The Offer
No direct link to offer, sent out via e-mail. Subject line is ‘Introducing the new Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card’
- American Express is offering some Marriott cardholders the ability to upgrade to the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card with a 100,000 point bonus after $4,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of account opening
Card Details
- $250 annual fee
- Card earns at the following rates:
- Earn 6X points for every $1 spent at Marriott properties
- Earn 4X points for every $1 spent on the first $15,000 in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining
- Earn 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Free Night Award every calendar year, after $15,000 in spend within that calendar year (good for up to 50,000 points)
- Complimentary Gold Elite status
- 15 elite night credits toward elite status
Our Verdict
You can get a 125,000 bonus when you sign up for this card directly. This upgrade offer saves you from a new inquiry (and more people are eligible due to the standard terms that exclude a lot of people that have held Marriott cards before) but still probably not worth considering for most people due to the high annual fee.
Hat tip to Ryan L
The card is very poorly designed, I can’t imagine I would keep it after 13 months. And it’s really annoying not to get at least a 35K night on renewal. You pay more, and get less. That said: isn’t that the banks’ whole idea behind big sign-up bonuses? They suck you in with a big bonus and hope that laziness leads you to keep the card open another year or three. The good thing about this card is that it sucks so badly, I won’t forget to cancel or downgrade, 13 months from now.
I feel conflicted about Marriotts. Over the past 3-4 years, we’ve spend a number nights in Marriotts (I can recall 22 nights) – but always on FNCs. We used our travel cert weeks in Hawaii and Barbados, we just used up 3 FNCs in Old San Juan last week. I’ve topped up 5K, but I don’t think I’ve ever done a straight up points res with Marriott. It’s not that I see no value proposition in staying with points, but I’m just loathe to use them, because they transfer to airlines which don’t have other easy transfer options (e.g., Alaska, AA). And there’s almost always a better option, between Hyatt, Hilton, IHG, even Wyndham.
In short, I think this upgrade deal is a “good deal” – my only hesitation is that given how bad the card is, there may be a better deal that comes along next week. I’m guessing 3 FNCs. But for my part, I think I’d rather get 100K over 3 FNCs, despite how well we’ve been able to use them. In fact, it might be an upside to upgrading: one less FNC to worry about.
Received an upgrade offer from Amex for 100k Marriott points for Amex bonvoy -> Amex bevy. Since I am also eligible for a new bevy card, can I just apply for the brand new card for 125k points, and then also go for the upgrade?
Will that cause any issue with Amex? Does anyone know about any timelines I should be concerned about if I go with this approach?
This card seems to have no point. And good reminder to check date I can cancel my existing Bonvoy amex.
Got the offer. My annual fee posted for current Bonvoy card. Would they then prorate the annual fee if I upgrade to Bevvy?
Yes.
Wow. I received this offer and had filed it away for later consideration, as I don’t believe I’m eligible to apply outright due to having both Chase & Amex Marriott cards. Opportunities to earn another 100k points are harder to come by with all of the rules on eligibility.
But no automatic free night?!? Then what exactly is the value of paying an extra $155 compared to the standard Bonvoy card? And it appears that the standard Bonvoy card is now unavailable, so not clear if you could even downgrade back after a year. Hopefully it’ll be like some of the other “hidden” Amex cards that are still eligible for a product change, but not sure I want to be the guinea pig who tries to find out in a year.
This offer is like buying 100k points for $250 + $80 = $330.
$80 is earned if $4000 spent with double cash or boa platinum honors.
Not for me.
Future plan is to close bonvoy, open chase Marriott and upgrade to Ritz.
One should apply for a new card, and then also go with the upgrade option, if eligible for both. That might not be a bad deal, but only upgrade for 100k points with annual fee and no free night, might not be that lurative
The fact that there’s NO free night attached is a complete joke. It should have a 50k free night with no spending requirement.
Totally. Chase has an upgrade offer out there too. Both cards are a $250 joke!
Couldn’t agree more, $250 and you don’t even get a free night is downright comical…
The entry level cards give you a free night for $95 and the same number of qualifying nights, only silver status instead of gold(which is not a huge difference really), and only 3x on dining/grocery instead of 4x.
Confirm the new bevy card doesn’t have a free annual night cert upon renewal? Only upon spending 15k
Seems like a horrible perk package for a $250 card…..
Any reason not to upgrade and then downgrade after getting the 100,000 points?
If you downgrade within 12 months you’ll have the bonus clawed back
Great Question. I would love to know as well.
Precludes you from getting a new cardmember bonus on the card for 7+ years
Not sure if the Bonvoy is even eligible for a product change from the Bevy. Even if it is, it may not be eligible in 12+ months, and you could therefore be saying bye-bye to your free 35k night w/ $95 AF for good… Hard pass for me.