Some readers in our WeChat groups have received upgrade offers for Marriott’s two new cards: upgrade from AMEX Marriott Bonvoy to Bevy and get a 100,000-point bonus; upgrade from Chase Marriott Boundless to Bountiful and get a 15,000-point bonus.
The AMEX offer is at least worth a look. A 100,000-point upgrade bonus with no HP is pretty decent. But the tradeoff is significant: Bevy does not come with an annual Free Night. You have to spend $15,000 to get a 50,000-point certificate, and the annual fee is $250. Bonvoy, on the other hand, gives a 35,000 FN automatically with a $95 annual fee. Personally, I do not recommend going through the trouble just for the upgrade bonus. It is better to simply keep the $95 annual fee card.
The Chase offer is even more ridiculous: only a 15,000-point upgrade bonus. They also make a show of listing the improved benefits after the upgrade, while the most important change is that the FN becomes contingent on $15,000 in spending, which many people may not even notice. I absolutely do not recommend upgrading in reverse just for a mere 15,000 points.
