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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs British Airways Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025

Editor's Picks
- The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a strong choice for travelers who want to earn points on Marriott stays and everyday spending at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
- The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is tailored for frequent flyers on British Airways and its partners, allowing them to accumulate Avios for reward flights.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®.
- The card offers strong earning rates on Marriott purchases and bonus points on everyday spending categories like gas, groceries, and dining.
- In exchange for an annual fee, you receive automatic Silver Elite status, 15 Elite Night Credits each year, and pay no foreign transaction fees.
- The anniversary free night award alone can easily offset the card's annual fee, as it's redeemable for a stay valued up to 35,000 points (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- An anniversary free night award offers excellent ongoing value each year.
- Cardholders receive automatic Silver Elite status, unlocking immediate perks and providing a shortcut to higher tiers.
- The card is ideal for international travel, with no foreign transaction fees and built-in travel protections.
Cons
- An annual fee is charged, which may not be justifiable for infrequent travelers who can't fully leverage the card's benefits.
- Reward redemption options are somewhat restrictive, as points provide the most value within the Marriott ecosystem and the anniversary free night award excludes many high-end properties.
- Points can expire with prolonged account inactivity, and bonus rewards on certain everyday spending categories are capped annually.
British Airways Visa Signature® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the British Airways Visa Signature® Card a strong contender for travelers.
- While it carries an annual fee, the card has no foreign transaction fees and offers accelerated Avios-earning on flights with partner airlines and direct hotel bookings.
- Cardholders who meet the annual spending requirement can earn a Travel Together Ticket, a valuable perk that allows a companion to fly for just the cost of taxes and fees.
- Thanks to the 10% discount on British Airways flights from the U.S., spending $950 on airfare can be enough to offset the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Generous rewards structure: Earn Avios on every purchase, with accelerated rates for booking with British Airways and its partner airlines, as well as for hotel accommodations booked directly.
- Valuable travel perks: The card offers a suite of travel benefits, including a companion ticket after meeting an annual spending requirement and comprehensive travel and purchase protections.
- Flexible redemptions: Avios can be redeemed for flights not only on British Airways but also across its extensive network of partner airlines, including those in the oneworld alliance.
Cons
- Annual fee: This card comes with an annual fee.
- High surcharges on award tickets: While you can book flights with points, you may still face substantial taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges.
- Limited redemption options: Avios are most valuable when used with British Airways and its partners, which can be restrictive for travelers seeking broader flexibility.
British Airways Visa Signature® vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® or British Airways Visa Signature®, depends entirely on your travel style. One card focuses on hotel loyalty, while the other is tailored for frequent flyers on a specific airline alliance.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize rewards and earn elite status within the Marriott Bonvoy program.
- British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Best suited for travelers who frequently fly with British Airways or its oneworld partners, this card is particularly valuable for those with regular transatlantic itineraries.
Redemption
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: Points are primarily redeemed for free nights and upgrades at thousands of hotels within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You can also transfer points to numerous airline partners, offering additional flexibility for your travel plans.
British Airways Visa Signature®: Rewards are earned as Avios, which can be redeemed for flights on British Airways and its extensive network of oneworld® airline partners. Avios can also be used for cabin upgrades, hotel stays, and car rentals.
Travel Perks
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: As a travel-friendly card, it does not charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. British Airways Visa Signature® Card: This card also has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great companion for international travel.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Cardholders receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and a Free Night Award each year after the account anniversary, adding value to hotel stays. British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Its hallmark benefit is the Travel Together Ticket, a valuable companion voucher for a reward flight that is earned after meeting a significant spending requirement each year.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Complimentary airport lounge access is not a feature of this card; its benefits are focused on the hotel experience. British Airways Visa Signature® Card: This card does not offer general airport lounge access as a standard perk.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Points are redeemed for hotel stays through the Marriott Bonvoy portal. When transferring points to airline partners, award flights are still subject to taxes and fees. British Airways Visa Signature® Card: While Avios can be used for flights, be prepared for potentially high carrier-imposed surcharges on reward tickets, particularly on long-haul routes.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
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- Kudos Boost Rewards: Earn additional rewards on top of your regular card earnings when you shop at participating stores through the platform.
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Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent guests of Marriott properties, whether they travel for business or leisure. It also appeals to status seekers looking to climb the tiers of the Marriott Bonvoy program and everyday spenders who want to accumulate points on groceries, gas, and dining. Ultimately, this card is best for value-focused travelers who can maximize its benefits, like the annual free night award, as detailed in this comprehensive review.
Who Should Choose the British Airways Visa Signature®?
The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for loyalists of British Airways and its oneworld alliance partners, especially those who regularly travel internationally across the Atlantic. This card is most valuable for high-spenders who can unlock the coveted Travel Together Ticket and maximize Avios earnings on flights and hotel stays. Additionally, travelers who want to avoid foreign transaction fees and take advantage of a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S. will find this card to be a strong contender.
Alternatives to Consider
Perhaps our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs. British Airways Visa Signature® comparison left you undecided or convinced that neither card is right for you. If that's the case, we've rounded up a few excellent alternatives to consider.
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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
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most premium rewards cards require good to excellent credit for the best approval odds.
- Plan your spending - Make sure you can comfortably meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer through your normal purchasing habits.
- Review issuer rules - Be aware of any application restrictions that might affect your eligibility for a new card or its welcome offer.
Application Strategy
- Time your application around large planned purchases to help meet spending requirements for welcome offers.
- Be mindful of issuer-specific policies, as some banks may limit the number of new cards you can open in a certain period.
- Align your application with your spending and travel habits to maximize unique card benefits, such as the Travel Together Ticket.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Which card is better for earning hotel rewards?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is designed specifically for earning Marriott Bonvoy points, making it the superior choice if your primary goal is to accumulate rewards for hotel stays within the Marriott portfolio.
Which card is better for international travel?
The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is generally better for international travel, as it earns Avios which are valuable for booking award flights on British Airways and its Oneworld airline partners. This makes it a strong contender if your travel plans frequently involve international flights.
Can I transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy and British Airways Avios?
Yes, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to British Airways Avios, as British Airways Executive Club is one of Marriott's airline transfer partners. It's wise to check the current transfer ratio and any available bonuses on the Marriott Bonvoy site before initiating a transfer.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.














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