AwardWallet may receive compensation from advertising partners when you visit our site, click on a link, when you are approved for a credit card, or when an account is opened. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here’s our complete list of Advertisers.
Offers for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
Marriott Bonvoy elite status can make Marriott stays noticeably more comfortable, especially at the higher tiers. Depending on your status level, perks may include room upgrades, late checkout, lounge access, and complimentary breakfast at select brands.
Earning hotel status typically requires spending dozens of nights in hotels each year. However, Marriott offers several alternative (and quicker) paths to status through credit cards, partnerships, status challenges, and elite night credits.
Here are some of the most useful shortcuts to Marriott elite status.
Page Contents
- Status Matching With Marriott Bonvoy
- Earning Marriott Bonvoy Status With a Status Challenge
- Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Shortcuts
- Earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Earn Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status through Marriott credit cards
- Other cards that offer Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
- Credit cards that offer Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- Earning status through credit card elite nights
- Bottom Line
Status Matching With Marriott Bonvoy
Airline and hotel programs occasionally offer status matches to elite members of other loyalty programs to entice them to switch their loyalty, starting to fly or stay with a different program instead.
While Marriott Bonvoy doesn't offer competitor status matching as some other hotel programs do, it does “match” status from its airline partner programs.
Related: All Hotel Elite Status Match & Fast Track Opportunities
Status Matching to Marriott Bonvoy from United MileagePlus
Marriott Bonvoy has had a long-standing partnership with United Airlines' MileagePlus program. As long as you hold Premier Gold status or higher with United MileagePlus, you can status match to Marriott and obtain Marriott Bonvoy Gold status. Marriott and United's partnership also works in reverse: If you have Titanium status or higher at Marriott, you can status match to United and get United MileagePlus Premier Silver status.
Status matching to Marriott Bonvoy from Singapore KrisFlyer
Marriott has partnered with Singapore Airlines to offer a reciprocal status match for Marriott Bonvoy and Singapore KrisFlyer members.
Currently, Singapore Airlines PPS Club and KrisFlyer Elite Gold status holders can obtain Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status just by registering and linking their accounts. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status can also be obtained after staying 10 qualifying nights in Marriott properties.
KrisFlyer Elite Silver members can also participate, though the benefits are far less compelling. Those members are eligible for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status after completing three qualifying nights. However, Marriott Silver status comes with fairly limited perks, so the real value here is likely for travelers who can take advantage of the complimentary Gold status or the Platinum status challenge.
Status is valid for 1 year after signing up for the status match promotion above. Status holders are eligible to renew their status with Marriott Bonvoy by either staying 25 nights to maintain Gold status for the following year or 10 nights to maintain Silver status.
Marriott elite-like perks from Emirates Skywards
Although not necessarily a status match promotion, Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards have a partnership that enables Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members to enjoy some elite perks at Marriott stays. Benefits are a 4 p.m. late checkout, the ability to use the Bonvoy elite check-in lane at hotels, and complimentary Wi-Fi at Marriott properties. However, Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members do not gain Marriott status from this partnership.
Earning Marriott Bonvoy Status With a Status Challenge
What if you do not have status with Singapore KrisFlyer or United MileagePlus but still want to be a status holder with Marriott Bonvoy?
Marriott also offers an unpublished status challenge to Bonvoy members. Just call Marriott Bonvoy at 800-627-7468 and ask for a status challenge. If approved for a status challenge, you will earn the following level of status after staying the required number of paid nights (not award nights) within the following three calendar months, plus the remainder of the current month:
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold status: Stay eight paid nights.
- Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status: Stay 16 paid nights.
Because the Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge is valid for the remainder of the month that you called in, followed by three additional months, we recommend calling Marriott Bonvoy earlier in the month to have more time to complete a status challenge.
If you are able to successfully complete the challenge, you will retain that status for the remainder of the current membership year as well as the entire next membership year. However, you can only complete a status challenge once every three years. So, be sure to request it when you are certain you will be able to meet the required stays.
Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Shortcuts
If you are not eligible for Marriott's status match promotions with airlines and won't meet the requirements of a status challenge, you can still get Marriott Bonvoy elite status by holding a credit card that offers Marriott Bonvoy status as a perk.
Earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
As Marriott Bonvoy's flagship card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card provides Platinum Elite status to its cardmembers. This level of status typically requires earning 50 elite nights (or 16 paid nights from the status challenge above), making it a very valuable card perk.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has an annual fee of $650 (Rates & Fees). In addition to Marriott Platinum status, it also provides an annual free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points and a $25 monthly dining credit. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
(Terms Apply)
- Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Earn Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status through Marriott credit cards
Marriott offers three credit cards that provide automatic Gold Elite status to cardholders:
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Benefits and annual fees vary across these cards, but each offers cardholders Marriott Gold elite status.
(Terms apply)
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points and a $125 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/15/26.
- Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
- 6x points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
- Terms apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping
- 2x Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Other cards that offer Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
The American Express Platinum Card® and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offer Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status to cardmembers — as well as Hilton Honors Gold status.
If you want to hold status in multiple hotel programs, holding either card is sufficient. Both cards have high annual fees, numerous travel benefits, and hundreds of dollars in spending credits available each year. However, we're focusing on Marriott elite status here, and these cards provide a simple path to it. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Credit cards that offer Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
If you're looking for a card with a lower annual fee, it's still possible to get complimentary Silver Elite status. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card provides it for a $95 annual fee. Additionally, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers cardholders Silver Elite with a $0 annual fee.
- Earn up to 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first 3 months.
- Special Offer through 6/30/2027: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually.
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
- Member FDIC
- 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
- 3X points for every $1 spent on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Assuming you do not have status with United or Singapore or can't complete the status challenge, holding this card is the only other way to earn Marriott Bonvoy status without spending any money.
Earning status through credit card elite nights
Since Marriott allows elite night credits from one personal card and one business cobranded card to stack, holding this combination of Marriott credit cards can give you a substantial head start toward elite status each year. You can receive up to 40 elite night credits per year in this way, helping you pursue higher levels of status. 40 Elite Night Credits is enough for Marriott Gold status and just 10 elite nights away from Platinum status.
Bottom Line
Marriott Bonvoy status is more accessible than many travelers realize. In addition to earning status through hotel stays, Marriott also offers alternative paths through airline partnerships, status challenges, elite night credits, and cobranded credit cards.
Depending on your travel habits and existing loyalty accounts, some methods may make more sense than others. Fortunately, Marriott gives travelers several ways to fast-track elite status without relying solely on nights spent in hotels.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
