Earn bonus miles with IHG and a new American Airlines promotion

IHG One Rewards is one of the few hotel loyalty programs that allows members to earn airline miles for hotel stays — and now it’s giving us a way to earn even more. As first reported by Loyalty Lobby, IHG’s latest promotion will earn you 1,000 bonus American Airlines AAdvantage miles for every two-night stay this fall, up to 15,000 miles in total.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Related: Should you transfer hotel points to our airline partners?

The basics of the deal

How do you qualify: Book and stay at least two consecutive nights at a participating IHG hotel. Before checking in, set the amount you prefer in your IHG account to Advantage miles.

Participating hotel brands:

• InterContinental Hotels and Resorts
• The Regent
• Kimpton hotels and restaurants
• Hotel Indigo
• Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts
• Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts
• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Express
• Holiday Inn Club Holidays
• Holiday Inn Resort
• I mean
• Voco
• Vignette collection
• Accommodations at Atwell Suites
• Avid
• Staybridge Suites
• Candlewood Suites

How to book: Directly through IHG’s AAdvantage booking page

Book and stay close: Nov. 15

What you will find: 1,000 bonus AAdvantage miles for each eligible two-night stay and connecting, up to a maximum of 15,000 miles

According to IHG One Reward’s terms and conditions, eligible rates include reward nights, so you can earn bonus miles even if you book your stay with points. When you book accommodation with cash, you will earn extra miles on many brands. IHG’s partnership with American Airlines allows you to earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible room rates across all IHG brands except Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites (which earn 1 mile per dollar spent) and the Venetian Las Vegas (non-earning miles) .

So, for example, if you booked a two-night stay at a Holiday Inn that cost $300 before taxes and fees, you’d earn a total of 1,600 miles (2 miles per dollar spent times $300 plus 1,000 bonus miles). That’s in addition to any rewards earned on your credit card to pay for the stay.

However, remember that if you choose to earn Advantage miles (or any other airline award) for your IHG stay, you lose your ability to earn hotel points. That means if you take advantage of this promotion, you won’t earn IHG One Rewards points. You must, however, earn eligible night credits and receive any special status benefits during your stay.

Related: How to get your fourth reward night free when you use IHG points

How to redeem AAdvantage miles

According to TPG’s August 2024 estimate, AAdvantage miles cost 1.7 cents each. That means if you took out this promotion, your bonus earnings (15,000 miles) would be worth about $255. Even if you don’t have the means to complete a 15-night stay this fall, the bonus miles you earn from this promotion can take you further than you think.

American has plenty of domestic award flights for less than 10,000 AAdvantage miles. For example, if you live in Denver, you can escape the cold this December and plan a weekend trip to San Diego for only 7,500 miles round trip.

Or, if you’re on the East Coast, you can plan a January ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for as low as 6,000 miles round trip.

You can also save your bonus miles for great redemptions, such as business class flights on partner airlines or low-cost flights to the Caribbean and Mexico.

Related: The best use of American Airlines AAdvantage miles

Bottom line

Advantage miles are valuable reward money, and IHG’s latest promotion lets you earn more on hotel stays this fall. This promo is especially useful for weekend warriors, as you’ll get the most bang for your buck if you book multiple separate stays of two or more nights.