Update 4/25: This is the last week for these best ever Amex Marriott offers, as they’re due to expire on 5/1. If you’ve been on the fence, now’s the time.
American Express has just launched massive, limited-time welcome offers for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Bonvoy Bevy cards, each one almost doubling the previous version. The Bevy is now giving 155,000 Bonvoy points after $5,000 minimum spend within the first 6 months, while the Brilliant card doles out a whopping 185,000 points after $6,000 spend in 6 months.
Both are the best points offers that we’ve ever seen for these cards and each one will end on 5/1/24. If you’re in the market for Marriott points, each of these cards should be considered.
The Offers and Key Card Details
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
Limited Time Offer - 185K Points ⓘ Affiliate 185k points after $6K spend within the first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees) (Offer Expires 5/1/2024)$650 Annual Fee Recent better offer: None. this is the best that we've seen. FM Mini Review: Decent ultra-premium option for Marriott fans, especially those aiming for lifetime status tiers Earning rate: 3X airfare -on flights booked directly with airlines; 3X restaurants worldwide, 6X Marriott; 2X on all other eligible purchases Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Annual Choice Award with $60K calendar year spend Noteworthy perks: ✦ 85K Free Night Award each year upon renewal ✦ $300 dining credit per membership year ($25/mo) ✦ Platinum Elite status ✦ 25 elite nights credit ✦ Priority Pass membership (Lounges only) with 2 guests ✦ Global Entry fee credit ✦ Free premium internet at Marriott properties Note: Enrollment required for some benefits. See also: Marriott Bonvoy Complete Guide |
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
Limited Time Offer - 155K Points ⓘ Affiliate 155K points after $5K spend in the first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees) (Offer Expires 5/1/2024)$250 Annual Fee Recent better offer: None. this is the best that we've seen. Earning rate: 6X Marriott.✦ 4X restaurants & U.S. Supermarkets on up to $15K spend per year ✦ 2X on all other eligible purchases Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: One 50K Free Night Award after $15K calendar year spend. Noteworthy perks: 15 night credit towards elite status every year upon account anniversary ✦ 1,000 bonus points with each qualifying stay ✦ Gold elite status See also: Marriott Bonvoy Complete Guide |
American Express® Card
Quick Thoughts
The Amex Points Parade has arrived in Bonvoyland.
Both of these new Marriott welcome offers are spectacular and each one represents the best points haul that we’ve ever seen for the respective card. Add in the current 5×50 free night certificate offer for the Bonvoy Business card, and it looks like Amex is throwing down a gauntlet after years of its Bonvoy cards lagging behind Chase’s portfolio (when it comes to welcome bonuses).
Some readers committed to swearing off Marriott completely after their change to dynamic pricing, although it’s really been more of a mixed bag. We actually raised our reasonable redemption value for Marriott points from .75 to .80 cents per point, but that doesn’t tell the complete story, as the award cost for many sought-after properties have gone up significantly-to-astronomically.
However, if you’re still in the Marriott orbit (as I am), these new offers are no-brainers, giving between $1200-$1500 in conservative value.
The Brilliant does come with a hefty $650 annual fee, but does have $300 in yearly statement credits that can be applied to dining charges (in irritating, $25/month in increments). Assuming you can use those easily, it brings the annual cost closer to $350, in the same neighborhood as the Bevy’s $250 annual fee. That may make the Brilliant more appealing for many, depending on how much you value the dining credits, Bonvoy Platinum status, 25 elite night credits and Priority Pass membership that come with the card.
If you want to get both, it’s worth noting that Amex recently added “family” rules to Marriott cards, meaning that you “may” not be eligible for a welcome bonus on the Bevy card if you have or previously have had the Brilliant card. So, if you do plan to take advantage of each of these offers, it would be wise to get the Bevy first, then go for the Brilliant.
You’ve got two months to do it, since both of these offers end on 5/1/24.
Are you eligible for a Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card?
In true Bonvoy fashion, Marriott has a labyrinthine process for determining whether or not you get a welcome bonus on a given card. It’s like it’s free breakfast or something.
Here’s Greg’s helpful chart for deciphering the Marriott eligibility rules:
| Card You Want | |||||||
| Cards You've Had (Or Recently Applied For) | Chase Bonvoy Bold | Chase Bonvoy Boundless | Chase Bonvoy Bountiful | Amex Bonvoy Business | Amex Bonvoy Brilliant | Amex Bonvoy Bevy | |
| Chase | Ritz Carlton |  |
|
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 30 |
|
| Bonvoy ($45 card) | |
|
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|
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| Bonvoy Premier | 24 |
|
|
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||
| Bonvoy Bold | |
90 24 |
30 90 24 |
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| Bonvoy Boundless | |
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| Bonvoy Bountiful | |
|
24 |
||||
| Bonvoy Business ($45 card) | |
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
| Bonvoy Premier Plus Business | |
|
|
90 24 |
30 |
||
| Amex | Bonvoy | 30 |
30 90 24 |
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| Bonvoy Business | 90 24 |
 |
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|
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| Bonvoy Bevy | |
|
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| Bonvoy Brilliant | |
|
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| Eligibility Key | |
|
You are eligible for this card and welcome bonus |
| 30 |
Your are not eligible for a welcome bonus if you have had the card on the left within the past 30 days |
| 24 |
You will not be approved if you currently have or if you've received a welcome bonus in the past 24 months for the card on the left |
| 90 24 |
You are not eligible for a welcome bonus if you were approved for the card on the left within the past 90 days; or if you've received a welcome or upgrade bonus in the past 24 months. |
| 30 90 24 |
You are not eligible for a welcome bonus if you've had the card on the left within the past 30 days; or if you were approved for it within the past 90 days; or if you've received a welcome bonus or upgrade bonus for it in the past 24 months. |
|
You are not eligible for a welcome bonus if you've ever had this card before (but the system seems to "forget" that you've had the card about 5 to 7 years after you cancel) |
Amex Applications Tips
- Safe to Apply: Amex is usually the safest bank for trying your luck at earning a new welcome offer. Most of the time, they won’t issue a hard pull when denying your application or when approving you if you already have at least one Amex card. Plus, they’ll warn you during the application process if you’re not eligible for the bonus.
- Once in a Lifetime Rule: If you've ever had a card before, you are most likely prohibited from earning a welcome offer for that same card if you apply now. Fortunately you'll be warned during the application process if this is the case. Amex is known to "forget" that you've had a card after about 5-7 years. Note that there are frequently offers with no lifetime language (NLL) that aren't bound by this restriction.
- "Family" Rules: In addition to the "once in a lifetime" rule, Amex now applies additional "family" rules to several groups of consumer cards. These rules don't apply to business cards.
- Platinum/Gold/Green: You may not be able to get a welcome offer on the Green, Gold, Platinum, Charles Schwab Platinum or Morgan Stanley Platinum if you've previously had any of the Platinum cards previously.
- Everyday: You may not be able to get a welcome offer on the Everyday card if you've previously had the Everyday Preferred card.
- Cash back cards: You may not be able to get a welcome offer on the Blue Cash Everyday card if you've previously had the Cash Magnet, Blue Cash Preferred or Morgan Stanley Blue Cash Preferred cards. You're not eligible for a welcome offer on the Blue Cash Preferred card if you've previously had the Morgan Stanley Blue Cash Preferred card.
- Delta cards: You can get a welcome offer on any of the Delta cards provided you've never had a more expensive Delta card than the one you are applying for. So, for example, you're eligible for a welcome offer on the Delta Reserve if you've had the Delta Gold, but you may not be eligible for a welcome offer on the Delta Gold if you've previously had the Reserve.
- 2 per 90 days: You can get at most two credit cards within 90 days. This rule usually does not apply to Pay Over Time (charge) cards.
- Marriott cards: Approval for any Marriott card is governed by a labyrinthine set of unintuitive rules. You can see the full eligibility chart here.
- Card Limits: Amex normally only allows customers to have five credit cards and ten charge cards at one time. Both personal and business cards count towards the respective five and ten card limits. There are some instances where certain customers have been allowed to go above those limits.
- Application Status: Call (877) 239-3491 to check your application status or use this link.
- Reconsideration: If denied, you can call (800) 567-1083 and ask for your application to be reconsidered.
The post Marriott Amex Cards: Best Ever 155K and 185K Welcome Offers (last call) appeared first on Frequent Miler.