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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card Review

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is the perfect credit card for frequent travelers who want to earn points and receive premium perks. With this card, you can enjoy a high reward rate of 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3X points at restaurants worldwide and directly booked flights, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases.

But that’s not all—as a welcome bonus, you can earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership.

With many ways to earn points, this card is a great choice for anyone looking to maximize travel rewards. Keep reading to learn more about this card’s fantastic benefits.

Quick Highlights

• Earn 185,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months.
• Get up to $300 annual statement credit for dining.
• Enjoy Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status with benefits like room upgrades.
• Earn 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X points at restaurants and on flights, and 2X points on other purchases.
• Get one free night certificate annually.
• Earn additional benefits after spending $60,000 a year.
• Receive up to $100 credit on stays at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels.
• Get Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee credit every 4/4.5 years.
• Earn 25 Elite Night Credits annually towards Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
• Enjoy unlimited Priority Pass Select airport lounge visits.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Cell phone protection with up to $800 coverage per claim, subject to a deductible.
• A $650 annual fee applies.

Rewards Rate of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• 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 Bonus

• Free Night Award: After the card renewal month, users can redeem one free night at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels with a redemption level of up to 85,000 points (resort fees may apply).
• Priority Pass Select Membership: Cardholders can enjoy complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
• Global Entry and TSA Precheck Credit: Every four years, users can receive up to $100 in statement credit for Global Entry or up to $85 through TSA Precheck® enrolment.
• St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton Credit: When booking directly, users can receive up to $100 in credit for purchases at St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton properties on stays of two nights or longer.
• Restaurant Statement Credits: Cardholders can receive up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
• Earned Choice Award Benefit: By spending $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, users can earn a Choice Award that can be redeemed for various benefits. Only one Earned Choice Award can be earned per calendar year.

How to Redeem Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card Rewards

As a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardholder, it’s important to understand that you earn Marriott Bonvoy points, not Amex Membership Rewards points. This means there are limitations on both the value of your points and your redemption options.

Many estimates suggest that a single Marriott Bonvoy Rewards point is worth approximately 0.9 cents when used towards a stay at a Marriott property and just 0.8 cents or less for other redemption options. This may seem low in comparison to other loyalty programs.

You should save your hard-earned points for future stays at Marriott properties. However, it’s good to be aware of all your redemption options, which include:

• Hotel stays, upgrades, and other purchases at Marriott properties
• Flights and rental cars with over 250 travel partners (booked directly, not through points transfer)
• Cruises booked through the Marriott Bonvoy’s Cruise With Points program
• Transfers to 40 airline partners (most with a 3:1 points-to-mile ratio)
• Shopping for headphones, fashion items, gift cards, and more
• Marriott Bonvoy Moments, which offers select dining, concert, and sports experiences
• TSA Precheck for 25,000 points (although you may not need this since the card offers a $100 credit for travel expenses)
• Gifts or donations to charities or other members.

Rates and Fee

• Annual Fee: $650

• Intro Purchase APR: N/A

• Regular APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable

• Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

• Foreign Transaction Fee: None

• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40

• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40

• Over limit Fee: None

Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers a variety of benefits to its cardholders, making it a top choice for travelers and frequent hotel guests. Some of the exclusive benefits include:

• • $300 Dining Credit: Cardholders can enjoy up to $25 monthly statement credits for eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide. This adds up to $300 in dining statement credits per calendar year.
  • $100 Property Credit: When booking directly using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay at participating Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels, cardholders can receive up to $100 in property credit for qualifying charges.
  • 1 Free Night Award: Each year after the card renewal month, cardholders will receive a Free Night Award that can be used for one night at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (redemption level at or under 85,000 points). Please note that certain hotels may have resort fees.
  • 25 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year, cardholders can earn 25 Elite Night Credits towards the next Marriott Bonvoy Elite status level. This benefit is not limited to American Express cards; certain limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account.
  • Brilliant Earned Choice Award: After spending $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, cardholders can earn a Brilliant Earned Choice Award. This allows them to select one benefit from various options listed at https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant.
  • Priority Pass™ Select: Cardholders can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which provides unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in more than 130 countries. This benefit allows cardholders to enjoy complimentary snacks, drinks, and internet access in a comfortable and quiet location regardless of their flight carrier or class. So, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is not just a credit card but a membership that offers exclusive benefits and privileges for travelers. With its dining credits, property credits, free night awards, elite night credits, earned choice awards, and priority pass access, this card truly enhances the travel experience for its cardholders. No wonder it’s a top choice for frequent travelers and hotel guests.

Additional Benefits

As a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card holder, you can enjoy exclusive benefits and elevated experiences at participating hotels.

• 50% More Points on Stays: With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, you can earn 50% more points on eligible hotel purchases. This includes room rates and other charges, such as dining and spa services, that can be charged to your room. This means more points for you to redeem for exciting rewards!
• Enhanced Room Upgrades: We want you to have the best possible stay at our participating hotels, so we offer enhanced room upgrades upon availability. As a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card holder, you can upgrade to a higher room category, including select suites. Please note that these upgrades are subject to availability upon arrival and only applicable when booking with Qualifying Rates.
• Welcome Gift: As our valued Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card holder, you can choose from various welcome gifts upon arrival at participating hotels. Depending on the hotel brand, these gifts may include points, breakfast offerings, or amenities. Start your stay off right with a special welcome gift just for you.

Applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

Eligibility Criteria

American Express doesn’t publicly disclose the exact credit score requirements for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card. However, it generally targets applicants with good to excellent credit, typically 690 to 850.

Additionally, there may be restrictions on applications if you have recently received other American Express cards.

Application Process

• You can apply online at American Express.
• The application process should be similar to that for other American Express cards. It will likely ask for personal information, employment details, and income.
• American Express offers a pre-approval tool that allows you to check your odds of getting approved without impacting your credit score.

Approval Process

• Once you submit your application, American Express will review your creditworthiness and financial history.
• This review process typically takes a few days, but you may receive an approval decision instantly in some cases.
• American Express will notify you of the decision via mail or email.

Customer Service

Helpline Number: (833) 674-7267

Official Website:  American Express

Who is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card good for?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is a good fit for high-spending travelers who frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties and value airport lounge access and elite status. Benefits like the $300 annual statement credit for dining and the potential to earn up to 16X points on Marriott stays cater to those who enjoy an upscale travel lifestyle.

Who shouldn’t get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?

This card is not ideal for casual travelers or those on a budget. The $650 annual fee is significantly higher than other Marriott Bonvoy cards, and the benefits are geared toward those who stay at expensive Marriott properties frequently. If you are looking for a card offering points and rewards but with a lower annual fee, then the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card might be a better option.

Final Thoughts

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card caters to a specific traveler: the high-spending individual who frequently stays at Marriott Bonvoy properties and prioritizes luxury travel experiences. With a hefty $650 annual fee, the card offers premium airport lounge access, elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, and a lucrative welcome bonus. However, these perks come at a cost.

You’ll need excellent credit to qualify, and maximizing the value requires significant spending on travel and dining. The Brilliant card could be a good fit if you’re a loyal Marriott guest who stays at expensive properties multiple times a year and values exclusive benefits. However, for casual travelers or those on a budget, the high annual fee and points transfer limitations make the card a less attractive option.

Consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, which offers a lower annual fee and many of the same core benefits. Ultimately, the decision depends on your travel habits and spending patterns.

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