Earlier this week, I wrote about the qualification criteria for Chase’s brand new welcome bonuses. Chase is currently offering higher than usual welcome bonuses on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card. I’ve now carried the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card in my wallet for 4 years. Is the card worth the $95 annual fee? Should you keep the card beyond earning the welcome bonus? Let’s have a detailed look at the card and its value proposition.
Also Read: How to check if you qualify for the 60,000 points + 1 free night certificate offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless – Great affordable option
Unlike the no annual fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold card, the Boundless card has an annual fee of $95. However, it’s easily offset by an annual free night certificate. We’ll dive into more details later in this post about the free night certificate and how it works.
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless – Limited Time Offer
With this offer on the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months of card membership. Moreover, you’ll also earn a $150 statement credit when you simply make any purchase in the first 12 months of card membership.
Apply Now for the 100,000 points + $150 offer
Earning Points
The card offers a solid value proposition to help you rack up Marriott Bonvoy points at a fast clip.
- 17 points for each dollar you spend at properties in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio
- 3 points for each dollar you spend on gas stations, grocery stores and dining (capped out at $6,000 spend per year (combined)
- 2 points per each dollar spent on all other purchases
In essence, if you max out the gas stations, grocery stores and dining category, you can earn an additional 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points each year.
Elite Status
In addition to earning Marriott Bonvoy points on everyday purchases, you can also upgrade your status by putting more spend on the card.
- Complimentary Silver Elite status for simply keeping the card account active. When you spend $35,000 in a calendar year, you’ll automatically be upgraded to Gold Elite status.
- For every $5,000 you spend on the card, you’ll earn 1 elite night credit.
Let’s say you’re falling short by a few nights but don’t plan to stay at Marriott properties. You can meet the elite night requirement by putting more spend on the card.
Free Night Certificate
This is a fantastic benefit and similar to the consumer version of the World of Hyatt card, helps justify the annual fee of $95.
Each year, once you renew the card and pay the annual fee, you’ll earn one free night certificate capped at 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. However, Marriott lets you top up certificates with a maximum of 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. In effect, you can redeem the certificate at a property that charges up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Additional Benefits
In addition to the ability to earn points and the complimentary free night certificate, you’ll also enjoy the following benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Complimentary premium in-room Wi-Fi
- Baggage Delay Insurance (up to $100 per day when a flight is delayed by over 6 hours, max 5 days)
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement (up to $3,000 per traveler when baggage is lost or stolen during a trip)
- Purchase Protection (up to 120 days for damage or theft to an item purchased, maximum of $500 per item)
- Trip Delay Reimbursement (For delays of more than 12 hours, you may be reimbursed for covered expenses, up to a maximum of $500 per traveler)
Bear in mind that in order to use these benefits, you must use your card to make the purchase, as outlined in the fine print.
These benefits are available when you use your card. Restrictions, limitations and exclusions apply. Most benefits are provided by unaffiliated companies who are solely responsible for the administration and claims. There are specific time limits and documentation requirements. For full coverage details, cardmembers can refer to their Guide to Benefits, provided after account opening, or call the number on the back of their card for assistance. Marriott Bonvoy® is not responsible for the benefits described in the Guide to Benefits.
The Pundit’s Mantra
Overall, this card is a fantastic option if you want to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on everyday spend. Also, it can be a great option to get closer to elite status if you plan to put a lot of spend on the card.
With an annual fee of $95, it’s easy to extract value with the welcome bonus of 100,000 points and $150 in the first year, coupled with the free night certificate that you receive in subsequent years for renewing the card.
Which is your favorite co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card? Tell us in the comments section.
Click here for the 100,000 points + $150 offer
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