Hey all,
Kind of jealous of people that never got these cards before, but the cards are now giving free Bonvoy platinum for the 2021 year. Also you get a $150 ad credit on the business card. I think it's interesting they only gave 5 free nights on the Chase side of these cards, but the Amex ones get you free Platinum. This is so much better than gold status that I hope that they pass this on to existing cardmembers too.
@mkhan1093 wrote:
Hey all,
Kind of jealous of people that never got these cards before, but the cards are now giving free Bonvoy platinum for the 2021 year. Also you get a $150 ad credit on the business card. I think it's interesting they only gave 5 free nights on the Chase side of these cards, but the Amex ones get you free Platinum. This is so much better than gold status that I hope that they pass this on to existing cardmembers too.
That offer is being given because of the extreme downturn in travel because of the worldwide pandemic. Many people are no longer doing that much travel in the near future to fully take advantage of that, nor is the travel experience as it was just a year ago, so don't be too jealous.
I can't believe that after the whole "righting the ship" changing around the Marriott and Starwood statuses (as one program's Gold was previously equivalent to their own Platinum when status-matched to the other brand) that they would do this. Granted, most people getting the card may not utilize the benefits as much over the next year as they would in the course of normal times but it's pretty ridiculous to grant Platinum status (which is arguably more valuable than the top-tier Diamond status that Hilton gives for simply having a $450 credit card) for a card with a $125 annual fee. To put that into perspective, I had to spend $75,000 on my SPG Luxury (now Bonvoy Brilliant) card in 2018 to retain Platinum status. That's a pretty big slap in the face to those who have put enormous spend on their Bonvoy Brilliant or Ritz-Carlton card in order to obtain status.
As a Marriott Titanium, I'll be very unhappy competing with $125 or $450 AF-payers competing for the same upgrades and space in concierge lounges over the next year or so when I had almost 100 nights last year. At least choice benefits aren't going to be granted to them unless they actually get 50 nights.
@K-in-Boston wrote:
As a Marriott Titanium, I'll be very unhappy competing with $125 or $450 AF-payers competing for the same upgrades and space in concierge lounges over the next year or so when I had almost 100 nights last year. At least choice benefits aren't going to be granted to them unless they actually get 50 nights.
There will be no competition. The rooms are empty. From a business perspective, it's not ridiculous at all. They need to drive business and if they don't offer incentives for more people to use their services over the next year, the hotels will close and neither the new Platinum members or old Titanium members, like yourself will have a place to stay...rendering your status useless. It's always good to look outside of ourselves and see the bigger picture. I'm a current Platinum member and I say, yay for them to be able to get status if they can take advantage of it over the next year. I certainly won't be using it as much as I had in years past. Why would I get angry over someone else's fortune? As you know, Marriot has also extended and increased benefits and status across the board to all of their existing members. And while this unique time we're in, ie. a worldwide pandemic that has killed over 210,000 people in the US, alone, has made Marriott more lenient in gaining status, people not putting in equal effort in gaining status is nothing new. There have always been tons of people who never spent a single dime, who are Platinum and Titanium because their jobs sent them around to conferences and covered the tab, while there are others who actually spent their own money, on their own travel and earned it on their own. And from my own observations, the ones who weren't spending their own money were usually the most obnoxious.
So Platinum status aside, what is everyone's opinion of this card anyway? With 300$ in credit that can be used for the room itself combined with a free night at a cat 6 (Ritz and JW come to mind) this card seems to pay for itself with just those 2 perks. Am I off base?
Yes we are still traveling and have been quite a bit, pandemic won't keep us down 
. In fact it's been really nice have so many less people to deal with, perhaps that makes me an elitist .
Hope everyone is well!
@K-in-Boston wrote:
As a Marriott Titanium, I'll be very unhappy competing with $125 or $450 AF-payers competing for the same upgrades and space in concierge lounges over the next year or so when I had almost 100 nights last year. At least choice benefits aren't going to be granted to them unless they actually get 50 nights.
What competition? Hotels are no where near there capacity right now. Just last week I spent two nights in DC at the Capital Hilton and the hotel was practically empty. As far as lounges go do most Marriott hotels even have them open now are even plan on opening them for that matter? Hotel services are bare bones right now and that doesn't look like that's going to change drastically next year.
@CBartowski wrote:So Platinum status aside, what is everyone's opinion of this card anyway? With 300$ in credit that can be used for the room itself combined with a free night at a cat 6 (Ritz and JW come to mind) this card seems to pay for itself with just those 2 perks. Am I off base?
Yes we are still traveling and have been quite a bit, pandemic won't keep us down
Hope everyone is well!
If you're asking about the Bonvoy Brilliant and the Ritz Card then I would say they are both well worth their weight in my opinion. My wife and I have 6 Marriott cards between the both of us and I would have 6 more if that were possible. I believe each of Marriott's high AF cards are more than worth it if you're traveling and will be staying at Marriott properties anyway.