Marriott has some of the most complicated credit card welcome-bonus eligibility rules in the points-and-miles world.

But those complicated rules may also create an interesting opportunity.

If you open certain American Express Marriott Bonvoy cards with a welcome-offer spending period longer than 90 days, delay earning the Amex welcome bonus, and then apply for the right Chase Marriott card after Day 90, it may be possible to earn both the Amex and Chase welcome bonuses within a matter of months.

As of August 14, 2026, the current U.S. Marriott Amex cards that provide six months to meet their welcome-offer spending requirement include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

All three currently give new cardmembers six months to satisfy their respective spending requirements.

More importantly, all three are specifically named in Chase's Marriott 90-day/24-month welcome-bonus restrictions for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless cards.

That creates what I'll call the Marriott 91-Day Strategy.

The Marriott 90/24 Rule Is Actually Two Different Rules

The key is understanding exactly what Chase says.

For the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Chase currently says the new cardmember bonus isn't available if you:

1. Applied and were approved for certain Amex Marriott cards within the previous 90 days, or
2. Received a new cardmember or upgrade bonus on those Amex Marriott cards within the previous 24 months.

The Marriott Bonvoy Business, Brilliant and Bevy are all specifically included.

The no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card currently uses essentially the same language.

Notice what Chase doesn't say.

It doesn't say that simply holding a Bonvoy Business, Brilliant or Bevy makes you ineligible for a Bold or Boundless bonus.

Instead, Chase separately asks:

Were you approved for the Amex card during the previous 90 days?

and

Did you receive its welcome bonus during the previous 24 months?

That distinction creates a narrow window where the answer to both questions can be no.

How the 91-Day Strategy Works

Imagine you open an eligible Marriott Amex card.

Instead of immediately completing the entire spending requirement, you deliberately stop short of earning the welcome bonus.

Then you wait until more than 90 days have passed since the Amex approval.

At that point:

Amex approval: More than 90 days ago.
Amex welcome bonus received: No.

That potentially satisfies both parts of Chase's 90/24 restriction.

You can then apply for an eligible Chase Marriott card, earn the Chase welcome bonus first, and subsequently finish the Amex spending requirement before its longer deadline expires.

The strategy looks like this:

Open eligible Amex Marriott card

↓

Spend toward the Amex requirement, but DO NOT earn the bonus

↓

Wait at least 91 days from Amex approval

↓

Apply for Chase Bold or Boundless

↓

Complete Chase spending requirement

↓

Earn Chase welcome bonus

↓

Finish Amex spending requirement

↓

Earn Amex welcome bonus

That's the loophole.

Or, perhaps more accurately, that's the opportunity created by the wording of the current rules.

Which Amex Marriott Cards Can Work?

As of August 14, 2026, there are three currently available U.S. Amex Marriott cards that are particularly relevant.

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express

The Bonvoy Business currently gives cardmembers six months to meet the spending requirement for its welcome offer.

That makes it particularly well suited to this strategy because waiting 91 days still leaves roughly another three months to complete the Amex offer.

The Bonvoy Business is explicitly included in Chase's 90-day approval and 24-month bonus restrictions for both Bold and Boundless.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express

The Bevy currently also provides six months to satisfy its welcome-offer spending requirement.

It is also specifically named in the Chase Bold and Boundless 90/24 language.

That means the same timing concept can potentially work:

Bevy → wait 91 days without earning Bevy SUB → Bold/Boundless → Chase SUB → finish Bevy SUB.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express

The premium Bonvoy Brilliant also currently gives cardmembers six months to complete its welcome-offer spending requirement.

And once again, Brilliant is specifically included in the Chase Bold and Boundless 90/24 restrictions.

That makes this sequence potentially possible:

Brilliant → wait 91 days without earning Brilliant SUB → Bold/Boundless → Chase SUB → finish Brilliant SUB.

This Isn't Limited to Today's Offers

The important thing isn't necessarily that the Amex offer says "six months."

The important thing is that the Amex spending deadline extends far enough beyond Day 90 to make the strategy practical.

Suppose Amex someday offers:

150,000 points after $6,000 spending within five months.

The same concept could potentially work.

You would simply need to remain below the bonus-triggering threshold until after Day 90, obtain the Chase card, satisfy the Chase bonus requirement and still have enough time to finish the Amex requirement.

On the other hand, if Amex returned to a traditional:

Spend $5,000 within three months

offer, this strategy would be nearly impossible because the Amex spending deadline would expire at about the same time Chase's 90-day exclusion disappeared.

So before attempting this strategy, always check the specific welcome offer attached to your Amex application.

Targeted offers can have different spending requirements and deadlines.

Do NOT Earn Any Part of the Amex Welcome Bonus Early

This is the most important rule.

Suppose you open the Brilliant on January 1 and earn its welcome bonus in February.

You then wait until April and apply for the Boundless on Day 91.

You have successfully escaped the 90-day approval restriction.

Unfortunately, you've now triggered the 24-month bonus restriction.

Chase currently says you can't have received a new cardmember or upgrade bonus on the Brilliant, Bevy or Bonvoy Business during the previous 24 months.

The entire strategy therefore depends upon:

Opening the Amex card without earning the Amex welcome bonus before applying for Chase.

If your Amex offer has multiple bonus tiers, points, Free Night Awards or statement-credit components, I would be conservative and avoid triggering any portion of the welcome offer before securing the Chase bonus.

Don't assume that earning only the "first half" of a tiered Amex offer won't count as receiving a new cardmember bonus.

Why I Recommend Day 91 Instead of Day 90

Don't get cute with the calendar.

Chase says the restriction applies if you were approved for the Amex card "within the last 90 days."

If your Amex approval occurred January 1, don't sit there at midnight on the 90th day refreshing the Chase application page.

Wait until at least Day 91.

I'd even consider giving yourself another day or two if the remaining Amex spending deadline allows it.

There's no reason to turn a potentially valuable welcome bonus into a debate about how Chase's computer calculates exactly 90 days.

Which Chase Marriott Cards Work?

Chase currently offers three consumer Marriott Bonvoy cards:

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful

All three have cross-issuer Marriott restrictions, but there's an extremely important difference.

Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold — YES

The Bold currently says you aren't eligible for its welcome bonus if you were approved for a Bonvoy Business, Brilliant or Bevy during the previous 90 days or received a bonus or upgrade bonus on one during the previous 24 months.

Merely continuing to hold one of those three current Amex products after Day 90 isn't listed as a disqualifier.

91-day strategy: YES

Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless — YES

Boundless uses essentially the same rule.

The current terms separately test whether you were approved for Business, Brilliant or Bevy within 90 days and whether you received a bonus on one within 24 months.

91-day strategy: YES

Boundless will probably be the more attractive choice for many people when its welcome offer is substantially better than Bold's, but compare the current offers before applying.

Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful — BE CAREFUL

Here's an important catch that I discovered when comparing the current terms.

Bountiful also contains 90-day and 24-month Marriott restrictions.

However, unlike the current Bold and Boundless wording, Bountiful says its new cardmember bonus isn't available if you currently have or had within the previous 30 days any of the listed Amex Marriott cards — and that list includes Bonvoy Business, Brilliant and Bevy.

That changes everything.

If you opened an Amex Brilliant, Bevy or Business 91 days ago and are still holding it, you haven't escaped Bountiful's restriction.

You still currently have the Amex card.

Therefore:

91-day strategy with Bountiful: NO, based on the current published terms.

This is exactly why reading the individual card terms matters instead of simply seeing "90/24" on a Marriott eligibility chart and assuming every Chase card works identically.

The Current Cheat Sheet

Current as of August 14, 2026. Amex and Chase can change eligibility rules and welcome offers at any time.

We Have a Successful Real-World Data Point

This isn't entirely theoretical.

A particularly useful Reddit data point involved someone working simultaneously on Amex Marriott welcome offers while planning to obtain a Chase Boundless.

The person reported spending nearly enough on both the Brilliant and Bonvoy Business to satisfy their Amex requirements, then deliberately stopping.

They subsequently obtained the Boundless, satisfied the Chase requirements first, waited briefly, and only then completed the Amex requirements.

They reported successfully receiving the bonuses.

That is a much stronger data point than someone simply saying, "I think this should work."

It demonstrates the exact mechanism we're discussing:

Amex card opened

→ Amex bonus intentionally delayed

→ 90-day Chase restriction expires

→ Chase card opened

→ Chase requirement completed

→ Amex requirement completed afterward

There are also additional community discussions specifically recommending the Day 91 approach for Brilliant and Bonvoy Business before applying for Boundless.

Still, a data point isn't a guarantee.

Issuer rules and automated eligibility systems can change without warning.

The Safest Order of Operations

If I were attempting this strategy, I would use the following sequence.

1. Get the Amex Marriott Card First

Choose an Amex Marriott offer with a sufficiently long spending window.

Currently, Business, Bevy and Brilliant all provide six months.

2. Carefully Track the Amex Spending

You can work toward the requirement.

Just don't cross the threshold that causes any part of the welcome bonus to be earned.

If the requirement is $6,000, for example, I wouldn't stop at $5,995.

Leave yourself some breathing room for delayed transactions, adjustments and other surprises.

3. Record Your Exact Amex Approval Date

The Chase restriction is based on when you applied and were approved, so record the approval date.

Don't rely upon when the physical card arrived in the mail.

4. Wait at Least 91 Days

Once you're safely outside the 90-day window, confirm that you still haven't received any part of the Amex welcome bonus.

5. Apply for Bold or Boundless

Based on today's rules, these are the two current Chase cards that appear compatible with the strategy.

Do not assume Bountiful works the same way.

6. Complete the Chase Spending Requirement First

Once approved by Chase, shift your spending to the Chase card.

The objective is to satisfy the Chase welcome offer before doing anything that could cause the Amex welcome bonus to post.

7. Ideally Let the Chase Bonus Post

If your Amex deadline permits, my preferred approach would be to actually see the Chase bonus or Free Night Awards reach the Marriott account before crossing the Amex threshold.

Chase says welcome bonuses can take time to post after qualifying, so watch your Amex deadline carefully.

8. Finish the Amex Requirement

Once the Chase portion is safely completed, return to the Amex card and finish the remaining spending before the Amex deadline.

Example: Brilliant to Boundless

Suppose you're approved for a Brilliant on:

January 1

and your offer gives you six months to complete the spending requirement.

A possible schedule would be:

January 1
Brilliant approved.

January through March
Work toward the Brilliant spending requirement but remain comfortably below the threshold.

April 2 or later
More than 90 days have passed. Apply for Boundless.

April and May
Complete the Boundless spending requirement.

May
Confirm the Chase requirement has been satisfied and, ideally, wait for the Chase welcome award to post.

May or June
Complete the remaining Brilliant spending.

Before the Amex six-month deadline
Earn the Brilliant welcome bonus.

The result could potentially be:

Brilliant welcome bonus + Boundless welcome bonus within roughly six months.

You Need Enough Spending to Make This Work

There is one major practical problem.

You're potentially trying to meet two significant spending requirements within about six months.

Don't let the pursuit of points convince you to spend money you otherwise wouldn't spend.

This strategy makes the most sense when you already have substantial organic expenses such as:

• Property taxes
• Insurance premiums
• Home improvements
• Medical bills
• Tuition
• Business expenses
• Planned travel
• Large purchases you were already going to make

The value of a welcome bonus disappears quickly if you're buying unnecessary things just to earn it.

Don't Confuse Approval With Bonus Receipt

This is the entire reason the strategy exists.

Chase's current Bold and Boundless rules don't simply say:

"You had an Amex Marriott card during the last 24 months."

Instead, they distinguish between:

Approval — 90 days

and

Bonus receipt — 24 months.

That creates the window between Day 91 and the moment you actually earn the Amex welcome bonus.

Once the Amex bonus posts, the 24-month clock becomes the problem.

Why This Strategy Could Disappear

Credit card rules aren't laws of nature.

Chase could change the Bold or Boundless wording tomorrow to match Bountiful and add:

"currently have or had within the last 30 days"

to the current Amex Marriott cards.

If that happened, the strategy would effectively disappear for that Chase product.

Amex could also shorten its welcome-offer spending periods back to three months.

Either change would close the window.

That's why I recommend reading the actual terms attached to both applications immediately before starting this strategy.

Don't rely solely upon an article — including this one — that may eventually become outdated.

Bottom Line

The Marriott credit card rules are ridiculously complicated, but sometimes complexity creates opportunity.

As of August 14, 2026:

Amex Bonvoy Business: Six-month welcome-offer window.
Amex Bonvoy Bevy: Six-month welcome-offer window.
Amex Bonvoy Brilliant: Six-month welcome-offer window.

And:

Chase Bold: 91-day strategy potentially works.
Chase Boundless: 91-day strategy potentially works.
Chase Bountiful: Current 30-day Amex ownership restriction appears to prevent this strategy.

The basic formula is:

Get the Amex first → don't earn the Amex bonus → wait 91+ days → get Bold or Boundless → earn the Chase bonus → finish the Amex bonus.

We even have a successful real-world data point showing essentially this sequence working.

This isn't guaranteed, and the rules can change at any time.

But under today's published terms, the Marriott 91-Day Strategy may be one of the most interesting ways to earn two large Bonvoy welcome bonuses without waiting two years between applications.

Before trying it, also check my Marriott Credit Card Eligibility Matrix: The Hoops of Fire for the rest of the Chase and American Express Marriott eligibility restrictions.

Credit card approval and welcome-offer eligibility are determined entirely by the card issuer. This article is for informational purposes only. Offers and eligibility rules can change at any time.