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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card review
A stellar addition to the premium-travel-card market with valuable rewards and benefits.
finder.com’s rating: 4.6 / 5
★★★★★
- Get this card if Marriott Bonvoy is a major part of your regular travel plans.
- Pick something else if you want generalized, flexible travel rewards or prefer staying with a different hotel group.
- Apply with an excellent credit score of 740 or higher.
75,000
Points as welcome offer
Up to 6x
Points
$450
Annual fee
15.74% to 24.74%
Purchase APR (variable)
Details
| Annual fee | $450 |
|---|---|
| Welcome Offer | 75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at US restaurants within the first 6 months |
| Rewards | 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3x at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2x for all other purchases |
| Purchase APR | 15.74% to 24.74% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Recommended minimum credit score | 740 |
Review by
Kevin Joey Chen
kevin.chen@findercrew.comKevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
Expert review
There’s long been stiff competition among premium travel cards, especially thanks to the superb options offered by leading providers. Now, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has entered the field following the merging of Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) and Marriott Rewards into Marriott Bonvoy. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card carries a $450 annual fee, earns 6x points at Marriott properties, 3x points at US restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines and 2x on everything else. It also offers a solid 75,000 point welcome offer after you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Plus, earn up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at US restaurants within the first 6 months. You also won’t be charged any foreign transaction fees. But is it worth its hefty admission fee?
There’s good news: You’ll find tremendous value for the price. The card can pay for itself with just a few of its benefits. The card’s annual $300 statement credit immediately takes a bite out of what you owe on the annual fee. The card’s annual free night award and complimentary Priority Pass membership more than cover the rest, allowing you to worry less about covering the fee and more on enjoying your perks. Just be sure to enroll in your Amex account to access these perks.
Not surprisingly, the card’s rewards are most impressive for frequent travelers. But a notably deft touch is elevated rewards for dining, which makes it competitive with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
If you’re a dedicated Marriott Bonvoy member, this card is more than worth a spot in your wallet and likely your best choice out of the three Marriott options.
How to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
To apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, you must be at least 18 years old and a US resident. You’ll also need to provide information such as your name, email and phone number, Social Security number and date of birth, your home address, and your total annual income and income source.
- Click Apply now.
- Fill out the application form with details like your name, contact information, Social Security number and total annual income.
- Review your application and submit it.
What credit score do I need
For better odds of approval, consider applying with an excellent credit score of 740 or higher. Remember that when you apply with a better score, you’re more likely to receive a lower APR, which can be handy if you’re planning on carrying a balance.
How long will it take to get my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card?
Applications are generally processed automatically, meaning you can get a decision within just a few minutes. In some cases you may need to provide additional information, which can delay getting an answer by anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. Once you’re approved for the card, you’ll likely receive it and any welcome materials in the mail within seven to 10 days.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card benefits
- Welcome offer: 75,000 bonus points. Earn these points after you make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months following your account opening. There’s also up to $200 statement credit you can earn on purchases at US restaurants within the first 6 months when you open your account. Earn these bonus points and you’ll likely have enough for at least one reward night at any participating property in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio.
- Rewards: Up to 6x points. Earn 6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. This was the rate you’d receive before SPG and Marriott Rewards merged in August 2018, and it’s still a strong one.Earn 3x points at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. On all other eligible purchases, you’ll earn 2x points.
- Credits toward higher Elite status. Each calendar year, you’ll receive a 15-night credit to help you reach the next level of Elite status.You’ll need to link your card account to a Marriott Loyalty Program in your name.
- No foreign transaction fees. Use your card abroad or at foreign websites without paying a fee. This is standard across travel cards.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi. After enrolling, you’ll receive unlimited Wi-Fi through more than a million Boingo hotspots around the world. You’ll also receive complimentary in-room, premium Internet access when you stay at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Travel benefits. Enjoy car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance. Get access to the Premium Global Assist Hotline as well, which can connect you to medical and professional services when you’re in a pinch on vacation.
- Shopping and entertainment benefits. Access ticket presales and select events in your area.
- ShopRunner. You’ll receive free two-day shipping on eligible items at over 140 online stores in the ShopRunner network with this complimentary membership. Access Shoprunner by enrolling in your Amex account.
- $300 in Marriott Bonvoy statement credit. Each card year, you’ll receive $300 in statement credit for eligible purchases you make at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. This is an excellent perk that can largely offset the card’s annual fee, depending on how you take advantage of the Amex credit.
- Priority Pass™ Select membership. You’ll receive a complimentary membership in Priority Pass Select. Once you enroll, you’ll enjoy complimentary access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world. At Priority Pass lounges that allow guests, you can bring two along without paying extra.
- Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Every four years, you’ll receive a $200 statement credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application, which cost $100 and $85 respectively. If you’re approved for Global Entry, you’ll automatically receive a TSA PreCheck membership at no additional charge.
- Complimentary Elite status. As a baseline perk, you’ll enjoy Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Gold Elite comes with a 25% points bonus, 2 p.m. late checkout based on availability, a dedicated elite reservation line, welcome gifts and enhanced room upgrades based on availability. Normally, you’d need to stay 25 nights a year to attain it.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card drawbacks
- $450 annual fee. This card is priced at a premium. To its credit, however, it offers impressive benefits for its annual fee that can easily make up the cost.
- Potentially high APR. You could receive a purchase APR as high as 24.74% variable, depending on your credit. That’s much higher than the average credit card APR of around 16%.
- Penalty APR. American Express may apply a 29.99% variable APR to all balances if you pay late or make a returned payment. This rate will apply for at least six months, but you may be stuck with it indefinitely.
What can you redeem points for?
Redeem points for reward nights at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, as well as car rentals and flights through the airline program.
You can also transfer points to miles with over 40 airlines, including Delta, Emirates, United and more. The transfer ratio is 3 points per 1 mile. Plus, for every 60,000 points you transfer, you’ll get a 15,000-point bonus. That means you’ll receive not 20,000 — but 25,000 miles. For all of your redemption options, check out our Marriott award chart.
- Free Night Award. Each year after your card anniversary, you’ll receive a Free Night Award. You can use it for a night at a participating hotel that has a redemption level at or under 50,000 points.Currently, complimentary nights range in cost from 7,500 to 85,000 points.
How good is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card Free Night Award?
Your Free Night Award lets you stay at a participating hotel with a redemption value of 50,000 points or less. To give you a sense of how far your award goes, check out these properties you could potentially book a stay in.
The Ritz-Carlton, Macau
Park Tower, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Buenos Aires
Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui
Silver Elite vs. Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card offers complimentary Silver Elite status. Meanwhile, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card offers complimentary Gold Elite status. Here’s how the tiers stack up, with base-level Member perks to compare.| Member | Silver Elite | Gold Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complimentary in-room Internet access |  | | |
| Member rates | | | |
| Mobile check-in and mobile services | | | |
| Ultimate Reservation Guarantee |  | | |
| Points bonus | | 10% bonus | 25% bonus |
| Priority late checkout | | | Until 2 p.m., based on availability |
| Dedicated Elite reservation line | | | |
| In-hotel welcome gift | | | Typically points |
| Enhanced room upgrade, based on availability | | | |
Compare Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant to similar credit cards
Compare the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Looking at these similar cards’ annual fees, welcome offers and other features can help you decide which is right for you.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & fees| Go to site |
|---|
|
Minimum credit score 740 |
|
Annual fee $450 |
|
Purchase APR 15.74% to 24.74% variable |
|
Balance transfer APR N/A |
|
Rewards 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3x at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2x for all other purchases |
|
Welcome offer 75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at US restaurants within the first 6 months |
The Platinum Card® from American Express
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & fees| Go to site |
|---|
|
Minimum credit score 670 |
|
Annual fee $695 |
|
Purchase APR See Pay Over Time APR |
|
Balance transfer APR N/A |
|
Rewards 10x points at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the US on up to $25,000 combined in the first 6 months, 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 5x points on directly-booked flights on up to $500,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on other purchases |
|
Welcome offer 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the US on up to $25,000 in combined purchases in the same timeframe |
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & fees| Go to site |
|---|
|
Minimum credit score 740 |
|
Annual fee $550 |
|
Purchase APR 16.99% to 23.99% variable |
|
Balance transfer APR 16.99% to 23.99% variable |
|
Rewards 10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases |
|
Welcome offer 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $900 through Chase Ultimate Rewards. |
Compare even more credit cards
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card reviews and complaints
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is a new product, but its sister card — Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card — is often highly regarded by customers. The business version in particular is much improved over its previous incarnation, offering elevated points in new categories.
The American Express Company is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), earning an A+ rating from the agency as of October 2020. It currently has over 3,000 complaints. However, according to the BBB, most of the complaints have been answered by the company or resolved to customers’ satisfaction.
I got the card. Now what?
- Enroll in autopay. You can set up automatic payments at the American Express website. These can be highly convenient, as they’ll help you avoid late payments.
- Avoid late and returned payments. Both come with fees as high as $40. They’ll also put you at risk of a penalty APR, which is 29.99% variable. This rate may be indefinitely applied to all of your balances.
- Contact customer service. To reach customer service, call the number on the back of your card. Alternatively, you can call 1-800-528-4800.
Bottom line
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is priced at a premium, but it packs tremendous value for its cost. If you frequent Marriott Bonvoy properties and love traveling in style, this card could be an automatic winner.
If you’re not sure the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is for you, compare other great travel cards before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
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