For frequent travelers juggling between hotel loyalty programs and frequent flyer miles, the big question is: should you collect IHG points or airline miles when staying at IHG hotels? If airline miles are your priority, you can either directly earn miles instead of points for your stays or convert your IHG points into miles later. But is it worth it? Let’s break it down.
Earning Airline Miles Directly Through IHG Stays
IHG One Rewards offers a simple solution for travelers who prioritize earning airline miles: the option to earn miles instead of hotel points for every stay. Setting this up is easy:
Steps to Earn Airline Miles with IHG
- Log in to your IHG One Rewards account.
- Navigate to “Preferences” > “Earning Preferences”.
- Switch your preference from “IHG One Rewards Points” to “Airline Miles.”
- Choose your preferred airline, enter your frequent flyer account number and personal details, and save.
However, keep in mind: when you earn miles, you won’t accumulate IHG points for that stay. If your priorities or travel needs change, don’t forget to switch back to earning points.
How Airline Miles Are Earned
The way miles are credited to your airline account depends on the airline you choose and the partnership rules. There are two primary methods:
A. Fixed Miles Per Stay
Under this method, you earn a set number of miles for each stay, no matter how much you spend. This structure benefits travelers booking budget-friendly stays, as the earning remains constant.
Here’s a look at some airlines offering fixed miles per stay:
- Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles): 500 miles per stay
- China Airlines (Dynasty Flyer): 250~500 miles per stay
- EVA Air (Infinity MileageLands): 500 miles per stay
- Japan Airlines (JAL Mileage Bank): 500 miles per stay
- Thai Airways (Royal Orchid Plus): 500 miles per stay
- Virgin Atlantic (Virgin Points): 300~500 miles per stay
B. Miles Based on Spending
Alternatively, some airline programs calculate miles based on the total amount spent during your stay. This is better suited for travelers booking premium hotels or extended stays with higher final bills.
Examples of spending-based partnerships include:
- United Airlines (MileagePlus): 2 miles per $1 spent
- Air France KLM (Flying Blue): 2 miles per €1 spent
- Alaska Airlines (Mileage Plan): 2 miles per $1 spent
- ANA (ANA Mileage Club): 3 miles per $1 spent
- Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer): 2 miles per $1 spent
- Lufthansa (Miles & More): 2 miles per $1 spent
For a complete list of partner airlines and their earning rules, visit the IHG One Rewards mileage page.
Is Earning Airline Miles Worth It?
Let’s put the numbers to work. The value of earning miles versus hotel points depends on your choice of airline and IHG membership tier.
Scenario #1: Fixed Miles Per Stay
Take Asia Miles as an example, where you earn 500 miles per stay, with an approximate value of $5.5 (500 miles × ~$0.011 per mile). This is roughly equivalent to earning 1,100 IHG points, which are also valued at about $5.5.
If your pre-tax spend per stay equals or falls below the following thresholds, earning miles is more lucrative than earning points:
- Club Member (10 points per $1): ~$110 spend
- Silver Elite (12 points per $1): ~$92 spend
- Gold Elite (14 points per $1): ~$79 spend
- Platinum Elite (16 points per $1): ~$69 spend
- Diamond Elite (20 points per $1): ~$55 spend
Stay below these spending thresholds, and miles win. Above these thresholds? Stick to earning points.
Scenario #2: Miles Based on Spending
Here, the math works against you. For example, if an airline offers 2 miles per $1 spent and each mile is worth $0.015, you’ll earn a return of just 3 cents per dollar spent. Compare that to the value of IHG points, where Club Member earn 10 points per $1—equal to 5 cents per dollar spent.
Verdict: For higher spending stays, stick to earning IHG points. Airline miles rarely win under this model.
Converting IHG Points to Airline Miles
If you already have a hefty IHG points balance and are considering converting points to airline miles, think twice. While this is possible, the conversion rate is generally not favorable for most travelers.
IHG Points to Miles Conversion Rate
The standard conversion rate for most airline programs is 10,000 IHG points = 2,000 miles (5:1). Let’s see how that plays out using Asia Miles as an example:
- 10,000 IHG points have an estimated value of $50.
- 2,000 Asia Miles are worth about $22.
Clearly, converting IHG points to airline miles results in a significant value loss. If you need airline miles, it’s almost always better to directly earn miles during your IHG stays rather than converting points later.
Exception: Low Spenders Targeting Spending-Based Miles
For travelers flying with airlines that award miles by spending (e.g., 2 miles per $1), converting points can sometimes make more sense than earning miles directly. However, this depends heavily on your IHG elite status:
- Base Members: Earn 10 IHG points per $1 = 2 miles = 5:1 ratio (equal to earning miles directly).
- Elite Members: Higher earning rates (e.g., 20 IHG points per $1 for Diamond Elite) make earning points first and converting to miles slightly more lucrative.
How to Convert IHG Points to Miles
Unlike earning miles for a stay, converting IHG points into miles requires contacting IHG customer service. Conversion is not available via the IHG website, and processing can take up to 6 weeks for the miles to show up in your frequent flyer account.
IHG Customer Support for Conversion:
- United States and Canada: 1-888-211-9874
- Mexico: 800-272-9273
Plan ahead if you need those miles for a specific redemption to avoid delays. Also, note that converting points to miles is not ideal for last-minute redemptions due to processing times.
IHG Points to Airline Miles Converter
Use our IHG Points to Airline Miles Converter to easily calculate how many miles you can get by converting your IHG One Rewards points into your chosen airline’s frequent flyer program. Simply enter your points, select the airline program, and see the result instantly.
Key Takeaways
- Directly Earning Miles:
- Great for low-budget stays when using fixed-mileage programs (e.g., 500 miles per stay).
- Not great for spending-based mileage schemes, where IHG points often provide better value.
- Converting Points to Miles:
- Almost always results in a loss of value. Save this option for situations where you need a few extra miles to complete a major redemption.
- Stay Flexible: Switch between miles and points depending on your travel plans and spending habits. For high-cost stays, earn IHG points. For shorter, cheaper stays, earning fixed airline miles may work better.
Ultimately, maximizing travel rewards requires planning and strategy. By understanding how airline miles and IHG points stack up, you’ll be better equipped to make decisions that bring the most value to your travels. Safe travels!