It’s clear that my usage of this card has been minimal, and the “free annual night” (up to a 35,000 point redemption) seems like it will be harder to use in 2020 then it was in past years.
Is the card still worth keeping?
Call Results: My Retention Offer Inquiry For The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card (2020)
About The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
This Bonvoy credit card is notable as the only Marriott Bonvoy credit card with the ability to earn 4x on U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. wireless telephone services, and U.S. purchases for shipping.
I value Marriott Bonvoy points at .6 cents, so that puts the 4X bonus category earnings at right about a 2.4% return.
What still bugs me most about this card is the annual fee was increased from $95 to $125 last year.
But there is a significant new development in 2020. Holders of this Business card will get 15 Elite Night Credits in addition to the 15 Elite Night Credits they get if they also hold personal Bonvoy card (which I do).
This is huge as it puts Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status within reach by starting you off at 30 Elite Night Credits right out of the gate.
Call Results: My Retention Offer For The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
I called the number on the back of the card, notified the customer service agent that I had just been charged my annual fee, and asked if there were any retention offers available to me to help me decide if I was going to keep or cancel this card.
The customer service representative informed me that, “American Express is not really giving those out right now” and further, that I did not have any retention offers available to me. Nothing.
I then inquired about waiving or adjusting the new $125 annual fee. Again, no offer was available.
The Bottom Line: Call Results: My Retention Offer Inquiry For The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card (2020)
This is the exact same scenario that played out last year. So what did I do?
I had my mind made up, I was going to cancel.
But that was before the very-recent Bonvoy rule change that now allows 30 Elite Night Credits for holding both a personal and business Bonvoy card.
Furthermore, I can probably still wring $300 to $400 of value out of the “free night award” (up to 35,000 points) benefit, though that will be harder during this cardmember year than it was in the past.
Taken together, I believe both of these benefits are still worth the $125 annual fee. At least for now.
