Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex
All of the recent Marriott credit card news is terrible, except the Ritz Carlton card changes. That’s probably what you’ve heard from many out there. Indeed, Marriott haters can find plenty to fuel their confirmation biases. But some who remove emotion from decision making may notice the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex isn’t necessarily as bad as they’ve been led to believe. And hey, it may actually be worth obtaining for a few of us. It was for me, and I’ll explain why today. But first, I’ll reset the card specifics.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex Highlights
You can read DDG’s full card summary here. The Bevy provides the following:
- Welcome Offer: Earn 125k Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $4k on the card in the first three months
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4x Marriott Bonvoy Points on up to $15k in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2x Marriott Bonvoy Points on all other eligible purchases
- 1k Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points with each qualifying stay
- Complimentary Gold Elite status
- A Free Night Award (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points) after making $15,000 in purchases per year. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year toward higher Elite status
- $250 annual fee
Why I Obtained the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex
Solid Welcome Offer
Obtaining 125k Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $4k was a no-brainer for me. We’ve regularly obtained at least 1 cent per point for Marriott stays that align with our travel goals and continue to do so. That’s a $1,250 minimum welcome offer return on $4k spend. But what about the annual fee, you say?
Annual Fee – What’s the Big Deal?
Many are horrified by the Bevy’s $250 annual fee. But those playing the points and travel game with a spouse, domestic partner, or trusted friend can leverage Amex referral offers to minimize or completely wipe out the annual fee, or even come out ahead!
My wife referred me from one of her Membership Rewards-earning cards for a 15k bonus. That’s a lower offer than we’ve recently received but still undeniably valuable. This translated to $165 cash back via our normal Membership Rewards redemption preference. I’m effectively paying an $85 annual fee for the first cardmember year.
Intriguing Big Spend Bonus
Some are turned off that cardmembers don’t automatically receive a Marriott free night award with a $250 annual fee card. I can understand that perspective, especially from those who’ve traditionally received an automatic free night without a spend requirement (beyond the annual fee), like a 35k cert with the Marriott Amex Business card.
Instead, cardholders can obtain a 50k free night award by spending $15k in a calendar year. That’s 60k points and the FNA for spending exactly that amount in the 4x categories, easily doable for many of us. Even better, the big spend bonus is based on the calendar year, meaning that cardholders can receive two FNA’s without paying a second cardmember year annual fee. That’s 120k points and two 50k certs for spending $30k in return for paying one annual fee (largely subsidized for many with a referral offer).
Of course, many can earn just as well or better by putting that $30k spend on other cards. But for some with sizable big spend opportunities and Marriott point needs, spending big on the Bevy may be just what the doctor ordered.
Conclusion
The Bevy comes with many other benefits that don’t apply to me but are immediately valuable to others, such as complimentary Gold status, 1k bonus points per paid stay with the card, and 15 elite night credits. Paying an $85 annual fee for 125k Marriott points (plus many more earned at 4x) and seeing through the big spend bonus twice for two FNA’s was enough for me to say yes to the Bevy. Will I keep the card for a second cardmember year? Probably not. But it makes absolute sense for one year, and it probably will for some of you. And if you can’t get the Bevy, don’t forget the Chase Bountiful card is largely identical. Are you picking up either card? Why or why not?
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Looking at your logic, I am going to sign my wife up for this card mid November. It’s probably a little too late for me to do the $15K spend in 2022 since most of my major spending and taxes have been paid this year. So I’ll put the card away until January 1st and immediately put the $4K spend on it to receive 125K and at least 8K bonus points, maybe more if I stay at Marriott during my 1st 90 days of ownership. I’ll have until my 1st anniversary to complete an additional $11K spend to achieve the $15K spending requirement to receive at least another 22K points and a FNC all for an annual fee of $250.00. So 155K points and a FNC is a pretty good perk for a $250.00 dollar investment. Like you, I see no reason to keep it after the 1st year and will cancel once the AF posts.
Bill,
Sounds good for your situation! Remember to refer your wife to the card in order to earn a referral bonus and defray the annual fee cost.
It’s a good triple dip & close card, I would’ve waited until late Nov/early Dec. Spend $15k in Dec 2022, $15k in 2023, $15k in Jan 2023, close & get AF refunded. 300k+ Bonvoy & 3 FNC’s for $250 AF isn’t bad, even with the upcoming Marriott deval
Parts Unknown,
Agreed, if one can make it work. For my situation, I didn’t want to take on such compressed timeframes for the 2022 and 2024 spend.
Hi Parts Unknown,
Help me with the math please. How are you getting 300k+ Bonvoy points? Thanks.