Can I Transfer IHG Points to Another Person?

From time to time, you may wonder, “Is it possible to transfer IHG points to another person?” The answer is basically yes; however, as with all loyalty programs, certain strings come attached. Depending on whether you’re helping a friend book a much-needed vacation or grouping points for some family fun, transferring IHG points is possible-but not necessarily free. Let’s further look into the how, cost, and even rationale behind it.

How Transferring IHG Points Works

Transferring the proceeds of certain loyalty points from one account to another is available in the IHG Club Rewards program, which is much the same as many hotel programs. The procedure itself is not overly complicated.

1. Log in to your IHG One Rewards account.
2. Go to the “Buy, Gift, or Transfer Points” page.
3. Enter the recipient’s name and IHG membership number.
4. Choose the number of points (in multiples of 1,000).
5. Pay the required transfer fee and confirm the transaction.

Depending on the type of transfer, the gift transfer might take a little longer than 24 hours-if it gets past 72 hours, something is surely going wrong. So next time you are planning to surprise your spouse with a weekend getaway, don’t wait until the eve of check-in to move your points!

The Cost of Transferring Points

Here’s where the catch comes in. Transfers aren’t free for everyone. The standard fee is $5 per 1,000 points transferred. That may not sound like much, but if you’re moving tens of thousands of points, the cost can add up quickly. Think of it as paying a small “friendship tax” for helping someone else travel.

Points must be transferred in 1,000-point increments, so you can’t send an oddly specific 1,547 points to your cousin—IHG insists on keeping things tidy.

Transfer Limits You Should Know

You can transfer or receive up to 500,000 IHG points per calendar year. That’s a generous cap compared to some hotel programs, but it does keep people from endlessly shuffling points back and forth like a never-ending tennis match.

When Transfers Are Free

The good news: not everyone pays transfer fees. If you’re a Diamond Elite member or part of IHG’s Business Rewards program, you can transfer up to 500,000 points per year without any fees.

• Diamond Elite status: Earned by staying 70 nights a year (basically living at IHG hotels).
• Business Rewards membership: Free to join, designed for event planners and small businesses. Bonus perk—you don’t need to spend 70 nights a year in hotel rooms just to avoid fees.

For frequent travellers or small business owners, this is a game-changer. Instead of paying hundreds in fees, you can move points freely and maximize their value.

Gifting Points Instead of Transferring

Not in the mood to deal with transfer fees? Another option is to buy IHG points as a gift. You can purchase points directly for another member and send them to their account. This doesn’t require transferring your own balance, but of course, you’re paying cash upfront to buy new points.

This is useful if you want to top up someone else’s account quickly—say, helping your sister snag that award night in Paris before it disappears.

Can You Transfer IHG Points to Airlines?

You might also be wondering if you can transfer IHG points to an airline program instead of to another person. The answer is yes—but here’s the bad news: the conversion rates are usually not great.

Though IHG partners with over 40 airlines, the majority of transfers are done at a 5:1 ratio (5,000 IHG points = 1,000 miles). Then again, the process can take the whole four to six weeks to get the transfer done. By the time those airline miles hit your account, the award seat you were eyeing might already be a distant memory.

Unless you desperately need to top up your airline miles for a specific redemption, transferring to airlines isn’t the best use of your IHG balance.

Is It Worth Transferring IHG Points?

So, back to our original question: Can I transfer IHG points to another person? Absolutely—but the real question is, should you?

• If you’re a Diamond Elite or Business Rewards member, transferring can be a no-brainer since it’s free.
• If you’re paying $5 per 1,000 points, you’ll want to crunch the numbers and see if it’s worth it compared to simply booking a stay from your own account.
• Gifting points or pooling them for family trips can make sense, but for casual travelers, those fees can eat into the value of your points quickly.

Think of it this way: transferring points is like lending money to a friend. It’s a nice gesture, but make sure the cost doesn’t outweigh the value of what you’re giving.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still asking, “Can I transfer IHG points to another person?” the answer is yes—but it’s not always the smartest move. Between fees, limits, and poor airline conversion rates, transferring should be used strategically. For some, especially elite and business members, it can be an excellent way to share value. For others, redeeming points directly for hotel stays might stretch them further.

A Smarter Alternative: Sell Your IHG Points for Cash

Instead of worrying about transfer fees or watching your points lose value, why not turn them into cash? At CashForMyMiles.com, we make it simple, secure, and fast to sell IHG points (and other rewards programs) for real money. Get an instant quote, verify your points, and get paid—often in as little as 15 minutes.

We’ve been helping individuals and businesses since 2004, with over 47,000 satisfied clients and billions of miles converted into cash. Don’t settle for less—turn your unused points into immediate value today.

Yes, you can transfer IHG points to another person, but before you pay those fees, consider selling your points for cash. After all, vacations are fun, but money in your pocket today can open even more doors tomorrow.