IHG Late Checkout: A Frequent Traveler’s Guide

Late checkout is a total win for folks with late flights or anyone who wants a chill last day. I travel a lot, and trust me, those extra hours in your room can be a lifesaver. You can sneak in a morning swim or just catch up on sleep before heading home. This is all about the IHG late checkout perk – what it is, who gets it, how it works with different IHG hotels, and how to ask for it. Plus, I’ve got some real-world stories from other travelers.

What Is “Late Checkout”?

Late check-out allows you to relax in your room after the usual check-out time until 2:00 p.m. on the day of departure, rather than until 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m., as is usually the case. Nice, isn’t it? This is super useful if your flight’s late or if you just want to enjoy your trip a bit longer.

Most hotel rewards programs give late checkout as a perk for their members, especially if you’re a frequent guest. The exact time and rules can change depending on the hotel group. Some programs promise late checkout to their top-tier members, while others are more flexible and offer it if you ask.

Now, let’s see how IHG Hotels & Resorts does late checkout for its guests.

IHG One Rewards Late Checkout Benefit Overview

IHG One Rewards, IHG’s loyalty program, provides a late checkout benefit to its members.

The late checkout benefit applies across all IHG hotel brands – from budget-friendly Holiday Inn Express up to luxury InterContinental resorts. Whether you’re staying at a Staybridge Suites, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, or even IHG’s newest brands, you can ask for a late checkout. (One small exception: the separate InterContinental Ambassador program – a paid elite status for InterContinental Hotels – offers an even later checkout guarantee, which we’ll cover in a moment.)

Importantly, IHG’s late checkout is not guaranteed – it’s granted “upon request and subject to hotel availability”. This means the hotel needs to have enough rooms and housekeeping staff to accommodate your later departure. If the hotel is fully booked for incoming guests or if staffing is limited, they may politely decline a late checkout request.

Any IHG One Rewards member, even at the basic level, can request a late checkout. This benefit is free of charge; consider it a bonus for your loyalty.

In theory, a Platinum Elite or Diamond Elite member’s late checkout request might be given preference over a base-level Club member. However, since the benefit is not guaranteed by tier, the execution of this priority can be inconsistent.

If you need to stay after 2:00 p.m., many IHG hotels will charge a half-day or full-day fee, depending on how late you plan to check out. Each hotel sets its own rules for staying past 2 p.m. Always ask the front desk about the cost if you need to stay late into the evening. 

InterContinental Ambassador 4pm Checkout (at InterContinental Hotels)

One notable exception to IHG’s standard 2pm policy is for members of the InterContinental Ambassador program. Ambassador is a premium, paid membership (currently ~$200/year or 40,000 IHG points) that grants extra benefits when staying at InterContinental hotels & resorts. One of those benefits is a guaranteed 4:00 PM late checkout at InterContinental properties. This means if you are an Ambassador member, whenever you stay at an InterContinental, you can check out as late as 4pm – no ifs, ands, or buts. It’s truly guaranteed (barring extreme circumstances) and is a step up from the 2pm late checkout that regular IHG members get. Do note that this 4pm guarantee only applies at InterContinental-branded hotels. At other IHG brands (even luxury ones like Regent or Six Senses), Ambassador status itself doesn’t extend special late checkout rights beyond the usual 2pm (though your IHG Platinum Elite status, which comes with Ambassador, still lets you request 2pm per the normal policy).

How to Request a Late Checkout at IHG Hotels

To take advantage of late check-out, you must be a member of IHG One Rewards. If you are not already a member, please register with IHG One Rewards (it is free). You can register on site (via the IHG app or at the front desk) if necessary — it only takes a few minutes — and immediately become eligible for this benefit.

Here are some steps and tips from a frequent traveler’s perspective to help you secure that extra time:

1. When you arrive, let them know you want a late check-out. I always politely ask during check-in, “Would a late check-out around 2 p.m. be possible?”.
2. If your late check-out hasn’t been confirmed earlier, call the front desk the day before you leave.
3. If you still haven’t received a response by the day of departure (or if you were asked to “call in the morning”), call the front desk about an hour before your usual check-out time. Often, by the end of the morning, they will already know which rooms have become available and which guests are checking in. 
4. Have your policy confirmation with you (just in case): Front desk staff at some hotels (especially those less frequented by elite members) may not be fully aware of the benefits of late check-out. If you encounter confusion, it may help to mention the IHG policy: for example, “As I understand it, IHG One Rewards members can check out at 2:00 p.m. if there are rooms available.” If necessary, you can even open the IHG app or website, where the benefits are listed, to show them.
5. Despite your best efforts, you won’t always get a 2 p.m. checkout. As a backup, be prepared to leave your luggage in storage at the delivery service if you have to check out at the usual time. Then you can enjoy a few more hours in the city or work in the lobby/business center, etc. Also, find out if the hotel offers late check-out for an additional fee.
6. Finally, always double-check your room key on the day of late checkout. Many hotels automatically deactivate keys around the standard checkout time (noon). It’s a common annoyance that even when you have a late checkout noted, your key might stop working at 12:00. If that happens, just pop by the front desk and ask them to recode your key.

Real Traveler Experiences with IHG Late Checkout

IHG’s late checkout policy sounds simple, but on the ground, experiences can vary widely. Travelers have shared a mix of positive and frustrating stories on social media and forums. Here are a few real-world anecdotes and insights, which might sound familiar if you’re an IHG regular:

Some IHG hotels handle late checkouts very smoothly, while others seem to have no clear process. One IHG Diamond elite on Reddit recounted a situation:

Late Check Out
by inihghotelsresorts

Another traveler said that in some IHG hotels with limited services (such as Holiday Inn near the highway or Candlewood Suites in small towns), the staff may not be aware of the possibility of late check-out. In such cases, it is worth politely explaining what you need.

On the other hand, many travelers (including myself) have found that IHG hotels proactively offer late check-out, especially if we have elite status. For example, one commenter noted that, as a rule, when checking into a Diamond Elite hotel, the front desk manager asks him if he wants a late check-out, and if he is not offered one, he simply asks for it and “that’s all I do” — meaning that it is usually granted without any questions asked.

Comment
by from discussion
inihghotelsresorts

RayExotic (reddit user) complained that he “always had problems” requesting a late check-out at IHG — he was often told that the hotel was too busy, or given other vague excuses, and that, in his experience, “it’s never offered at check-in.”

Comment
by from discussion
inihghotelsresorts

Comment
by from discussion
inihghotelsresorts

Overall, the real-world reviews of IHG’s late checkout benefit reveal it’s very much a case-by-case scenario. Many guests get it with no issues and love the flexibility. Others have had to jump through hoops to secure even an extra hour. The consensus from frequent travelers is: IHG’s late checkout is a nice perk, but not as consistent as it could be. You may have to politely advocate for yourself. As one travel blogger, Gary Leff, succinctly put it, the lack of a guaranteed late checkout in IHG’s program is a bit “disappointing” – and indeed, IHG isn’t alone in this, as Hilton’s program similarly doesn’t guarantee it.

Conclusion

Late check-out at IHG hotels: this is a valuable bonus—I like being able to stay until 2 p.m., but you should never assume that it’s guaranteed.

Have a great trip, and may your check-outs always be late and your flights always be on time!