When Marriott Bonvoy shuffled its co-brand credit card portfolio between AMEX and Chase in 2019, they also eliminated the ability to double-dip the 15-night credit towards status if you had personal and business co-branded credit cards. Starting with the 2020 qualifying year (for 2021 status), the maximum number of nights you could earn was 15, regardless of how many co-brand cards you held.
Cardholders had 1 year to decide if it was worthwhile to keep both a Marriott business and personal card if their main reason for holding both cards was to get a bump towards status. Needless to say, early 2020 was the worst possible time to devalue a benefit for your most loyal customers. It only took until April of that year for Marriott Bonvoy to reverse the decision and issue 30 night credits to those who still had both cards.
The reinstated benefit has remained for 2021 and 2022. We recently received an email from Marriott Bonvoy reminding us of the 30-night credits deposited into our account.
Because now you have an open business Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card and an open personal Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card, we’ve deposited an additional 15 Elite Night Credits into your account.
Since you’ve already received 15 Elite Night Credits this year, you’re now 30 nights closer to your next Elite status.
Marriott has made it easy to earn status in 2020 and 2021 and has extended earned status levels through 2023. However, it would seem the status merry-go-round is coming to an end. For 2023 status, Marriott currently requires guests to hit the previous levels. The only remaining benefit is being able to double-dip the 15-night credit.
That makes me think that the extra benefit isn’t going to be around much longer. Maybe they’ll keep it another year because Bonvoy will be busy destroying reward charts and repricing award stays. That will bring enough pain for the next year or two.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised if, a year from now, Marriott Bonvoy goes back to the 15 night limit for co-brand cards. A deciding factor could be the speed at which business travel comes back. Those are the people most likely going for Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador levels and looking for the additional 15 nights.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.