Bonvoy Credit Cards

[icydog]

"NO?"

I didn't know I quoted you Denise. I only meant to quote Steve Fatula

 

[DeniseM]

I thought so! I'll fix it.

 

[Renzo]

Do the $5000 start right away since the card number is the same, or once I get the new bonvoy card and I start using it?

 

[RoverJohn]

I just took advantage of upgrading my existing American Express SPG card to the new Bonvoy Highest Level card. I received confirmation that I can prepay my 2020 Vistana Maintenance fees to reach the required $5000 purchases within 4 months to receive the 100,000 point reward. And I will get 6 times the amount of my maintenance fees each year with this early payment, and again every year. I will delay this payment for three months to comply with the terms. The blast in my credit card charges for maintenance fees will come earlier than usual, but I agree - pay it now (and receive more benefits) is better than paying it later (without as much benefit).

 

[teddyo333]

One more question - can anyone explain exactly how the hotel night benefit works? The Starwood AMEX didn't have this benefit.

The hotel night allows the user to receive a certificate on their anniversary date that can be used for accommodations at a hotel. Most of the credit cards associate with Bonvoy/Marriott (AMEX/Chase) offer a 35K point certificate that can be used at anytime for accommodations of 35K Points or less. There are two cards that offer 50K point certificates:

AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant (Formally SPG Luxury) (AMEX Card Link detailing benefits: https://credit-cards.marriott.com/en-us/amex-us/?nck=159930755&ck=23664635&lk=1000314310)
Chase Ritz Card - No Longer Accepting Applications (Chase Card Link detailing benefits: https://credit-cards.marriott.com/en-us/chase-us/?nck=159930755&ck=23656160&lk=1000310615)

Bonvoy Link detailing points associated with all hotels: https://points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change

There are no blackout dates and certificates are added to your Bonvoy account typically on your anniversary date. There can be great value to having these cards since the 35K Certificates can get you a room that cost @ $200+ (annual fee @ $100) & the 50K Certificates can get you a room @ $300+ (annual fee @ $150 considering the $300 Bonvoy credit you receive on the card. And yes Maintenance fee payments will use the $300 Credit). An example of how we use our Bonvoy cards would be that we receive (3) 50K Certificates (2 Brilliant Cards & 1 Ritz Card) per year so we would only have to use 50K in points to get 4 nights at a category 6 Bonvoy hotel. The total cost to us, excluding the use of points, is $450.00.

I hope this answers you question

 

[DeniseM]

Thank you for the detailed answer! So if I pay a Vistana maintenance fee soon after I get the card, will I receive a $300 credit that I can see on the card or how will I know I got the credit?

 

[teddyo333]

Thank you for the detailed answer! So if I pay a Vistana maintenance fee soon after I get the card, will I receive a $300 credit that I can see on the card or how will I know I got the credit?

Yes, you will receive a credit card statement credit. It takes a few days to show up on your account but you will be able to login online and see the credit. That is the reason why my wife and I each have one (Brilliant Card).

 

[DeniseM]

Awesome! Thanks Marriott peeps!

 

[controller1]

For holders of one of the various Bonvoy credit cards, your 15 elite night credits should have posted today to your Marriott account if you had the card as of 12/31/18.

 

[Dean]

I just took advantage of upgrading my existing American Express SPG card to the new Bonvoy Highest Level card. I received confirmation that I can prepay my 2020 Vistana Maintenance fees to reach the required $5000 purchases within 4 months to receive the 100,000 point reward. And I will get 6 times the amount of my maintenance fees each year with this early payment, and again every year. I will delay this payment for three months to comply with the terms. The blast in my credit card charges for maintenance fees will come earlier than usual, but I agree - pay it now (and receive more benefits) is better than paying it later (without as much benefit).

I did this during 2018 when we got the SPG Luxury card. Paid part of my Marriott dues to meet the spending and get the $300 credit.

 

[mdurette]

Thank you both for that Info!

BUT...I'm thinking a straight transfer for miles isn't worth it at 3 to 1
Example: It will take you 300,000 Bonvoy points to get 100,000 in air miles.

The Travel packages are a much better deal: https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/redeem/travel/packages.mi

Example:
330K bonvoy will get you 100 miles and a 7 night stay in a cat 1-4.

So for just 30K more points you can get a week somewhere.
Jump to a category 5 and you can even get some Orlando MVC properties! I'm sure there may be others....I just haven't researched.

 

[mdurette]

For holders of one of the various Bonvoy credit cards, your 15 elite night credits should have posted today to your Marriott account if you had the card as of 12/31/18.

Yep, got mine today. So...they don't come on anniversary date anymore? Maybe they never did and I just didn't pay close enough attention. Do the 1 night awards certs still come on anniversary?

 

[controller1]

Yep, got mine today. So...they don't come on anniversary date anymore? Maybe they never did and I just didn't pay close enough attention. Do the 1 night awards certs still come on anniversary?

Per the new T&C --- The Elite Night credits are posted on or before March 1 of each year. The 1 night award certificates are posted approximately 8 weeks after your anniversary.

 

[luv_maui]

Per the new T&C --- The Elite Night credits are posted on or before March 1 of each year. The 1 night award certificates are posted approximately 8 weeks after your anniversary.

So I just got my bonvoy brilliant card, will I not get my 15 elite night credits in 2019, was planning on needing those 15 nights to make platinum by end of this year.

 

[controller1]

So I just got my bonvoy brilliant card, will I not get my 15 elite night credits in 2019, was planning on needing those 15 nights to make platinum by end of this year.

If the card is acquired after 12/31/18, the Elite Night credits will be posted within 60 days of card acquisition and then on or before March 1 of subsequent years.

 

[travelplanner70]

I applied for a Boundless Bonvoy card and I hoped to get 100,000 points if I spent $5000. My application was rejected because I have an old Marriott Signature VISA card. They said that was the same as the Boundless Bonvoy card which disqualified me from that promotion. I think I could get $200 statement credit if I upgrade to the Bonvoy, but I would need to spend a certain dollar amount (I forgot how much.) in 3 months. Was there a way to get the 100000 points - maybe if I moved up to Bonvoy Brilliant card?

 

[Colt Seavers]

If the card is acquired after 12/31/18, the Elite Night credits will be posted within 60 days of card acquisition and then on or before March 1 of subsequent years.

I inadvertently missed out on my 15 bonus nights last year by cancelling my previous Marriott card to get the new one. Perhaps they have changed the rules for this year but starting the new card last summer meant that I did not get my bonus nights until last month and they count toward 2019. One odd thing to me is that I did not have even 40 nights last year but my status is still set to Platinum for this year.