Marriott Bonvoy Elite Night Credit Card Guide

Marriott Bonvoy Elite Night Credit Card Guide

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One of the benefits of hotel credit cards is that they can help you earn elite status. Some hotel credit cards outright offer elite status, while others offer a certain number of elite nights toward a status tier.

In this post I wanted to share a guide to earning elite nights in the Marriott Bonvoy program using co-branded Marriott credit cards. Hopefully this is useful with it being a new year, as people start to consider their elite status strategy for 2023. Marriott credit card elite nights have already posted for the year, so if you’re like me, you’re already starting the year with 40 elite nights.

Earn up to 40 Marriott Bonvoy elite nights with credit cards

Let’s talk about everything you need to know to earn Marriott Bonvoy elite nights using Marriott’s credit cards. Long story short, if you have the right credit cards, not only could you have Platinum status, but you’d be well on your way to Titanium status each year without spending a dime on the cards.

What are Marriott elite nights?

For those who haven’t historically pursued hotel status, it’s perhaps worth clarifying what I’m talking about when I say “elite night.” An elite night doesn’t get you a free night in a hotel, or get you a free night in a hotel with elite benefits.

Rather hotel loyalty programs have certain minimum requirements to earn status with them (this could be 50, 75, or 100 nights per year, depending on the benefits). Status gets you benefits like room upgrades, late check-out, free breakfast, etc.

When I use the term “elite night,” I mean you’re getting credit that qualifies toward earning status in the program. If a credit card gets you 15 elite nights, that doesn’t get you any free nights in hotels, but rather it gets you closer to earning status with a program, since it’s the equivalent of having spent 15 nights in a hotel when it comes to the progress toward elite status.

Some hotel credit cards can get you closer to elite status

Which Marriott credit cards offer 15 elite nights?

Marriott has credit cards issued by both American Express and Chase, and several of them offer 15 elite nights toward status annually just for having the card. The following Marriott credit cards each earn 15 elite nights per year (five are open to new applicants, while four are older cards that are no longer open to new applicants):

Which Marriott credit cards offer 25 elite nights?

In addition to the nine cards that offer 15 nights, there is a single card that offers 25 elite nights (in addition to Platinum status in the Bonvoy program):

Several Marriott credit cards can help you earn elite status

Earn up to 40 Bonvoy elite nights per year with credit cards

As you can see, there are potentially up to nine Marriott Bonvoy credit cards each offering 15 elite nights, and one offering 25 nights. Does that mean if you get three credit cards, you can start the year with 45-55 elite nights? No, unfortunately not.

You can earn a maximum of 40 Bonvoy elite nights per year through co-branded credit cards:

You can earn up to 40 elite nights per year with Marriott credit cards

When do Marriott credit card elite nights post?

The ability to earn Marriott Bonvoy elite nights with credit cards is an ongoing perk:

  • In other words, you don’t just get the elite nights your first year, but you also get them in subsequent years
  • You also get these elite nights even if you open your credit card in the middle of the year, so there’s no requirement that the account has to be open at the beginning of the year

When should you expect Marriott Bonvoy elite nights to post?

  • If your Marriott Bonvoy credit card is open at the beginning of the year, your elite night credits will post by March 1; however, in practice, they typically post much faster, often within the first week of January
  • If you open your Marriott Bonvoy credit card during the year, your elite night credits will post within 60 days of account opening; if you open the card toward the end of the year, don’t worry, the nights will be backdated, even if they post in the subsequent year

In 2023, it looks like elite nights have already posted by January 2. For example, my account is already showing 40 elite nights for the year, which is pretty awesome.

You could start each year with up to 40 Bonvoy elite nights

Do elite nights earned through Marriott credit cards count toward lifetime status?

Marriott Bonvoy offers the following three tiers for lifetime status:

  • Lifetime Silver status requires 250 elite nights plus five years of status
  • Lifetime Gold status requires 400 elite nights plus seven years of Gold status or higher
  • Lifetime Platinum status requires 600 elite nights plus 10 years of Platinum status or higher

Do elite nights earned through Marriott credit cards count toward the lifetime status night requirement? The answer is yes, they absolutely do.

Credit cards can get you closer to Marriott lifetime elite status

What about Marriott credit cards offering status for spending?

The easiest way to earn Bonvoy Platinum status with a credit card would be simply to have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. This card offers Platinum status for as long as you’re a cardmember, with no spending requirement, which is an excellent deal.

However, there is one important distinction to understand about having status through being a cardmember rather than through earning elite status. When you earn status just by virtue of having a credit card, you’re not actually getting the corresponding elite nights.

To explain this in the form of an example:

  • Say you have the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, and as a benefit you receive Platinum status
  • You’ll have Platinum status, but won’t get the corresponding 50 elite nights; you will, however, receive 25 elite nights, since that’s an additional perk of having the card
  • If you want to then go for Bonvoy Titanium status (which requires 75 elite nights), you’re not any closer to earning it, since you’re not getting the 50 elite nights usually associated with Platinum status
  • You also wouldn’t qualify for Bonvoy Choice Benefits, since those are based on the elite nights you earn, rather than your status
Earn platinum status without having to actually stay at a Marriott property

Marriott credit cards make Platinum status attainable

Marriott Bonvoy has five elite tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador), and I’d say status starts becoming valuable around the Platinum tier. Bonvoy Platinum members receive perks like the following:

Now, in fairness, there are a lot of Platinum members and I do find Marriott to be quite inconsistent, so temper your expectations when it comes to the unlimited suite upgrades. 😉

Bonvoy Platinum status ordinarily requires 50 elite nights per year, so if you can get that just by having a credit card, or if you can earn 40 elite nights per year through credit cards, you’re in a pretty great spot.

Keep in mind that even award stays and redemptions of free night certificates count toward status with Marriott, potentially making it even easier to earn.

It’s much easier to earn Platinum status with the right Marriott credit card

How do other hotel credit card elite status opportunities compare?

In case you’re curious about how Marriott’s policy of earning status with credit cards compares to the policies of competitors, I figured I’d talk briefly about what other hotel groups offer.

Arguably the best opportunity to earn status with a hotel credit card is available with Hilton. The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express (review) offers Hilton Honors’ top-tier Diamond status for as long as you have the card, with no spending requirement. Best of all, the card has so many perks that make the annual fee easy to justify. This is an incredible value proposition, though admittedly Hilton doesn’t promise suite upgrades, late check-out, etc.

The information and associated card details on this page for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

IHG One Rewards also offers solid opportunities to earn status, as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (review) and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (review) offer IHG One Rewards Platinum status for as long as you have the card. Furthermore, spending $40,000 on either card in a calendar year would earn you IHG One Rewards Diamond status. However, many IHG elite tiers are tied to the Milestone Rewards program, which is based on earning a certain number of elite nights.

When it comes to Hyatt, World of Hyatt Globalist status is my favorite top-tier hotel status, and understandably it’s also not that easy to earn. However, the World of Hyatt Credit Card (review) and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (review) can help you earn elite status:

  • On the personal version of the card you receive five elite nights annually just for having the card, and two more elite nights for every $5,000 spent
  • On the business version of the card you receive five elite nights for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year
I love the status opportunities with Hilton

Bottom line

Marriott Bonvoy members can earn up to 40 elite nights per year using co-branded credit cards. This is potentially a great opportunity, as it gets you 80% of the way to Platinum status, or more than 50% of the way to Titanium status. Furthermore, there’s even a Marriott credit card that will outright earn you Platinum status, just for being a cardmember.

Personally I have both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, and that proves to be a huge help with maintaining status and all the benefits of those tiers with the program.

Do you leverage Marriott credit cards to earn Bonvoy elite status?

Conversations (19)
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  1. Daniel Choi Guest

    I am currently Bonboy Platinum status. As promotion offered 125000 free miles and 15 elite credit nights with spending $4000 in first 3 months. After I spend that amount in that period, credit miles was not allowed. I was upset but they said I already Bonvoy credit card(Chase, American Express) So closed Chase Bonvoy and keep American Bonboy Express Card. Is there any to re-apply these card for 15 and 25(annual total 40) elite credit...

    I am currently Bonboy Platinum status. As promotion offered 125000 free miles and 15 elite credit nights with spending $4000 in first 3 months. After I spend that amount in that period, credit miles was not allowed. I was upset but they said I already Bonvoy credit card(Chase, American Express) So closed Chase Bonvoy and keep American Bonboy Express Card. Is there any to re-apply these card for 15 and 25(annual total 40) elite credit nights without any restrictions(ex, wait a year for reapplication)?

  2. Alex PDL Guest

    I have BOTH the Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX and the regular Bonvoy AMEX. I just realized that I have only been getting 25 nights credited. Shouldn't these two cards stack nights? Should I not be getting 15 + 25 = 40 nights? Help. Is there some rule here?

    1. George Guest

      You would need the BUSINESS Bonvoy for the 25 (Brilliant) to stack with the 15 (Business). What you have are two personal card, and that, unfortunately don’t stack. You would continue getting 25 Elite nights.

      It’s pretty to get the Amex Business card for if you’re in the market for that, but I know it’s yet ANOTHER Amex card and hard pull.

      However, it’s pretty sweet to start the year off at 40 elite nights if you like Marriott properties.

      Hope this helps.

  3. robert force Guest

    Hi All
    I’m going to get the Marriott credit card. But I need to know when I should apply. I need the 15 elite night bonus to post in January or February of 2024.
    Any help is appreciated thanks

  4. IVO SIO Guest

    I've got 55 nights at Marriott. I am current having 4 Marriott credit cards. They are AMEX Brilliant, Chase Marriott Biz, Chase Boundless, and Chase Ritz Carlton. Looks like a bug or something.

  5. CXP Member

    I made Lifetime Platinum last year. You would think that being Platinum for 10 years and staying 600 nights at a Marriott property might warrant Marriott sending an email saying congrats. You'd be wrong - not a peep from Marriott for my 10 year, 600-night loyalty. Not even an acknowledgment this happened. They probably don't want me to know.

    1. Karo Member

      They may not know about that themselves :)

    2. GLo Guest

      Thats kind of messed up. I would expect at least a nice luggage bag or $600 in credit to spend on a 6 day vacation at a Marriott. Little stuff like this go a long way.

  6. Dror Guest

    I have had the Amex Brilliant for a few years, and got the 25 nights credit last year and also this one (posted on 01/01).
    I applied for and got the Amex Bevy towards the end of October, thinking that I'd get the 15 nights credit by the end of 2022, which would have bumped me to Titanium. I already got the sign-up bonus after meeting the spend requirements.
    Alas, no 15 nights...

    I have had the Amex Brilliant for a few years, and got the 25 nights credit last year and also this one (posted on 01/01).
    I applied for and got the Amex Bevy towards the end of October, thinking that I'd get the 15 nights credit by the end of 2022, which would have bumped me to Titanium. I already got the sign-up bonus after meeting the spend requirements.
    Alas, no 15 nights credit have been posted in 2022, and none in 2023 thus far.
    I contacted Amex and they said that they would "look into it", and that it would take 8-12 weeks...
    I have a Marriott stay next week, and it doesn't look like I'll be Titanium by then.
    Has anyone faced this kind of an issue? Is there anything else I can do?

    1. JTC Guest

      Each year, you get up to 25 nights (by having the Brilliant) on the personal side and 15 on the biz side (by having the only biz card from Amex). You won't get another 15 nights on the personal side (by having another personal card from Chase or Amex).

      Like the article says, the max is 40 nights using this credit card method.

    2. GLo Guest

      Is there any benefit to have the Amex Bonvoy card? Is it like the regular Amex card where you get exclusive benefits?

  7. Jules Guest

    Anyone know for sure if you keep the elite nights (and free night) even if you cancel the card? It's the last year I need to qualify for lifetime Plat, and the card doesn't have the appeal it did before - I can avoid the $695 fee if I can cancel now.

    1. BenjaminGuttery Diamond

      Well, the free night language is pretty clear, stating that you earn it after renewing the card and Yada. But the ENC's are not so clear.

    2. Dt123 Gold

      Beware, Amex usually labels canceling/ downgrading one of their cards within 12 cal months as "gaming the system" and may take action against you (I have marriott strip the last year of Plat status, etc). Can't tell it this situation applies to you, but beware either way.

    3. B Holland Guest

      I'd also like to know the answer to what you lose when cancelling the card. I'm seeing zero benefit at Titanium but would prefer not to lose the 2 free nights I've accrued.

  8. Lee Guest

    Because of all of the tier benefits you (don't) get from Marriott. Sign me up.

    1. BenjaminGuttery Diamond

      Being Titanium the last couple years has not been "rewarding". Nearly every hotel I go to says "we're full of Titaniums & Ambassadors this week, so no upgrade for you, your not special"!

    2. Lee Guest

      I had been an Ambassador for several years. Prior to the whole breakfast scandal. Even when a property was flush with available "regular" suites, the norm was that I would not receive an upgrade. One manager actually said to me face-to-face, "Yes we have suites available. But, we're simply not going to give you a suite."

      In one case, I had a confirmed PAID reservation for a suite. On a pre-stay call, the property...

      I had been an Ambassador for several years. Prior to the whole breakfast scandal. Even when a property was flush with available "regular" suites, the norm was that I would not receive an upgrade. One manager actually said to me face-to-face, "Yes we have suites available. But, we're simply not going to give you a suite."

      In one case, I had a confirmed PAID reservation for a suite. On a pre-stay call, the property said it was fully booked and was going to put me in a standard room . . . but was going to charge me the suite daily rate because that's what the reservation said. But, my reservation also says that I have a suite. But, we don't have any suites available. So, if I'm getting a standard room, why am I not being charged the standard room daily rate? Because your reservation says you're paying the higher rate. (Stink) me. Then, calling the Ambassador Team, the team saw the confirmed reservation for a suite . . . but then said the daily rate issue was a pricing matter and they couldn't help. That was the final straw for me.

      Redemption stays, fine. Paid stays, no (stinkin') way.

    3. Karo Member

      That may not be too far away from the reality. Many people likely got their status extended since 2020.

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Lee Guest

I had been an Ambassador for several years. Prior to the whole breakfast scandal. Even when a property was flush with available "regular" suites, the norm was that I would not receive an upgrade. One manager actually said to me face-to-face, "Yes we have suites available. But, we're simply not going to give you a suite." In one case, I had a confirmed PAID reservation for a suite. On a pre-stay call, the property said it was fully booked and was going to put me in a standard room . . . but was going to charge me the suite daily rate because that's what the reservation said. But, my reservation also says that I have a suite. But, we don't have any suites available. So, if I'm getting a standard room, why am I not being charged the standard room daily rate? Because your reservation says you're paying the higher rate. (Stink) me. Then, calling the Ambassador Team, the team saw the confirmed reservation for a suite . . . but then said the daily rate issue was a pricing matter and they couldn't help. That was the final straw for me. Redemption stays, fine. Paid stays, no (stinkin') way.

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BenjaminGuttery Diamond

Being Titanium the last couple years has not been "rewarding". Nearly every hotel I go to says "we're full of Titaniums & Ambassadors this week, so no upgrade for you, your not special"!

1
Daniel Choi Guest

I am currently Bonboy Platinum status. As promotion offered 125000 free miles and 15 elite credit nights with spending $4000 in first 3 months. After I spend that amount in that period, credit miles was not allowed. I was upset but they said I already Bonvoy credit card(Chase, American Express) So closed Chase Bonvoy and keep American Bonboy Express Card. Is there any to re-apply these card for 15 and 25(annual total 40) elite credit nights without any restrictions(ex, wait a year for reapplication)?

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