One of the cool benefits of hotel credit cards is that they can fast-track you to hotel status simply for having the card.
In the case of Marriott Bonvoy, you earn 15 elite nights per year for having Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase
- Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card (READ MORE)
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card (READ MORE)
Unfortunately, you can only earn 15 elite nights per Bonvoy account through credit cards. In other words, you’re capped at 15 elite nights whether you have one, two, or even all three of the cards above.
I’m 60% Of The Way To Platinum
This morning, I logged into my Marriott Bonvoy account and saw that I had 30 elite nights (as opposed to 24 hours ago when I had 15 elite nights).
The terms on the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex now state:
A maximum of 15 Elite Night Credits will be provided per Marriott Bonvoy Member Account, unless you have both a small business Marriott Bonvoy Card account and a consumer Marriott Bonvoy Card account; then, you may receive a combined maximum of 30 Elite Night Credits (15 per Card account). This benefit is not exclusive to Credit Cards offered by American Express.
In other words, if you have both a personal and business card by Marriott, you will be receiving 30 elite nights. And that’s exactly my case.
SO WHAT STATUS DO WE WANT?
When booking with Marriott directly, you earn one elite night for every night that you stay in a hotel. For reference, here are Marriott status level requirements:
- Member: 0-9 nights/year
- Silver Elite: 10 nights/year
- Gold Elite: 25 nights/year
- Platinum Elite: 50 nights/year
- Titanium Elite: 75 nights/year
- Ambassador Elite: 100 nights (+ $20K annual qualifying spend)
Gold status (and below) are not worth much, in my opinion. The better benefits begin once you achieve Platinum status.
As you can see, it’s a lot easier to meet the 50-night requirement for Platinum status is you’re given 30 elite nights for having the credit cards instead of capping members at 15 elite nights.
More simply, for just 20 nights per year, you could be earning a much more attainable Platinum status instead of 35 nights per year.
PRO-TIP: Award nights are counted as elite nights.
FINAL STAMP
If you’re curious, upgrades to better rooms, complimentary breakfast and access to the hotel lounge are common Platinum benefits that unavailable to Golds.
This is definitely a great change for the Bonvoy program however I’m skeptical any time Marriott introduces any “enhancement.” We have seen how they have obliterated the program, treated their employees and treated their most loyal customers over the past 2 years.
However, I have both cards, so I’ll ride the wave for now.
What do you think about this change to the Marriott Bonvoy program?
1TattedPassport 