I'm trying to decide which of these cards I may want to app for next. I am at 4/24 so I can only pick one at this time. With the current bonuses does anyone know which card may be better and if either of these higher bonuses are likely to be around again in the future. For example. is the IHG 125k bonus common or more of an anomaly. I'm not really tied to either brand, but I do use them once in awhile when my other options are not viable. I was looking at the status with IHG but apparently that doesn't apply to IC properties and status is usually more useful at higher class properties. The free night and SUB might be useful though. The explorer card would give me two lounge passes which may be useful when flying on partner airlines and I have used united points in the past and I could always top the united account off with chase URs for a higher end redemption. Anyone have any thoughts of what might be the better choice between the two?
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@wasCB14 wrote:I keep the $49 card because it's still a very good value...but I've soured on IHG in general.
IHG has kept award prices high as cash prices have plummeted in the face of low demand. IHG points are thus often worth 0.3 cents each these days.
The annual night cap was, of course, an awful nerf. But the bigger complaint I have is that (at least pre-COVID) award space was often unavailable even when a hotel had a lot of vacancies. I recall one HI or HIX where I couldn't get award space even though the parking lot was about 85% or so empty. They told me they only offered 7 award rooms per night.
Hyatt can be tough about award space, but at least there I have a reasonable chance at getting a good point value.
I've only stayed at one holiday inn and in certain parts of the world, crown plaza. They are never my first choice but mainly when I am out in secondary cities where the other chains don't have properties. They were always just kinda ok. Never that bad. I see with IC if you really want to stay multiple times a year you can just buy the elite status. For what its worth I looked at some properties in different parts of Asia and I was seeing a return about 0.5 cents per point. Not really that great but if it is somewhat difficult to secure an award with the points or certificate than that does signiicantly impact the value of the program, especially when its not a chain that I frequent to begin with.
I ended up opting for the United explorer card which I felt like was a decent move.
@Citylights18 wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:I keep the $49 card because it's still a very good value...but I've soured on IHG in general.
IHG has kept award prices high as cash prices have plummeted in the face of low demand. IHG points are thus often worth 0.3 cents each these days.
The annual night cap was, of course, an awful nerf. But the bigger complaint I have is that (at least pre-COVID) award space was often unavailable even when a hotel had a lot of vacancies. I recall one HI or HIX where I couldn't get award space even though the parking lot was about 85% or so empty. They told me they only offered 7 award rooms per night.
Hyatt can be tough about award space, but at least there I have a reasonable chance at getting a good point value.
I don't think there is a situation where you won't get at least 1.5 ccp with Hyatt. 3.0 ccp is common at the 5,000 a night properties.
I don't see the appeal of a personal airplane card when airlines are in a tailspin and you don't know what they'll look like in 5 years. Hotels can't exactly pick up and move like airplanes can.
I don't see United going anywhere anytime soon and there is absolutely no chance I am waiting five years to redeem miles etc.