✈️ Earn Elite Status and stay out of the doghouse 💔

🏨  Earn elite IHG Status in just two nights

Just like each Fast and the Furious movie somehow seems to be more action-packed than the one before it, IHG is at it again.

Do you remember the 2k points for every two nights promotion I told you about last week?

And the best-ever offer on a certain co-branded credit card (also from last week)? If you missed those, go ahead and read them now, I'll wait. ☕️

For those of you too tired to read an extra Daily Drop this morning, it’s worth noting that if you decide to sign up for the aforementioned best-ever offer, you can skip this section of the newsletter. You’ll have a mountain of points and Platinum Elite Status just for holding the card, and three minutes of your day back.

For everyone else, let’s get back to IHG’s latest offer. Now through April 30th, IHG One Rewards is offering a Fast Track to Platinum status challenge where you can earn Gold Elite status by staying just two nights and Platinum Elite status with just five nights 😲. Considering it normally takes 20 qualifying nights to reach Gold Elite status and 40 to reach Platinum Elite, this is a pretty sweet promotion.

As my PSA of the day, don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. With the two-night minimum, I suspect some of you procrastinating love birds have the perfect opportunity to take advantage of this offer.

But what's so great about hotel status you ask?

• Gold Elite status comes with all kinds of perks like late checkout, extra bonus points, and rolling over nights for next year's status.
• Platinum Elite status includes even more benefits like free room upgrades, discounts on award nights, and a welcome amenity at check-in like free drinks, snacks, or extra points.

Here are the details:

The only thing you need to qualify for this promotion is an IHG One Rewards account. That's it. If you don't have an account already, it's free to sign-up and register for the challenge.

Register for the challenge by April 30, 2023. Once you register, you have 90 days to complete your stays. If you're not planning any hotel stays until June or July, wait to register until later in April.

• For a night to qualify, the price must be $30 USD or higher.
• Reward nights or points + cash stays are not eligible.
• Stays must be booked directly with IHG (not through a travel portal or booking site like Expedia).
• Stay two nights to earn Gold Elite Status until December 31, 2024.
• Stay five nights to earn Platinum Elite status until December 31, 2024.

What makes this challenge so great is how easy it is to complete. You may not stay 40 nights with the same hotel chain in a year, but two to five nights in 90 days is pretty obtainable for most people.

IHG has a huge network of hotels including 18 different brands. They range from affordable options like Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites to luxury brands like Intercontinental and Kimpton.

Just as an example, you could book five nights at an inexpensive hotel such as the recently renovated Candlewood Suites Bluffton-Hilton Head and enjoy a beach vacation in South Carolina for less than $500, plus earn Platinum Elite Status.

💍 Honeymoon Hacking

Keeping with the theme of Valentine’s day right around the corner, our team has put together a guide for newly engaged couples that you’ll want to check out.

👰‍♀️ I personally love a good wedding. Getting to hear meaningful vows, seeing my friends start a new life together, and looking ahead at decades of love and commitment is an exciting time...

But let’s be real. We all know the best part about getting married is the honeymoon afterward, right?

Much like Vin Diesel’s biceps inside a tight black shirt, this topic is a bit too large to be comfortable inside of the newsletter, but we’ve posted it on our blog for you to enjoy.

Even if you aren’t newly engaged or newly married, this article has SO MUCH good information for those new to the miles and points that it’s worth your lunch break.

📱Move aside 5G, I’ve got plans!

Did you know that the flight crew can actually tell exactly who has and who hasn’t turned their airplane mode on at the beginning of a flight?

Nah, I’m just kidding… but some of you were starting to get reeeal nervous.

Well, folks, believe it or not, there is a reason for airplane mode. And, there has been recent concern about the launch of 5G and how it’s affecting plane systems.

IATA (you know the organization that gives airports their three-letter code) is the latest entry in an alphabet soup list of companies to send a letter to the FAA with concerns that 5G rollouts could disrupt U.S. air travel this summer by interfering with aircraft altimeters.

There’s a lot of finger-pointing, but the good news is that the FAA, Airlines, and Cellular Carriers are trying to reach an extension agreement to avoid any summer travel disruptions.

Isn’t it nice to see everyone trying to get along?

Yesterday morning, the FAA held a meeting on Capitol Hill to consult the House Transportation committee about the 5G issue. So, we shall see.

We’ll keep you updated if this becomes a bigger issue. Just wanted to put this on your radar (see what I did there?). 📡

Thank you, Mr. Diesel.

Have a great Wednesday, and I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow. 😃

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