When you are booking any IHG affiliated hotels, you are often presented with rate plans that come with bonus points (for a price).
You have to keep in mind that IHG Hotels is the only chain that counts Bonus Points Package (BPP) points as ELITE QUALIFYING.
You can access IHG’s page for Bonus Points Packages here.
READ MORE: IHG Rewards Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
Here are the available packages:
Note that not all the packages are available at all the hotels. Some BPPs are per night while others are per stay. You need to figure out what may make sense and whatnot.
Indigo Los Angeles Downtown
The price difference between the 5,000 bonus points rate plan ($229), and Book Now Pay Later-member rate plan ($184.34) is $44.66.
Note that you need to pay taxes and fees for the difference to be more like roughly $55.
You can buy 5,000 points from IHG during their frequent sales for $25.
Conclusion
There are two scenarios when booking a BPP can make sense:
1. Expense Account
You can expense the stay, and someone else is going to reimburse it. Not ethical, in my opinion, to pay extra to get personal points
OR
2. Higher IHG Rewards Status
As BPP points count towards a higher status level, it can make sense to buy one to get Platinum or Spire Elite and earn the extra elite bonus points the following year.
There are occasional promotions that allow you to earn an additional bonus on top of BPP’s (usually 50%). Buying points this way even then doesn’t make sense.
Here are the terms and conditions of the offer:
Must be an IHG® Rewards Club member or enrol prior to stay. Rooms are available at participating InterContinental Hotels Group hotels in select destinations around the world. Rates are limited and subject to availability. Promotion is available at participating hotels only.
Bonus points will be awarded upon the terms of the Bonus Points Package and completion of stay. Only one member per room will be awarded the applicable bonus points. Package components may vary by region and by hotel. Any unused components of the package are non-refundable. No retroactive points or bonus points will be awarded for nights stayed prior to enrolment. Blackout dates may apply. Rates are per room, per night, and extra person charges and extra bed charges may apply. Other restrictions may apply. Rates do not include taxes, gratuities or incidental charges, including food and beverages. A stay is one or more consecutive nights at the same hotel, regardless of frequency of check-in/check-out. Subject to standard IHG® Rewards Club programme terms and conditions.
