Your 2021 Marriott Bonvoy bonus elite nights have posted – check your account

In early January, we outlined Marriott Bonvoy’s plans to help you retain or gain elite status in 2021 despite reduced travelling.

There are two elements to this. One is an interesting new promotion for double points and double elite night credits, which we will cover tomorrow. If you want to register now, you can do so here.

The second part is giving you elite night credits equivalent to 50% of the status you earned in 2020.

These elite nights have now posted if you look at your Marriott Bonvoy account.

What should you have received?

Based on your Marriott Bonvoy status for last year, this is what you will have received:

• 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

If you received Gold Elite status because you have an American Express Platinum card, it seems that you will not receive an elite night credit.

Why do I have 40 elite nights?

I currently have 40 elite nights.

This is 80% of the nights I need towards Platinum Elite renewal!

I have 40 nights because I have the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. If you get the Marriott Bonvoy American Express credit card (apply here), you will receive 15 elite night credits. They have been posting within a couple of weeks of application.

It is unlikely that you will qualify for the sign up bonus on the Marriott Amex, as anyone with an existing personal Amex card (or who has had one in the previous 24 months) is disqualified.

However, paying the £75 annual fee for 15 elite night credits is still a very good deal. You also receive 2 Marriott Bonvoy points per £1 spent on the card, or 6 per £1 spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels. In the rare chance that you stay at a Bonvoy hotel before 31st March, you will receive 10 points per £1 spent.

I will do a full article on new promotion tomorrow. You can register for the new promotion here.

PS. The bonus night credits you have received also seem to count for Lifetime Elite status. Amusingly – since I have always written that I never expected to earn any sort of lifetime status – I am now Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Silver with 270 elite nights across Marriott and Starwood. Not that Marriott Bonvoy Silver is hugely useful …..

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (June 2025)

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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 15th July 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This would convert into 25,000 Avios or into 40 other airline schemes. It would also get you at least £300 of Marriott hotel stays based on our 0.5p per point low-end valuation. Other T&C apply and remain unchanged. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

60,000 points (to 15th July) and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

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 The Platinum Card from American Express in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

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

and for small business owners:

• The American Express Business Gold Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• The American Express Business Platinum Card (50,000 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.