UPDATE: This offer has expired.
It looks like Marriott is going to start limiting the number of credit cards an individual can have starting August 26th. The rules by no means make sense, are quite confusing, and are definitely not in our favor! Fortunately though, they have given us a month to figure out our credit card application strategy. It seems as though Chase and American Express will not be sharing data with one another, but instead Marriott will be controlling whether or not an applicant is eligible. Thanks to View from the Wing for confirming these new restriction rules.
While I do not appreciate that Marriott is putting through a new restriction, it does make sense. Many of the cards will have a free night certificate tied to them and they are definitely trying to reduce the number of free night certificates they are handing out for new applicants. They also are interested in long term card holders and not folks that are just applying for a sign up bonus. I hate these restrictions, but it is a common theme these days with American Express’s “once in a lifetime” bonus and Chase’s “5/24” rule.
Future Restrictions Starting August 26th
Starwood Preferred Guest Luxury Card
You will not be eligible for a bonus if…
- Currently have or have had any of the following Cards in the last 30 days
- The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from JP Morgan
- OR have acquired any of the following Cards from Chase in the last 90 days
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Business Credit Card from Chase
- OR have received a welcome or upgrade offer for any of the following Cards from Chase in the last 24 months
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Business Credit Card from Chase
*This means you’ll still be eligible if you have any of the other Starwood credit cards, regardless of when you applied. This also means that if it has been more then 24 months since you have applied for any of those three Marriott credit cards, you are eligible. The only one card that will really prevent you from getting this card is the Ritz-Carlton card. You’ll have to cancel the card and then wait 30 days to apply. Also keep in mind that this card is not yet available, but my best guess is that we will see it launch August 26th. Of course if we see it rolled out prior to August 26th, this will open the flood gates to quickly apply for some of the restricted cards, but I do not foresee that happening.
Starwood Preferred Guest Card
You will not be eligible for a bonus if…
- Currently have or have had any of the following Cards in the last 30 days:
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
- Marriott Rewards Credit Card from Chase
- The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from JP Morgan
*This means you’ll still be eligible for this card if you have any other Starwood credit cards. If you are looking to apply for this card, you’ll have to cancel ALL your Marriott and Ritz-Carlton credit cards then wait 30 days to apply. The sign up offer on this card isn’t that great, although come August you’ll receive an annual free night certificate up to 35,000 points. Despite a pretty poor sign up bonus, this is one card you might want to consider getting prior to the rules changing.
Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card
You will not be eligible for a bonus if…
- Currently have or have had any of the following Cards in the last 30 days
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Business Credit Card from Chase
- The Marriott Rewards Business Credit Card from Chase
- OR have acquired any of the following Cards from Chase in the last 90 days
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase
- OR have received a welcome offer for any of the following Cards from Chase in the last 24 months
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
- The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase
*This means you’ll still be eligible for this card if you have any Starwood credit cards. You’ll also be eligible if you have the Marriott Rewards personal credit cards, as long as it has been more then 24 months since you have received a welcome bonus.
Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Card
You will not be eligible for a bonus if…
- Currently have or have had any of the following Cards in the last 30 days
- Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
- OR have acquired any of the following Cards from American Express in the last 90 days
- Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Luxury Card
- Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
- OR have received a welcome offer or upgrade bonus for any of the following Cards from American Express in the last 24 months
- Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Luxury Card
- Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
*This means you’ll still be eligible for the card if you have any other Marriott credit cards. You’ll also be eligible as long as it has been 24+ months since you’ve received a welcome bonus for the Starwood Preferred Luxury card (which it won’t be if you apply for it) or the Starwood Business card. It is the Starwood personal (non-luxury card) that will exclude you from getting this offer. If you are looking to apply for the Starwood Luxury card, you will not want to apply for this card now.
Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Card
You will not be eligible for a bonus if…
- Currently have or have had any of the following Cards in the last 30 days
- Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
- OR have acquired any of the following Cards from American Express in the last 90 days
- Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Luxury Card
- Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
- OR have received a welcome offer or upgrade bonus for any of the following Cards from American Express in the last 24 months
- Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Luxury Card
- Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
*This means you’ll still be eligible for the card if you have any other Marriott credit cards. You’ll also be eligible as long as it has been 24+ months since you’ve received a welcome bonus for the Starwood Preferred Luxury card (which it won’t be if you apply for it) or the Starwood Business card. It is the Starwood personal (non-luxury card) that will exclude you from getting this offer. If you are looking to apply for the Starwood Luxury card, you will not want to apply for this card now.
Ultimately, if you are NOT looking to apply for the future Starwood Preferred Guest® Luxury Credit Card from American Express and you want to increase the Marriott/Starwood card in your wallet, you’ll want to apply for those cards now. If you are anticipating applying for the Starwood Luxury card, then you will not want to apply for any of the Marriott credit cards, but can still apply for any of the other Starwood credit cards.
Depending on your goals and the credit cards you are looking to hold, you might want to go on a credit card application spree now, or fully hold off. I am looking forward to the Starwood Luxury card and am hoping for a 125,000 point sign up bonus (just a guess).
How will these restrictions change your credit card application strategy?
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Not related to sign up bonuses you mention that Marriott will limit the number of credit cards any individual can hold, but I did not see how many that is. Can you please comment on that? Thanks.
@cnmax – The limit is separate for Chase and American Express credit cards. There is no limit on the number of Chase cards you can have and there is a limit of 5 American Express credit cards you can have (https://dealswelike.boardingarea.com/2017/03/15/guess-can-5-american-express-cards/). Marriott itself does not limit the number of cards you can hold, but is putting restrictions on whether or not you can get approved for another card based on the criteria included in the post.
So, I’m a bit confused. I have had the AMEX SPG PreferredGuest card for many years. In May, I got the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus card and have completed the spending requirement and am waiting for my points to be added to my account.
Will I be getting a free night on the AMEX SPG card or only the Marriott VISA?
Is there any issue with having both of these cards? And, should I refrain from getting any other cards?
Also, I just made a reservation at a Westin in NYC and used points for 2 nights (20,000 per night) and will pay for 2 nights. I could not find out if the points charge will increase or decrease after August 18th. I have a lot of Marriott points so perhaps I should use them for the other 2 nights once the consolidation is complete???
Thanks for any advice!
@Andrea – Yes you’ll receive a free night on BOTH the Amex SPG card and Marriott Visa. No issue on getting others. If you want the SPG luxury card then should refrain from getting any other Marriotts.
Both the Westin New York Times Square and Westin New York Grand Central will cost LESS points. So you can book now and come August 18th, cancel and re-book at a lower level. Whether or not you should use points depends on the cost. But definitely make sure you get the nights on points for less points.
Thank you!!
Hi – I have had a SPG and an MR personal card about 6 years ago (both have been cancelled for over 4 years now). I have never had the SPG business or MR business cards. Would I be eligible for the bonuses on both if I applied for both before Aug 26th or only on one of the cards?
@Jason – The SPG personal card probably not until 7 years have surpassed. You would be eligible for Marriott personal. You’d be eligible for both SPG business and Marriott business. You’d be eligible for all 3 if you applied before August 26th. Just keep in mind Chase’s “5/24” rule, so I am not sure how many cards you’ve been approved for in the past 24 months. Apply for the Chase cards prior to the Amex cards.
I have had both the spg personal and business before and are both cancelled 12 mths ago, I still qualify for both the Marriot personal and business card right? Thank you!
@Kay – As long as it has been 24+ months since you received the welcome bonus for the spg personal and business offers, then yes!