one of the following:
- 5,000 bonus points
- $20 Food and Beverage Rewards
- One confirmable suite upgrade
A confirmable suite upgrade during my InterContinental Seattle Bellevue stay would have likely meant an upgrade to a corner room with even better views, more space and a separate soaking tub (in addition to the gorgeous walk-in shower).
Spending the $75 Food & Beverage Reward on room service
While one of my favorite parts of visiting a new-to-me city is experiencing the local food scene, sometimes after a long day of travel, I just need to order in and relax. IHG has been investing in its lineup of food and beverage offerings at its luxury properties, and the InterContinental is home to Le Bar (which has a sister location at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand).
My first night, I ordered room service from Le Bar for a cozy night watching Castle reruns streamed on the flat-screen in my room. The burger and fries were simple but hit just the spot after a long day spent in the air. Service was prompt, the food was hot, and the night meant I could go to bed early before my first day exploring Seattle.
The $75 Food & Beverage Reward available with the IHG Premier Select Card would have completely offset the cost of the meal (with enough left over for a couple of drinks at the bar downstairs or breakfast in the morning).
DoorDash credits that save the day
My last night in town, I realized that I’d run out of my favorite makeup-removing wipes. Sure, I could have changed out of my pajamas, taken my hair out of its messy bun, and trekked back out to a Sephora. But after miles of walking that day, packing away almost all of my clothes for the next morning’s flights and getting almost entirely ready for bed, I caved and decided to just order a replacement pack on DoorDash.
With the IHG Premier Select Card, these inconveniences are solved with a complimentary 12 months of DashPass and a monthly $10 credit for non-restaurant orders (must enroll by Dec. 31, 2027). My emergency need for late-night makeup remover wipes was admittedly minor, but the DoorDash benefits could truly be a game-changer if you needed last-minute cold medication or something like diapers/formula delivered during a stay.
Earning rewards for my next trip
Of course, a trip is about so much more than just your flight and hotel stay. And having a card that rewards you for all of the expenses you make while on the ground can help you start saving up for the next journey on your calendar.
I had a fantastic time in Seattle exploring Pike Place Market, going whale watching, drinking way too much coffee and ordering fresh seafood literally everywhere I went. The IHG Premier Select Card would have rewarded me for every single purchase:
- 28 points per dollar spent on my IHG stay (12 points per dollar via the card and 16 points per dollar as an IHG Platinum Elite, which cardholders automatically receive)
- 6 points per dollar spent on dining, takeout, eligible delivery services and other travel purchases
- 3 points per dollar on all other purchases
Given the incredible 28 points per dollar spent earned at IHG, the hotel stay cost alone for this trip would have earned 64,000 points that I could use toward my next trip.
Bottom line
When you’re traveling, the right credit card can make all the difference. During just one stay at the InterContinental Seattle Bellevue, the new IHG Premier Select Card could have saved me hundreds of dollars with its travel and lifestyle benefits — and that’s not even factoring in the welcome bonus for new cardholders or the rewards that can be earned throughout the rest of the year.
If you regularly stay at IHG hotels, the new IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card is a compelling new offering — especially with the limited-time 200,000-point welcome offer after you spend $5,000 in the first three months. The benefits easily outweigh the $350 annual fee and offer meaningful ways to upgrade your travel experiences in the air, at the hotel and everywhere in between.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Source: thepointsguy.com
