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Finally …. proof that the Priority Club credit cards give free status

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It is quite a long time now – back in September – that I originally wrote that the two Priority Club credit cards now come with free status.

Holders of the free card receive Gold status at Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, Indigo etc hotels

Hotel of the £99/year Black card receive top-tier Platinum status at Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, Indigo etc hotels

The problem was that Priority Club / Barclaycard never actually made this ‘official’.  Existing cardholders got a note on their statements saying that it was going to happen (and it did) but to this day it does not appear on the credit card website.

This had led to many posts on Head for Points asking if this perk still exists, or ever really existed.

It has not helped that Priority Club has been a bit slow at upgrading new cardholders, so people were – not surprisingly – getting confused over whether or not their account would be upgraded.

First piece of good news

Priority Club has launched a video outlining the eternal joy and happiness that getting these credit cards will bring you.

You can, in theory, access the video here.  However, you won’t be able to watch it because you need a ‘one use only’ code given to you at check-in at a UK Holiday Inn hotel!

Don’t panic, though.  With the wonders of modern technology, you will find a home-made video of the Priority Club video uploaded on Flickr here!

You will hear from the soundtrack that the video contains the promise that your Priority Club account will be upgraded to Gold (for the free card) and Platinum (for the Black card), for as long as you hold the card.

(The hotel balcony the couple are standing on at the end is in the InterContinental LeGrand, by the way!)

Second piece of good news

The video ends with two links which offer improved sign-up bonuses on the cards.

The free card usually comes with 10,000 Priority Club points.  This link gives you 15,000 points instead.

The Black card (£99 fee) usually comes with 20,000 Priority Club points.  This link gives you 30,000 points instead.

On the ‘Credit Cards Update’ page of Head for Points I also give this link which offers 40,000 points for getting the Black (£99 fee) card.  The link was circulated in January 2013 – it may still work but at some point it will probably stop working.  It is up to you whether you decide to risk it.  The 30,000 link is definitely OK.


IHG One Rewards update – April 2024:

Get bonus points: IHG One Rewards is offering 2,000 bonus points for every two cash nights you stay (not necessarily consecutive) between 1st April and 31st May 2024. You can read our full article here and you can register here.

New to IHG One Rewards?  Read our overview of IHG One Rewards here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on ‘What are IHG One Rewards points worth?’ is here.

Buy points: If you need additional IHG One Rewards points, you can buy them here.

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from IHG and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

Comments (9)

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  • Bonds says:

    I got an email offering me 1000 points to watch the video. A code was given in the email.

    Seems like it was targeted to accounts with a UK address only.

    I haven’t stayed at a IHG hotel in 6 months.

    • Flyersj18 says:

      Indeed it was… This is due to the credit cards being issued in the UK. They had a separate offer for the USA…

  • George the Travel Monkey says:

    I too got an email. Easiest 1000 points I’ve earned.

  • Flyer says:

    Hey just saw this now. Do we have to email to get gold status or is it supposed to be automatic? I haven’t been upgraded and I have the free card

    • Rob says:

      It should be automatic but numerous reports of it not getting done. Email Priority Club and ask for it to be done. As long as some miles from the card have credited to your PC account, they will know you have one and should be able to action it.

      • Oli says:

        I can confirm that after a phonecall to PC I was upgraded to Plat in 3 days this week.
        Does anyone know what the validity and terms are for the fre night voucher triggered at 10k?
        Is it one year, and if so can you book within a year or travel within a year? Thanks.

        • Rob says:

          My wifes account says “The Free Night must be redeemed, and stay must be completed within the booking window dates shown. ”

          And the date is April 1 2013 to April 30 2014

  • trickster says:

    I had the Black card on the fee-free first year promo last year, but I downgraded back to the Blue card in January after triggering my free night. My PC account has remained Platinum however, which is a positive.

  • ComeFlyWithMe123 says:

    I got an upgrade offer back in Dec 2012 to move to the black card with the first year’s fee refunded, 20000 points and upgrade to Platinum. Of course I jumped at it but only just got Platinum status 2 days ago and it was hard work I tell you! Constant phone calls…but got there in the end 🙂

    I am still waiting on my 20,000 SPG points and I joined that back in November – playing hard ball and I am waiting to cancel the card to get a pro rata refund on the £75 fee 🙁

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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