The IHG Rewards Club Premium Visa, with free Platinum status, is finally back
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UPDATE – MAY 2025: This article is now out of date, but don’t worry. We produce a monthly directory of the top UK travel credit card offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Credit Cards’ menu above. Thank you.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
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It is now over seven months since Barclaycard pulled the two IHG Rewards Club credit cards. It was meant to be a three month gap whilst Barclays took the administration of the cards in house. Existing cardholders like myself received new cards, but the cards remained closed to new cardholders.
Back in October, Barclaycard relaunched the free version of the IHG card. And, finally, via this page on the Barclaycard website (only works on desktops), you can now apply for the IHG Rewards Club Premium Visa again.
The headline features of this card are:
£99 annual fee
20,000 IHG Rewards Club points for joining – worth about £100 of free hotel room or transferable to 4,000 Avios points or other airline miles
Platinum (top tier) status in IHG Rewards Club for as long as you hold the card. You won’t get a huge amount in a Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express for being Platinum. Many Indigo and Crowne Plaza properties, and even some InterContinental hotels, do treat Platinum members well – I was upgraded to an executive room with lounge access on my last Crowne Plaza stay at the London The City property for example.
A free night certificate when you spend £10,000 in your card year. This is valid at ANY IHG property and is therefore worth 50,000 IHG Rewards Club points (the maximum cost of an IHG redemption) if used properly. The free night books into standard reward availability and has substantial value if used at an expensive InterContinental.
2 IHG Rewards Club point per £1 spent. I value IHG points at 0.5p so this is a pretty decent return for a non-Amex card.
4 IHG Rewards Club points per £1 when you pay at IHG hotels. This would be roughly a 2% return which is very good.
4 IHG Rewards Club points per £1 when you use the card abroad. This is a decent deal although the card does have a 2.99% foreign exchange fee.
Representative APR is 42.2% variable based on a £1,200 credit limit and including the £99 fee
My verdict? Don’t apply now
If you are tempted to get this card, I would be tempted to wait for a couple of months unless you need the IHG status now.
Before the cards were suspended in the Spring, hotel receptions were promoting an improved deal with a 30,000 point sign-up bonus. There is a chance that a link with an improved deal may become available.
I would also imagine – although I could be wrong – that if you are elevated to Platinum status early in 2015 then it will run until the end of 2016. If you apply now and gain Platinum before the New Year, it would only run until the end of 2015. This assumes that you cancel the card, of course. If you keep it, you retain Platinum status for as long as you keep paying your £99 fee.
Note that there is no cashback deal available on this card. There is also no refer-a-friend deal. There is no better offer than applying through the Barclaycard link above.
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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – May 2025 update
If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.
In 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.
You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:
Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review
You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card
30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher voucher Read our full review
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review
Earning miles and points from small business cards
If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:
The American Express Business Platinum Card
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
The American Express Business Gold Card
20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
Capital on Tap Visa
NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card
30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review
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