Should I Buy Points From This Sale or Wait?

Let's start with Hilton. The 120% bonus—running through November 21, 2026—is the largest bonus Hilton has ever offered, according to the coverage. At 0.455 cents per point, that's as close as we've ever seen to the site's valuation of 0.4 cents. You only need to buy 5,000 points to lock in that rate, so you don't have to overspend. This one might actually be worth a small, targeted purchase if you have a specific Hilton stay in mind.

IHG's offer, by contrast, is its standard 100% bonus flash sale, which it runs almost monthly. The price per point comes to about 0.5 cents. The extra 3,500-point gift only kicks in if you buy at least 35,000 points, and those bonus points arrive separately within six weeks. Since IHG's points requirements vary widely, you really need to check whether 0.5 cents per point beats the cash rate for your specific hotel. If you don't have a booking in mind, this is not a compelling deal.

Then there's the Amazon Pay With Points deals from Amex and Citi, but those are entirely targeted. Check your own Amazon account—you might see 40% off up to $35 for using 1,429 Membership Rewards points, or 20% off up to $15 for 125 ThankYou points. These offers can be excellent value if you're already planning an Amazon purchase, but they're not a reason to buy points speculatively. And Qatar Airways is offering 25% off award flights on select routes through October 14, which is a genuine discount if you were already eyeing those destinations.

The bottom line: if you have a specific Hilton booking, the 120% sale is probably the best buy-points deal you'll see this year. If you don't, skip it. IHG's sale is business as usual—only buy if you've done the math and it wins vs. cash. And always check your Amazon account before checking out this week; a few points could save you real money.