Amex Marriott Eligibility Restrictions
Earlier this month, Sarah shared her journey to Lifetime Marriott Platinum Elite status. Part of that plan, actually most of it, is holding both a Marriott personal and a business card, each earning her fifteen (15) elite night credits per card. Unfortunately, there are now new Amex Marriott eligibility restrictions for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card and it may be harder for you to attempt to duplicate this strategy. For now, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card terms are not affected. Let's dive in and figure out these changes.
Prior Amex Marriott Card Rules
Prior to this March 12, 2026 update, the Marriott Eligibility rules, for both Chase and American Express, were quite complex. We created an entire chart to confirm these rules, due to the complexity and nuances of the various rules.
In short, the terms & conditions for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card were the welcome offer is not available to applicants who have or have had the Brilliant Card or:
- (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from JPMorgan or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card in the last 30 days,
- (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or
- (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.
New Amex Marriott Eligibility Restrictions
As of March 12, 2026, there are new terms and conditions for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. Interestingly, these now match the terms of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card. Should we have known these new restrictions were coming at some point, since the Bevy Card launched with these harsh restrictions? Probably so, unfortunately. These new terms are that you are not eligible for a welcome offer if you have had the Brilliant card before or if you:
- i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from J.P. Morgan, the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Business® Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days,
- (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or
- (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.
Essentially, if you hold or have held a Chase-issued Bonvoy card in the last thirty (30) days, you cannot receive a welcome offer, along with other restrictions. This appears to be Amex forcing consumers to choose their cards over Marriott cards issued by Chase. That is a great move for Amex, but I don't see how it helps Marriott or consumers at all.
Amex Marriott Eligibility Restrictions: ToP Thoughts
Any new restrictions limiting welcome offers are an unwelcome change. It does not matter who or what it affects, it is bad. With these new Amex Marriott eligibility restrictions, we see Amex forcing consumers to close Chase-issued Marriott Bonvoy cards to be eligible for a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant welcome offer. I do not understand how this decision helps Marriott at all, much less consumers that are caught in the middle of a battle between two banks for co-branded card accounts.
Do these new restrictions affect you? Come over to our Facebook group and let us know.
