Your Marriott Bonvoy ‘bonus’ elite nights have posted – should you now get the credit card?

Earlier than expected, Marriott Bonvoy has posted your ‘bonus’ elite nights to your account.

As we reported back in June, all Marriott Bonvoy members are getting elite night credits equivalent to 50% of the status they earned in 2019.

This means that if you were Platinum Elite in 2019 but only did enough nights to earn Gold Elite for 2020, you will receive 13 elite night credits.

The full list is (this is based on the status you earned in 2019 for 2020):

• Ambassador Elite – 50 elite night credits
• Titanium Elite – 38 elite night credits
• Platinum Elite – 25 elite night credits
• Gold Elite – 13 elite night credits
• Silver Elite – 5 elite night credits

This offer is actually a bit better than I thought

When Marriott launched this idea, I was dismissive of it.

In retrospect, I think I was wrong.  To prove it, I am probably going to end up putting more nights towards Marriott Bonvoy this year because of it.

Here was my original problem.  Marriott has already extended our elite status by 12 months.  These additional nights aren’t worth anything for most people.

They are only useful if you were planning to aim for a higher tier for 2021 than you have in 2020.  For example, a Platinum Elite member in 2020 is guaranteed Platinum Elite status for 2021 regardless.  However, with 25 elite night credits in the bag, the member may now decide to push for Titanium Elite instead.

It will also help some people trigger the additional Choice Benefit unlocked for hitting 50 and 75 nights in a year.  At 50 nights, for example, you can choose from either five Suite Night Awards, five elite night credits, free Silver Elite status for a friend or a $100 charity donation.

For the majority of Marriott Bonvoy members, however, it doesn’t get them anything.

This is why I think this offer may now work for me

I am current Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite.  I am guaranteed this status until Spring 2022 thanks to Marriott’s status extension.

Being Platinum Elite, I was gifted 25 elite night credits.  My account now looks like this:

I have a grand total of 26 elite nights credits!  I reviewed the new Courtyard by Marriott Inverness Airport back in March (hotel website is here, it’s good) plus I got my 25 bonus credits.

However, this got me thinking:

I have three Marriott Bonvoy nights booked for a holiday in October

I am likely to be reviewing the new Courtyard hotels at London City Airport and Heathrow before year-end

I could get the Marriott Bonvoy American Express credit card again, which comes with 15 elite night credits

This would get me to 46 elite nights for the year.

If I could squeeze in an extra four nights, I would qualify for the 50 night Choice Benefit – of which the only valuable option is five Suite Night Award certificates.  This would allow me to request suite upgrades in advance for five nights during 2021, albeit that not all brands and hotels offer this.

Some people struggle to use their Suite Night Awards.  It doesn’t help that Marriott won’t start looking for availability until 5 days before you arrive.

However, I think it is worth moving four additional nights to Marriott during 2020 to give it a try.

Would the 15 Marriott Bonvoy Amex elite night credits work for you?

If you’re Gold Elite this year …..

You’ve been given 13 elite night credits.  If you got the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, you’d receive a further 15 nights.  This gets you to 28.  You’d then need 22 paid or reward nights in 2020 to earn the 50 nights required for Platinum Elite.

If you’re Platinum Elite this year …..

You’ve been given 25 elite night credits.  If you got the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, you’d receive a further 15 nights.  This gets you to 40.  You’d need 10 paid or reward nights in 2020 to earn five Suite Night Awards.  You’d need 35 paid or reward nights in 2020 to earn the 75 nights required for Titanium Elite.

If you’re Titanium Elite this year ….

You’ve been given 38 elite night credits. If you got the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, you’d receive a further 15 nights.  This gets you to 53.  You immediately trigger a ’50 night bonus’, of which the five Suite Night Awards are by far the best option.  You’d then need a further 22 paid or reward nights to trigger a ’75 night bonus’ – choose from five Suite Night Awards, a Free Night Award, gift Gold Elite status, five Elite Night Credits or a $100 charity donation.

Don’t underestimate what a good deal this is for a Titanium Elite.  The 15 elite night credits from the Amex card will trigger your ’50 night bonus’ (the best option being the five Suite Night Awards for 2021) even if you don’t do a single night in a Marriott property this year.

If you think getting the credit card makes sense, our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card is here and you can apply here.

New cardmembers will receive their 15 elite night credits within 60 days of applying.  In subsequent years, the 15 elite nights will be credited by 1st March.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)