Update: It looks like we now have details about the new Chase IHG $89 annual fee card. More information on that here.
Currently the Chase IHG card is not showing on the Chase website (doesn’t show under the travel card section and the official link leads to an error). The card is still available for new sign ups though (and advertised on the IHG site), currently the best link is offering 60,000 points & a $50 statement credit. There are some unconfirmed reports that the Chase IHG card will be replaced with two new cards in April:
- One card with a $29 annual fee
- Another card with a $89 annual fee
- Neither card comes with a free night certificate
- $89 annual fee card will offer 10x points on IHG spend
Chase sent out a survey regarding potential card changes last year. Those options were as follows:
- $85 annual fee, 80,000 point sign up bonus + free night certificate annually (10x on IHG)
- $29 annual fee, 60,000 point sign up bonus + no free night certificate annually (5x on IHG)
I suspect those survey cards are more likely, I can’t see Chase/IHG offering a card with an $89 annual fee and no free night certificate. That being said it’s possible that current IHG cardholders will be grandfathered into the current card and in that case signing up for the card now to lock in a $49 annual fee with the free night certificate would be a good option. The IHG free night certificate is in my opinion one of the best credit card perks, even at $89/$85 it provides value but just not as much as at the $49 price point.
It should also be noted that Chase frequently removes cards from the website, especially over the weekend. I’d tend to give this sort of thing more weight when it was still not there by Tuesday. We were actually holding off on posting because of this.
Should You Apply Now?
Chase usually grandfathers existing cardholders into the old terms. That means you’d be getting a free night certificate for $49 per year instead of $85/$89 (assuming that card has a free night certificate). The highest sign up bonus we’ve seen on the Chase IHG card is 100,000 points with 80,000 being the standard offer and what I’d expect the new card to have. Personally I’d take the annual fee at $49 instead of $85/$89 and get 20,000 less IHG points. The current offer also has a $50 statement credit. The current Chase IHG card is not subjected to the Chase 5/24 rule and I suspect this will remain the case for any new cards as well but again you never know.
Hi Doc,
Last time I opened this card on 03/2016 and got bonus on 04/14/2016, after one year downgraded this card to No-Annual fee card.
1) Do I need to close No-Annual fee version of IHG card before applying for this card again.
2) do I need to wait till 4/14/2018 to be eligible for bonus again?
a) Usually you do not have to close a no-AF card as it is considered a different product (although just prepare to explain a recon rep if it comes to that why do you need another IHG card),
b) Usually it would be suggested to wait until 05/01/2018 to be eligible for the bonus again (in T&C it states “not received a bonus within last 24 months” and although I do not remember seeing any firm DPs proving that you will not get a bonus if apply on 04/14 everybody thinks that it is just safer to count full months)
Good Luck.
P.S. I am surprised to see that people are still interested in it although at this point it seems that at best you would be able to get only 1 unrestricted certificate from it, and even this is still in question. I jumped on that train myself, but only in hopes for unrestricted cert for several years. I would not do it for one night. All the best to you though.
1. Don’t think so
2. Chase bases it on when you last received the bonus, so yes.
So, in Durga example, it is not necessary to wait till 05/01/18, he/she can apply on 04/14 (or 4/15), right? I was under impression that it is recommended to wait till the month you got the bonus is over.. but that could be just “playing safe” recommendation, and it is not necessary.
If we have firm data points that it is safe to apply exactly 2×365 days after the bonus posted I would be great to know.
Thanks in advance for all your help!!!
Applied today for 60K + $50 credit, AF waived the first year. Instantly approved for $5K limit. With all the opportunities to purchase discounted points, plus the chance of devaluation, I prefer cash in hand.
My husband already has this card…now we’ll have two free nights to spend either in NYC or stupidly expensive Ocean City during high season.
I was only 1/24 before this, which will drop off in May. So still lots of room to play.
Based on your comment you sound like a pro, but being 1/24 sounds like a lot of missed opportunities…. either you already got it all or it’s a time to review your strategy. Share your seecret 🙂
Good luck.
Having a hard time deciding to get this because I just don’t see much value in 60,000 points, most places I would go cost at least 40,000/night. I guess the best value for me would be to hold onto the card til the anniversary and use the points for one night and a certificate for the second
60,000 point public offer is available again on Chase website
I logged into my IHG account and under the offers page was an 80k bonus link. The link went to a dead page. However, I sent a secure message to see if they would match and they will but it requires an extra $1k spend.
There is an IHG Chase credit card 80K offer if you are interested in doing it via a phone call. It is referenced on Miles to Memories site in the comments in this post http://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/chase-ihg-80000-point-link/
So last night (3/27) I called IHG Rewards first & said I was interested in getting the Chase IHG credit card. They conferencd me in & handed me off to a Chase person who right away said that the offer was 80,000 point ($2k spend in 3 months) annual fee waived 1st year , $49 after that. Plus a free Hotel night every anniversary year.
It took longer then filling out an online app but I was instantly approved for the card.
i applied on ihg website and sent SM via chase and they matched me for same 80k with 2k in spend
Did you also get the $50 statement credit?
I am at 4/24- 2 Sapphires and 2 southwest cards. I dont have any business and think I am not eligible for business cards.. you guys think it is a good idea to go for it?
Oh yes! 100K (or 80K if you go for a public online offer) UR points sounds like a really good idea to me.
You do not have to have a registered corporation to apply for a biz card. You can apply as a sole proprietor under your own name and your own SSN (plug it in both EIN and SSN boxes)…
Just to be prepared to explain what do you do a sole prop in case if you need to talk to a recon representative. No docs needed, just may have to answer few questions.
Good luck.
P.S. On the same note, you could have gotten SW Biz card instead of second personal and save a slot on your CR…. well, may be next time you go for a CP you do that. All the best.
Is the yes for IHG? I currently see a 60k offer + $50 statement credit offer.. guessing Ink Business preferred doesnt count under 5/24.. please correct me if Im wrong.
Correct it does not count (as any other Chase biz card), but it is a subject of 5/24 itself (When you apply for it). Other words, if you apply for Ink Pref (or Cash) first, you still going to be 4/24 and can apply for other Chase cards, but if you apply for IHG first, you will become 5/24 and any other Chase cards which are subject of 5/24 rule will become unavailable for you.
I would definitely go after Ink Pref and/or Cash first, then any other Chase biz cards (such as SW if you need it, or United if you need it) before considering getting another personal card if I were you. Marriott biz card is not a subject of 5/24, so in that respect it does not matter when to apply for it (if you need it).
Obviously, the more cards you get more difficult it will be for you to be approved, so apply in the order of your preference.
To sum up – I would for sure gave up on IHG if I had a chance to pick up 80-100K UR points on Ink. (I got them already, and 6/24 now myself, so entertaining an idea of IHG only because of my situation).
Good luck.
Awesome, Thanks!!
I’m 7/24 (CSP, CSR, 2 Merrill+, 2 Amex & Barclays).
Any chance of me getting Chase Ink?
I still have the option of getting Citi ThankYou Premier and Bank of America Premium Rewards Card(s) and therefore this card is way down my list.
What does the expert’s think?
Your only option is to go to a branch, meet the Business Relationship Manager, and ask him/her to complete a paper application for you, which supposed to be faxed (not sent electronically, or it will go through a regular channel) to the special lending department (at least this is the procedure their had 6 months ago… check that this is still the case). That special lending department did not apply 5/24 rule.
Other than that your chances of getting any Ink are close to zero (obviously some people reported they got some cards even being > 5/24, but I would not count on that).
The special lending dept takes longer to process the paper app, but it is worth the wait. Also the usual rules apply, and you may be denied for some other reason, but there was no hard 5/24 rule in that approach at least.
As an added benefit – bonuses on such paper apps were higher than public (hope it is still the case). Ink Cash was always $500 (50K UR), which is now also a public offer, but Ink Preferred was 100K URs, and hopefully still is.
Good luck.
Thanks
VL for the insight.
I don’t have a Chase branch in my state & no real business so it will be difficult to BS the Business Relationship Manager 🙁
applied for ihg and csr today 2 hrs gap in between got approved for both
Turns out my last 60K sign up bonus was posted on 03.25.2016, but I contacted Chase and they matched to the 80K offer. So the remaining 20K was posted in early June. Which date would Chase consider as my last sign up bonus date? I currently don’t have the card. Can I possibly apply tomorrow and get the sign up bonus again?
the 2nd date. This happened to our BA cards. Chase counts the last bonus posted date.
So would you go with IHG or the Marriott if those were your choices? I realize this is an individual decision, but wondering if anyone has input to weigh in.
The Marriott would be a higher immediate value. The IHG could be a better long-term value (only if they grandfather the annual fee amount. Personally I might not keep this card with an $89 annual fee. – Not doing as much major travel as I used to.)