An astute reader pointed out the fact that Amex has added some new restrictive language to the offer terms on the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card. According to the new terms, many readers may find themselves ineligible to earn a welcome bonus on the Bevy card based on other cards they have had within the past 30 days.
New Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy exclusionary language
As pointed out by a reader in our Frequent Miler Insiders Facebook group, Amex has expanded the exclusionary language for Bonvoy Bevy applicants to now say the following (bold is mine, added for emphasis):
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.
Welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from J.P. Morgan, the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Business® Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.
Previously, there was no language restricting those who have the old Chase Marriott Bonvoy Premier card or the even older $45 annual fee Chase Marriott Bonvoy / Chase Marriott Bonvoy Business cards. This new update excludes more cardholders than before from qualifying for the welcome bonus on the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card.
Interestingly, this sort of cross-bank family language has not been added to the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant offer terms, so it seems that only those looking for the Bonvoy Bevy card are affected by the new restrictions on Chase cardholders of older Marriott cards.
It’s interesting that they are newly restricting those holding older Chase Marriott cards from earning a welcome bonus on the Amex side. It is unfortunate that Amex and Marriott are teaming up to exclude people from testing the waters on a new card based on which old cards they may still have kicking around.
I should note that the language here is fairly ironclad — it doesn’t say that cardholders of those Chase products “may not” be eligible for the welcome bonus, but rather it directly says that the welcome offer is not available to those Chase cardholders. That would make it difficult to make a case for why you should get the bonus if you decide to take a flyer on it anyway.
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Man I was really considering getting the Bevy card for the signup bonus, but my Chase Boundless card is one of my older accounts so I really don’t feel like closing it just to get a signup bonus….back to deciding if I want to downgrade and redo the Bonudless offer or try for the Brilliant offer. Just don’t like that fee!…..
I received an ineligible notification and I’m pretty sure it’s because I had an Amex SPG. I never received the Marriott version of that card, and canceled it around the time of the merger. Seems like a ridiculous result for a card I haven’t had in 7/8 years?
If P2 holds a Ritz card but I am an AU on it, am I disqualified from the bonus on a Bevy card?
(Have not seen questions about AUs asked before…)
I can’t think of a single example with any issuer where holding an AU card will make you ineligible for anything (except for the fact that it initially counts toward your 5/24 count with Chase).
Your Marriott Bonvoy number isn’t on the Ritz card if you are just an AU, so I can’t see how the system would even associate it. That AU card won’t disqualify you.
Will the Bonvoy card eligibility matrix be updated to reflect these new terms? Thanks!
I got the Chase Marriott Boundless about 18 months ago. Per Amex terms I would not be eligible for an Amex Marriott SUB. Will they inform me of this during the application process or is this something they figure out after my application? It may just be a deterrent
I think the popup will tell you.
So I’m not eligible for the Bevy because I have owned the Chase Boundless before?
The language for (i) is “have or have had […] in the last 30 days.”
Oh nevermind, I was reading that differently. Its the 30 day rule, so if I close it then I just have to wait 30 days to apply. Thanks for the clarification!
Hey Nick, I have the old Chase Marriott Bonvoy Business CC (no longer available), should I close that CC, wait 30+ days, then apply for the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business CC in order to get the new bonus? I will still keep my Ritz Carlton CC long term.
I’d go look at the terms for the Amex sub. If it’s available to you, might be better to it before more terms change
The Ritz Carlton blocks access to subs for the Amex Marriott cards from what I’ve heard. I got the Chase Bonvoy Boundless about 4 months ago. Planned to wait 24 months for Amex sub restriction to expire, get new Amex personal and business Marriott, then upgrade the Chase Bonvoy to Ritz. If I upgrade to Ritz before getting the Amex cards, I’d be locked out of the sub.
Hopefully the rules still allow it by the time I’ve waited out the current restrictions.
Oh interesting, looks like the Amex business card doesn’t mention the Ritz card.
My understanding is that you can’t get any other personal Marriott Bonvoy CC from Chase or AMEX if you have the Ritz Carlton CC, but that shouldn’t interfere with the business CCs.