Marriott Bonvoy credit card changes announced

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Amex and Chase issued press releases today to unveil near term plans for converting their SPG and Marriott Rewards cards to the new all-in-one Marriott Bonvoy program.  Here’s a summary of the changes, organized by the currently existing credit card names (scroll to the bottom for my impressions):

Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express

  • New Name: Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card (as of Feb 13 2019)
  • Last Day to Apply: February 12, 2019  (Amex will no longer accept new applications for this card beginning February 13th)
  • New Retention Bonus Starting Feb 24 2019: For those who opened their accounts before Jan 23 2019 –> Earn up to 100K bonus points. Earn 25K bonus points for each $25K of spend through the end of 2019.  “Eligible Card Members will receive more information about this offer, including the relevant terms and how to register their Card soon.”
  • New card design:

Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express

  • New Name: Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (as of Feb 13 2019)
  • New Welcome Bonus: For those who apply Feb 13 through April 24 2019, earn 100K points after $5K spend in 3 months.
  • New Perks: Earn an additional 35K free night award with $60,000 or more spend per year
  • New Annual Fee: $125 starting March 28 2019 (was $95)
    • Card Members who apply before 3/28/19 will receive the first year free, then pay an annual fee of $95 at the following Card anniversary date, and then pay the new annual fee of $125 at their next Card anniversary date and on all Card anniversary dates thereafter.
    • For current Card Members, the fee increase will take effect on the Card Member’s next Card anniversary date on or after 3/28/2019
  • New card design:

  • Current card info:
    Card Offer and Details
    3 x 50K Free NIght Certificates ⓘ Affiliate
    Receive three 50k free night certificates after $6K spend in the first 6 months. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) points for each bonus Free Night Award, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R). Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)
    $125 Annual Fee
    Recent better offer: 100K points after $4K spend in the first 3 months [Expired 11/2/22]
    Earning rate: 6x at Marriott Bonvoy properties ✦ 4x at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased from U.S. suppliers and on U.S. purchases for shipping ✦ 2x on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)
    Base: 2X (1.6%)
    Dine: 4X (3.2%)
    Gas: 4X (3.2%)
    Phone: 4X (3.2%)
    Biz: 4X (3.2%)
    Brand: 6X (4.8%)
    Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign transaction fees.
    Big spend bonus: Earn an additional 35k free night certificate (can be topped-up with up to 15k additional points, subject to resort fees) after you spend $60K on purchases in a calendar year
    Noteworthy perks: Complimentary Marriott Gold elite status ✦ 7% discount off the standard rate for a standard room at participating hotels when you book direct (Terms and Conditions apply) ✦ 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year ✦ 35k Free Night Award every year after card renewal (subject to resort fees) ✦ Complimentary premium Internet access at Marriott properties ✦ Terms Apply (Rates & Fees)

Starwood Preferred Guest Luxury Card from American Express

  • New Name: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (as of Feb 13 2019)
  • New Welcome Bonus: For those who apply Feb 13 through April 24 2019, earn 100K points after $5K spend in 3 months.
  • New Perks:  Starting March 28 2019, $100 in property credit per stay when cardholders use their Card and a special rate code to book stays of two or more nights at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® properties
  • New card design:

  • Current card info:
    Card Offer and Details
    95K Points ⓘ Affiliate
    95k points after $6K spend within the first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)
    $650 Annual Fee
    Recent better offer: 150K points after $6K in the first 6 months and 50K points after 6 eligible paid nights at Bonvoy hotels [Expired 8/9/23]
    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
    Base: 2X (1.6%)
    Travel: 3X (2.4%)
    Dine: 3X (2.4%)
    Brand: 6X (4.8%)
    Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign transaction 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.

Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus

  • New Name: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card (as of Feb 28 2019)
  • New Welcome Bonus: Starting Feb 28 for a limited time, earn 100K points after $5K spend in 3 months.
  • New Perks: Contactless (the Amex cards already have this feature)
  • New card design:

Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Business Plus

  • New Name: Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business (as of Feb 28 2019)
  • Last Day to Apply: February 12, 2019  (Chase will no longer accept new applications for this card beginning February 13th)
  • New Perks: Earn an additional 35K free night award with $60,000 or more spend per year
  • Same Annual Fee: $99 (pointing this out because the Amex business card will increase its fee to $125)
  • New card design:

Chase Ritz Carlton Rewards Visa Infinite

  • New Name: The Ritz-Carlton Card
  • New Perks:  Starting April 2019, $100 in property credit per stay when cardholders use their Card and a special rate code to book stays of two or more nights at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® properties.
  • New card design:

  • Current card info:
    Card Offer and Details
    None
    This card is no longer available
    $450 Annual Fee
    Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
    FM Mini Review: While the card is pricey, the annual free night, plus $300 in ariline fee credits, plus other perks make this card a keeper.
    Earning rate: ✦ 6X Ritz & Marriott.✦ 3X airline tickets purchased directly with the airline, at car rental agencies and at restaurants ✦ 2X everywhere else
    Base: 2X (1.6%)
    Travel: 3X (2.4%)
    Dine: 3X (2.4%)
    Brand: 6X (4.8%)
    Card Type: Visa Infinite
    Big spend bonus: $75K spend per calendar year for Platinum elite status
    Noteworthy perks: ✦ Annual 85K hotel certificate upon renewal ✦ 3 club level upgrades. $100 hotel credit for each 2 night or longer stay ✦ Priority Pass Select with unlimited guests ✦ $300 annual credit for airline incidentals ✦ Automatic Gold Status ✦ $10 monthly GoPuff credit (through 12/31/23)

Chase Marriott Rewards Premier

  • New Name:  Not yet announced
  • New card design:

  • Current card info:
    Card Offer and Details
    None
    This card is no longer available
    $85 Annual Fee
    Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
    Earning rate: ✦ 2X airline, car rental, & restaurants ✦ 5X Marriott.
    Base: 1X (0.8%)
    Travel: 2X (1.6%)
    Dine: 2X (1.6%)
    Brand: 5X (4%)
    Card Type: Visa Signature
    Big spend bonus: 1 credit towards elite status for every $3,000 in purchases
    Noteworthy perks: ✦ 15 night credit towards elite status every year upon account anniversary ✦ Free category 1-5 certificate each year upon renewal ✦ $10 monthly GoPuff credit (through 12/31/23)

New No-Fee Marriott consumer card from Chase coming this summer

  • No additional details have been released yet

My first impressions

  • Bonvoy is still a stupid name
  • I’m not excited about the alliteration that will make it hard to remember which card is which.  Which is a higher end card? Bonvoy Brilliant?  Bonvoy Boundless?  I would have guessed that boundless trumps brilliant, but I’d be wrong.  In my opinion, Amex should have stuck with the Luxury Card name for their $450 card.
  • I love the card art on the Bonvoy Amex (AKA old SPG consumer card)!  I predict that this will be the card to have since you won’t be able to get it starting Feb 13 2019.  For $95 per year, it’s worth keeping for the annual 35K free night… and the card art.
  • It’s also interesting that Amex is encouraging spending on the old SPG card by offering 25K bonus points per $25K spend, up to 100K.  If you spend exactly a multiple of $25K, the card effectively has it’s old earning power of 1 SPG point = 3 Marriott.
  • Both the Amex and Chase business cards are gaining the ability to earn a second 35K free night with $60K spend.  For those who spend a lot at gas stations to earn 4X rewards, this should come as good news.
  • I’m bummed that the Ritz and Lux.. er, Brilliant cards didn’t add big spend bonuses like free nights or extra points.  Only those cards offer Platinum status with $75K spend, so it would be nice for Marriott to offer more than just elite status for that high spend.
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