Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite.

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• This card is packed with premium travel and lifestyle credits, offering up to $300 annually for airline incidentals and another $150 for services like rideshares and food delivery.
• Despite its hefty annual fee, the card keeps rewards simple by offering unlimited 2x points on travel and dining and 1.5x points on everything else.
• You can completely offset the annual fee in your first year by maximizing the card's statement credits for travel, lifestyle, and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Offers valuable annual statement credits that can be applied to airline incidentals as well as a variety of lifestyle purchases like food delivery and streaming services.
• Includes complimentary airport lounge access through a Priority Pass membership, plus elite-like benefits at select hotels and car rental agencies.
• Features a straightforward rewards structure with bonus points on travel and dining, plus a discount on airfare when redeeming points through the Bank of America Travel Center.

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Cons

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• Lacks the ability to transfer points to airline or hotel partners, a key feature offered by many competing premium travel cards.
• Travel redemptions are restricted to bookings made through the Bank of America Travel Center, which can limit flexibility.
• The card’s value is primarily maximized by Bank of America Preferred Rewards members, potentially limiting its appeal for those who don't have significant assets with the bank.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite, it's essential to understand their distinct purposes. Each card is tailored to a different type of traveler, making the best choice dependent on your personal spending and travel habits.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is designed for frequent travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties. It's also a strong choice for those looking to gain elite status within the Marriott Bonvoy program and earn points on everyday spending.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is a premium travel card for frequent travelers who prioritize luxury perks like airport lounge access and travel credits. It is particularly beneficial for existing Bank of America customers who can maximize its rewards structure.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed through the Marriott Bonvoy program, primarily for free nights at participating hotels and resorts. You can also transfer points to various airline partners.

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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card: This card offers flexible redemption options, allowing you to redeem points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, or travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

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Travel Perks

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• The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is your key to the Marriott Bonvoy universe, where points unlock free nights and can be transferred to airline partners. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers a broader travel canvas through the Bank of America Travel Center, allowing redemptions for flights, hotels, and car rentals across various brands.
• For travelers who value a pre-flight oasis, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card includes a Priority Pass™ Select membership for airport lounge access. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® card, focusing more on hotel-specific benefits, does not offer this perk.
• Both cards are excellent companions for international travel, as neither imposes a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.
• Each card provides value through distinct credits and statuses. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® card grants an annual Free Night Award and automatic Silver Elite status. Meanwhile, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers annual statement credits for airline incidentals and a fee credit for either a TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To find the best card for your wallet, a comparison tool like Kudos can help you analyze your options based on your unique spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card: Simulate how much you could earn with a new card using your real spending data—before you apply and without a hard credit pull.
• Personalized recommendations: Get matched with cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your actual transaction history.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your chances of approval for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop at your favorite stores.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is ideally suited for travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties, whether for business or leisure, and want to extract more value from their loyalty. It's a great fit for value-focused individuals who will use the annual free night award and for status seekers who can leverage the 15 elite night credits to climb the tiers of the Bonvoy program faster. Beyond travel, it also caters to everyday spenders who want to earn points on common purchases like gas, groceries, and dining, as our comprehensive review explains.

Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite?

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The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is primarily designed for frequent travelers, particularly those already integrated into the Bank of America ecosystem as Preferred Rewards members. These individuals are willing to pay the $550 annual fee in exchange for premium perks like airport lounge access and statement credits that can help offset the cost. As NerdWallet's analysis explains, the card also appeals to users who value a simple rewards structure for travel and dining without the complexity of managing transfer partners.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our comparison of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite has you convinced that neither is the right choice, other cards may be a better fit. Let's explore a few alternatives that cater to different spending habits and travel goals.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit: Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit score for approval.
• Plan your spending: Ensure you can meet the welcome offer's spending requirement through your normal purchasing habits.
• Know your redemption options: Some cards lack airline transfer partners, so confirm the card's redemption methods align with your travel goals.

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Application Strategy

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• Leverage existing banking relationships: Some issuers offer boosted rewards for existing customers.
• Align with your loyalty: Choose co-branded cards that match the hotels and airlines you use most.
• Time your application strategically: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for someone loyal to Marriott?

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If you frequently stay at Marriott properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is likely the superior choice due to its enhanced earning rates on Marriott spending and automatic elite status.

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Can I use points from the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card for Marriott stays?

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Yes, you can use points earned with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card to book Marriott stays through the Bank of America Travel Center, though you won't be able to transfer them directly to your Marriott Bonvoy account.

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Which card offers more flexible rewards?

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The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card generally offers more flexible rewards, as its points can be redeemed for cash back, travel through its portal, or gift cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card's points are most valuable when redeemed for stays within the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem.

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