Originally Posted by
Polytonic
Mm, I'm not sure I follow. If I were to apply for an Ink Business Preferred, it is my understanding that I can only product change within the Ink product family (i.e. to the Ink Business Cash or similar).
Also, from what I've read, the Marriott Business Card is not under 5/24, but holding said card invalidates the holder from subsequent Marriott/Starwood Chase/Amex sign-up bonus offers for 24 months, though I will admit I didn't look very closely at the fine print either.
No, holding it past the 24th month after earning the signup bonus is what invalidates it. You're simply not eligible for another card until both (1) it's 24 months since you earned a Marriott/Starwood signup bonus,
and (2) that card is now closed.
But 24 months after earning the signup bonus is 25 or 26 months at least after opening the card, which means that you can earn two annual free night certificates (one after 12 months, one after 24 months) before it matters whether you still hold the card or not. I see no advantage to getting rid of the card earlier than that. (Once the free night cert is showing in your Marriott account, you can close the card and cert stays there.)