Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
On American Express’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
If you’re loyal to Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can help you save money and improve your stays, thanks to automatic Marriott Platinum elite status and lots of opportunities to earn additional points.
Details
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for you?
If you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a great option for making your stays more luxurious and accelerating your points earning toward your next award stay.
Its annual fee is $650, making it the most expensive premium co-branded hotel credit card. So it’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy loyalist and stay at the chain’s properties multiple times a year, it’s not hard to get significant value from this card.
You’ll earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar spent on airline tickets and restaurants worldwide, and 2 points per dollar spent everywhere else. You’ll also earn a free night certificate every year after your card renewal month, which you can redeem at Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points per night. You can get massive value from this benefit alone, especially if you use this free night at an expensive Marriott hotel.
The card also offers up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. If you max out this annual credit, you’re effectively reducing the card’s annual fee to $350.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card also provides helpful travel insurance, including baggage insurance, rental car insurance, and a host of purchase protections.
See our picks for the best credit cards »
Insider’s Featured Rewards Credit Cards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Earn 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase.
Earn unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1x points on other purchases.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Rewards
Welcome bonus offer
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a great welcome bonus offer: 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. That’s worth around $665 in stays, based on Insider’s estimate of Marriott points value.
How to earn points
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers a straightforward earning structure, earning bonus points at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties and in other useful categories. Cardholders earn:
- 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (this is in addition to up to 10x points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and up to 5x points for having Platinum elite status from the card)
- 3x points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines
- 2x points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
How to use points
You can redeem Marriott points and free night rewards at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels in cities around the world. Marriott has eliminated its award charts and moved to dynamic pricing, which means the price of an award night will vary based on demand, the paid price of the room, season, and other factors.
Award nights start as low as 5,000 points and go up to 120,000 points per night. If you use your points to book a stay of five nights or more, you’ll get the least expensive night for free. This discount is automatically calculated when you search for a stay of five or more nights on marriott.com.
Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy allows you to convert your points into frequent flyer miles with over 40 partner airlines — more than any other loyalty program. You’ll receive 1,000 airline miles for every 3,000 points transferred, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points (so 60,000 points becomes 25,000 airline miles) in most cases. Transfers to United Airlines MileagePlus get an extra bonus — for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer to United, you’ll receive 30,000 United miles.
You’re best off using your points to book Marriott stays, though, since you don’t have to worry about odd transfer ratios, and you can score some real deals — especially when you can lock in off-peak travel dates at high-end hotels that would cost hundreds of dollars a night if you paid in cash.
There are other redemption options available, including cashing in points for gift cards, rental cars, and experiences like concerts and events.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Benefits and Features
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status
As long as you have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you’ll receive automatic Platinum elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, which includes the following benefits:
- 50% bonus points on stays at Marriott properties
- Enhanced room upgrades (including select suites)
- Hotel lounge access and complimentary breakfast at hotel brands that have lounges
- A welcome gift on arrival (points, breakfast offering, or amenity depending on brand)
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability at resorts and convention hotels)
- Annual Choice Benefit for members with 50 elite night credits (five Suite Night Awards, 40% off a mattress and box spring from your favorite hotel brand, give the gift of Silver Elite status to a family member or friend, $100 charity donation, or five elite night credits)
- Complimentary enhanced in-room internet access
The card also helps you climb toward higher levels of elite status, providing 25 qualifying nights every year just for having the card.
Annual free night award
Every year after your account card renewal month, you’ll receive a free night award valid at Marriott Bonvoy properties charging up to 85,000 points per night. Depending on when you travel, that could get you a night at a very upscale property. Marriott also offers the ability to top-up free night certificates with up to 15,000 Marriott points from your account, making this certificate potentially useful at hotels that cost up to 100,000 points.
Monthly $25 dining credit
The card offers up to $300 in statement credits every year toward eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide (up to $25 in statement credits per month). This benefit starts as soon as you open the card, so as long as you spend at least $25 per month at restaurants, this alone offsets almost half of the card’s annual fee.
Annual Earned Choice Award
Cardholders who’ve spent at least $60,000 in a calendar year can select an Earned Choice Award from the following list:
- Five Suite Night Awards
- $1,000 off a bed from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques
- Free Night Award with a redemption value of up to 85,000 points
You can make your selection on Marriott’s Choice Benefit site after you’ve met the spending threshold for the calendar year. If you don’t choose by March 1 of the year following the qualifying year, you’ll receive five Suite Night Awards by default.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit
Holding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card also gives you access to an exclusive rate for stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels and resorts, which includes a $100 credit toward room service, spa treatments, and other qualifying purchases.
25 elite night credits each calendar year
As mentioned above, in addition to offering complimentary Platinum elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with 25 elite night credits each year. If you’re working toward Titanium elite status, which requires 75 elite night credits, these credits will get you 25 nights closer.
Priority Pass Select membership
The card includes a complimentary membership to the Priority Pass network of airport lounges, with more than 1,300 locations around the world (activation is required).
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck enrollment credit
The primary card member receives a credit toward enrollment in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, making your travel experience easier. This credit can be used once every 4 or 4.5 years (exact dates vary by program) so as long as you have the card you’ll never have to pay to maintain your membership in these trusted traveler programs.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you use your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card to reserve and pay for a car rental, you may be covered against loss or damage to the vehicle. This coverage is secondary, and does not provide liability insurance.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
If you paid for a covered trip with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and it’s canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you could be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per consecutive 12-month period.
Baggage insurance plan
When you purchase a ticket on an airline or other common carrier with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you’ll be covered for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage up to $3,000 per trip.
Trip delay insurance
The card’s trip delay insurance can reimburse you up to $500 for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you’ve paid for a covered trip with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and it’s delayed by six hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period.
Travel accident insurance
If the unthinkable happens to you or a loved one on a trip you booked with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you’ll be eligible for up to $500,000 in death and dismemberment insurance for you and each of your additional cardmembers, the spouse or domestic partner of each cardholder, and any of their children under age 23.
Purchase protection
Your eligible purchases are covered by purchase protection against accidental damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.
Extended warranty
Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less.
Return protection
If you purchased an eligible item with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the merchant won’t accept your return, you may get a refund of the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling), up to $300 per item, and a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.
Premium Global Assist Hotline
Cardholders get access to Amex’s Premium Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services.
The service itself is complimentary, but you may be responsible for any third-party costs. One big difference from the regular (versus premium) Global Assist Hotline is emergency medical evacuation coverage — Amex may provide emergency medical transportation assistance at no cost if it’s approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
On American Express’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
If you’re loyal to Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can help you save money and improve your stays, thanks to automatic Marriott Platinum elite status and lots of opportunities to earn additional points.
Details
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Annual Fee and Other Costs
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a $650 annual fee. While that’s high, it’s easy to get a ton of value out of the card if you stay with Marriott frequently. It also has no foreign transaction fees, so using this card is a great way to avoid extra charges when traveling abroad.
Beyond that, you can avoid most other fees on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card by paying your balance in full each month so you don’t accrue any interest. If you do carry a balance, you’re looking at a 20.99% – 29.99% Variable APR. That adds up quickly, so consider a balance transfer credit card or a zero-interest credit card offer if you need some time to pay off your credit card balance.
Like most other cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card charges fees in other situations, including:
- Cash advance fees
- Late payment fees
- Returned payment fees
How the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Compares
Amex Bonvoy Brilliant vs other Marriott credit cards
*Bonus points at Marriott hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
***the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers an annual free night award each year after your card renewal month for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points
****the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers an annual free night award each year after your account anniversary for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 35,000 points
*****the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card offers a free night award after you spend at least $15,000 in a calendar year for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 50,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex vs other premium cards
*Bonus points at Marriott and Hilton hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
***the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers an annual free night award each year after your card renewal month for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points
****starting January 1, 2021, the Amex Platinum Card earns 5x points on up to $500,000 spent on eligible flights per year
******Eligible digital subscriptions include Hulu, ESPN+, Disney+, SiriusXM, Peacock, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Most people who are approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card have a credit score in the good to excellent range, which means a FICO score of at least 670.
Because both Amex and Chase issue Marriott co-branded cards, the rules for who can get approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card are a little more complicated than other cards.
To start, if you already have (or have had) the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (or the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card, which isn’t available to new applicants), you aren’t eligible for the welcome bonus offer.
You also aren’t eligible for the welcome bonus offer on this card if any of the following apply to you:
- You are a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember within the last 30 days, of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan or J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card
- You’ve opened the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card in the last 90 days - In the last 24 months, you’ve received a new cardmember bonus offer or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
For frequent Marriott travelers, especially those who spend at least $25 per month on dining and can take advantage of Platinum elite status, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is very much worth it. Perks like airport lounge access can make your travels more comfortable, and earning a free night award each year worth up to 85,000 points can offset most (or all) of the card’s annual fee.
However, if you don’t stay with Marriott that often or aren’t sure you can use the card’s premium benefits, you’re likely better served by cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee) or Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card ($125 annual fee). There are also two mid-range Marriott cards to consider (Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card) which both have a $250 annual fee).
If you’re opposed to paying an annual fee, there’s the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. It doesn’t come with an anniversary free night or a ton of extra Marriott benefits, but it does have a decent welcome bonus offer: 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of account opening plus 50,000 bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through 1/31/24. Here’s our Marriott Bonvoy Bold credit review with the details.
Yes, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a metal credit card and weighs about 15 grams.
There’s no additional fee to add authorized users to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Keep in mind additional card members don’t receive most of the premium perks offered to the primary cardholder. One exception is the $100 property credit on qualifying stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels and resorts, which both the basic cardholder and any authorized users can use.
Methodology: How We Reviewed the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Insider’s credit cards team evaluated the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card in comparison to other Marriott credit cards and to competing premium credit cards from other banks. We looked at several factors, including:
- Ease of use — Does the card come with benefits that are easy to use and activate? Is using rewards straightforward, or are there complicated award charts to navigate?
- Earning potential — Is the card’s welcome bonus and earning structure competitive compared to similar cards (especially premium cards)? Are any of the bonus categories capped at a maximum amount of spending?
- Benefits — Are the card’s benefits useful for travel, and can they save you money or make your journey more comfortable? Do the perks help offset the annual fee?
- Annual fee — If the card has a high annual fee, is it justified by the rewards and benefits you receive?
For a closer look at our methodology, read about how we rate credit cards at Insider.
UFB Priority Savings
Earn up to 5.06% APY on your savings. No monthly maintenance fees. No minimum deposit required to open an account.
Related Post
Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
On American Express’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
If you’re loyal to Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can help you save money and improve your stays, thanks to automatic Marriott Platinum elite status and lots of opportunities to earn additional points.
Details
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for you?
If you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a great option for making your stays more luxurious and accelerating your points earning toward your next award stay.
Its annual fee is $650, making it the most expensive premium co-branded hotel credit card. So it’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy loyalist and stay at the chain’s properties multiple times a year, it’s not hard to get significant value from this card.
You’ll earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar spent on airline tickets and restaurants worldwide, and 2 points per dollar spent everywhere else. You’ll also earn a free night certificate every year after your card renewal month, which you can redeem at Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points per night. You can get massive value from this benefit alone, especially if you use this free night at an expensive Marriott hotel.
The card also offers up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. If you max out this annual credit, you’re effectively reducing the card’s annual fee to $350.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card also provides helpful travel insurance, including baggage insurance, rental car insurance, and a host of purchase protections.
See our picks for the best credit cards »
Insider’s Featured Rewards Credit Cards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Earn 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase.
Earn unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1x points on other purchases.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Rewards
Welcome bonus offer
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a great welcome bonus offer: 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. That’s worth around $665 in stays, based on Insider’s estimate of Marriott points value.
How to earn points
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers a straightforward earning structure, earning bonus points at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties and in other useful categories. Cardholders earn:
- 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (this is in addition to up to 10x points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and up to 5x points for having Platinum elite status from the card)
- 3x points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines
- 2x points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
How to use points
You can redeem Marriott points and free night rewards at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels in cities around the world. Marriott has eliminated its award charts and moved to dynamic pricing, which means the price of an award night will vary based on demand, the paid price of the room, season, and other factors.
Award nights start as low as 5,000 points and go up to 120,000 points per night. If you use your points to book a stay of five nights or more, you’ll get the least expensive night for free. This discount is automatically calculated when you search for a stay of five or more nights on marriott.com.
Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy allows you to convert your points into frequent flyer miles with over 40 partner airlines — more than any other loyalty program. You’ll receive 1,000 airline miles for every 3,000 points transferred, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points (so 60,000 points becomes 25,000 airline miles) in most cases. Transfers to United Airlines MileagePlus get an extra bonus — for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer to United, you’ll receive 30,000 United miles.
You’re best off using your points to book Marriott stays, though, since you don’t have to worry about odd transfer ratios, and you can score some real deals — especially when you can lock in off-peak travel dates at high-end hotels that would cost hundreds of dollars a night if you paid in cash.
There are other redemption options available, including cashing in points for gift cards, rental cars, and experiences like concerts and events.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Benefits and Features
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status
As long as you have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you’ll receive automatic Platinum elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, which includes the following benefits:
- 50% bonus points on stays at Marriott properties
- Enhanced room upgrades (including select suites)
- Hotel lounge access and complimentary breakfast at hotel brands that have lounges
- A welcome gift on arrival (points, breakfast offering, or amenity depending on brand)
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability at resorts and convention hotels)
- Annual Choice Benefit for members with 50 elite night credits (five Suite Night Awards, 40% off a mattress and box spring from your favorite hotel brand, give the gift of Silver Elite status to a family member or friend, $100 charity donation, or five elite night credits)
- Complimentary enhanced in-room internet access
The card also helps you climb toward higher levels of elite status, providing 25 qualifying nights every year just for having the card.
Annual free night award
Every year after your account card renewal month, you’ll receive a free night award valid at Marriott Bonvoy properties charging up to 85,000 points per night. Depending on when you travel, that could get you a night at a very upscale property. Marriott also offers the ability to top-up free night certificates with up to 15,000 Marriott points from your account, making this certificate potentially useful at hotels that cost up to 100,000 points.
Monthly $25 dining credit
The card offers up to $300 in statement credits every year toward eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide (up to $25 in statement credits per month). This benefit starts as soon as you open the card, so as long as you spend at least $25 per month at restaurants, this alone offsets almost half of the card’s annual fee.
Annual Earned Choice Award
Cardholders who’ve spent at least $60,000 in a calendar year can select an Earned Choice Award from the following list:
- Five Suite Night Awards
- $1,000 off a bed from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques
- Free Night Award with a redemption value of up to 85,000 points
You can make your selection on Marriott’s Choice Benefit site after you’ve met the spending threshold for the calendar year. If you don’t choose by March 1 of the year following the qualifying year, you’ll receive five Suite Night Awards by default.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit
Holding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card also gives you access to an exclusive rate for stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels and resorts, which includes a $100 credit toward room service, spa treatments, and other qualifying purchases.
25 elite night credits each calendar year
As mentioned above, in addition to offering complimentary Platinum elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with 25 elite night credits each year. If you’re working toward Titanium elite status, which requires 75 elite night credits, these credits will get you 25 nights closer.
Priority Pass Select membership
The card includes a complimentary membership to the Priority Pass network of airport lounges, with more than 1,300 locations around the world (activation is required).
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck enrollment credit
The primary card member receives a credit toward enrollment in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, making your travel experience easier. This credit can be used once every 4 or 4.5 years (exact dates vary by program) so as long as you have the card you’ll never have to pay to maintain your membership in these trusted traveler programs.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you use your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card to reserve and pay for a car rental, you may be covered against loss or damage to the vehicle. This coverage is secondary, and does not provide liability insurance.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
If you paid for a covered trip with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and it’s canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you could be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per consecutive 12-month period.
Baggage insurance plan
When you purchase a ticket on an airline or other common carrier with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you’ll be covered for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage up to $3,000 per trip.
Trip delay insurance
The card’s trip delay insurance can reimburse you up to $500 for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you’ve paid for a covered trip with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and it’s delayed by six hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period.
Travel accident insurance
If the unthinkable happens to you or a loved one on a trip you booked with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you’ll be eligible for up to $500,000 in death and dismemberment insurance for you and each of your additional cardmembers, the spouse or domestic partner of each cardholder, and any of their children under age 23.
Purchase protection
Your eligible purchases are covered by purchase protection against accidental damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.
Extended warranty
Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less.
Return protection
If you purchased an eligible item with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the merchant won’t accept your return, you may get a refund of the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling), up to $300 per item, and a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.
Premium Global Assist Hotline
Cardholders get access to Amex’s Premium Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services.
The service itself is complimentary, but you may be responsible for any third-party costs. One big difference from the regular (versus premium) Global Assist Hotline is emergency medical evacuation coverage — Amex may provide emergency medical transportation assistance at no cost if it’s approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
On American Express’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
If you’re loyal to Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can help you save money and improve your stays, thanks to automatic Marriott Platinum elite status and lots of opportunities to earn additional points.
Details
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Annual Fee and Other Costs
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a $650 annual fee. While that’s high, it’s easy to get a ton of value out of the card if you stay with Marriott frequently. It also has no foreign transaction fees, so using this card is a great way to avoid extra charges when traveling abroad.
Beyond that, you can avoid most other fees on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card by paying your balance in full each month so you don’t accrue any interest. If you do carry a balance, you’re looking at a 20.99% – 29.99% Variable APR. That adds up quickly, so consider a balance transfer credit card or a zero-interest credit card offer if you need some time to pay off your credit card balance.
Like most other cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card charges fees in other situations, including:
- Cash advance fees
- Late payment fees
- Returned payment fees
How the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Compares
Amex Bonvoy Brilliant vs other Marriott credit cards
*Bonus points at Marriott hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
***the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers an annual free night award each year after your card renewal month for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points
****the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers an annual free night award each year after your account anniversary for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 35,000 points
*****the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card offers a free night award after you spend at least $15,000 in a calendar year for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 50,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex vs other premium cards
*Bonus points at Marriott and Hilton hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
***the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers an annual free night award each year after your card renewal month for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points
****starting January 1, 2021, the Amex Platinum Card earns 5x points on up to $500,000 spent on eligible flights per year
******Eligible digital subscriptions include Hulu, ESPN+, Disney+, SiriusXM, Peacock, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Most people who are approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card have a credit score in the good to excellent range, which means a FICO score of at least 670.
Because both Amex and Chase issue Marriott co-branded cards, the rules for who can get approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card are a little more complicated than other cards.
To start, if you already have (or have had) the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (or the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card, which isn’t available to new applicants), you aren’t eligible for the welcome bonus offer.
You also aren’t eligible for the welcome bonus offer on this card if any of the following apply to you:
- You are a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember within the last 30 days, of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan or J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card
- You’ve opened the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card in the last 90 days - In the last 24 months, you’ve received a new cardmember bonus offer or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
For frequent Marriott travelers, especially those who spend at least $25 per month on dining and can take advantage of Platinum elite status, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is very much worth it. Perks like airport lounge access can make your travels more comfortable, and earning a free night award each year worth up to 85,000 points can offset most (or all) of the card’s annual fee.
However, if you don’t stay with Marriott that often or aren’t sure you can use the card’s premium benefits, you’re likely better served by cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee) or Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card ($125 annual fee). There are also two mid-range Marriott cards to consider (Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card) which both have a $250 annual fee).
If you’re opposed to paying an annual fee, there’s the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. It doesn’t come with an anniversary free night or a ton of extra Marriott benefits, but it does have a decent welcome bonus offer: 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of account opening plus 50,000 bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through 1/31/24. Here’s our Marriott Bonvoy Bold credit review with the details.
Yes, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a metal credit card and weighs about 15 grams.
There’s no additional fee to add authorized users to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Keep in mind additional card members don’t receive most of the premium perks offered to the primary cardholder. One exception is the $100 property credit on qualifying stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels and resorts, which both the basic cardholder and any authorized users can use.
Methodology: How We Reviewed the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Insider’s credit cards team evaluated the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card in comparison to other Marriott credit cards and to competing premium credit cards from other banks. We looked at several factors, including:
- Ease of use — Does the card come with benefits that are easy to use and activate? Is using rewards straightforward, or are there complicated award charts to navigate?
- Earning potential — Is the card’s welcome bonus and earning structure competitive compared to similar cards (especially premium cards)? Are any of the bonus categories capped at a maximum amount of spending?
- Benefits — Are the card’s benefits useful for travel, and can they save you money or make your journey more comfortable? Do the perks help offset the annual fee?
- Annual fee — If the card has a high annual fee, is it justified by the rewards and benefits you receive?
For a closer look at our methodology, read about how we rate credit cards at Insider.
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