Link: Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Continue reading: Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Review: Platinum The Easy Way
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One of the biggest mistakes Marriott made was to devalue what Platinums get (Breakfast benefit in particular ... now it's do I get breakfast? Do I just get a Bagel? What exactly is the benefit? Is this going to be awkward because the Hotel is just looking at me as a cost factor and not someone who brings more money than others to their bottom line?). They next thing they killed was much of an incentive to stay to earn Platinum. As a frequent guest what's the point in staying frequently at Marriott hotels if anyone with $650 yearly spend can get the same benefit? Just get the credit card stay at cooler indy hotels for a better experience and use the card the rare times you actually have to stay at a Marriott affiliated hotel.
They also killed the value of Platinum status for the hotel owners by flooding the market with Platinums who only spend $650 and not thousands of dollars a year in stays. What kind of yahoos are running Marriott these days?
I'm a Lifetime Platinum and hardly stay at Marriott's anymore because Platinum has no real value. (Or at least I can't be sure of the value). The amount of revenue Marriott has missed out on and moved to Hyatt or indy's because of these changes must be staggering. Though clearly not measured at Marriott corporate because then they don't have to know or disclose they have a problem.
Of course, when everyone is Platinum, no one is Platinum.
Nice shout out in the NYT!
What do you mean that if you have a Chase Boundless card, the Amex offer will not be applicable to you. Are you talking about the sign up bonus miles points?
My question: If you have a Chase Boundless Card that confers silver status and you get this Amex card which provides Platinum status, will there be a conflict between the two products or will you get the Platinum Elite Status?
As a lifetime platinum, I can definitely say the value of Marriott platinum is nearly worthless. Bonvoyed!
Confused about the part about if you've gotten offers to upgrade, you're not eligible. Offers to upgrade come in via email and snail mail often. Is this an offer to upgrade that was taken so there was a change in actual cards?
Yup - Ten years as a loyal Starwoodite - averaging over 80 nights a year, to earn a status that now anyone can pick up by getting this shitty credit card.
Barry Sternlicht - thanks so much for selling out to the most mediocre player in the industry
Bonvoy this!
This is a great card depending on your stay and spending habits.
For four nights total of stays plus the dining benefit we got a return of about $1300 for an investment of $650.
That is a pretty good deal.
Not everyone is Platinum- just those that earn it through the credit card or through stays.
Companies use status in two way:
One is to reward loyalty by giving status.
The other is by encourage loyalty by giving status.
Both are equally valid.
The breakfast benefit is explained pretty well here:
If you still have questions about benefits you can call the specific hotel.
I have and it is easy to do.
I recently applied for this card just purely for the 200K sign-up bonus points. I am already Platinum (and will be Lifetime Platinum without any help of night credit deposit from this card), so for me, I am basically buying 200K Marriott points with $350 (AF 650 - annual dining credit total $300). $6K required spending is not an issue, as I will put some of my company spending on this card. Not bad, but won't keep it after a year.
One of the biggest mistakes Marriott made was to devalue what Platinums get (Breakfast benefit in particular ... now it's do I get breakfast? Do I just get a Bagel? What exactly is the benefit? Is this going to be awkward because the Hotel is just looking at me as a cost factor and not someone who brings more money than others to their bottom line?). They next thing they killed was much of an incentive to stay to earn Platinum. As a frequent guest what's the point in staying frequently at Marriott hotels if anyone with $650 yearly spend can get the same benefit? Just get the credit card stay at cooler indy hotels for a better experience and use the card the rare times you actually have to stay at a Marriott affiliated hotel.
They also killed the value of Platinum status for the hotel owners by flooding the market with Platinums who only spend $650 and not thousands of dollars a year in stays. What kind of yahoos are running Marriott these days?
I'm a Lifetime Platinum and hardly stay at Marriott's anymore because Platinum has no real value. (Or at least I can't be sure of the value). The amount of revenue Marriott has missed out on and moved to Hyatt or indy's because of these changes must be staggering. Though clearly not measured at Marriott corporate because then they don't have to know or disclose they have a problem.
The breakfast benefit is explained pretty well here:
If you still have questions about benefits you can call the specific hotel.
I have and it is easy to do.
And you'll whine the same thing once you reach lifetime Globalist and start staying at Hiltons.
Of course, when everyone is Platinum, no one is Platinum.
Nice shout out in the NYT!
Not everyone is Platinum- just those that earn it through the credit card or through stays.
Companies use status in two way:
One is to reward loyalty by giving status.
The other is by encourage loyalty by giving status.
Both are equally valid.
What do you mean that if you have a Chase Boundless card, the Amex offer will not be applicable to you. Are you talking about the sign up bonus miles points?
My question: If you have a Chase Boundless Card that confers silver status and you get this Amex card which provides Platinum status, will there be a conflict between the two products or will you get the Platinum Elite Status?
You will be banished by Marriott.
You will get annual -50 nights making difficult to earn any status and sign up penalty of -100k points.
Your banished status forces you late check in and early check out. You must check in after 6pm and check out before 8am.
As a lifetime platinum, I can definitely say the value of Marriott platinum is nearly worthless. Bonvoyed!
Yup - Ten years as a loyal Starwoodite - averaging over 80 nights a year, to earn a status that now anyone can pick up by getting this shitty credit card.
Barry Sternlicht - thanks so much for selling out to the most mediocre player in the industry
Bonvoy this!
This is a great card depending on your stay and spending habits.
For four nights total of stays plus the dining benefit we got a return of about $1300 for an investment of $650.
That is a pretty good deal.
Confused about the part about if you've gotten offers to upgrade, you're not eligible. Offers to upgrade come in via email and snail mail often. Is this an offer to upgrade that was taken so there was a change in actual cards?
I recently applied for this card just purely for the 200K sign-up bonus points. I am already Platinum (and will be Lifetime Platinum without any help of night credit deposit from this card), so for me, I am basically buying 200K Marriott points with $350 (AF 650 - annual dining credit total $300). $6K required spending is not an issue, as I will put some of my company spending on this card. Not bad, but won't keep it after a year.
Seems like a lot of work for not much money. Although the $6000 spend requirement may seem easy, you are easily giving up well over $100.00 you could be earning on basic spending on any other premium card. Although the $30 per month benefit is also "easy" to use, it is still one more hassle. All of the benefits are redundant with cards that earn more on spending. Basically, there just are not any reasons to use the card for spending, other than try to pick up a moderate sign up bonus. So, unless you stay at Marriott a lot and can find some benefit to the Platinum status or the Elite nights, it is an easy pass.
I genuinely hate this card. The people who have it have to play the coupon book game for the restaurant bit, and plan around finding a hotel they would have stayed at anyway where 85k points exceeds $350 (in real value, not points farm value; and many people never stay at a $350+ hotel in a year), and all to get a status that is no longer viewed as remotely special, but which distorts the market in regions where Platinum is not given out so easily.
I will admit that for US residents who have the card and then travel to hotels internationally, the value proposition is unbeatable. But I still think the Marriott ecosystem would be better without this card, which is arguably the reason for the top tier being split up into Plat/Tit/Amb. Hyatt don't offer one and it's the right decision.
I'm with you, Chris. Even overseas, it's been harder and harder to find good redemptions for the certificate that justify the annual fee. However, I disagree on Hyatt; they should have a premium card in their line-up. I closed WOH Chase card because that Cat 1-4 certificate was mostly a pain to use since so many properties have been pushed up to Cat 5 so that you can't use it.
I cannot remember - is this card blocked by having the "basic" ex-SPG card?
Platinum the easy way... which gets you... *checks notes* ...maybe free breakfast (if it isn't a Ritz-Carlton). After many years of having this card, the recent devaluations have made me reconsider. 85K certificate (even with the ability to now add 25K points) just isn't cutting it anymore, especially when aspirational properties purposely raise redemptions to 111K (whoospie, can't use it! Got'em!)
I've been questioning for a couple years if I should upgrade/apply for this card as I'm only a handful of years away from LTP, and the last couple years I havent stayed enough to qualify for Platinum even with a personal + biz marriott card. I find better use for my money and points staying at other properties I can't really justify it. plus besides this cards 85k and annoying coupon dining credits its really not that good to keep
Ahh, the 'before-times'... long-ago (40ish days), when I did was a mere 'Guest'... bah!
Ben surely you have to lower your valuation on marriott points. They are worth maybe .5cpp with all the devaluations going on. Sure you might be able to find one property during highseason when cash rates are high and you have 5th night free to get "outsized" value, but most normal redemptions at a Sheraton or Marriott is honestly trash value. Best use for points now is probably topping up FNCs from Marriott cards because they've become so worthless.
Love this card and have done well the last 2 years with my free night.
Edition Rome Hotel in 2025
St. Regis Mexico City next week
huh? I don't think I have stayed in anything below a 5 star hotel in over 10 years...
Are you willing to stay at Courtyards & other Low end Marriotts for 85K points? Then this card is for you. Last year for wife & I.
Ehem. Last I checked… Courtyards still have sheets, sir or madam. (Oh, yeah, for real, 85K ain’t what it used to be…)