Chase's 70% Bonus to IHG Is Live - Should You Transfer?
Chase Ultimate Rewards points normally transfer to IHG One Rewards at 1:1. Right now, they transfer at 1:1.7 - a 70% transfer bonus running through August 31. That's a big bump, and 70% is at the high end of what we ever see to a hotel program. But a bonus is only good if you have a plan for the points. Here's the honest read.
What the bonus actually gets you
At 1:1.7, transferring 50,000 Chase points nets 85,000 IHG points. IHG's award pricing is dynamic, so there's no fixed chart - but IHG points are typically worth around half a cent each, which means this bonus can turn a good Chase-to-hotel play into a strong one at properties where cash rates are high relative to the points cost. The sweet spot is expensive-cash-rate hotels where IHG points punch above their weight.
When it's a smart move
Transfer when you have a specific IHG stay in mind and you've done the math: compare the cash rate against the points price after the bonus. If a night costs $350 cash or 60,000 points, and you can get those 60,000 points for about 35,300 Chase points after the bonus, that's a strong redemption. IHG's fourth-night-free benefit for cardholders can stack to make longer stays even better.
When to skip it
Skip it if you don't have an IHG stay planned. Chase points are far more valuable kept flexible - they transfer to airlines like United and Air Canada, and to Hyatt, where they're worth more per point than in IHG. Moving them to IHG just because it's 70% locks a flexible currency into a lower-value one. Once transferred, there's no going back.
What this means for you
A 70% bonus to IHG is genuinely one of the better hotel transfer promos of the year - but only if you have a booking that pencils out. Price the specific stay both ways, confirm the points cost after the bonus beats the cash rate, and then transfer only what you need. If you don't have a plan, let this one pass and keep your Chase points flexible.
Comments