Hi there! I have been interested in eventually getting the Ritz Carlton card for a while now so I have been waiting to go back below 5/24. (I am currently at 7/24, hitting 4/24 in 7/2027). Yes, it's going to be a long wait but P2 has just gotten into CCs so we're going through cards for her in the meantime.
I was content to wait but I did just see that Amex released all time high SUBs for their Marriott cards, and more importantly that there are new restrictions on the Chase Marriott cards that would prevent getting SUBs for Amex.
Do I understand right that it would be better to get the Amex Bevy or Brilliant now if I want those SUBs? While that would delay me in getting Chase Marriott cards, is it correct that it would allow me to get SUBs from both families (waiting 24 months after for Chase)?
I am aware of the past strategy of applying for multiple Marriott cards, not completing their SUBs immediately, applying for cards in the other bank, and completing them all to earn all SUBs. But it sounds like that strategy has been nerfed somewhat.
Would love to get thoughts from folks more knowledgeable in this space! Thanks!
Current credit cards you are the primary account holder of:
– Bank of America Customized Cash ($10.7k), 11/2022
– [Biz] Chase Business Ink Preferred ($5k), 9/2024 [Closed 9/25]
– [Biz] Chase Business Ink Unlimited ($4k), 11/2024
– Capital One Venture X ($20k) 2/2025
– [Biz] Amex Business Delta Gold ($3k) 2/2025
– Chase Sapphire Preferred ($12k) 4/2025
– CapitalOne Venture ($2k) 7/2025
– Chase IHG Premier One ($14.5k) 9/2025
– Barclays Aviator Red ($2k) 9/2025 [being converted to a 2nd Citi AA Platinum after AA moved to Citi]
– Citibank AAdvantage Platinum Select ($5.6k) 10/2025
– Chase Amazon Prime Visa 11/2025
Denials:
– Bilt 2/2025
– Chase Biz Ink Cash 7/2025
– Barclays JetBlue 10/2025
Partner has:
– Chase Freedom Unlimited ($4k) 11/2024
– Chase Freedom Flex ($10k) 12/2025
– [Biz] Amex Business Delta Gold 1/2026
– Chase Sapphire Preferred ($14k) 3/2026
FICO Score: 710
Oldest account age: 3 yrs, 4 months
Chase 5/24 status: 7/24
Combined Income: ~170k
Average Monthly Spend (this is shared expenses across myself & partner):
Dining: $300
Groceries: $400
Gas: $0
Travel: $100 for Uber/Lyfts, $250 for flights/hotels (around $3000 spend across 3-4x local trips the whole year)
Other significant monthly spend:
– Shopping: $500 mostly online (Amazon, etc) but also across different locations – primarily gifts, clothes and board games
– Pet Stuff: $300 (insurance, vet, food, litter, etc)
Memberships: Amazon Prime
Open to Business Cards: Not for P1, but P2 can
Marriott Strategy – wait to go below 5/24 or get an Amex Marriott card with the high SUB now?
byu/alpharius22222 inCreditCards
Posted by alpharius22222
2 Comments
Unless if your specific case has you especially wanting access to chase sapphire lounges, I would recommend holding off and taking advantage of amex’s current offerings and going into lol/24 territory. You already have a travel card with all the premium protections and lounge access with venture x, so the main benefit of the RC is essentially the 85k night award, which is also obtained from the brilliant.
(assuming taking some time to hit the subs) you can go ahead with the amex cards and get the chase boundless sub around 6/28 instead, feels like saving a whole year on the process that is guaranteed to be slow anyway.
Additionally I would seriously recommend considering the amex business bonvoy even if it is just for your partner as it also has an elevated 5fn award deal and is generally a far superior card to the bevy. But I understand wanting to keep the marriott stuff all in one person’s name. Also want to note i would downgrade the bevy after the second annual fee posts into the amex bonvoy card, and get an identical FNA but with a mich better annual fee
From a churning POV, I’d absolutely wait and do the Boundless
I’ve watched YouTubers, bloggers and Tiktokers suggest getting a Ritz Carlton card, but it doesn’t make any sense to me for a variety of reasons:
1. I don’t think Bonvoy points make much sense for most people. They’re not worth well above 1¢ from what I’ve seen. I think they’re worth closer to .5¢ (and that’s before considering any annual fees). I get that number by comparing to where I would stay and not just the cash price of the Marriott.
2. Any status from a credit card means thousands of people will be having it in short order. That means a lot of the things people write they’re getting from status I suspect is from days BEFORE status was given with a credit card.
3. I can’t imagine ever finding value in Priority Pass. If someone did it might make more sense to get a PRE (Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite)
4. I don’t the the RC card has the same choice benefit with $60,000 spend that the Brilliant offers (I might be wrong about the spend threshold)
Does any of all that make any sense?