Credit Card Review: Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

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The Marriott Bonvoy American Express card replaced the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express personal card. All cardholders were transferred to the new card, which has a unique design for an orphan card.

Once upon a time, the SPG Amex was one of the best travel credit cards on the market, thanks to its valuable points and flexible airline transfer options. But those days are long gone. The Marriott Bonvoy AMEX is what’s left—and while it’s no longer open to new applicants, it still has a place in some wallets.

NOTE: This card is no longer available to new applicants. The only way to get this card is by downgrading from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Bevy cards.

If you’re looking to sign up for a new Marriott card, check out our reviews of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa by Chase.

Or, if you’re interested in applying for any other AMEX Marriott Bonvoy card, including the Bonvoy Business Card, you can use our referral link: Click here to check current welcome offers from AMEX.

Signup Bonus

Since no one can sign up for this card, there’s no signup bonus.

Annual Fee

$95 Annual Fee

Spending Categories

When spending on the card, you earn points in the Marriott Bonvoy program as follows:

• 6 points for every dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
• 2 points for all other eligible purchases

It’s not the most exciting lineup of bonus categories. Even at Marriott hotels, while you’ll earn 6X Bonvoy points, you could earn 3X Ultimate Rewards points on hotel purchases with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. If you value Ultimate Rewards more than Bonvoy points (as many do), this card won’t be your best bet for everyday spending.

Card Benefits

Here are the benefits the card offers Marriott Bonvoy members:

• Free in-room premium internet (exclusions apply – details here, under category 1.3.c)
• Complimentary Silver Elite Status
• Earn Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
• 15 Elite Night Credits each year to help reach higher elite status levels
• 1 Free Night Award after each Cardmember anniversary, valid for a hotel stay costing up to 35,000 points (you can top up with up to 15,000 additional Bonvoy points to stay at properties that cost up to 50,000 points)
• No Foreign Transaction Fees

Silver Elite status isn’t particularly valuable—late checkout isn’t guaranteed, and you won’t get room upgrades or breakfast. But the 15 Elite Night Credits can help if you’re going for Gold, Platinum, or Titanium status.

Ways to Use Bonvoy Points

Points earned with the Marriott Bonvoy AMEX card can be redeemed for hotel stays or transferred to frequent flyer programs. You can also redeem for exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments experiences.

Hotel Stays

Use Bonvoy points for award stays at any Marriott Bonvoy property. Marriott’s portfolio spans over 30 hotel brands around the world:

Flights

You can transfer points to over 30 airline frequent flyer programs. For most, the transfer ratio is 3 Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile. If you transfer 60,000 points at once, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus—giving you 25,000 miles total.

You’ll also receive an extra 10,000 miles (for 30,000 total) when transferring 60,000 points to United MileagePlus®, thanks to Marriott’s special partnership.

Note: Transfer partners and terms can change. Always confirm on Marriott’s website before initiating a transfer.

Other Uses for Marriott Bonvoy Points

You can also redeem Bonvoy points through Marriott Bonvoy Moments for VIP access to concerts, sporting events, and exclusive experiences.

Final Thoughts

I’ve held onto this card since the Starwood AMEX days. Back then, Starpoints were valuable and versatile. Today, while the earnings on everyday spend aren’t compelling, the card still earns a spot in my wallet for one reason: the free night certificate.

That certificate alone is easily worth more than the $95 annual fee. I never have trouble finding a Marriott room worth over $100 to use it on—often much more than that. And since I put occasional spending on the card (like paying for parking at a Marriott hotel), it stays active without much effort.

For me, that makes it worth keeping. But if you already have other cards offering a 35K free night or better earning rates on hotel purchases, this might be redundant.

If you’re thinking about getting a Marriott Bonvoy AMEX card (like the Bonvoy Business or Brilliant), feel free to check out our referral link to see what the current offers are.

Do you have the Marriott Bonvoy AMEX card—either from the SPG days or by downgrading from Brilliant or Bevy? Are you planning to keep it?

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary