The standard welcome bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card is 3 Free Night Awards. For a limited time, Chase has bumped that to 5 Free Night Awards — that’s 2 extra nights worth up to 50,000 points each, or 100,000 bonus points in added value.
Here’s what you get:
- 5 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Each free night is valid at properties up to 50,000 points per night
- Total potential value: 250,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
There’s also a new 2026 Exclusive airline credit:
- Spend $250 on airline purchases between January 1 and June 30, 2026 → get a $50 statement credit
- Spend another $250 between July 1 and December 31, 2026 → get another $50
- Maximum: $100 in airline credits for the year
The card carries a $95 annual fee.
Why January is the Right Time
Beyond the elevated welcome bonus, there’s a strategic reason to apply now if you’re chasing Marriott elite status.
The Boundless card gives you 15 Elite Night Credits upon approval. Getting those credits at the start of the calendar year means you only need 35 actual nights to hit Platinum Elite (which normally requires 50).
Here’s where it gets interesting: Marriott has historically run double elite night promotions during the January–March quarter. If they do it again in 2026, those 35 nights become just 18 nights to reach Platinum.
That’s a meaningful shortcut for anyone who travels regularly but not quite enough to organically hit 50 nights.
Existing cardmembers must accept the terms and activate the airline credit here — new applicants are auto-enrolled.
Good to Know
- You cannot get this bonus if you currently hold — or received a bonus from — the Boundless, Bold, or Premier cards within the last 24 months
- The same restriction applies to certain Marriott Amex cards (Bonvoy Brilliant, Bonvoy Bevy, etc.)
- Free Night Awards expire 12 months after they post — use them or lose them
- Resort fees are not covered by the free night awards
Ongoing Card Benefits:
- 6X points at Marriott hotels
- 3X points on gas, groceries, and dining (up to $6,000/year, then 2X)
- 2X points on everything else
- Automatic Silver Elite status + 15 Elite Night Credits annually
- Free night award each anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
- Path to Gold Elite if you spend $35,000/year
Verdict
The math here is straightforward. The standard offer is 3 nights. This one is 5. That’s 100,000 extra points in value for the same spend requirement and the same annual fee.
The 5 free nights can unlock aspirational stays — JW Marriotts, W Hotels, and select Ritz-Carlton properties all fall within the 50,000-point ceiling. And the $100 airline credit effectively drops your first-year cost to near-zero.
If you’re also eyeing Platinum status, the timing couldn’t be better. Fifteen elite night credits in January, a potential double-nights promo, and you’re looking at a realistic path to Platinum with under 20 stays.
Bottom Line
This is the Boundless card at its best value. Five free nights instead of three, a new airline credit, and a well-timed boost toward elite status. The $3,000 spend in 3 months is manageable for most, and the 24-month bonus restriction is the main hurdle to check before applying.
