Marriott and Chase have announced changes to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card. Going forward, the card will lose its 2x point earning rate on travel and instead earn 2x points in a handful of categories. The card will continue to grant Silver Elite status to cardmembers, but you’ll only receive 5 elite night credits annually instead of the current 15.
These changes go into effect on July 11, 2024.
Here’s a quick summary of the changes coming to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card and our take.
Summary of changes to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card
| Previous (prior to July 10, 2024) | Updated (as of July 10, 2024) | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual elite night credits | 15 elite night credits each year. New cardmembers who apply prior to July 10, 2024 will still receive 15 elite night credits in their first year. | Unconfirmed: 5 elite night credits each year. Frequent Miler and Reddit users report that this benefit isn’t being eliminated entirely, but that it is being reduced to 5 elite night credits. |
| Points for spending | 2x on other travel purchases. | Unconfirmed: Earn 2x on groceries; rideshare services; internet, cable, and phone services; select food delivery services; and select streaming services. Again, this comes from Frequent Miler and Reddit users. I’ve been unable to independently confirm this. |
My take on the changes to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card
As it stands, I see the changes to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card as a simple devaluation, but not one that will substantively hurt many cardmembers.
Practically, the only reasons to have the card were for Marriott Silver Elite status as an occasional Marriott guest or to keep a pool of Marriott points from expiring. Practically, none of that changes going forward.
Before the changes, you got status through the card’s 15 annual elite night credits. After the changes, you’re granted Silver Elite status outright. Sure, you only get 5 elite night credits with the card going forward, but most people who earn a higher level of Marriott elite status would do well to get a different Marriott credit card.
You can easily get more valuable rewards on travel spending, including at Marriott hotels, with almost any card that offers increased rewards on travel spending, including several options with no annual fee. Given the value of Marriott points, you’re likely to do better with a 2% cash back credit card for most of your spending. Maybe the changed categories are more interesting to you, but you can easily get better rewards on groceries, rideshare, telecommunications services, food delivery, and streaming elsewhere. Again, a 2% cash back credit card offers better rewards than the updated categories.
Are there more changes coming?
On the Chase and Marriott websites, they seem to tease “new enhancements coming soon.” I’d say that there’s about a 50/50 chance that something gets announced after 7/10/24 about this card. As it stands, there’s really very little reason to get this card going forward.
I’m not holding my breath that any possible future announcement will be anything groundbreaking.
Bottom line on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card changes
Chase and Marriott have announced changes to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card. Going forward, the card will offer 5 elite night credits each year, automatic Silver Elite status, and 2x earnings on a handful of categories.
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