I think hotel chains are trying to move away from the automatic free night certificate because they know people are simply sock drawering these cards year to year with no spend. If hotel chains are moving away from the automatic free night certificate every year, the spending limit should at least be lower, maybe $2k-$3k or so. this would incentivise people to spend at least that amount on the card year to year (which would still suck considering what's we've been used to)
from your example of comparing the Gold to this: Opportunity cost valuation: valuing MR at 2cents, and Bonvoy at 0.8cents, on $15k of grocery and dining spend, we get 60,000 (.012) = $720. Effective Annual fee difference: $240 $960 for that 50k night, and the status. For those who hold a Gold and Schwab Plat, if you value MR at the Schwab cash out rate of 1.1, the opportunity cost on those points drops to $240. Say you take the Schwab as a sunk cost because, let's be honest, your decision whether or not to hold a Bevy will have zero weight your decision to have the Schwab Plat. Then we're at an opportunity cost of $480. SInce you have the Marriot status through the Plat anyway, you're then paying $480 for a 50k cert. It doesn't look good in comparison to the Gold. In fact, it looks down right TERRIBLE.
Following AMEX style, I'd suggest 2 credits of $100 (bi-annual like the Saks credit) when spending $200 or more on Marriott properties. You can potentially offset most of the annual fee and they can promote spending on the card even if you have more than 1 Marriott card 🚢
Part of the problem for hotels it that they haven’t managed to load up their product with fees that they can waive as a perk for status. Look at airlines, checked baggage fees, seat selection fees, up charges based on where you sit. Kind of garbage but it makes it easy to justify getting a credit card if it means you save on a 30$ checked baggage fee every time you fly. What do hotels have… not a lot. Some have spa services and dining but they are separate and not required to use the core lodging product.
Don't give them any ideas ;) "Elevator fee" haha I know a lot of hotels try to do it with upgrades, internet, and breakfast (arguably different product for last one). My main issue is that things aren't standardized. I KNOW that if I have the AA/UA/DL card I get bag fees waived. With hotel cards, I MIGHT get an upgrade depending on the mood of the front desk. It's not even just necessarily "suite is available" but pretty much "suite is available and they don't think they can reasonably sell the suite later that day" -- which feels annoying.
@@AskSebby yeah the hotel value is variable and also unclear. The hotels need to find something that is cheap to provide that most customers want and unbundle it from the main rate. One other thing is that they really need to do this as part of their battle to show the benefit of booking direct vs OTA. Right now status in US hotels is something I don’t try for because of questionable value which means I book with OTAs based on price / rewards (Priceline and Cap 1 Travel).
These two cards are DEFINITELY disappointing in my opinion. I think the changes you mentioned could make these cards viable, but I’m just not a fan of these right now with the benefits they offer (or lack thereof). You’d think that you’d at least get 1 free night without a minimum spend for a $250 🤷🏼♂️ Thanks for sharing your thoughts Sebby!
They were definitely letdowns. For $250, they should’ve offered a 50k certificate without spend, and maybe even Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. Even the $95 United Explorer and $250 Delta Platinum offer Global Entry/TSA PreCheck.
Very done Sebby, Who designed these card?, the bevy and bountiful(blank on my head and tell me it's raining), WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I WASTE A 5/24 SLOT FOR THE BEVY/BOUNTIFUL, there is no value pass year-1?. Even as a novice the one reason I could always convince myself of keeping a hotel card and paying the Annual was the free night. I don't need another with a use-or-lose benefit to manage . With the amount of cards I have, I'll be lucky to remember to use half of the $300. This card would be cool, not great at $550, but if I'm going to pay $650, I want Titanium status and the old $300 credit which was great to apply to any of my Marriott stays any part of the year. I'll keep it as long as I can get a break on the af, if not Ill be downgrading, or work on getting another Hilton Aspire. I already have too Ritz-C where the airline credit is very easy to use, yeah Platinum is great to have on a credit card, but not this one. I will use a Titanium member to book my rooms.
Great video, but can't think of improvement ideas this early in the morning. I would say Marriott needs to figure out what they want to do for their customers. Throwing out these cards will only create churn, not loyalty! If Marriott cared about loyalty they would start to do things for their members and get other, newer members. Then they will see a profit. Until then they are chasing a quick buck and they will lose eventually.
Spending your way to FNCs should be uncapped awards. It creates a greater value of "earned" FNCs over "given" FNCs. Another thing they could do that could present unique value: holding this card gives you a 10% bonus on transferring Marriott points to Airline partners (exactly like what Marriott does with their points when transferred to United). This is small, doesn't require Chase/Amex input, and wouldn't cost Marriott much (if at all).
It seems like after you get your 1st RC, apply for the Boundless (when you become eligible for the bonus again). Upgrade the new Boundless to a 2nd RC. Then lather rinse repeat I guess?
I have a question. You talk so much about the Maldives. How good is it there. A lot of videos I see you use your trips to Maldives. Can you make a video on the Maldives? Have a bunch of power nts to redeem and would love a random trip. How was your trip?
I can almost guarantee you that they won’t give Silver/gold status because then that would really make the $95 annual fee Marriott card’s status pointless.
Loved your Maldives Easter Egg Counter....so funny!!! I like the benefit idea you had for no expiration date FNC's....what about extra days towards platinum???.....or maybe actual day stays count double??? i mean we are all trying to get to platinum's sweet spot anyways....just think....this would make it interesting to have WITH the Brilliant - platinum & then business for getting to the next tier, no?
I am still trying to figure out if it is worth doing the product change from Boundless to the Ritz. I was going to get the AmEx Platinum, but maybe I do this product change first. Then get the Platinum a little later when I will do more international travel.
Thanks Sebby, you talked me into it! I'm actually going to product change with the hope that they improve the card. The 4x groceries is my jam. I don't want 7 cards anymore. Just marriott and leg room and a companion pass as a bonus. Oh..and Chase NEEDS PLATUNUM STATUS...WTF???
🚢 If I were Marriott I’d try doing something different, it’s cash credits per paid night stayed. For example 3, $50 dollar credits could move the needle and the card would appeal to someone staying at Marriott’s less expensive brands.
So are credit cards good at all? I got a Capital One and owe $605. I’m a pay it off tomorrow. I only use it for restaurants and minor things. If I don’t use it, they’ll close it, BUT interest rates dramatically increased! Should I still keep it?
I just think this is an instance where "less is more." Why do they need 3 cards...? You said it yourself, the middle card is just hard to make meaningful. I completely agree. I'd scrap it all together or go for a super premium card with legitimately elite benefits. 🚢
Is it my imagination or is the Hilton ecosystem far superior to Marriott's ? I know Hilton points are worth somewhat less than Bonvoy points, however the multiples for Hilton are huge. The no-fee Hilton AMEX is 7x for the hotels and the $95 Surpass card is 12x. Also you get 5 or 6x for gas and some other categories, 3x for everything else. You also get Hilton Gold which is another 100% bonus for your Hotel points you get for staying in a Hilton. My experience is that they throw in a lot of other goodies from time to time. Best of all, Hilton has only 3 cards and 3 loyalty categories. They are all generous, fairly easy to understand and unlimited.
It never died tho. If you had it, you can keep it. If you didn't, you can product change to it after holding a Chase Bonvoy card for a year. You just can't apply for it directly, which I think is no big deal as it becomes sort of a secret card that most people don't know about.
Marriot has screwed their customers over so many times with devaluations...I guess a few months pass by and people forget the meaning of being "bonvoyed"......
Speaking of hotel cards trying to incentivize spend, I don't see anyone talking about the World of Hyatt card promotions they've had recently. For Q3, they had 5x Hyatt points on groceries, gas, and home improvement stores (up to $1500 combined spend), and I recently got an email that for Q4, they're doing 10x Hyatt points on Gas and 5x at groceries and Amazon up to the same $1500 combined spend. Hyatt points are really valuable and they seem to be intentionally not having too much overlap with the Chase Freedom categories. It's been like having an extra Freedom card on top of all its other benefits, plus 10x on Gas this quarter is awesome! I'm not entirely sure how those high of multipliers are profitable for them but hopefully they keep having these promotions! Maybe they're making money in some other way? Or are their own points really that heavily discounted that they still make a profit from interchange fees even when giving out 10x?
The problem with Bonvoy is not so much the cards but the program itself has been devalued. Eventually, everyone with mild Marriott status aspirations will be lifetime Platinum. Passively you can earn 32 to 42 nights a year with 2 cards. That's a short sighted approach for the successful future of this program. These 2 cards are good for their sign up bonuses. Even that may be questionable.
Sebby, could the Wells Fargo Autograph card be the best credit card of this year? Really curious to see if you'll do a review of it. I am interested at all of the 3x multipliers with no foreign transaction fee!
The main benefit of the Bevy/Bountiful cards is the 1k bonus points per stay. If you have 40-50 stays a year, that gets you 40-50k Marriott points which can offset the $250 annual fee (depending on how much you value Marriott points, 0.6 cpp is common). The free night certificate is not really worth it, you could put that 15k spend on a 2% card and get $300 which is much more flexible than a 50k certificate that expires after a year.
They need to give the annual 50k certificate, no perks can make up for the fact that you get a certificate for a $99 card. Then I’d make it a work horse. Raise the spend requirement for the additional certificate to $25k then another at $50k and $100k. Take away the Gold Status and give Elite night credits for $3k spend. So if you spend $105k on the card you 4 50k certs, and Platinum status without a stay. If you do stay at Marriotts, this will be the card to get you status faster.
The Barclays Wyndham Earner card is the worst card I’ve ever had; redeemed points for gift cards because every hotel I looked at had horrible reviews. Cards lost in the mail. Kept getting the runaround for six days from both companies. Finally cut my losses and after two hours today waiting I finally canceled.
🛳It's so funny that you just put this out. I was looking at the details for the new card just two days ago and thought it made no sense, and then thought "Sebby must have a video explaining what the heck is going on" and went digging around in your recent uploads that evening.
Amex Bonvoy Business has Gold status. Amex Bonvoy Brilliant has Platinum status. Maybe Bevy/Bountiful if you can't get a business card and can't justify the Brilliant?
Sup man! I like watching your videos! I was hoping you can see my comment. I have a question for you. Can I transfer capital one miles to American Airlines?
Those 2 new Marriott cards are trash and not worth the $250. And the Brilliant is not worth $650 at least for me. Too many great hotel cards to get any of those.
I don’t have any Marriott cards now, but if I wanted to get into that ecosystem, I would go for the Boundless then upgrade to the Ritz after the first year.
How do FNCs work when downgrading/upgrading? For example, if you have the BevyBountiful for 1 year, and downgrade to the Boundless/Bonvoy (which come with an annual FNC, but only on the anniversary year, i.e., year 2), would you get that FNC immediately after downgrading (since you've had the "card account" open for 1 year, but haven't had the "product" for a year)?
Sebby I have the Amex Bonvoy Business card. Based on your other video and this one, I think it might be best just to get the Bonvoy Brilliant as that can card can get you Platinum and has a better free night certificate. Is this correct? I know the Brilliant is $650 but it has much better perks
With the 1K bonus points per stay on these cards and the 7% discount on the Business card, it seems like Marriott is experimenting with non-status benefits on their cards. I think they could add a discount on dining at Marriott hotels or on resort fees. In addition to helping cardholders justify the annual fee, this should encourage people to spend with Marriott instead of competitors.
🚢I wonder if something like a 35k cert for 5k or 7.5k in spend and then a 2nd cert for 50k points for another 10k spend would make this more desirable. it's a lower threshold for a free night than most other cards and then those that are heavy spenders have a 2nd tier to reach
Being a Marriott Boundless CC holder, would a product change to the Marriott Bountiful CC for the signup bonus and perhaps switching to the RC soon after be worth it? Thoughts anybody?
You can’t get a bonus through a product change. You would have to apply separately for the Bountiful to get a bonus. I would just upgrade your Boundless to a Ritz, then apply for another Boundless later if you want a bonus.
🚢 These cards I think are just a downgrade path for people not willing to take the upgrades on the Brilliant. I personally really like what they've done on the Brilliant so happy to pay the extra fee for Platinum and the upgraded certificate. The signup bonus on the Bevy is interesting as well, but long run I think the Brilliant is the one to keep if you are invested in the Bonvoy ecosystem. I love your ideas about this card enabling certificate usage benefits like an extended expiry or increased points top up above the 15k. I might hold this as well as the Brilliant just for those benefits... Would probably spend 15k a year on the card, in a 4x category for the extra certificate as well.
🚢 I wouldn’t get this card. Marriott has a lot of rules for guests. It’s almost beginning to not be worth the hassle. Looking into also booking IHG Intercontinental and Hyatt poss Hilton in the coming years. We travel about 75 nights a year.
Although these cards are an overall thumbs down, I may still get the Bevy for one reason: the sign-up bonus. Since Amex allows only one SUB per card, it's worth it to get the card for one year, add the sign up bonus to your Bonvoy account, and cancel after a year. The points can then be combined to book an aspirational hotel room in a tropical paradise. For those who don't have the old SPG / Bonvoy personal card, they can get the Bevy card, take the sign-up bonus, and after one year product change to the Amex Bonvoy personal card, which at $95/year is a better value with a 35k free night award, with the same 15 elite qualifying nights.
Bevy is certainly useful as a way to product change later. What also came to mind for me was that if you have the Ritz Carlton card, you can’t get a bonus on the Brilliant. If you don’t want to let go of the RC, apply for Bevy, get the bonus on that, then product change to Brilliant later.
🚢 I think the easiest way to fix these 2 cards is to just add a 50,000-point valued free night certificate. Both Chase and Amex have a premium card with an 85K point certificate (Brilliant and Ritz) and a lower tier card with a 35K certificate (Boundless and Business), slotting the Bevy and Bountiful with a 50K free night between those cards makes a lot of sense. Chase really blew it last year when they released the Hyatt Business card with a $199 annual fee and no free night, and now they are following suit with Marriott. Very disappointing.
Sebastian straight bring out the 🔥. I love it!!! These cards? Not so much. They are straight up 🗑️. In my opinion, I think this on purpose to push people to the higher and your feet cards kind of like when Apple released the iPhone 14 and 14+ forcing people to go Pro to go home.
Yea, these cards suck. Maybe it's okay with a $95 annual fee, but at $250 they're just garbage. I have no idea what they were thinking with these cards.
For people willing to pay more than $100 for an annual fee, these card were made just to entice those customers they get the new Brilliant card at $650 annual fee!
The likelihood of Bon Voy actually implementing any of your recommendations is exactly 0. You nailed it pretty much they want people to have a card and spend exactly $15,000 “ maximize the value of the card”. They don’t care about you or your feelings they never have and they never well. They are the largest portfolio of hotels in the United States and they will do as they please.
The bonus restrictions on these cards are even more restrictive than the already confusing rules for the other cards. You basically can’t get the bonus if you have any Bonvoy cards from the other issuer. More or less makes these DOA for folks who already have cards on both sides of the ecosystem.
Marriott is actually the one who designed this PoS. The correct question is: why did Amex and Chase green light this miserable design? Even Amex and Chase are bonvoyed.
🛳️ I have a $10,000 purchase coming up, what card or cards should I apply for to maximize value?(I really like the aspire..) I do have a player 2 as well.
🛳 🛳 @5:36 chase reserve gave me Gold status. I stayed at a few hotels as a “gold” guest. Nothing special. no late check, no room upgrade. The hotels I stayed at were empty too, so no excuse. 🚢 🚢
You’re generous for describing who designed this card. 🤡🗞📉 It looks like a carbon copy of the Amex Gold with a Bonvoy label without consideration of the other Bonvoy cards. You do have great ideas for designing your own card! They could save the money hiring those grads and just watch your channel.
💳 Sebby's Card Picks: www.asksebby.com/credit-cards
Amex Platinum Calculator: www.asksebby.com/credit-card-reviews/amex-platinum-card
When you doing a Comparing Secured Cards: Which One Is Best 2022/3 Update
I think hotel chains are trying to move away from the automatic free night certificate because they know people are simply sock drawering these cards year to year with no spend.
If hotel chains are moving away from the automatic free night certificate every year, the spending limit should at least be lower, maybe $2k-$3k or so. this would incentivise people to spend at least that amount on the card year to year (which would still suck considering what's we've been used to)
Yes! Denny’s credits! Exactly what I wanted with my $250 annual fee credit card.
🤣
😂😂😂
from your example of comparing the Gold to this:
Opportunity cost valuation: valuing MR at 2cents, and Bonvoy at 0.8cents, on $15k of grocery and dining spend, we get 60,000 (.012) = $720.
Effective Annual fee difference: $240
$960 for that 50k night, and the status.
For those who hold a Gold and Schwab Plat, if you value MR at the Schwab cash out rate of 1.1, the opportunity cost on those points drops to $240. Say you take the Schwab as a sunk cost because, let's be honest, your decision whether or not to hold a Bevy will have zero weight your decision to have the Schwab Plat.
Then we're at an opportunity cost of $480. SInce you have the Marriot status through the Plat anyway, you're then paying $480 for a 50k cert.
It doesn't look good in comparison to the Gold. In fact, it looks down right TERRIBLE.
Following AMEX style, I'd suggest 2 credits of $100 (bi-annual like the Saks credit) when spending $200 or more on Marriott properties. You can potentially offset most of the annual fee and they can promote spending on the card even if you have more than 1 Marriott card 🚢
Part of the problem for hotels it that they haven’t managed to load up their product with fees that they can waive as a perk for status. Look at airlines, checked baggage fees, seat selection fees, up charges based on where you sit. Kind of garbage but it makes it easy to justify getting a credit card if it means you save on a 30$ checked baggage fee every time you fly. What do hotels have… not a lot. Some have spa services and dining but they are separate and not required to use the core lodging product.
Don't give them any ideas ;) "Elevator fee" haha
I know a lot of hotels try to do it with upgrades, internet, and breakfast (arguably different product for last one).
My main issue is that things aren't standardized. I KNOW that if I have the AA/UA/DL card I get bag fees waived.
With hotel cards, I MIGHT get an upgrade depending on the mood of the front desk. It's not even just necessarily "suite is available" but pretty much "suite is available and they don't think they can reasonably sell the suite later that day" -- which feels annoying.
@@AskSebby yeah the hotel value is variable and also unclear. The hotels need to find something that is cheap to provide that most customers want and unbundle it from the main rate. One other thing is that they really need to do this as part of their battle to show the benefit of booking direct vs OTA. Right now status in US hotels is something I don’t try for because of questionable value which means I book with OTAs based on price / rewards (Priceline and Cap 1 Travel).
These two cards are DEFINITELY disappointing in my opinion. I think the changes you mentioned could make these cards viable, but I’m just not a fan of these right now with the benefits they offer (or lack thereof). You’d think that you’d at least get 1 free night without a minimum spend for a $250 🤷🏼♂️ Thanks for sharing your thoughts Sebby!
They were definitely letdowns. For $250, they should’ve offered a 50k certificate without spend, and maybe even Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. Even the $95 United Explorer and $250 Delta Platinum offer Global Entry/TSA PreCheck.
Very done Sebby, Who designed these card?, the bevy and bountiful(blank on my head and tell me it's raining), WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I WASTE A 5/24 SLOT FOR THE BEVY/BOUNTIFUL, there is no value pass year-1?. Even as a novice the one reason I could always convince myself of keeping a hotel card and paying the Annual was the free night. I don't need another with a use-or-lose benefit to manage . With the amount of cards I have, I'll be lucky to remember to use half of the $300. This card would be cool, not great at $550, but if I'm going to pay $650, I want Titanium status and the old $300 credit which was great to apply to any of my Marriott stays any part of the year. I'll keep it as long as I can get a break on the af, if not Ill be downgrading, or work on getting another Hilton Aspire. I already have too Ritz-C where the airline credit is very easy to use, yeah Platinum is great to have on a credit card, but not this one. I will use a Titanium member to book my rooms.
Great video, but can't think of improvement ideas this early in the morning. I would say Marriott needs to figure out what they want to do for their customers. Throwing out these cards will only create churn, not loyalty! If Marriott cared about loyalty they would start to do things for their members and get other, newer members. Then they will see a profit. Until then they are chasing a quick buck and they will lose eventually.
Spending your way to FNCs should be uncapped awards. It creates a greater value of "earned" FNCs over "given" FNCs.
Another thing they could do that could present unique value: holding this card gives you a 10% bonus on transferring Marriott points to Airline partners (exactly like what Marriott does with their points when transferred to United). This is small, doesn't require Chase/Amex input, and wouldn't cost Marriott much (if at all).
Yep! I feel like they could do so much more with it to make it unique for superusers.
@@AskSebby Hilton treats Aspire cardholders like superusers just for holding the card!
How does farming the Ritz Carlton card work?
It seems like after you get your 1st RC, apply for the Boundless (when you become eligible for the bonus again). Upgrade the new Boundless to a 2nd RC. Then lather rinse repeat I guess?
@@VincentPascual why would visa give more than one?
I have a question. You talk so much about the Maldives. How good is it there. A lot of videos I see you use your trips to Maldives. Can you make a video on the Maldives? Have a bunch of power nts to redeem and would love a random trip. How was your trip?
Sebby! Good video. Side question, do you shoot your own B roll?
I can almost guarantee you that they won’t give Silver/gold status because then that would really make the $95 annual fee Marriott card’s status pointless.
Loved your Maldives Easter Egg Counter....so funny!!!
I like the benefit idea you had for no expiration date FNC's....what about extra days towards platinum???.....or maybe actual day stays count double??? i mean we are all trying to get to platinum's sweet spot anyways....just think....this would make it interesting to have WITH the Brilliant - platinum & then business for getting to the next tier, no?
The AmEx business credit card also gives Marriott gold! It's a great card!
I am still trying to figure out if it is worth doing the product change from Boundless to the Ritz. I was going to get the AmEx Platinum, but maybe I do this product change first. Then get the Platinum a little later when I will do more international travel.
Thanks Sebby, you talked me into it!
I'm actually going to product change with the hope that they improve the card. The 4x groceries is my jam.
I don't want 7 cards anymore. Just marriott and leg room and a companion pass as a bonus.
Oh..and Chase NEEDS PLATUNUM STATUS...WTF???
🛳 where will you post the lifetime status hack?
🚢 can I downgrade this card to get a second boundless card? Or if I upgrade my boundless now can I apply for a new boundless?
🚢 If I were Marriott I’d try doing something different, it’s cash credits per paid night stayed. For example 3, $50 dollar credits could move the needle and the card would appeal to someone staying at Marriott’s less expensive brands.
So are credit cards good at all? I got a Capital One and owe $605. I’m a pay it off tomorrow. I only use it for restaurants and minor things. If I don’t use it, they’ll close it, BUT interest rates dramatically increased! Should I still keep it?
I just think this is an instance where "less is more."
Why do they need 3 cards...? You said it yourself, the middle card is just hard to make meaningful. I completely agree.
I'd scrap it all together or go for a super premium card with legitimately elite benefits. 🚢
Hey there, completely unrelated but it's been a long time since I saw the marathon logo 😂
Maybe the goal is to make the Brilliant look better? haha
@@AskSebby This is exactly what I was thinking. 🛳️
Love your videos, Sebby! What do you recommend as the best card for non-category spend?
So the Chase version is better because everyone will want to downgrade after 1 year and they have cheaper options?
I don't remember why I have the CSP.
Is it my imagination or is the Hilton ecosystem far superior to Marriott's ? I know Hilton points are worth somewhat less than Bonvoy points, however the multiples for Hilton are huge. The no-fee Hilton AMEX is 7x for the hotels and the $95 Surpass card is 12x. Also you get 5 or 6x for gas and some other categories, 3x for everything else. You also get Hilton Gold which is another 100% bonus for your Hotel points you get for staying in a Hilton. My experience is that they throw in a lot of other goodies from time to time. Best of all, Hilton has only 3 cards and 3 loyalty categories. They are all generous, fairly easy to understand and unlimited.
🚢 bring back the Ritz Carlton card. The travel credit was easy to use and I wouldn't mind paying more in AF to get a higher status than gold
It never died tho. If you had it, you can keep it. If you didn't, you can product change to it after holding a Chase Bonvoy card for a year. You just can't apply for it directly, which I think is no big deal as it becomes sort of a secret card that most people don't know about.
Marriot has screwed their customers over so many times with devaluations...I guess a few months pass by and people forget the meaning of being "bonvoyed"......
Speaking of hotel cards trying to incentivize spend, I don't see anyone talking about the World of Hyatt card promotions they've had recently. For Q3, they had 5x Hyatt points on groceries, gas, and home improvement stores (up to $1500 combined spend), and I recently got an email that for Q4, they're doing 10x Hyatt points on Gas and 5x at groceries and Amazon up to the same $1500 combined spend. Hyatt points are really valuable and they seem to be intentionally not having too much overlap with the Chase Freedom categories. It's been like having an extra Freedom card on top of all its other benefits, plus 10x on Gas this quarter is awesome!
I'm not entirely sure how those high of multipliers are profitable for them but hopefully they keep having these promotions! Maybe they're making money in some other way? Or are their own points really that heavily discounted that they still make a profit from interchange fees even when giving out 10x?
If you upgrade a credit card, let’s just say Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards to a Chase Sapphire Preferred, does that count towards the 5/24 thing?
The problem with Bonvoy is not so much the cards but the program itself has been devalued. Eventually, everyone with mild Marriott status aspirations will be lifetime Platinum. Passively you can earn 32 to 42 nights a year with 2 cards. That's a short sighted approach for the successful future of this program.
These 2 cards are good for their sign up bonuses. Even that may be questionable.
Sebby, could the Wells Fargo Autograph card be the best credit card of this year? Really curious to see if you'll do a review of it. I am interested at all of the 3x multipliers with no foreign transaction fee!
Yessss life time status! Also what about key club with AA not much info on the topic on YT 🚢
The main benefit of the Bevy/Bountiful cards is the 1k bonus points per stay. If you have 40-50 stays a year, that gets you 40-50k Marriott points which can offset the $250 annual fee (depending on how much you value Marriott points, 0.6 cpp is common). The free night certificate is not really worth it, you could put that 15k spend on a 2% card and get $300 which is much more flexible than a 50k certificate that expires after a year.
If I was spending 40-50 nights a year I would have the top tier Brilliant.
🚢 what other platform do you use? I want to know that lifetime strategy.
Are these replacing the old cards? I get to keep my old cards, correct? Also should I grab the Hyatt card. Are they going to follow this trend.
Yep! You get to keep the old cards; these are new ones in addition to the old ones.
They need to give the annual 50k certificate, no perks can make up for the fact that you get a certificate for a $99 card. Then I’d make it a work horse. Raise the spend requirement for the additional certificate to $25k then another at $50k and $100k. Take away the Gold Status and give Elite night credits for $3k spend.
So if you spend $105k on the card you 4 50k certs, and Platinum status without a stay. If you do stay at Marriotts, this will be the card to get you status faster.
The Barclays Wyndham Earner card is the worst card I’ve ever had; redeemed points for gift cards because every hotel I looked at had horrible reviews. Cards lost in the mail. Kept getting the runaround for six days from both companies. Finally cut my losses and after two hours today waiting I finally canceled.
What about IHG?
🛳It's so funny that you just put this out. I was looking at the details for the new card just two days ago and thought it made no sense, and then thought "Sebby must have a video explaining what the heck is going on" and went digging around in your recent uploads that evening.
SEBBY, did Amex and Audible part ways?
But then they merged w mgm, after the cosmo acquisition. How does this change your opionion? Or how do you make the most of the situation?
Amex Bonvoy Business has Gold status. Amex Bonvoy Brilliant has Platinum status.
Maybe Bevy/Bountiful if you can't get a business card and can't justify the Brilliant?
Sup man! I like watching your videos! I was hoping you can see my comment. I have a question for you. Can I transfer capital one miles to American Airlines?
🚢 Where did Mandy go?
Thank you
Those 2 new Marriott cards are trash and not worth the $250. And the Brilliant is not worth $650 at least for me. Too many great hotel cards to get any of those.
I don’t have any Marriott cards now, but if I wanted to get into that ecosystem, I would go for the Boundless then upgrade to the Ritz after the first year.
@@VincentPascual would get another Marriott or Hilton to cover all major hotels?
What is a “Kevin Card”?????
I'm sorry Kevin!
How do FNCs work when downgrading/upgrading? For example, if you have the BevyBountiful for 1 year, and downgrade to the Boundless/Bonvoy (which come with an annual FNC, but only on the anniversary year, i.e., year 2), would you get that FNC immediately after downgrading (since you've had the "card account" open for 1 year, but haven't had the "product" for a year)?
Sebby I have the Amex Bonvoy Business card. Based on your other video and this one, I think it might be best just to get the Bonvoy Brilliant as that can card can get you Platinum and has a better free night certificate. Is this correct? I know the Brilliant is $650 but it has much better perks
Yes, I think the Brilliant is worth it for most people who travel at least 2-4+ times a year.
What do you think about the Naval Credit Union Flagship reward card vs other exclusive armed forces card like USAA ?
🚢Is it worth getting card just for the 125k bonus? What would be the best Marriott setup?
Yep! Worth the intro bonus + upgrade (Ritz/Brilliant) or downgrade ("Amex Bonvoy" or Boundless).
With the 1K bonus points per stay on these cards and the 7% discount on the Business card, it seems like Marriott is experimenting with non-status benefits on their cards. I think they could add a discount on dining at Marriott hotels or on resort fees. In addition to helping cardholders justify the annual fee, this should encourage people to spend with Marriott instead of competitors.
🚢I wonder if something like a 35k cert for 5k or 7.5k in spend and then a 2nd cert for 50k points for another 10k spend would make this more desirable. it's a lower threshold for a free night than most other cards and then those that are heavy spenders have a 2nd tier to reach
Being a Marriott Boundless CC holder, would a product change to the Marriott Bountiful CC for the signup bonus and perhaps switching to the RC soon after be worth it? Thoughts anybody?
You can’t get a bonus through a product change. You would have to apply separately for the Bountiful to get a bonus. I would just upgrade your Boundless to a Ritz, then apply for another Boundless later if you want a bonus.
Two thumbs up.
Mr. Lahey !!!😂🤣🤣
I dont know about the card bu why would FNAs expire? Actually makes no sense.
Why isnt Ritz Platinum st as tus..makes no s ense.
As a Kevin, I feel somewhat attacked.
It's okay, Kevin Durant.
🚢 These cards I think are just a downgrade path for people not willing to take the upgrades on the Brilliant. I personally really like what they've done on the Brilliant so happy to pay the extra fee for Platinum and the upgraded certificate. The signup bonus on the Bevy is interesting as well, but long run I think the Brilliant is the one to keep if you are invested in the Bonvoy ecosystem. I love your ideas about this card enabling certificate usage benefits like an extended expiry or increased points top up above the 15k. I might hold this as well as the Brilliant just for those benefits... Would probably spend 15k a year on the card, in a 4x category for the extra certificate as well.
Good point! I totally didn't think of it as a downgrade path for the Brilliant (since it seemed like such a great card to me).
🚢 I wouldn’t get this card. Marriott has a lot of rules for guests. It’s almost beginning to not be worth the hassle. Looking into also booking IHG Intercontinental and Hyatt poss Hilton in the coming years. We travel about 75 nights a year.
Although these cards are an overall thumbs down, I may still get the Bevy for one reason: the sign-up bonus. Since Amex allows only one SUB per card, it's worth it to get the card for one year, add the sign up bonus to your Bonvoy account, and cancel after a year. The points can then be combined to book an aspirational hotel room in a tropical paradise.
For those who don't have the old SPG / Bonvoy personal card, they can get the Bevy card, take the sign-up bonus, and after one year product change to the Amex Bonvoy personal card, which at $95/year is a better value with a 35k free night award, with the same 15 elite qualifying nights.
Bevy is certainly useful as a way to product change later. What also came to mind for me was that if you have the Ritz Carlton card, you can’t get a bonus on the Brilliant. If you don’t want to let go of the RC, apply for Bevy, get the bonus on that, then product change to Brilliant later.
As a regular Starbucks customer, I like my Starbucks Visa Card. My current reward stars balance is 7,000 .
🚢 I think the easiest way to fix these 2 cards is to just add a 50,000-point valued free night certificate. Both Chase and Amex have a premium card with an 85K point certificate (Brilliant and Ritz) and a lower tier card with a 35K certificate (Boundless and Business), slotting the Bevy and Bountiful with a 50K free night between those cards makes a lot of sense.
Chase really blew it last year when they released the Hyatt Business card with a $199 annual fee and no free night, and now they are following suit with Marriott. Very disappointing.
I agree, for some reason they seem to hope we forget about free nights, and and concentrate on spend instead. We can actually do both.
Sebastian straight bring out the 🔥. I love it!!!
These cards? Not so much. They are straight up 🗑️.
In my opinion, I think this on purpose to push people to the higher and your feet cards kind of like when Apple released the iPhone 14 and 14+ forcing people to go Pro to go home.
As I write this in Oct. 2022, I don’t see myself getting either of these cards ⛔️💳⛔️
Hopefully they revamp them in the near future 😬
@@AskSebby - Yep. When a card needs a revamp the day it's released, you know it's got a problem 😂👊
This card makes no sense to me. 🤔
Yea, these cards suck. Maybe it's okay with a $95 annual fee, but at $250 they're just garbage. I have no idea what they were thinking with these cards.
I think they ducked up.
Can you get both 85k FNA with the brilliant and RC?
If you already have both cards, yes!
@@LaBoricuaOG Already have the brilliant and about to upgrade my boundless.
you're the best.
Yotta got Yottafied with their Hot Pot debacle, driving customers away in droves
So over “aspirational travel” statistics show most people have kids and traditional jobs. Not Sebby though.
For people willing to pay more than $100 for an annual fee, these card were made just to entice those customers they get the new Brilliant card at $650 annual fee!
Yep, if anything, it just made the Brilliant (and Boundless) look like more logical pickups.
How long do I need to wait between applying for chase business cards?
These cards + Bonvoy = 💩💩💩 Thanks for the info + video!
The likelihood of Bon Voy actually implementing any of your recommendations is exactly 0. You nailed it pretty much they want people to have a card and spend exactly $15,000 “ maximize the value of the card”. They don’t care about you or your feelings they never have and they never well. They are the largest portfolio of hotels in the United States and they will do as they please.
Please stop with the spam/fraud commenting.
What the heck is a Kevin card? Is that like calling someone Karen? I vote to call them Sebby cards.
Gag cards!! WOH FTW!!! Love them!!
these are the worst credit card releases I've ever seen in 10 years! makes no sense to get them!
The bonus restrictions on these cards are even more restrictive than the already confusing rules for the other cards. You basically can’t get the bonus if you have any Bonvoy cards from the other issuer.
More or less makes these DOA for folks who already have cards on both sides of the ecosystem.
The bigger question is why did Marriott green light these cards?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Marriott is actually the one who designed this PoS. The correct question is: why did Amex and Chase green light this miserable design? Even Amex and Chase are bonvoyed.
Lost me on this one with all the analogies. Keep it short.
Thumbs up
Hi
🚢
take something for that sore throat!
:)
🛳️ I have a $10,000 purchase coming up, what card or cards should I apply for to maximize value?(I really like the aspire..) I do have a player 2 as well.
Great content, but please stop your zooming in and out. Very distracting to my aging eyes.
🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️😂 you da man
Are you telling us to Duck 🦆 this card?
👀
Duck to your head it is
🚢 🚢 ⚓
Here I thought first premier was still the worst lol.
There's different levels to it 😅
First 100 comments 🔥🔥
🦆
Squuuuuuuuad
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1st
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2nd😅
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🛳 🛳 @5:36 chase reserve gave me
Gold status. I stayed at a few hotels as a “gold” guest. Nothing special. no late check, no room upgrade. The hotels I stayed at were empty too, so no excuse. 🚢 🚢
Less than 60 days until my 🛳! 🥳
You’re generous for describing who designed this card. 🤡🗞📉
It looks like a carbon copy of the Amex Gold with a Bonvoy label without consideration of the other Bonvoy cards.
You do have great ideas for designing your own card! They could save the money hiring those grads and just watch your channel.