Surveys: IHG Elite Status, Wyndham Credit Card Perks

Recently surveys have been sent out asking questions about IHG elite status and also possible changes to the Wyndham credit card. Obviously these surveys don’t mean that changes will be made, but usually it’s an indication that they are looking to make changes and it’s always interesting to see what the questions are to see what direction they plan to go in.

IHG

This survey was all to do with IHG rewards elite status. IHG probably has the weakest top tier elite status in the game, so it’s good to see IHG wanting to improve benefits. Frequent Miler received a survey asking people to rate the top 5 benefits, this included things such as free breakfast, no cancellation fees ever, 24 hour stay (e.g you get the room for 24 hours after checking in) and 50% off room service. Free breakfast is the big one for me.

Wyndham

Wyndham used to offer all properties for a flat 15,000 points per night. This provide some great value, probably too much value and Wyndham now has three award tiers (7,500, 15,000 and 30,000 points per night). Because of that the credit card offered by Barclays isn’t as attractive as it once was, Wyndham sent out a survey asking for people to rank cards with different benefits. Some of the benefits included:

  • 15% point rebate when redeeming points
  • 10-15% discount on Wyndham stays when booking online using your card
  • 10-15% discount on Wyndham partner purchases (e.g Door Dash & Avis)
  • Increased earning
  • Custom payment plans for purchases over $500
  • Free night certificate after meeting an anniversary spend requirement
  • Free night certificate on card renewal

The card comes with a $75 annual fee and it didn’t look like any of the card options had an increased annual fee. Personally I’d want a free night certificate on card renewal to keep the card but I can see the points rebate and discounts being an attractive option for Wyndham loyalists.

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Heyser
Heyser (@guest_794001)
August 5, 2019 19:46

The email I got from Barclay Wyndham credit card today displays a new card design. Maybe there will be some changes to the card happening soon.

USE AMERICAN EXPRESS, GET THE BONUS
USE AMERICAN EXPRESS, GET THE BONUS (@guest_781870)
July 11, 2019 20:10

I have Barclay’s Wyndham credit card. I just stayed at Club Wyndham and PAID WITH AMERICAN EXPRESS TO GET THE SPENDING BONUS. I LEFT WYNDHAM CARD AT HOME. I STAYED THREE NIGHTS/FOUR DAYS AT BEACH RESORT.

jnrfalcon
jnrfalcon (@guest_781652)
July 11, 2019 10:51

My Wyndham is still the 15k renewal $69 version. I’m ok with keeping it mostly.

Jeff
Jeff (@guest_781537)
July 11, 2019 06:55

My $75 AF hits on the Wyndham card soon and planning to cancel. The fact the card doesn’t have an annual FN puts it at a huge disadvantage compared to other hotel cards, especially now with the recent massive deval. I don’t know how Wyndham/Barclays can expect to compete with other chains.

Ryan
Ryan (@guest_781344)
July 10, 2019 19:54

I too got the Wyndham survey and it went through a ton of different options, I had at least 15 separate cards benefit combos. I screenshot a few before realizing there were so many.

Things to note different than the article, lots of mine had different fees, from 0 to $99. Some offered 3 or more points per dollar on general spend. Some has ways to get up to three separate free nights the first year! For example, free unrestricted night after $8000 in spend each year, free night after setting up three reoccurring bills, and free night every year at renewal. Lots of various options for sure, another common one on them was $50 per year statement credit after spending 5k on the card. I believe one card had 9 points per dollar at Wyndhams and like 6-7 points per dollar on gas and grocery.

I still have the 2 points per dollar card with 15k per year in points myself. Not happy with the new points devaluation so not sure I am keeping it as of yet. I used 90k earlier this year for a good trip so they are not useless, but they take more planning than before for sure and my favorite redemption is now no more.

NK3
NK3 (@guest_781324)
July 10, 2019 19:31

The loss of 15K for any property definitely made Wyndham points less valuable, and therefore the card. However, the card became even less valuable because of platinum status (which comes with the card) lost the annual 3K points bonus at the same time. So the card used to give people 9K points per year, now its an annual bonus of 6K (less valuable) points.

Was declined for the card last August (first ever rejection!). Now I am glad I was.

jnrfalcon
jnrfalcon (@guest_781657)
July 11, 2019 10:59

Across the board, most hotels stayed 15k. Some of the Club Wyndham locations are still worth considering IMO. Certainly they are not as lucrative as all-inclusives, but still not bad. Also, attending the early morning Club Wyndham sales often give the points I spent right back…

aubergine
aubergine (@guest_781322)
July 10, 2019 19:31

Status at IHG is fairly pathetic. We don’t direct that many stays there anymore, especially if they are not the best located or priced or otherwise max convenience.

C.J.
C.J. (@guest_781315)
July 10, 2019 19:21

I had the Wyndham card back when you earned two points per $1 for any purchase and an annual 15K point bonus upon paying the annual fee. I had put all of my spending on this card, as 15K points earned a free night at their all-inclusive properties in the Caribbean and Mexico. Well, I guess Barclay’s didn’t like all of the business expenses I place on the card, as they shut me down. Never late and never a balance, but an awful lot of spending. I still have a few hundred thousand points, which I need to use before they begin expiring.

I did receive the survey, and quite honestly, none of the options interested me in the least bit. Now that you can no longer redeem points for the all inclusives, and their top-tier properties require 30K points, I see no reason to earn Wyndham points.

jnrfalcon
jnrfalcon (@guest_781655)
July 11, 2019 10:53

Did you bill pay the card from different sources with different names on the sending account? That’s the red flag. Simply spending a lot shouldn’t be red flag.

Byron
Byron (@guest_781303)
July 10, 2019 19:08

No cancellation fees ever would be nice but my biggest interest in any rewards program is free nights. In fact I would forego any additional benefits if it meant more free nights.

K.M.
K.M. (@guest_781514)
July 11, 2019 03:55

hello. thats the same interest for me. the reason why i am keeping both the old ihg card ($49 one) and the newer card ($89 annual fee) are for the free nights. out of marriott hilton and ihg only ihg has a hotel qualifying for the free night benefit with the credit cards, so if i dont travel then i have this hotel to fall back on for a staycation.