Last year, we covered the Sonesta Mastercard pretty extensively, especially the large welcome offer that looked really appealing for those who could make use of Sonesta’s more limited footprint (we even did a coffee break episode entirely about that offer). Unfortunately, the Sonesta card is no longer accepting applications. Existing cardholders are as yet unaffected.
Over the holiday period, we noticed that the landing page for the Sonesta card appeared to be down. We reached out to Sonesta for comment about the card’s status and future. Here’s what we heard from a Sonesta representative:
We are currently evaluating our credit card program as we focus our attention on innovating and expanding the Sonesta Travel Pass program. While we have paused taking applications for new cardholders, current cardholders in good standing can continue to use their cards as the do today with the same benefits and Travel Pass Rewards earnings.
At this point, all we know for sure is that the card isn’t currently taking applications for new cardholders. That could mean that the card is going to come back at some point or perhaps that Sonesta is switching issuers. Bank of America currently issues the Sonesta card. In recent years, they dropped the Amtrak portfolio (First National Bank of Omaha now issues it) and the Virgin and they dropped the Virgin Atlantic credit cards (the Virgin Red card is issued by Synchrony), leaving Bank of America with just the Alaska credit cards. Perhaps they simply weren’t interested in what I assume was a pretty niche market for the Sonesta card.
If that’s the case, it’ll certainly be a disappointment since the annual Bank of America day awarding additional rewards has been a great day to spend on the Sonesta card if you have it. The good news is that the statement above confirms that it is business as usual for existing cardholders for the time being. Hopefully those readers who wanted it made a move last year.
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Maybe they’re being acquired by Hyatt and they don’t want to convert to Hyatt pts at 1:1.
Another example of jumping on a card if you really want it … you just never know when it might go away. While I did get the Sonesta card, I did miss the out on the IHG Select card, free Cap One Savor card w/4x (instead of just 3x), AmEx Plat cards before family language, and another one that I can’t think of at the moment.
Like the Wyndham card I got a long time ago. NOT an Earner card (But have that Earner Business too). Personal Wyndham gives 15k pts / year and Wyndham Diamond. Intro special in 2015. Dropped down to lower annual pt bonus in 2016 or 17?
Got the IHG Select in 2014. Never been approved for Cap One…even if pre-approved. Just tried the other day. Tricked again! Bastards. Just trying to get the simple Quicksilver.
Yeah…never got Plat Schwab or any other flavor, just the generic.
That’s the game…
I took advantage of the Sonesta card in 2P mode, just recently booked a Royal Sonesta stay in Seattle. We will see how good benefits work out!
You should call the hotel in advance to see what the benefits are. We status matched to their highest category for a stay in Kauai, and the hotel will give us no discretionary benefits. I suspect that will be the case at most of their properties. This is more a real estate holding company then a real hotel chain. While the ability to get 127,000 points for nothing was good, nobody is going to really regret missing this credit card opportunity. Sonesta is definitely not ready for prime time.
Interesting. I had the opposite experience in Kauai a couple months ago. We got free breakfast buffet after doing the same status match. We were also upgraded to a waterview room.
That’s interesting. I guess it’s possible the lady at the front desk didn’t know what she’s talking about. Or that the policy changed — or perhaps you got lucky!
Bank of America still offers the AirFrance/KLM Mastercard too, but they’ve also lost the AAA card in recent years.
Oh, right!
Did they lose AAA? I think that card is just issued by different issuers in different regions.
I know my Bank of America AAA card went to Comenity. But the Comenity version is better
I don’t think BofA issues any of them anymore. Seems to be US Bank or Comenity depending on your location.