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In November of 2021, IHG announced that it would extend some free night award certificates. The free night award certificates that were initially issued in 2020 are no longer valid. There is a way to get something for expiring certificates.
IHG is giving 25K points for free night awards.
There is no way to have these extended, and some members are reporting that they are having luck being issued bonus points in exchange for these.
If this is possible for your account, you need to tell the automated system that you have an IHG rewards account inquiry.
Many people are being offered 25,000 I hg rewards points, which is reasonable, but some are also being offered 40,000 points, which is more than the norm, but that is the exception.
It doesn't seem that this is being offered consistently, as other members aren't being offered points and are being told nothing can be done.
The points are posting as a goodwill gesture, and in many cases the free night awards aren't even being taken from accounts.
Only certificates that were initially issued in 2020 can be used.
Some people have success after calling a few times, and it does seem that there might be an element of negotiation here.
If you pick up the phone, it could be worth it.
I had a call about my expiring award.
My biggest lesson from this exercise is that getting through to an agent is an adventure.
I was on hold for 10 more minutes after I got a call back, but I agreed to use the callback feature because the recording said there would be an eight minute hold.
I called back a short time later and was told I would get a call 16 minutes later, but the call never came.
I was able to get through to someone without waiting early this morning, but after eight minutes on the phone with the representative, he told me he was having system issues and that I should hang up and call again.
The entire phone call took three minutes, and I got through to someone immediately after I called back.
It seems like this process can be very quick if you get through to the right person. It is a function of getting through to someone.
25K points is the most common offer of the bonus points that I hg rewards seems to be giving to members for expiring free night certificates. If you can pick up some points, you should call, but if you can't, you'll have to wait.
I was able to get through to IHG immediately this morning, and I was able to get points for my expiring certificate.
Please report your experience if you try to call in.
There is a tip to Doctor Of Credit.
Ben is the founder of OMAAT.
