They took their sweet time, but Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) finally confirmed Wednesday they will be extending expiration dates for free night award certificates issued from the IHG co-branded credit cards into 2021.
Way back in April, certificates expiring after March 1, 2020, were extended through Dec. 31, 2020, while also giving any certificates issued in 2020 a longer, 18-month redemption window.
But with the end of the year approaching, many IHG loyalists and cardholders were faced with their certificates set to expire. An IHG spokesperson confirmed to Thrifty Traveler that these certificates will be extended through Aug. 31, 2021.
My account still shows the Dec. 31, 2020 expiration date, but cardmembers should start to see these new expiration dates reflected in their accounts over the next week.
Read the Best Uses of the IHG Free Anniversary Night.
How to Earn the IHG Free Night Certificate
Just for holding the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, you will get a free anniversary night certificate each year on your account anniversary. The certificate is valid at any property in the IHG portfolio that costs 40,000 points or less.
If you are able to use the free night certificate, you should be able to get much more value out of it than you are paying for the $99 annual fee. Not to mention, the card comes with a number of other benefits like automatic IHG Platinum Status, your fourth night free on award redemptions, and a credit of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Click Here to learn more about the IHG Rewards Premier Card.
Bottom Line
If you have a free IHG award night certificate that expired or expires after March 1, 2020, it can now be used through at least Aug. 31, 2021. Additionally, any certificates issued in 2020 will still have an 18-month redemption window.
Lead Photo credit of IHG Hotels
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