Earlier today, Marriott announced that they would be rebranding all of their credit cards so everything will fall under one Marriott portfolio. This means a significant name change and card design to the previous Starwood Preferred Guest American Express credit cards—The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, The Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Luxury Card, and The Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express. The chart below shows today’s card name vs. the future card name and the art design is overall pretty appealing. The cards will change over on February 13th, so those who currently are a cardmember for a specific time will receive a replacement card in the mail in March for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express card and in May for the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Credit Card.
Previous Cardmembers are Not Eligible
Anytime a credit card changes it brings some excitement to points and miles enthusiasts, especially for American Express credit cards. This is because sometimes they retire an old card and come out with a new product. When this happens, those who previously had the card are still eligible to apply for the new card and receive another sign up bonus. This means it restarts the American Express “once in a lifetime” counter for that particular card. In the points and miles world, credit card sign up bonuses is how many folks increase their point balances quite easily.
Unfortunately, these new cards will not be treated as new products. I was told specifically from Marriott that “the welcome offer is not available to applicants who have or have had the previous version of the card.” Also, the same restrictions will still be in place that Marriott announced back in August 2018. This means that you’ll be restricted from getting a new cardmember bonus if you’ve applied for select cards within the Marriott portfolio in the past. Here are the restrictions that you should know about so you can plan your strategy accordingly if you re looking to apply for the 100,000 point offers that are coming out February 13, 2019.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (previously the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card) — Welcome offers for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (previously the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card) will not be available to applicants who:
- Currently have or have had any of the following Cards in the last 30 days
- Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan (previously The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from JP Morgan)
- OR have acquired any of the following Cards from Chase in the last 90 days
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase)
- Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase)
- Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card)
- OR have received a welcome or upgrade offer for any of the following Cards from Chase in the last 24 months
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase)
- Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase)
- Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card from Chase)
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (previously The Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express) — Welcome offers for the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (previously The Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express) will not be available to applicants who:
- Currently have or have had any of the following Cards in the last 30 days
- Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card from Chase)
- Marriott Bonvoy Business™ Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards Business Credit Card from Chase)
- OR have acquired any of the following Cards from Chase in the last 90 days
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase)
- Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase)
- OR have received a welcome offer for any of the following Cards from Chase in the last 24 months
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase)
- Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Card from Chase (previously The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase)
Be Strategic
Since Marriott announced well ahead of time that the 100,000 bonus will apply to both the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ Card from American Express (currently known as The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express) and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (currently known as The Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card) between February 13 and April 24, 2019, I do not advise applying for either of these cards with the current inferior offer. The only reason would be is if you need the points ASAP, but hopefully everyone can hold off a few more weeks. Also, since the business version of the card will be increasing the annual fee on March 28, 2019, you’ll want to apply for this card between February 13 and March 27, 2019. That will ensure you earn the increased offer without spending more on the annual fee.
Ultimately…
I wish that the three cards were new products, but it seems like that is a no go. On the plus side though, we are seeing two new 100,000 point offers in February and that is always a positive for points and miles enthusiasts. That is, assuming you are eligible!
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Thanks for the confirmation
Do you happen to know what the benefits of the regular Bonvoy AmEx card will be? I currently have SPG card & Marriott card. I like the airline miles conversion the SPG offers, but probably don’t spend enough per year on it to make it worth the annual fee anymore. I hate to close such an old line of credit, though.
@Lindy – I hear ya! The benefits will remain the same, although you now receive a free night annually (capped at 35,000 point property). This should offset the annual fee or even put you ahead.
I had the SPG Business card a few years ago and PC to another AMEX business credit card. If I applied for the new Marriott business card, would I receive the 100k welcome bonus?
@Cal – Are you referring to the Marriott Business Amex card or Chase card?
SPG AMEX business card.
So, if you don’t want the Lux and are looking Yo stay sub 5/24, the plan is:
Marriott Business
SPG Business
Is that possible/correct?
@AJ – Yes, right now those cards will not go against your Chase “5/24” number.
Thanks. Mainly looking to confirm that it’s possible to get the Marriott Biz and SPG Biz within a few months of each other.
Can you correct the card names in your concluding paragraph? It should be currently known as the existing Marriott Business cards, not Amex SPG.
“Since Marriott announced well ahead of time that the 100,000 bonus will apply to both the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ Card from Chase (currently known as The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express) and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (currently known as The Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card) between February 13 and April 24, 2019, I do not advise applying for either of these cards with the current inferior offer.”
It’s so crazy when Marriott merge such a giant program together it would affect so many people and businesses. And you would think Amex/Chase actually paid people to come up with these non-distinguishable names like Brilliant and Boundless to describe separate products is just baffling! Stick to Bonvoy Luxury and Bonvoy Business would have made everyone’s lives so much easier..
@B – Thank you! The new card names are definitely a mouthful!
Hi. Do you know anything about what will happen to the old marriott card? I didnt upgrade to the marriott premier and currently have an upgrade offer. Will my card be automatically upgraded to bonvoy premier? If so, would make sense if I just upgraded now to take advantage of the upgrade offer
So, I’ve had Chase branded Marriott forever but recently got SPG AmEx on Oct 2018? Will I get sign up bonus for a new AmEx product after the launch?
Just wanted to confirm….
I’ve never had an AMEX nor a Marriott affiliated card. Are you saying that I could get the SPG Amex before Feb 12th and still be eligible for both future AMEX Bonvoy and Chase Bonvoy bonuses?
@Brian – If you get SPG Amex you will not be eligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Amex ($95 annual fee) card. They will be considered the same product.