Chase recently announced big changes to the full suite of IHG One Rewards credit cards and introduced a new premium hotel card to go with it. Absent from that news was any mention of the grandfathered IHG One Rewards Select Credit Card.
Unfortunately, as much as travelers with the card wish Chase would just forget it even exists (out of sight, out of mind), that didn't happen: A Chase representative confirmed to Thrifty Traveler that the card's annual fee will double from $49 to $99 at renewal, starting in 2027.
This card has long been closed to new applicants, and unlike the Ritz-Carlton Card, there's no backdoor for new cardholders to obtain it. For many longtime points and miles enthusiasts, this relic was worth keeping around for its laughably low (by today's standards) annual fee, automatic Platinum elite status, and 40,000-point anniversary night.
But despite the fee hike, there is some good news here:
- The card's anniversary night will now be eligible for properties costing up to 50,000 points per night – and for the first time, you'll be able to “top it off” with additional points if you want to book a pricier property.
- What's more, the card's automatic Platinum elite status isn't going anywhere – something that just got cut from the pricier IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
- Point earning and other benefits remain the same
At $49 per year, this card was practically a no-brainer for anyone who still had it. The 40,000-point anniversary night alone was good for at least twice that much and maybe even closer to $200 (or more) with a little effort. Platinum elite status won't get you very far, but for anyone who stays at IHG hotels a few times per year, it's at least good for bonus points on paid stays, a welcome amenity at check-in, and a (slim) chance of an upgrade.
With a new annual fee of $99, the math changes … but it likely still makes sense.
Most cardholders should be able to recoup the full annual fee (and then some) with the improved 50,000-point anniversary free night. And if you have a stash of IHG points, being able to top it off with more points will make these certificates far more flexible.
In a pricey market like New York City, the old 40,000-point anniversary night was relatively hard to use, and it likely meant resigning yourself to a run-of-the-mill Holiday Inn Express or maybe a Crowne Plaza. But with the new 50,000-point certificate, you've got a lot better options … like the Kimpton Theta New York – Times Square. An award night here next March goes for 47,000 points per night – out of reach with an old certificate.
If you were instead paying cash, you'd be out of pocket $332. That's more than enough to cover the higher $99 annual fee.
And it gets even crazier if you're willing to kick in some IHG One Rewards points to “top it off.” The Kimpton Sea Fire Resort + Spa, located on Grand Cayman's famed Seven Mile Beach, is a fan-favorite property … but it doesn't come cheap. A night here during spring break will set you back a whopping $1,900.
Meanwhile, that same exact night costs only 70,000 IHG points (plus a $95-per-night “amenity” fee). With a 50,000-point anniversary night in hand, you could book this nearly $2,000 hotel stay for just a $99 annual fee and an additional 20,000 points. That's not a bad trade …
The other good piece of news here is that the card's Platinum elite status isn't going anywhere. With the now $150-per-year IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, you have to spend $15,000 in a calendar year to regain Platinum status. If that seems like too much, you could pay up for the pricier $350-per-year IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card – real original name, by the way – and get it automatically.
Again, Platinum status isn't much to write home about, but to some travelers, the benefits are worthwhile, and getting it with a sub-$100 credit card is pretty nice.
So, yeah … it definitely stinks to see this card's annual fee go up. At the same time, I think it's still a keeper for most travelers who still have it (including this guy) – I don't plan to cancel mine anytime soon.
IHG One Rewards Select Credit Card: Benefit Overview
- Earn 5x points at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn up to 10x points from IHG on stays for being an IHG One Rewards member
- Earn up to 6x points from IHG on stays with Platinum Elite status, a benefit of this card
- Earn 2x points on dining, at grocery stores, and gas stations
- Earn 1x points on all other purchases
- New! Beginning in 2027, receive an anniversary free night good for properties costing 50,000 points or less – and you can book pricier hotels by kicking in additional points
- Unchanged! Automatic Platinum elite status
- Updated! Annual Fee: $99 (was $49)
Bottom Line
The $49 party is over: Chase is doubling the annual fee on the grandfathered IHG One Rewards Select Credit Card to $99 at renewal starting in 2027. But the anniversary night gets a nice bump to 50,000 points (and you can finally top it off with extra points), and automatic Platinum elite status is sticking around.
For most longtime cardholders, this one's still an easy keeper.
