IHG Rewards clearly isn’t ready to launch the “new” IHG Rewards, which may or may not include an improvement in elite benefits. The changeover is not going to happen this March as planned.

Why does this matter?

Whenever IHG Rewards does switch to the “new” version, you will require substantially more Elite Qualifying Points to reach the highest tier of elite status.

A Potentially Interesting Travel Hack

However… you can find a little piece of interesting information buried in the FAQ section of the “new” IHG Rewards website.

From 1 January 2022 until the new programme launches during March, the current reduced programme earning structure will remain in place:

-You can qualify for Gold Elite by earning 7,000 Qualified Points or staying 7 Qualified Nights.

-You can qualify for Platinum Elite by earning 30,000 Qualified Points or staying 30 Qualified Nights.

–You can qualify for Spire Elite by earning 55,000 Qualified Points or staying 55 Qualified Nights.

Spire Before Changeover –> Diamond Until 2024

If you manage to pick up 55,000 Elite Qualifying Points before the changeover, you will be upgraded to (or renew) Spire status. You should then become eligible for the 25,000 bonus points that Spire members receive.

And when Spire becomes Diamond in April, May or even later in 2022, your status would be valid for the rest of 2022 and all of 2023.

Bottom line

If you are willing to take a gamble on IHG actually improving the benefits provided to elite status members, then this delay might actually provide a great opportunity…

However, if you don’t make it to 55,000 Elite Qualifying Points before the changeover date – exact date unknown – then your efforts will be rather wasted. I would certainly be very annoyed if I could only manage 54k EQPs and then ended up needing the whole 120k…

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section…