Cancelling Your Marriott Credit Card? How to Save Your Bonvoy Points
Thinking about cancelling your Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card? Unlike Amex Membership Rewards, your Marriott points won't vanish when you close your card. But there are still important decisions to make about your points balance, elite status, and whether selling makes sense.
Every year, thousands of Canadians re-evaluate their credit card portfolios. With Marriott co-branded cards carrying annual fees of $120-$250, it's a fair question: is the card still worth it? Maybe you've stopped travelling, switched hotel preferences, or simply want to reduce your annual fees. Whatever the reason, the good news is that cancelling your Marriott credit card does not mean losing your Bonvoy points.
The Good News:
Marriott Bonvoy points are stored in your Marriott loyalty account, not your credit card account. This is fundamentally different from Amex MR points, which are deleted when you cancel your card. Your Marriott points remain safe as long as your Bonvoy membership stays active (activity within 24 months).
What Happens to Your Points When You Cancel
Understanding the distinction between your credit card account and your Marriott Bonvoy membership is crucial. Here's exactly what happens when you close your Marriott co-branded card:
Points Stay in Your Bonvoy Account
All accumulated Marriott Bonvoy points remain in your loyalty account. They do not expire immediately and are unaffected by your credit card status. Your entire balance—whether 10,000 or 500,000 points—is fully preserved.
You Lose Automatic Elite Night Credits
Most Marriott co-branded cards provide 15 automatic elite qualifying night credits each calendar year. These count toward Silver Elite (10 nights), Gold Elite (25 nights), and Platinum Elite (50 nights) status. Cancelling your card means losing these credits going forward.
Free Night Certificate May Be Lost
If your card provides an annual free night certificate, you'll lose any unredeemed certificate when you cancel. Use it before closing your account if possible—these certificates can be worth $200-$400 CAD depending on the category.
Earning Rate Drops
Without the co-branded card, you'll only earn points from hotel stays and Bonvoy promotions. The accelerated earning on everyday purchases (groceries, dining, gas) from your credit card stops immediately.
Marriott vs. Amex: The Critical Difference
This is the most important distinction Canadians need to understand when deciding to cancel loyalty credit cards:
| Factor | Marriott Bonvoy Card | Amex MR Card |
|---|---|---|
| Where points live | Marriott loyalty account | Amex card account |
| Points after cancellation | Safe & preserved | Permanently deleted |
| Urgency to act | Low — take your time | High — act before cancelling |
| Can sell after cancelling? | Yes | No — points gone |
With Amex MR, you must sell or transfer your points before cancelling your card—there's no second chance. With Marriott Bonvoy, you have the luxury of time. Cancel your card today and sell your points next month if you choose. Just remember the 24-month inactivity expiration rule.
Your Options for Marriott Bonvoy Points
Once you've decided to cancel your card (or already have), here are the best ways to use your remaining Marriott Bonvoy points:
Option 1: Sell for Cash
Best if you won't use Marriott hotels
If you're cancelling your card because you no longer stay at Marriott properties, converting points to cash is the most practical choice. Current rates from Canadian brokers are $0.004-$0.007 per point. That's $200-$350 for a 50,000-point balance or $400-$700 for 100,000 points.
Timeline: You can sell before or after cancelling. Both work for Marriott Bonvoy.
Option 2: Redeem for Hotel Stays
Best if you have upcoming travel
If you have any Marriott stays planned in the next year or two, redeeming for hotel nights typically provides the highest per-point value (0.7-1.2 cents). Even without your credit card, you can still book award nights through your Bonvoy account.
Remember: You won't earn new points on stays without a co-branded card, but you can still redeem freely.
Option 3: Transfer to Airline Partner
Only if you need airline miles for a specific booking
Marriott points transfer to 40+ airlines at a 3:1 ratio (with a 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points). This is generally poor value unless you need a small top-up to book a specific award flight. Selling for cash almost always yields better returns.
Caution: Airline transfers are irreversible. Only transfer if you have a specific flight in mind.
Why Selling Makes Sense When You Cancel
For many Canadians who are cancelling their Marriott card, selling points is the obvious choice. Here's why:
You're leaving the Marriott ecosystem
If you're cancelling because you no longer stay at Marriott hotels, holding onto points that you'll never use is throwing money away. Even at the low end of the rate range ($0.004/point), 100,000 points converts to $400 CAD in your bank account.
Points can still expire
Without the credit card generating automatic earning activity, the 24-month inactivity clock becomes a real concern. If you don't earn or redeem any Marriott points within 24 months, your entire balance is forfeited. Selling eliminates this risk entirely.
No blackout dates or availability issues
Cash doesn't have limited availability. Instead of struggling to find award nights at properties you actually want to visit, get guaranteed value that you can use however you choose.
Offset the final annual fee
Selling your points can help recoup the annual fee you just paid. If your last annual fee was $150 and you sell 40,000 points at $0.005/point, that's $200 CAD—covering the fee and putting $50 extra in your pocket.
How to Sell Your Marriott Points: Before or After Cancelling
Unlike Amex MR where timing is critical, selling Marriott Bonvoy points works the same whether your credit card is active or cancelled. Here's the process:
The Selling Process
- 1
Request a quote from Mega Miles Broker
Tell us your Marriott Bonvoy point balance. We'll send a quote within 24 hours at current market rates ($0.004-$0.007/point).
- 2
Accept the offer and receive transfer instructions
We'll provide our Marriott Bonvoy membership number for the point transfer.
- 3
Transfer points via your Bonvoy account
Log in to marriott.com, go to Transfer Points, enter our details, and confirm. Takes about 2 minutes.
- 4
Get paid via Interac e-Transfer
Once points post to our account (24-48 hours), payment is sent immediately. Most sellers have cash in hand within 2-3 business days.
Pro Tip for Card Cancellers
If you haven't cancelled your card yet, wait until any pending point earnings have posted to your Bonvoy account (usually within 1-2 billing cycles). This ensures you sell your maximum balance. After that, the timing doesn't matter—sell first or cancel first, the result is the same.
Canadian Marriott Credit Cards: What to Know
In Canada, the primary Marriott Bonvoy co-branded card is the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card. Here's what's specific to Canadian cardholders:
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Card
Despite being an American Express product, the points from this card go directly to your Marriott Bonvoy account—not your Amex MR account. This means the points behave like Marriott points (safe after cancellation), not Amex MR points (deleted after cancellation). Don't confuse these with Amex Membership Rewards.
Annual Fee Considerations
Canadian Marriott cards range from $120-$250 per year. If you're not using the elite night credits, free night certificate, and earning accelerators, the annual fee likely outweighs the benefits. Selling 30,000-50,000 points ($150-$350 CAD) can more than cover your last annual fee.
Product Switching
Before cancelling, ask your card issuer about product switching to a no-fee card. This preserves your credit history while eliminating the annual fee. However, you'll still lose the Marriott-specific benefits like elite nights and the free night certificate.
Turn Your Marriott Points Into Cash
Whether you've already cancelled your Marriott card or are about to, selling your points is quick and easy with Mega Miles Broker:
- • Current rates: $0.004 - $0.007 CAD per point
- • Minimum: 25,000 points ($100-$175 cash)
- • Payment within 24-48 hours via Interac e-Transfer
- • Works before or after card cancellation
- • No fees or hidden costs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my Marriott Bonvoy points if I cancel my credit card?
No, you do not lose your Marriott Bonvoy points when you cancel your co-branded credit card. Marriott Bonvoy points are stored in your Marriott loyalty account, not your credit card account. As long as your Bonvoy membership is active (at least one earning or redemption activity within 24 months), your points remain safe regardless of your credit card status.
What happens to my Marriott elite status when I cancel my card?
You will lose the automatic elite night credits provided by your credit card (typically 15 nights per year). This could affect your ability to earn or maintain Silver, Gold, or Platinum Elite status. However, any elite status you have already qualified for through the current year remains valid until the end of February of the following year.
Can I sell my Marriott points before cancelling my credit card?
Yes, you can sell your Marriott Bonvoy points at any time, whether before or after cancelling your credit card. Since the points live in your separate Marriott Bonvoy account, credit card status does not affect your ability to transfer or sell points. At Mega Miles Broker, we offer $0.004-$0.007 CAD per point with payment via Interac e-Transfer.
How is cancelling a Marriott card different from cancelling an Amex card?
The key difference is that Marriott Bonvoy points survive card cancellation because they live in a separate Marriott loyalty account. With American Express Membership Rewards (Amex MR), points are stored in your Amex card account and are permanently deleted when you cancel. This makes Marriott cancellations less urgent from a points perspective, but you should still have a plan for your balance.
Should I keep my Marriott credit card just for the points?
It depends on the annual fee versus the value you receive. If you stay at Marriott properties 10+ nights per year and value elite status, the card may be worth keeping. If you rarely use Marriott hotels and the annual fee ($120-$250 for most Canadian Marriott cards) exceeds the value you get, selling your points and cancelling can be the smarter financial move.
Mega Miles Broker Team
Points Brokerage Specialists
Canadian loyalty points specialists. PIPEDA compliant, Toronto-based.