Today the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card gets some largely positive changes as announced by Chase and Marriott: the card will now earn 3x at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining on up to $6,000 in combined purchases. Furthermore, you can now earn 1 elite night credit with each $5K spend with no limit to the number of nights that can be earned that way. No features are going away. While not wildly exciting, these are nonetheless improvements.
New bonus categories
The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card has long earned 2 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on most purchases (and 6 points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy properties). The card is now adding several bonus categories:
- 3x dining
- 3x grocery
- 3x gas stations
Unfortunately, those bonus categories are only good on up to $6,000 in combined spend per year. That limits the utility of those categories.
Given our Reasonable Redemption Value of 0.63c per point, that’s like a return of roughly 1.89% on those bonus categories. That’s subpar for a bonus category and indeed there are cards with much better category bonuses for those types of purchases (See: Best category bonuses). There are a number of cards with no annual fee that offer 4% back on dining and gas and also a number of popular grocery options that would meet or exceed the return here.
However, what I like here is a combination of two things. First, it makes a Marriott card not totally unreasonable to use for those situations where you’re earning 3x. While there are cards that offer better category bonuses, if you don’t have those cards, or you are looking to spread some spend around to another card, earning almost 2% back based on our RRV is a return that I think would be reasonable enough to live with if you’re going to commit yourself to making sure that you redeem Marriott points for better-than-average value. Again, I’d much rather be earning 3 or 4 transferable points per dollar spent on those categories (and with either a much higher cap or no cap at all) — especially when you consider that many cards with returns like that earn points that can be transferred to Marriott — but 3x is closer to reasonable than 2x was.
Taken along with the ability to earn elite night credits, the bonus categories may become at least slightly more interesting.
Earn elite night credits from spend
What really caught my eye here is the fact that Chase and Marriott have added 1 elite night credit for each $5,000 spent on the card. While the old (and no longer available) Marriott Premier card used to offer 1 elite night per $3,000 spent, that card only earns 1 point per dollar spent. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless will require more spend to earn elite nights, but you’ll also earn a lot more Marriott points while you’re doing it (particularly if you’re spending in the new bonus categories).
I think that’s where the card becomes more interesting: if you can earn 15K points (by using your card in the 3x categories) and 1 elite night credit with $5K spend, that may be an attractive deal for those looking to narrow the gap on the way to the next status level.
In my case, this card won’t become my go-to card for any of the included bonus categories, but I could see myself doing $5K in the bonus categories if that night will make a difference in reaching the next status level. Unfortunately, the usefulness here is quite limited thanks to the $6K annual spending cap on the bonus categories.
In most cases, it won’t make much sense to spend toward additional elite night credits at the card’s native 2x everywhere given the low return offered by 2 Marriott points. At our Reasonable Redemption Value of 0.63c per dollar spent, the return on everyday spend is just too low unless you value the elite nights highly (and you can’t value them more highly than whatever it would cost you to do a mattress run at a cheap Marriott). Even at a really generous valuation of $50 per elite night credit, you’re only getting a return of about 2.26% on each $5K spent. That beats out a 2% back card by a little bit, but only if you value the points and elite nights at those levels.
If you redeem Marriott points at closer to 0.8c per point, it may become more reasonable to spend toward elite nights. Again, it’s only worth spending for elite nights that will close the gap to the next status level as elite nights are nearly worthless after achieving your target status level apart from counting toward lifetime status. For example, your 51st or 52nd elite night for the year doesn’t gain you anything other than an additional night toward lifetime status. The ability to spend only makes a valuable difference as you’re closing the gap of the final few nights to Platinum status (50 nights) or maybe Titanium status (75 nights).
Bottom line
Overall, I think these changes to the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless are a net positive, they just don’t make a huge impact. While three points per dollar spent isn’t a huge improvement and the cap on those categories is relatively low, taken together with the ability to earn an elite night credit with each $5K they could be interesting enough when you’re able to combine the two. Beyond that, the changes here won’t make much difference unless you were already spending a lot on your Marriott card, in which case you’ll at least now earn some elite night credits — though you might want to reconsider your spending strategy if that’s the case.
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Looping back to an old article but do we know if the 3x on Gas, Grocery and Dining resets at calendar year or at card anniversary year?
I’d assumed the latter since the CIC is per card year, but reviewing my last statement it may be the former.
How long does it take for the elite nights to credit? Completed 10k spend, card closed 4/20, points posted, but not the nights.
Just wanted to point out that the Marriott Business Card (amex) earns 4x at gas stations.
On the surface, the 1 EQN per $5k spend seems like a very bad deal (specially when Hyatt gives you 2 elite nights per $5k spend for a much more rewarding status).
However, consider the scenario where you have both personal and business Marriott cards and get 30 EQN through those cards, and you stay about 15 nights organically. To get platinum status, you had to spend $75k on RC or Brilliant card but here, you can get the last 5 EQN with $25k spend. Also, these EQN will count towards your lifetime status and get you choice benefits at 50 EQN (while spend from RC/Brilliant doesn’t).
Prediction: This can’t possibly be a Chase exclusive feature and Amex Brilliant may have a more rewarding structure to earn elite nights (given the higher AF and surveys suggesting changes like 3x points everywhere).
There was rumors last year about reintroducing the Amex Brilliant card with enhanced benefits. Do you think this is it or will March bring something better?
I wonder if the 1 EQN credit per $5k spend is going to apply to the Ritz card as well?
Agreed…. Would be nice if these applied to the Ritz card too. But I guess they have no reason/motivation to even touch that card…
I wondered the same. I doubt it, but I am sure someone will test that out for science.
I have completed $5k spend on my Ritz (taking advantage of 5x grocery on both last quarter’s and this quarter’s promos) and statement closed with points posted to Marriott, but no 1 EQN, so looks that is a no.
To get Plat with no stays and 2 cards 1 personal and 1 business = 30 nights
you need 20 nights = 100k spend
Far better to upgrade Amex card and spend 75k for Platinum
There for 20 night credit after 2 cards needs 75k spend = 3.75k per night
Good point. A couple things to consider:
Agreed with NK3. Benefit of nights is night-based benefits like suite upgrades. Also, nights toward lifetime status. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t value either enough to spend $100K, but if you’re staying 0 nights in hotels, what the heck are you MSing $100K on Marriott cards for? Like NK3 says, I see this as a way to bridge the gap for a couple of extra nights because the Platinum or Titanium benefits justify it, not as a way to generate a large number of elite nights.
And, someone cares about the Elite Night Credits towards elite status because one will attain denial of elite benefits sooner?
However, the 3X points are nice.
I mean, I got free full breakfast for two at Le Meridien Maldives, the St. Regis Bora Bora, and Domes of Elounda in the last couple of years. I’m not defending Marriott’s generally poor enforcement of elite benefits, but there are certainly plenty of places where you’ll get excellent value out of status.
Nick, it’s okay. And, great that you were able to get what you did. And, you have a job to do. No offense to you intended. But, I had been a multi-year Ambassador and had been hosed so many times that I have become an evangelist. Anyone who has read the articles about all that the chains and their owners pull should feel the same.
I completely understand that you’re unhappy with chain hotels — you’ve certainly made that point plenty of times (and I don’t say that you discourage your evangelism — feel free to follow your calling with no ill will from me). And I get why. I just think that if you’ve traveled enough to have ever been Ambassador, then you know that painting these programs with a broad brush saying that you’ll never get benefits is completely hyperbolic. If you travel that much, you will certainly run into situations where you don’t get what you should (we all have at some point), but there are plenty of ways to get great value, too.
Again, I’m not arguing with the point that elite benefits aren’t as strong as they once were nor am I arguing with the sentiment that some hotels stink. I just avoid booking the hotels that stink at elite recognition and I’ve enjoyed pretty good success that way more often than not. I think there are still plenty of ways for the average person to extract plenty of value from hotel elite programs with a little effort at maximization.
I agree that there are some properties that “work”. Yes. But, taken as a whole, the programs are unacceptable.
With St. Regis, it wasn’t just one property, it was every property. My last experience was having a confirmed paid stay. The front desk ignored my confirmation and was going to give me a standard room and — get this — was going to charge me for a suite because that was the rate quoted on my reservation. The Ambassador team refused to step in. That was it.
To your point, there are two Marriott properties at which I will stay. I agree
But, I sure as (heck) am not going to play their elite status game.
Confirmed paid suite.
Nick, you’ve probably seen the recent reports of owners wanting to eliminate lounges completely as an elite benefit. They talk about benefits creep. In fact, it is the diminution of benefits. Again, I don’t disagree that there are specific properties that are worth it. But, the system as a whole is the problem. Respectfully submitted. By the way, did you guys ever receive my AA SWU communication? Please reach out via email.
“Given our Reasonable Redemption Value of 0.63c per point, that’s like a return of roughly 1.89% ”
BUT it all changes in March when Bonvoy goes dynamic what will RRV be then?
It will make me reconsider the annual FNC vs AF if it becomes hard to get 2X AF from the FNA.
Agreed not super attractive, it might be ok if someone can leverage GC at grocery for the $6K.
Yup, I mentioned in there that we don’t know what the points will be worth.
Does the counter for $5k/elite night start today? I just put a ~$1300 hotel charge on mine last month and it would be great if that counted.
I wouldn’t expect anything from before the day they announced it (today) to count.
When Marriott bought out Starwood, Marriott devalued Starwood points by 3X. So, one Starwood point became three Marriott points. My Starwood AmEx was earning everyday spend $1 = 3 Marriott (1 Starwood = 1 airline mile). But Marriott cards are earning everyday spend $1 = 2 Marriott (0.67 Starwood = 0.67 mile). Now with the new 3X categories, I can use my Marriott to get 3 Marriott points, which is really just 1 Starwood / 1 mile. But that’s not even everyday spend. I can get a real 3X multiplier by using a Chase Freedom Flex or Unlimited for dining and transfer to Hyatt or airlines at a true 3X rate, not 1X with Marriott.
Nick: Is my assessment wrong?
Nope, not wrong at all.
Thank you!
I guess this is why many folks don’t put any spend on their Marriott cards. It just doesn’t make any sense to do so, unless staying at Marriott hotels is the only option.
You are correct. To take your point further, I think the general consensus is that Marriott points have further devalued since the merger. So the 1 SPG=3 Marriott points we used to earn on the the old SPG card for everyday spend were worth more than the 3 Marriott points we would potentially now earn on the Boundless in the limited categories.
“Even at a really generous valuation of $50 per elite night credit, you’re only getting a return of about 1.63% on each $5K spent”
My apologies if my math is wrong, but since the card earns 2X everywhere, in this case wouldn’t the card be getting a return of 2.26% on each $5K spent?
Yup! Math mistake. Fixing that.