| - Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- A Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority PassTM Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases. - Rates and Fees
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card - Learn More |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium travel rewards card with a $650 annual fee that centers its value on Marriott Bonvoy stays and related travel perks. It offers a strong welcome bonus, robust earning on Marriott stays, a generous annual dining credit, elite-status benefits, and a suite of travel perks designed to enhance hotel experiences and airport time. It also includes convenient credits such as Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and lounge access, plus a no foreign transaction fee policy for international purchases.
Pros
- Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Strong hotel earnings: Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Additional earning opportunities: Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Up to 21X on Marriott Bonvoy hotels: Earn 6X points with the card, up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy member status, and up to 5X points from the 50% Bonus Points on Stays benefit tied to Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible restaurant purchases.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month (redeemable at hotels at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, with some property restrictions).
- Elite night credits: 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year toward the next Marriott Bonvoy Elite status level.
- Property credits and hotel perks: $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct with a special rate for a two-night minimum stay.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credits: Receive a statement credit for Global Entry ($120) every 4 years or TSA PreCheck® ($85) every 4.5 years when you pay the fee with this card (approval process applies).
- Airport lounge access: Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select for unlimited visits to over 1,200 lounges in 130+ countries.
- Trip coverage: Trip Cancelled or Interrupted benefits may apply for covered reasons if the trip is purchased with the eligible card (terms and limitations apply).
- No foreign transaction fees: Enjoy no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
- Annual fee transparency: $650 annual fee to access the above benefits.
- Balance of extra perks: A yearly Free Night Award and Platinum Elite-related benefits are included, with various terms.
Cons
- High annual fee: $650, which requires substantial ongoing use of the card’s benefits to offset the cost.
- Marriott-centric value: The benefits and earning structure are heavily geared toward Marriott Bonvoy properties and status; if you don’t frequently stay at Marriott hotels, value may be limited.
- Mandatory spend for bonus: The welcome offer requires $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months, which might be a high upfront target for some applicants.
- Free Night Award limitations: The annual Free Night Award is redeemable up to 85,000 points and may be subject to property restrictions (some hotels have resort fees).
- Staying at Ritz-Collon/St. Regis condition: The $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit is tied to booking direct with a special rate for a two-night minimum stay at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis®, limiting applicability if you don’t stay at those brands or meet the requirements.
- Elite status benefits require eligibility: Platinum Elite-related advantages (such as the 50% bonus on points and 25 Elite Night Credits) are tied to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, which is automatically provided as a card benefit but may have terms and limitations.
- Dining credit cap: The $300 annual dining credit is limited to $25 per month, which may not cover all dining expenses throughout the year.
- Credit timing and coverage: Some credits (Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, dining, etc.) have specific terms and timing that may affect how quickly you receive benefits.
Why we like this card
- Exceptional Marriott-focused earning and redemption potential: The card offers 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and the ability to rack up as much as 21X on Marriott hotel purchases when stacking with member status and Platinum Elite benefits.
- Generous welcome bonus and ongoing credits: The 100,000-point signup offer, plus a $300 annual dining credit, and a yearly Free Night Award create substantial upfront and ongoing value for frequent Marriott travelers.
- Comprehensive travel perks: Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credits, Priority Pass lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees enhance the travel experience beyond hotel stays.
- Elite status support: 25 Elite Night Credits per year toward the next Marriott Bonvoy Elite tier help accelerate status, potentially unlocking additional perks and bonuses during stays.
- Perks at select luxury brands: The $100 property credit at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties and the Platinum Elite benefits add luxury-value opportunities for qualifying stays.
- Flexible redemption options: The ability to earn and redeem across hotels within the Marriott Bonvoy program provides versatility for planning stays across a broad network of properties worldwide.
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