The Offer
- American Express is offering a sign up bonus of three free nights (up to 50,000 points per night) Marriott Bonvoy Business Card after spending $6,000 within 6 months.
Card Details
- Anniversary free night award up to 35,000 points (this is a free night certificated that can be used on properties costing up to 35,000 points)
- $125 annual fee (not waived first year)
- Card earns at the following rates:
- Six Marriott rewards points per dollar spent at participating hotels
- Four Marriott rewards points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping
- Two points per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Silver status; earn gold status by making $35,000 in purchases within a calendar year
- Receive 15 nights towards elite status
- Premium in room internet access at participating properties
- No foreign transaction fees
- Can only get the bonus once per lifetime
Our Verdict
Previous bonus has been 125,000 points. Standard offer is 100k points. All time high was the 2021 offer for 125k + two free night certificates. Not sure if we will ever see that COVID-era type bonus return though. Obviously this offer is better if you’re staying at properties that cost 50k points or more (well really more than 41.6k), otherwise you are better off waiting for the 125k point offer to return. In any case I wouldn’t sign up unless you have need for these certificates in the short/medium term.
“Obviously this offer is better if you’re staying at properties that cost 50k points or more” shouldnet it say “or less”?
The case for the “or more” wording is probably comparing 3 nights redeemed solely on the standard points bonus of 125k versus these certs at 50k each.
An example would be a trip you’re planning that calls for 3 nights at a 60k/night property. With the certs offer, you’d have the equivalent of 150k in points towards that (using 30k to top up the shortfalls for the three nights) while the 125k offer would require you to top up with an additional 55k in points.
If you time it right three free nights at the Swan/ Dolphin!
I think the fine print says you don’t qualify if you had the Chase marriot personal card within the last 24 months right
yeah both chase & amex bonvoy card families exclude the other, personal or business zzz
That’s too bad… but I’m glad I saw this comment before going further.
As redemption point prices have moved up, all FNCs have become less usable. Tonight, I’m staying at a property that typically had been 35k per night. It’s 67k!!! Notice that it’s conveniently 2k above the 50k+15k mark. So, even a 50k FNC is not usable. I booked it for cash. People need to wake up to what’s going on.
^This! I had no problem paying the annual fee for years on 3 Marriott cards for the FNC. But this year, wholly shit you can’t find nights in city center limits using FNC’s for 35K.
Just booked a hotel in Milan and found multiple under the 25k limit for my P2’s FNA. I was very surprised….
Was looking at point redemption in Asia yesterday. The point value looks to be around 0.5 cpp after currency conversion for hotels cheaper than 65k points. Some of the most expensive properties out of the certificate range has better redemption value.
There’s also a personal boundless with 3 nights, each redemption worth up to 50,000
I’m in jail.
At least you’ll get a free breakfast…
Pretty sure that this card gives gold status by default now rather than requiring $35k spend. The 15 nights toward elite status don’t add on top of that, though. You still have to get to 50 (starting at 15) for Platinum Elite.
Is there any lifetime language? I didn’t see any but it’s amex
“OFFER TERMS
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express or previous versions of these Cards.”
The Marriott business cards give gold status now….