United Club vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card.

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• Cardholders automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, unlocking valuable on-property benefits.
• While the card has an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it offers strong rewards on Marriott stays, dining, and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Spending $15,000 in a calendar year unlocks a Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points, which can offset the annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Automatic Gold Elite status, which unlocks on-property perks like potential room upgrades and late checkout.
• Strong rewards on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties, at restaurants worldwide, and at U.S. supermarkets.
• No foreign transaction fees for international travel and bonus points on eligible paid stays booked directly with Marriott.

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Cons

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• The card has an annual fee, and earning the Free Night Award requires meeting a significant annual spending threshold.
• Value is heavily concentrated in the Marriott Bonvoy program, making it less ideal for travelers who don't frequently stay at Marriott properties.
• Lacks some premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access or statement credits for travel purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Club or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, comes down to your primary travel loyalty. One card focuses on airline perks, while the other is built for maximizing hotel rewards.

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• The United Club℠ Card is designed for loyal United Airlines flyers who want premium travel benefits like lounge access and priority airport services.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is best for frequent travelers who stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize hotel rewards and work toward elite status.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Points are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights with United and its airline partners, as well as for seat upgrades and other travel-related expenses.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Rewards are redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem for free nights, room upgrades, and other experiences at Marriott properties worldwide, with the option to transfer points to airline loyalty programs.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Card provides a full United Club membership, granting access to its lounges and those of participating partners. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card does not offer airport lounge access as a standard benefit.
• Core Ecosystem Perks: The United Club℠ Card is built around the airline experience, offering benefits like free checked bags and priority airport services with United. Conversely, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is centered on hotel stays, providing automatic Gold Elite status within the Marriott Bonvoy program. Terms apply.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent choices for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos offers a data-driven approach to comparing top-rated cards, ensuring you find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test drive any credit card with your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections before you apply.
• Get detailed approval odds based on your credit report to apply with more confidence.
• Receive a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward when you add select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
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Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Card is best suited for frequent United flyers, particularly business and international travelers who can maximize its premium benefits. These cardholders will find immense value in the complimentary United Club membership, priority airport services, and accelerated MileagePlus mile earning on United purchases. Additionally, travelers aiming to achieve or maintain MileagePlus Premier status can leverage the card's ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points through spending, as detailed in a full review.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is tailored for frequent Marriott guests who want to elevate their stays and also earn significant rewards on everyday purchases like dining and U.S. supermarket spending. It's a strong contender for travelers who value the automatic Gold Elite status but may not stay enough nights to earn it on their own, as well as those who can meet the annual spending threshold to unlock a Free Night Award. Ultimately, this card is ideal for moderate-to-high spenders who can leverage its combination of travel perks and everyday spending bonuses to maximize rewards and easily offset the $250 annual fee.

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.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, you've seen the United Club vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card showdown and aren't sold on either one. That's perfectly fine—let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that could be a better match for you.

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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 score - Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Have your loyalty number ready - For co-branded hotel or airline cards, you will often need to provide your loyalty program account number during the application.
• Assess your loyalty - Ensure the card’s benefits align with the airlines and hotels you use most frequently.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
• Know the issuer’s rules - Be aware of any restrictions on earning a welcome offer, such as holding other cards from the same bank.
• Review the offer details - Make sure you are getting the best available welcome offer before you finalize your application.

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 offers complimentary airport lounge access?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card includes a United Club membership, giving you and your eligible travel companions access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card does not include airport lounge access as a benefit.

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Can I get free checked bags with these cards?

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Yes, the United Club℠ Infinite Card offers the primary cardmember and one companion on the same reservation their first and second standard checked bags free on United-operated flights. This benefit is not available with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ card.

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Which card is better for earning hotel stays?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card is specifically designed to maximize rewards on spending at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. While you can book hotels through the United portal, the United Club℠ Infinite Card's reward structure is primarily optimized for air travel and United purchases.

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