Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card Review
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
Apply Now Our take: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a great option for frequent Marriott travelers looking for luxury perks like TSA PreCheck, airport lounge access and Marriott Elite status.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card worth it?
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card could be worth it for those who frequently stay at Marriott throughout the year and can take advantage of the card’s many perks and credits.
While Marriott offers several cards to a diverse range of travelers, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the most rewarding pick for luxury and international travelers. With statement credits and annual free night awards that well exceed the $650 annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ranks well among the top luxury travel cards on the market.
Quick facts
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- 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 Pass™ 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.
- $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.
- Rates & Fees
- Recommended Credit
Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretionGood / Excellent
- Credit needed: Good / Excellent
- Welcome offer: 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.
- Earning rate: 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. Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Annual fee: $650
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular Purchase APR
19.99%-28.99% Variable
Intro BT APR
N/A
Regular BT APR
N/A
Annual Fee
$650
Cash Advance Fee
Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Balance Transfer Fee
N/A
Pros and cons
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status (enrollment required)
- Priority Pass™ Select access (enrollment required)
- Free night award
- Foreign transaction fees: None
- Solid travel insurance
- $650 annual fee
- High spending requirement for welcome offer
- Rewards are limited to Marriott stays
Review of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Excellent for Marriott loyalists
If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers plenty of ways to earn points.
For starters, you’ll 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.
Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.09 cents each. Coupled with automatic Platinum Elite status, this offer could be a top choice for a very frequent traveler.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a solid rewards rate, especially on Marriott and restaurant 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. Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Even though Marriott Bonvoy points are a bit inflated, you’ll still get a higher-than-average return on your purchases: 5.4% on dollars spent with the hotel chain, 2.7% on restaurants and flights and a 1.8% rewards rate on everyday spending.
However, the real value lies in the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card‘s benefits — and they’re not just limited to Marriott. Overall, these ongoing features make this card a solid pick for luxury travelers.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card benefits and features
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with a $650 annual fee, but it also has a long list of excellent benefits. From a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit to multiple Marriott Bonvoy statement credits and an annual free night award, you may be able to find value with little effort if you maximize the offers on the card.
Marriott Bonvoy statement credits
With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can earn a couple of Bonvoy-specific statement credits that could provide long-term value:
- Annual dining statement credit. Each card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. This benefit alone covers almost half of the card’s annual fee. Since the credit comes in $25 monthly increments, you’ll need to remember to use the card every month.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit. You can receive a $100 statement credit for qualifying charges when booking a special rate for a minimum two-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis. Unfortunately, you can’t use this credit with any other Marriott properties. When you book online or by phone, you must select or ask for the “$100 Property Credit, Luxury Credit Card Rate” and pay with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
If you stay at Marriott’s luxury properties often, you can leverage the latter statement credit to your advantage. You can use this credit for charges such as dining, spa services, room service and hotel recreational activities that aren’t managed by a third party. This credit cannot be applied to the actual cost of your room. Again, this card is best suited for luxury travelers, as there’s no limit to how many times you use this credit.
Automatic Platinum status
With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you’ll receive automatic Platinum status, plus 25 elite night credits each calendar year to expedite your way to the next level of elite status. Some of the valuable features of Platinum Elite status include a 50% bonus on stays, an annual choice benefit when you reach 50 Elite Night credits, 4 p.m. late checkout and more. If you frequent Marriotts and take advantage of the status benefits, then you can justify the annual fee.
As a refresher, here are the Marriott Bonvoy elite status requirements:
| Status | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Member | 0-9 nights per year |
| Silver Elite | 10-24 nights per year |
| Gold Elite | 25-49 nights per year |
| Platinum Elite | 50-74 nights per year |
| Titanium Elite | 75-99 nights per year |
| Ambassador Elite | 100+ nights per year and $23,000 in annual qualifying spend |
Here’s what you can expect from being a Platinum Elite member or a Titanium Elite member, which is the next tier up:
| Status | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Platinum Elite | Premium internet access Member rates Mobile check-in Ultimate Reservation Guarantee 50% points bonus 4 p.m. late checkout, based on availability In-hotel welcome gift (points, breakfast offering or amenity) Enhanced room upgrade, based on availability (including select suites) Lounge access Guaranteed room type Annual choice benefit: Five suite night awards or gift options |
| Titanium Elite | Premium internet access Member rates Mobile check-in Ultimate Reservation Guarantee 75% points bonus Guaranteed room if you book by 3 p.m. 48 hours prior to arrival 4 p.m. late checkout, based on availability In-hotel welcome gift (points, breakfast offering or amenity) Enhanced room upgrade, based on availability (including select suites) Lounge access Complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver Status Guaranteed room type Annual choice benefit: Five suite night awards or gift options |
Free hotel night at qualifying Marriott properties
Cardholders of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card will receive one free night award every year on their renewal month. This credit is redeemable for award stays at properties worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at participating hotels.
Since Marriott Bonvoy points cost $0.009 each and you can use up to 85,000 points, then this benefit can be worth up to around $765 — which more than justifies the annual fee.
Be aware that some hotels have resort fees, which may not be covered with your free night award.
Earned Choice Award benefit
If you spend $60,000 on eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can choose from one of several valuable awards. The award options include:
- 5 Suite Night Awards: These awards allow you to request a room upgrade in advance for free.
- 1 free night award: You can redeem a free night up to 85,000 points. Keep in mind some hotels have resort fees. If you earn this and use the free night award that originally comes with the card, you can receive a value of up to $1,530.
- $1,000 off a bed from Marriott Bonvoy boutiques: Receive a promotional code valued at $1,000 off Marriott retail brand mattresses and box springs.
You can only redeem one award per calendar year.
Premium travel benefits
From the tangible benefits like the Priority Pass Select™ membership (enrollment required), to the extensive list of available travel coverage options, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with other great premium travel perks. It rivals other luxury cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card or American Express Platinum Card®.
- $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit. When applying for Global Entry every four years (or TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years), you’ll receive up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or up to an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck.
- Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership. With Priority Pass Select™, you’ll have access to over 1,200 airport lounges across the world (enrollment required). The Priority Pass membership level that gets you 10 free visits, then goes to $35 per visit after, costs $329.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance. This protection offers secondary coverage in a covered territory when you use your card to reserve and pay for the entire rental.
- Premium Global Assist hotline. In the event of an emergency, you can receive 24/7 medical, legal, financial and other assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home.
- Baggage insurance plan. When paying for your entire fare on this card, you can receive reimbursement for your carry-on or checked baggage in the event of loss, damage or theft.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. By paying for the entire round-trip with this card, you can receive reimbursement for your non-refundable travel expenses under a covered reason resulting in trip cancellation or interruption.
- Trip delay insurance. By paying for the entire round-trip with this card, you’ll receive reimbursement for a covered reason that delays your trip for more than six hours.
- No foreign transaction fees. When traveling internationally, you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees.
Alternatives to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
We’ve put together a few alternatives to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card if you want more travel rewards flexibility or just prefer not to pay a $650 fee. You can also check out our list of top rewards cards or top hotel cards.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
|
$650 | 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. Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases. | 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. | ||
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*
|
$0 | Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, and cable and phone services. Plus, earn 1X point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. | Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. | ||
Chase Sapphire Reserve®*
|
$795 | Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases | Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | ||
American Express Platinum Card®
|
$895 | 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Terms apply. | You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. |
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Marriott perks at a lower price-tag
For Marriott Bonvoy members who aren’t convinced to shell out a $650 annual fee each year, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase is one worth considering. With a $95 annual fee, you’ll earn the following: Earn 3 Free Night Awards worth up to 50,000 points each after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening. You can also get 50,000 points after you stay six eligible paid nights at participating hotels through Jan. 1, 2024. You’ll receive automatic Silver Elite status, with the ability to upgrade with 15 elite night credits each calendar year. And by spending $35,000 on purchases each account year, you’ll receive Gold Elite status.
While you’ll also receive one free night award on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, it only has a redemption value of up to 35,000 points. Therefore, this card may be best for middle-of-the-road travelers who don’t need ultra-luxurious travel benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
All-encompassing travel rewards
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is often heralded as the best premium travel card — with good reason. For a $795 annual fee, you’ll earn Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases. The Chase Sapphire earns Ultimate Rewards points, worth much more than Marriott Bonvoy points and with more flexibility. You’ll get 50% more value when redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points on the Chase travel portal, earning an excellent 4.5% rewards rate on travel and dining purchases.
You’ll get similar perks with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, like Priority Pass lounge access and a Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck fee credit. You can’t go wrong with either option, so you’ll have to decide between Marriott Bonvoy perks or travel flexibility and figure out what’s more important to you.
American Express Platinum Card® vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Luxury with flexibility
American Express Platinum Card®, like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, is geared toward people who like to travel often — and luxuriously. American Express Platinum Card® might be better for you if you want more flexible rewards and transfer options instead of just being tied to Marriott rewards.
American Express Platinum Card® lets you earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Terms apply. On all other purchases, you’ll earn just 1X Membership Rewards points. It also offers a similar, but larger annual fee of $895.
However, you can get many of the same perks — and more, including:
- $200 hotel credit
- Up to $200 airline fee credit (enrollment required)
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (enrollment required)
- Priority Pass™ Select complimentary access (enrollment required)
Marriott Bonvoy is an American Express transfer partner, so you can always use your points for Marriott stays. If you don’t see yourself staying at other hotels or utilizing transfer partners, then the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card might be best for you.
Should you apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card?
Despite the high annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is worth it for Marriott Bonvoy members who spend a lot of money at the chain. The card comes loaded with perks and credits designed to improve the travel experience for Marriott loyalists. However, if you stay at multiple hotel chains or don’t spend that much on hotel stays, you’ll be better off with a general rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card or American Express Platinum Card®.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
The information related to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.