Originally Posted by
viplan
Hi all! I've been reading up on the new Marriott/SPG credit cards and am looking for advice on what to do to maximize points moving forward. I read that Chase will be offering a new Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card in May and that it's expected they'll offer 100,000 point sign on bonus to new card members. Current Marriott and Ritz cardholders will be offered an "upgrade incentive" to switch to the new card. I'm reading between the lines here that this "upgrade incentive" will be less than 100,000, but I can't seem to find anything concrete.
So, I've been a card holder for 3 years now. I've been thinking about canceling the card and renewing it anyhow to get the points bonus, but now I'm wondering if there's any chance the points offer for existing members will be better than the 100,000 point offer. What do you guys think? Cancel now and get the sign-up bonus for the new card in May or wait and see what the "upgrade incentive" is? I guess I'm partially worried if I wait I somehow won't be eligible for the 100,000 sign-on bonus. Thanks!
Welcome to FlyerTalk,
viplan.
First of all, how many personal cards (from
any banks) have you applied for in the past 24 months? If you're not familiar with it, Chase has a 5/24 policy which can keep you from getting most Chase cards if you have been applying for a lot of other cards. If you're well over 5/24, you may not be able to apply for a new Marriott card if you cancel the current one (but you would be able to upgrade if an upgrade was offered).
Second of all, I hope you don't care much about the 1 elite night for every $3000 in spend. Because that doesn't seem to be there on the new card. (And you won't be likely be able to apply for the current card again once you get the new card.)
Third, assuming you're under 5/24, Chase's rule on re-applying for the same card is that the previous card has to be closed and it has to have been over 2 years since you earned the signup bonus on the previous card. Since you've had the card for 3 years, all you'd have to is cancel to qualify for a signup bonus on the new card (assuming you're under 5/24).
Meanwhile, if you've not had the Marriott business card before, you are
right this second qualified to apply for and earn the signup bonus on the Chase Marriott business card, which will not exist for much longer AFAIK. The Chase Marriott business card is
not subject to 5/24 (plus, since it's business card, it doesn't increase your 5/24 count). And you don't have to have a business to apply for it, just give your name as the business name, your address as the business address, your phone as the business phone, 0 years in business, $0 business income, sole proprietorship, 0 (or 1 if they don't allow 0) employees, perhaps $1500 for expected monthly spend since somewhere around there is likely at least for the first few month when you're doing the minimum purchases requirement.
Btw, I think the business card currently and the new personal card in May both (will) require $5k spend in 90 days. So be prepared for that (in combination with anything else you might have that has a spend requirement).