element7

Eh this card is terrible for airline miles conversion. 70k Marriot points only get you 25k miles in CO, AA, United etc

beltway

A note about this rewards chart, which is extremely confusing:
Why Marriott can't make that clearer in the chart is beyond me.

Which is why the best use is for free nights. 70K points get you 2 nights at a cat 7 (which covers every property in NYC except for the three toniest ones) or 2 cat 5 nights + 1 cat 4 night.

lkar

If you don't think you'll ever accumulate more points in Marriott, I think you have to view the 70k as two free nights in a good hotel. That can easily be worth $700, making this offer on par with 50k thank you citi or other cards that give you basically $500 to $700 in travel value.

If, however, you can accumulate more marriott points, travel packages are the way to go. For 200k Marriott points, you get 50k miles on several airlines of your choice, plus a 7-day hotel cert up to category 5. For 270k marriott points, you get 120k miles on any airline, plus the hotel cert.

I have used a 7-day cert for a reservation that would have been $3700 for the week, and I think others have done better. Add to that the value of 120k miles -- or, for example, during the US 75 percent bonus on hotel transfers -- you'd get 210k miles. That's a pretty good haul for 270k marriott points, which are much easier to accumulate via credit card than airline miles if you stay at hotels -- with this card, which makes you automatic elite, you get at least 17 points per dollar.

kdoughboy

My bad. It looks like the 70k points are awarded after the first purchase, and you're right about the free night being awarded upon approval. I guess then the questions is how much you're willing to gamble timing of the certificates vs. how long the offer will last.

Ben21

Thanks for your advice. Question-- are you able to transfer airline miles INTO Marriott points at a favorable rate? That can make for some valuable redemptions!

johndeere19

For all of you that haven't seen these, Gary Leff has two great posts on Marriott:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...s-visa-signup/

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...ce-whatsoever/

CrownRoyalForever

Was looking into getting this card at 50k, but now at 70k it's a no-brainer.

My only question is, should I apply for any other Chase cards at the same time? That is, is there any advantage to doing a two-browser or same day apps with say, the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Also, I def want the UA 60k Visa, if and when they open that up to the public, which is Chase as well, but am worried will be denied if I have too many random Chase cards (have none right now).

Cheers

birdseye

Applying for 2 Chase cards at once will get you an automatic denial on the second card. Calling the reconsideration line will probably get you the second card if you have no other Chase cards and your credit is good.

Don't waste a Chase credit application on a card that does not work for you. If the two rewards programs you are most interested in are Marriott and United, then apply for Marriott now and United when the big public offer comes out.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is also a great card, but I recommend you space out your applications and go for your favorites first. Chase seems to allow 1 new credit card every 30-60 days, 2 new credit cards in a calendar year, and more than that requires talking to the reconsideration line after denial. Some people report getting up too 5 Chase cards a year, after calling the reconsideration line for the last 3.

beltway

Or if you have other Chase cards & are willing to close and/or lower the credit line on one of them. Never close a Chase card before making an application, as it takes away a bargaining chip.


I opened 3 new cards inside of 6 months last year without doing the reconsideration dance, so it really does vary according to individual circumstances.

kdoughboy

Good to know; thanks for that info. The girlfriend and I are planning to do this Marriott 70k card and the Priority Club 60k offer as part of our next app-o-rama in November, and since we've never had Chase cards before it seems like we should be able to get both with a call in to the reconsideration line. Definitely worth it for 140k MR points and 120k PC points with no spend requirement (other than making a purchase on each card)!

CyblocGirl

Hey friends! I hope this isn't too off-topic, but I just applied and was approved (thanks OP) and was looking for other ways to earn miles here: http://www.marriott.com/rewards/earn-points.mi#/6/
Marriott says "Earn up to 50,000 points with each group, event, or meeting at participating hotels". I'm attending a conference at a Marriott, but I'm unclear if these points are for people who organize the events or who attend them. 50k points seems like barely anything for organizing an entire event there. Does anyone happen to know? Thanks! <3

lkar

I'm not aware of too many ways to transfer into Marriott. I think ultimate rewards points transfer in at 1:1, which is probably not worth it unless you are very close to a redemption.

Marriott points can also be purchased at the rate of $12.50 per 1,000, which would probably keep me from transferring ultimate rewards points, since I value them higher than 1.25 cpp.

Robl

Just came back from 4 free nights at the Park Hyatt Vendome (thanks to husband and wife Chase cards). If we both get Marriot cards can we combine the points into 1 account so we can book 4 days and get the 5th free (assuming a cat 7 hotel)?

GetawaysRus

Marriott DOES allow spouses to share points if needed for an award.

I have done this before - it takes a call to Marriott Rewards, they fax your a form for signature, and you send it back in.

As mentioned above, you can also buy Marriott points at the Marriott website. It's usually not worth it, but if you are a few points short for a reward you really want, it can be.

kdoughboy

My girlfriend and I live together but aren't married. Will Marriott allow the transfer considering we reside at the same address, or do we need to be married too?