I love when airlines and hotels make a mistake.
You get something free or dirt cheap like the way I got top tier car rental status.
That has been dead for a long time, but I have Hertz’s Presidential and other top car rental status until the end of the year.
IHG has changed it’s program (for the better).
You can read about it here.
I had the IHG credit card for years with Platinum status.
In the past, I got upgraded to full suites in places like Chicago with only Platinum status.
I don’t think they let that happen in the present with only Platinum status though.
The top status is now Diamond (previously Spire).
Diamond (previously Spire) now gets you free breakfast and other perks.
In any case, mysterious things can happen at hotels with upgrades though.
On my last Marriott stay at the Talbot hotel in Chicago, I got upgraded to a suite as only a member.
Though I had status with Marriott for 7 years, temporarily, I am just a member.
I plan to go for Marriott Gold or Platinum by the end of the year.
In any case, IHG is running a status challenge where you can get either Platinum or Diamond status after a certain number of stays.
According to the promotion, you get Platinum status immediately.
You then have 120 days to stay 5 nights to keep Platinum.
Instead of 120 days to keep Platinum status, people reported being given Platinum status until the end of the year.
I got mine.
Here is how it worked.
I don’t know if this will work if you want Diamond status though.
I just found out that Platinum was free until the end of the year.
If you actually want Diamond status, you will probably need to complete 15 nights.
I will include more info about Diamond status at end of the post.
What is a hotel status challenge?
A hotel status match is when a hotel chain agrees to give you status because you have status with another chain.
As businesses, hotel compete against each other, so giving you status when you have current status with another chain is another way to win your business.
Hopefully, (for the hotels), you will switch your loyalty.
This usually requires completing a certain amount of stays at the chain you are trying to get the new status with.
Current IHG Status Challenge
According to IHG status match page, you can earn Platinum status after only 5 stays with the status challenge again.
IHG will give you instant Platinum status for 120 days.
Then, again, you have 120 days to complete the 5 stays to keep Platinum according to the status match page.
If you want higher Diamond status, you need to stay 15 nights in the same 120 days.
That is how the status was supposed to work.
Loyalty Lobby reported that the IHG website says you can keep Platinum status until the end of the year.
Again, the status page had said you would only have Platinum status for 120 days unless you stayed 5 nights.
To get the status match, you just need to show that you are a member of another loyalty program like Hilton or Marriott.
You don’t have to have status with the other chain.
Again, you can just be a member.
Here is the page where you can register.
You have until July 31, 2022.
How This Turned Into Free Platinum Status With No Stays Needed Until The End Of The Year
I was reading this post at Loyalty Lobby when I noticed that Platinum status was automatically given after you register until the end of the year instead of just 120 days.
In the Loyalty Lobby post, the IHG website says you keep Platinum status until the end of the year again.
Again, the status match page said you keep Platinum status for 120 days in which you need to stay 5 nights to keep Platinum status
This could still be a mistake though, so if you register, and this no longer exists, I am sorry.
Whenever hotels or airlines make a mistake, it is best to act fast.
If it is a mistake, they may discover it and change Platinum status to only 120 days again without 5 stays.
Again, I immediately registered, and got my Platinum status.
My account says Platinum until the end of the year.
I was currently IHG Gold.
I had Platinum status with IHG so long that I think they just gave me Gold status for free.
Because of the pandemic, that has been extended the past couple of years.
I was looking to get the IHG credit card again (the business version) because I actually miss my IHG Platinum status.
I am under Chase 5/24.
I prefer the business version of the card because I will not lose a Chase slot.
In this side hustle nation, many people qualify for business credit cards because they have a side hustle.
If you have any kind of side hustle, you are considered an entrepreneur.
I will write a post about it later.
I have not been staying at IHG hotels as much as I did in the past.
That is because I used to stay at fifty hotels a year or more.
I only stay at hotels once a month now.
I hope to stay at a hundred hotels a year later.
When you stay at a lot of hotels, you get to have fun with different brands.
Right now, my primary brands are Hilton and Marriott.
IHG was always my third brand.
In addition to Hilton and Marriott, I plan to stay at a lot more Hyatts too.
I miss staying at lots of hotels a year.
With the point’s hobby, this can cost nothing.
As I get back to staying at hotels frequently, I will explain why in other posts.
My friends usually think I am out living the life.
I am actually getting a lot of free stuff.
Remember, I don’t believe in spending a lot of money on travel.
This is not hard to do in the point’s hobby.
Here Is How To Get Your Free IHG Platinum Status With No Credit Card
Usually, I tell people who want IHG Platinum status to just get the IHG credit card.
Again, I had this card for a long time.
For the rest of the year (unless they get rid of this pathway), you can just get Platinum status without the credit card this way.
With the higher offer on the IHG credit card, it may be a better deal for those who plan to keep the IHG card to still get the IHG credit card though.
The IHG credit card is currently offering 140,000 points which is higher than usual.
I will keep my free Platinum status until the end of the year, and then decide when to get the IHG business card.
Again, most people qualify for business credit cards in the side hustle nation we live in again.
Business credit cards are an opportunity to earn more points.
Here is how you to get your free Platinum status.
Steps To Get Your Free Platinum Status
Step 1: Use this link to get to the status Challenge page.
Step 2: Choose from program you currently belong to. You don’t have to have any status with the other programs, Again, you can just be a member. Here are the program choices:
- Accor
- Best Western
- Choice Priviledge
- Hilton Honors
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Radisson Rewards
- World of Hyatt
- Wyndham Rewards
Step 3: Select “Register Now” if an IHG member or “Join and register” if not an IHG member.
Important Points
- This offer is available for everyone.
- Again, you don’t have to have status with the other programs like Hilton or Marriott. You can just be a member.
- The original offer on the status page says you get instant Platinum status for 120 days in which you have to stay 5 nights.
- The website says you get Platinum status until the end of the year.
- If you want Diamond status, you will need to stay 15 nights in 120 days.
- I don’t know if they will give you Diamond status until the end of the year. I doubt it.
Benefits of Platinum and Diamond Status
Platinum Status
- 60% more bonus points
- Complimentary room upgrades
- Welcome Amenity or points or a drink/snack
Diamond status
- Earn 100% more bonus points
- Free breakfast
- 24/7 diamond Support
Here is more info about the new IHG loyalty program again.
Registration Ends July 31
Registration ends July 31, 2022.
Since this seems like a mistake, if you want the free Platinum status, I would register as soon as possible in case IHG realizes they made a mistake.
IHG has been pushing the new loyalty program, so maybe it was not a mistake.
Most people want to go after the new Diamond status.
I like the new Diamond status, but I am not sure I would stay at IHG hotels enough for Diamond.
It is not just IHG’s top status that I won’t work hard for.
I may settle for Marriott Gold with a credit card (either Amex Marriott Brilliant or Amex Platinum) if Platinum is too much work.
Sometimes, people can chase top status for no reason.
I am not into working that hard.
I like elite status with as little work as possible.
I would register as soon as possible in any case for this status match.
If you want Diamond status, I am not sure if they will give you that with no stays until the end of the year.
Again, I doubt that.
If anyone wants to try the Diamond status challenge, let me know what happens.
Summary
I love when hotels and airlines make a mistake.
You get something free or a good deal.
According to the Loyalty Lobby post, this might not be a mistake.
IHG is doing a lot of promotion for it’s new loyalty program again.
The changes are positive, and you can read about them here again.
I don’t know if you can get Diamond status free.
I doubt that again.
Like I said, if anyone gets free Diamond status until the end of the year, let me know.
I didn’t chance it, and just got my free Platinum status.
Get your free Platinum status until the end of the year too.
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