My Marriott Rewards Sign-Up Offer: Earn Up To 50,000 Virgin America Elevate Points With Marriott Megamiles
In a season of lackluster hotel promos, Marriott's Megabonus is pretty decent with offers of up to 50,000 hotel points, free nights after just 2 stays and more. Offers are specifically tailored to individuals, so in order to see what you're being offered, you have to log into your Marriott Rewards account.
The current Megabonus runs February 1-April 30, and you must register by March 31. While I haven't been wowed by a lot of the offers readers have written in about, I actually received a different offer for new Marriott Rewards members who sign up and stay that I think is actually pretty lucrative in conjunction with one of Marriott's airline partners, Virgin America (though it looks like you can select any of their airline partners once you join). The offer stated:
"New Marriott Rewards members who enroll and register for this promotion by March 31, 2014, will earn 5,000 bonus points with every second paid stay, starting with their second stay—up to a total of 50,000 bonus miles, between February 1, 2014 and April 30, 2014, at participating Marriott properties."Stays must be paid, and it looks like all the brands are participating.
So thinking about it, I could really max out this promo by staying at some cheap properties at around the $100/night mark for one night each and then earn 5,000 bonus Virgin America points every second stay. Those Virgin points are usually redeemable at about 1.5-2.3 cents apiece, so for $200 in spend, I could get approximately $100 back in value to use on Virgin tickets.
For instance, if I were to stay at the Courtyard Austin - University Area, I could get rooms for as low as $88 this winter on various dates.
With taxes, that comes to $102. So for two one-night stays, I'm looking at $204 to earn those 5,000 Elevate points. So then let's say I turned around and wanted to go spend Valentine's Day in Las Vegas - must be a fun place to be single! Roundtrip flights to Las Vegas over those days are going for as low as $98.
I could score those same flights for 4,233 Elevate points:
So I'd actually be getting a value of about 2.2 cents per point here and over 50% return on my Marriott spending.
If I maxed out this promo at the 20 stays, let's say I spent a grand total of $2,500 on hotel rooms and credited my spend to Virgin America, which is a Marriott airline partner - I'd get an additional 1 Elevate point per $1, ending up with 52,500 Elevate points, just shy of the 54,500 points I'd need for a roundtrip first class ticket from LAX to Cancun this spring.
Which would cost me $1,200 otherwise - just under a 50% return on my Marriott spending again:
Because Virgin America is an Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner, I could transfer the remainder of the points I need (though Elevate points are a 1:2 transfer partner, so I'd need 4,000 Amex points to get the remaining 2,000 Elevate points I'd need) and enjoy a week of sun and sand.
While I won't be changing my hotel habits much because of this promo, it does have me thinking about getting some Marriott stays on the books to rack up Virgin points since I want to try out the airline (I still haven't flown them!), and this could be an easy, cheap way to rack up the points to do so. Only if I can find some cheap Marriott properties to max out the night/bonus requirements though.
Anyone else get this offer - or any other interesting airline partner ones?
[card card-name='Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express' card-id='22035076' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- 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.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.