
Sign up & start saving!
Get our weekly newsletter for the latest in money news, credit card offers + more ways to save
finder.com’s rating: 4.6 / 5
★★★★★
125,000
Points as welcome offer
Up to 6x
Points
$450
Annual fee
15.74% to 24.74%
Purchase APR (variable)
Annual fee | $450 |
---|---|
Welcome Offer | 125,000 points after spending $5,000 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 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.
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.
When you earn your bonus points, you’ll have enough for a reward night at any participating property in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You may even have enough left over for another stay — perhaps even at the same property.
Earn 3x points at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. On all other eligible purchases, you’ll earn 2x points.
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.
Currently, complimentary nights range in cost from 7,500 to 85,000 points.
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
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 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & feesGo 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 125,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at US restaurants within the first 6 months |
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & feesGo to site |
---|
Minimum credit score 670 |
Annual fee $95 |
Purchase APR 15.74% to 24.74% variable |
Balance transfer APR N/A |
Rewards 12x points on Hilton Portfolio spending, 6x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases |
Welcome offer 130,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months |
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & feesGo 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
You’ll need to link your card account to a Marriott Loyalty Program in your name.
You’ll also receive complimentary in-room, premium Internet access when you stay at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Before applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, check the eligibility requirements and make sure you have the required information.
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.
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.
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.
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.
We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.
Images: AmericanExpress.com