This card has received a minor refresh. It still has no annual fee, and the name has changed to IHG One. The welcome offer has increased to 125,000 points plus a 10,000-point authorized-user bonus. As for applying, I still recommend applying for the higher-offer IHG Premier first, then downgrading after a year (or keeping it long term for the free night certificate).

Other changes are as follows:

  • The everyday earning structure is now: IHG purchases: 5X; dining, grocery stores, and gas: 3X; all other purchases: 2X.
  • The old card’s 3X categories for utilities, internet / cable / phone, and select streaming will continue through the end of 2026. After that, those categories will drop back to 2X. The new long-term 3X categories add grocery stores.
  • Cardholders now receive 5 Elite Night Credits each year automatically. These nights can be used toward elite status and Milestone Rewards. If you spend $15,000 each year, you can also earn: IHG Gold Elite status and 10,000 Bonus Points.
  • However, this card also has one fairly notable devaluation. With the old Traveler card, simply holding the card let you get the 4th night free when redeeming points for a consecutive 4-night award stay. Starting in 2027, the new no-annual-fee card will require $5,000 in spending each calendar year to unlock the 4th-night-free benefit. Once unlocked, it can be used through the end of that year and the following full calendar year.
  • Family Rule: The terms have added a new application restriction. If you have received a welcome bonus on this or another version of a personal IHG credit card in the past 24 months, you will not be eligible for the bonus on this card. Business cards do not affect this.

In addition, the old version of this card, IHG Traveler, appears to still be available for applications. However, the welcome offer is only 80,000 points. I expect it will be taken down soon.

Chase IHG Traveler Credit Card Review

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Full review

Chase IHG Traveler Credit Card

An easy-to-keep entry-level IHG card

  • Welcome bonus: 125,000 IHG points (spend $2,000 in 3 months) + 10,000 points (add an authorized user within 3 months)
  • Rewards: 5x on IHG purchases; 3x at restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets; 2x on all other purchases
  • Redemption: Redeem for IHG hotels, valued at 0.6 cpp
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Apply now>>

Highlights

  • 4th night free on award stays: After you have this credit card, when you redeem IHG points for three consecutive nights, you can get the 4th night free. In other words, you only need 75% of the points for a 4-night stay.
  • 20% discount on buying points: When you buy IHG points on the IHG website, you can get a 20% discount. This should stack with IHG’s usual discounted points sales, allowing you to buy IHG points at an even lower cost. Summary of points purchase discounts
  • Complimentary IHG Silver status: If you spend $20,000 on the card in a cardmember year, you can receive IHG Gold status. You can enjoy IHG hotel benefits such as bonus points on stays and room upgrades. You can also get extra gas savings through Fuel Rewards.
  • Big spending bonus: Spend $10,000 and get an extra 10,000 points + $100.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee (FTF): Most cards with no foreign transaction fee have an annual fee, so it is nice that this card has no annual fee. See: FTF introduction

IHG Points

  • Worth 0.6 cents per point: On average, IHG points are worth about 0.6 cents each when redeemed. In other words, a $60 hotel stay would require about 10,000 IHG points.
  • Points Breaks can be an excellent deal: Each quarter, IHG releases a batch of hotels that can be booked for as few as 5,000 points per night (equivalent to getting a night for about $30). Sometimes even top-tier InterContinental (IC) hotels appear, which can be an amazing deal if your plans line up. Points Breaks introduction

Drawbacks

  • IHG points are worth only about 0.6 cents each, so this card is not a good everyday spending card unless you are staying at IHG hotels.

My Take

The biggest reason to apply for this credit card is probably the welcome bonus. The 4th-night-free benefit plus the 20% discount on buying points also make it a decent long-term keeper. However, if you are an IHG hotel enthusiast, the higher-end IHG Premier may be a better fit for you.

  • Chase IHG Premier (comes with an annual free night certificate capped by redemption level)

In fact, if you really like this card, my suggestion is still to apply for the annual-fee IHG Premier first, earn the larger welcome bonus, and then downgrade to this no-annual-fee card in the second year. Generally speaking, the gap between the two welcome bonuses is larger than the first-year annual fee.

Application

  • The minimum approved credit line for this card is $2,000.
  • Since this is a credit card co-branded with IHG hotels, if you already have an IHG membership number, you can enter it when applying (otherwise one will be assigned automatically).
  • If you have received a welcome bonus on this or another version of a personal IHG credit card in the past 24 months, you will not be eligible for the bonus on this card. Business cards do not affect this.
  • Chase application status check link (login required). Or call: 888-338-2586
  • The 5/24 rule: if you have opened more than 5 new cards in the past 2 years (including cards from other banks), you will not be approved for a new Chase card
  • You can be approved for at most two Chase credit cards within any 30-day period
  • If you have received the welcome bonus on this card within the past 24 months (48 months for the Sapphire family), your application will be automatically denied
  • You can call the reconsideration line (800-453-9719) to expedite credit card approval or request another review of a denied application.
  • Having a Chase Checking account can help with getting approved for a credit card
  • More information on applying for Chase credit cards

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