Rapid Travel Chai

I got the Chase Marriott Business card recently as a third app I tossed out there after a Chase Ink in-branch offer and a Chase United business card. Only the Marriott card was approved.

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Marriott points aren’t all that valuable, though they come in handy for me in small town US and the Middle East where there are lower category hotels to be found. Hotel + Air Packages can be good, see FrequentMiler’s analysis.

The annual certs are now good for 12 months and since I have the personal card, I find two certs more valuable than one since they cover a weekend trip.

Today the card had news on two fronts, sign-up bonus and benefits.

First came reports of  targeted 100k offers requiring $5,000 spend in 90 days, then the public link was updated with the offer, as usual Doctor of Credit was Johnny on the spot. This is the highest yet seen on this relatively new card. $99 annual fee not waived in first year. The 15 annual elite status credits that grant Marriott Rewards Silver status are not doubled if you have both personal and business cards.

I will send Chase a SecureMessage asking that they match this offer to my prior 80k one. Well Traveled Mile has a walk-through of the process.

Separately, cardholders such as myself were emailed with two changes to the card:

• $50,000 annual spend by account anniversary year now grants Marriott Gold Status. Unless you are spending that are Marriott hotels at 5x, and even if you are, they are more valuable ways to spend $50,000 and Marriott Gold Status is not so hot, with even exclusions such as Courtyards for the breakfast benefit. You earn 1 elite credit per $3,000 spend with no limit, so if you spend $50,000 you would earn 16 credits (17 at $51,000 spend), which is Chasing Platinum would be 15 annual credits for holding the card plus 16 for the spend, getting you 31 of 75 needed.
• Card is now eligible for Visa SavingsEdge. I treat these business savings programs a ‘register and forget,’ though if the card had better earning some discounts such as 4% on National rentals over $100 would be nice.