Link: Apply now for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is a valuable card that’s worth keeping long term, given the perks it offers, as well as the shortcut that it provides to elite status.
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Earn free night awards with Marriott Amex Business Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex has a welcome offer where you can earn three free night awards after spending $6,000 within the first six months. Each free night award is valid for a Bonvoy property costing up to 50,000 Bonvoy points. Certain properties have resort and destination fees.
As you can tell, this bonus can be worth up to 150,000 points, though I don’t value free night awards quite as much as their corresponding points value, since they have less flexibility. For what it’s worth, I value Marriott points at 0.7 cents each, given all the great ways there are to redeem them, so I value 150,000 points at $1,050. I’d value the corresponding certificates a bit less.
Marriott Amex Business Card eligibility requirements
If you’re applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex, the general Amex application restrictions apply. For example, you’re limited to having a total of five Amex credit cards (not including hybrid cards), regardless of whether they’re personal or business.
The good news is that I find Amex business cards to anecdotally be pretty easy to get approved for. Another awesome thing is that if you’re concerned about Chase’s 5/24 limit, applying for an Amex business card won’t count toward that.
Beyond that, since both American Express and Chase issue cards for Marriott, there are some pretty complicated restrictions regarding eligibility for this card, so see this post for more details.
Why the Marriott Amex Business Card is worth it
Not only does the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex have a generous welcome offer, but this is a card that’s worth keeping in the long run. It’s a card I’ve had for years, and plan to hold onto. The card has a $125 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for that you receive two key perks:
- 15 elite nights toward Marriott Bonvoy status annually, making it much easier to earn Bonvoy Platinum status or above; if you want to earn as many elite nights as possible from credit cards, you need to have the business version of the card
- An anniversary free night award every year, valid at a property costing up to 35,000 points per night; you can even top this off with up to 15,000 additional points, to redeem at a more expensive property
To me that more than justifies the annual fee, and that doesn’t even factor in some of the other perks, like complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.
Read a full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex.
Bottom line
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex has a solid welcome offer, and on top of that this is a card that’s worth keeping, thanks to the 15 elite nights toward status annually, plus the annual free night reward.
Do you plan on picking up the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).
All too often, irrespective of which Free Night Certificate (from whichever card) is being used, a property is priced at 16k above a certificate amount. Making it unusable. Or, a property has points-plus-cash award stays -- the issue being that FNCs cannot be used for a points-plus-cash award stay. The breadth of this practice seems less like coincidence and more like intended & calculated breakage. Or, the Ritz Carlton card Club Upgrade being unavailable to...
All too often, irrespective of which Free Night Certificate (from whichever card) is being used, a property is priced at 16k above a certificate amount. Making it unusable. Or, a property has points-plus-cash award stays -- the issue being that FNCs cannot be used for a points-plus-cash award stay. The breadth of this practice seems less like coincidence and more like intended & calculated breakage. Or, the Ritz Carlton card Club Upgrade being unavailable to suites.
Marriott just devalued Plat, Titanium, and Ambassador status. Terms have been updated. Late checkout now only guaranteed until 2pm for plat and abov.
@ Anameofaguy — What did I miss? I see discussion on FlyerTalk, but seems limited to Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, no?
Yes you're right. Someone made the comment, then I read the terms and it was entirely too late at night to be doing that. My bad!
At "regular" properties, the terms and conditions reflect NO CHANGE to the 4pm check-out *if available*. At apartments, the terms and conditions reflect 2pm check-out GUARANTEED and 4pm check-out *if available*.
I've found it impossible to identify a single Marriott property that costs 35K points I'm willing to sleep at. Same for properties that cost 50K (the 35K certificate plus the maximum top-off of 15K points). Curiously, every time I've found an Marriott property that I though was worth bothering with, it's price was always 55K and up. What a surprising coincidence.
Marriott does have some nice properties. Just none that you can actually use a...
I've found it impossible to identify a single Marriott property that costs 35K points I'm willing to sleep at. Same for properties that cost 50K (the 35K certificate plus the maximum top-off of 15K points). Curiously, every time I've found an Marriott property that I though was worth bothering with, it's price was always 55K and up. What a surprising coincidence.
Marriott does have some nice properties. Just none that you can actually use a free night certificate at, which is clearly their intention.
This "5 free nights" offer is for suckers. Hard pass.
I just used a 25k free night certificate at a downtown Washington DC Westin (with an additional 8k points add-on) along with 40k points for the second night.
For a last minute trip of a lifetime (was invited to the 4th of July festivities on the South Lawn of the White House,) I thought it was a great use of the certificate and points.
You definitely aren't getting manhattan properties for this price, but if you are visiting family in Baltimore or Albany or Tallahassee these work great.
Marriott gold status has never got me an upgraded room. Their program is so watered down as everyone has it so there is rarely availability for upgrades. Stick with hyatt or IHG if you want to feel like you have any sort of elite status in regards to platinum for IHG that’s isn’t even their top tier or globalist which is the best around for a reason.
Marriott has really jacked up the point requirement at most of their properties. It's getting hard to find availability for 35,000 points at most properties that aren't Residence Inn or Courtyards even in midsize cities. These certificates (and Marriott points) keep getting devalued.