The Ultimate Strategy for US Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

With the recent refresh of the American Express US and Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit card line-up, it’s a good time to revisit the ideal strategy for Bonvoy loyalists.

Forget earning rates on everyday spending – what makes these cards interesting is the fast track to Marriott Bonvoy Elite status and free stays year after year. With these perks, it’s rather easy to justify paying higher annual fees, given all that you can gain from simply holding these cards.

Let’s take a deeper look at the best ways to maximize your Bonvoy credit cards, between status shortcuts, free nights, annual rebates, and welcome bonuses.

Summary of Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

American Express US has two personal Bonvoy cards you can apply for. There’s the top-tier Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, and the recently-introduced Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card.

There’s also a third personal card, the basic Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. You can only get this card by downgrading from one of the other two personal cards.

Finally, there’s the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, the only Bonvoy co-branded business card available for new applications in the US.

Chase offers three personal Visa cards you can apply for. From premium to no-fee, they’re branded Bountiful, Boundless, and Bold. There’s also a fourth Ritz-Carlton Card, that can only be obtained by upgrading one of the other three.

You’ll notice that the Amex Bevy and the Chase Bountiful, two new products launched last week, are identical. Meanwhile, there are some other wrinkles across the line-up that we’ll need to parse in order to tease out the best way forward.

How to Achieve Elite Status with Credit Cards

If you’re pursuing Bonvoy Elite status, the tiers you’ll want to target are Platinum and Titanium. That’s where the meaningful benefits kick in, like free breakfast, suite upgrades, and access to Executive Lounges.

To earn Platinum status, normally you need to have 50 Elite Qualifying Nights (EQNs) in a year. Without any shortcuts or promotions, this translates to staying 50 nights in Bonvoy-affiliated hotels.

One of the new benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card…