Link: Apply now for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review) is the most premium credit card in the Marriott co-brand card portfolio, and it underwent a major refresh in 2022.
The card has a hefty annual fee that might make some people hesitant to apply, but the perks add up. In this post I wanted to share why I think this card is worth picking up, as the perks justify the annual fee, in my opinion.
In this post:
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card welcome bonus
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is offering a welcome bonus of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 within the first three months. This is a solid bonus, as I value Bonvoy points at ~0.7 cents each. To me the bonus is worth ~$665.
Of course the bonus is only one reason you should consider this card, as the real benefit is the ongoing value offered by the card.
Why the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is worth it
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has a $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees). I can totally understand how on the surface some people might say “well I don’t want to pay that much for a card if I don’t have to.”
I totally get it, but I think for most people this card will be well worth it. It’s a card that I personally have, and one that I get significant value from. In no particular order, below are the five perks that I like most about the card, and that I think make it worthwhile.
$300 annual restaurant credit
One thing that helps with justifying the annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is that it offers up to $300 in restaurant credits annually. Specifically, you can receive up to $25 per month in credits for spending at eligible restaurants worldwide.
This should be extremely easy to take advantage of — just spend $25 at a restaurant each month, and you’ll receive a statement credit for that amount. You could use this toward a nice dinner while traveling, or just for your morning coffee. There’s no registration required, and the statement credit will post automatically.
Admittedly there are better cards for dining spending, so you may not want to use this card for all of your restaurant spending. My strategy is to just load $25 into my Starbucks account at the beginning of each month, and that does the trick.
Free night award worth up to 85,000 points
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers a free night award on your account anniversary every year, valid at a property costing up to 85,000 Bonvoy points per night. This has a significant advantage over the free night award on some other Marriott credit cards, which are only valid at properties costing up to 35,000-50,000 points.
Nowadays you can even use up to 15,000 points to top-off your free night award, meaning you could use the certificate at a hotel costing up to 100,000 points. You could potentially use that at some pretty awesome hotels.
Personally I value this free night certificate at more than $350 per year, so between the restaurant credit and this, you’re already breaking even on the card, not even accounting for the other perks.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status
The single greatest benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is that it offers Platinum Elite status for as long as you’re a cardmember. This is amazing, as it ordinarily requires 50 elite nights per year. This is where hotel status gets valuable, and you can unlock perks like free breakfast, suite upgrades, guaranteed late check-out, and more.
Note that the years of Platinum Elite status earned with this card also count toward lifetime status with Marriott Bonvoy, if that’s something you’re gong for.
25 elite nights toward Bonvoy status
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers 25 elite nights toward status annually. Since I have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review), I receive a total of 40 elite nights toward status annually between the two cards.
Now, of course you’re already getting Platinum Elite status with the card, so what’s the benefit of this? Well, the elite nights could come in handy if you want to earn Marriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits (like Suite Night Awards) or go for Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite or Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status.
A Priority Pass membership
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required) to the primary cardmember, getting you access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide. You can generally even bring two guests into lounges with you. This will come in handy for anyone who travels by air with any frequency.
Bottom line
I find the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card to be extremely worthwhile. While the card has a $650 annual fee, personally, I tend to think the $300 annual restaurant credit plus annual free night award more than justify the annual fee.
Then you can add in perks like Platinum Elite status, 25 elite nights toward status annually, a Priority Pass membership, and more, and the card really shines.
If you have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, what has your experience been?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).
The $25/month dining credit and the free night certificate is simply returning my annual fee to me. It amounts to prepaying for these "benefits". As a Lifetime Platinum member, the Platinum status is of no value. What is left is the 5X points at Marriott properties and whatever special offers I add to the card. Still debating the value of the card. I have the Ritz card also which duplicates many of these same benefits. And the Ritz card has a lower annual fee.
Ben, curious what happens in this situation (if at all possible) where I upgrade my Boundless ($95yr) to the Brilliant. Am I eligible for the SUB as well as the additional 25nts credit to my account (my Boundless 15nts already posted obviously)? If I then go and signup for the Amex, do I get the additional 15nts credit too? Essentially 55nts right off the bat, 3 free nights. Stay 9nts under the upcoming promo and...
Ben, curious what happens in this situation (if at all possible) where I upgrade my Boundless ($95yr) to the Brilliant. Am I eligible for the SUB as well as the additional 25nts credit to my account (my Boundless 15nts already posted obviously)? If I then go and signup for the Amex, do I get the additional 15nts credit too? Essentially 55nts right off the bat, 3 free nights. Stay 9nts under the upcoming promo and then I'm Titanium until Feb 2025. Am I missing something here or is this a potentially lucracrative strategy?
You.can’t upgrade boundless to Brilliant
Chase is Boundless
Amex is Brilliant
Two separate card issuers
Three reasons make this card worth it.
1. Platinum status if you don't have lifetime
2. 85,000 coupon, which depending how you redeem it could be worth more than the annual fee
3. $300 restaurant credit reduces this card fee significantly
I am keeping mine for now
When I am lifetime platinum next year
We shall see what happens
I signed up for the Brilliant card less than a year ago (when the annual fee was cheaper) after reading this blog. I have loved it and will keep it even with the higher fee. It paid my Global Entry fee on my renewal. Then I recently had a business trip where I got myself and my 2 co-workers into the Club at Atl with the Priority Pass membership. I was able to use the...
I signed up for the Brilliant card less than a year ago (when the annual fee was cheaper) after reading this blog. I have loved it and will keep it even with the higher fee. It paid my Global Entry fee on my renewal. Then I recently had a business trip where I got myself and my 2 co-workers into the Club at Atl with the Priority Pass membership. I was able to use the $300 Marriott credit on a Westin stay before Amex changed it to dining. And I use this card for dining so now I get the $25 a month credit. But best of all I used the 85k certificate plus some points for a best hotel stay ever at the Ritz Carlton in Rancho Mirage recently, and I received the upgrade to a desert balcony room with an awesome view due to the new card status. And keep in mind this is one card that has full trip cancellation coverage. Thanks to Ben and this blog I am enjoying upgraded travelling. But I think you would have to make Marriott your "go to" for stays to get this card.
I got this card when it was $450 and included Platinum status (briefly, Nov 2020). The $300 credit was useful and I find I use the $25/m credit with no problem. So, $650-300 now I'm getting an 85K cert for $300. I do try to visit Hawaii every year so I will def take advantage of the 85K.
Still, we were just at the Sheraton Coconut Kauai and it was only 55K (though def...
I got this card when it was $450 and included Platinum status (briefly, Nov 2020). The $300 credit was useful and I find I use the $25/m credit with no problem. So, $650-300 now I'm getting an 85K cert for $300. I do try to visit Hawaii every year so I will def take advantage of the 85K.
Still, we were just at the Sheraton Coconut Kauai and it was only 55K (though def not to the level of a Ritz). There are blog articles about where to use the 85K cert (maybe Ben has one?). I wouldn't want to use an 85K on a 55K hotel. The Koloa Landing in Poipu in nicer and at about 70K so a bit better use.
My philosophy is that a card has to have either a compelling reason to spend on an ongoing basis OR significant benefits after I get "value" from the coupon- book style ones. I'm not chasing signup bonuses just for their sake alone. I do feel I should more than "break even" on a card if the additional benefits aren't there
So- $650 fee
minus $25/ month restaurants = $300, that I would normally spend...
My philosophy is that a card has to have either a compelling reason to spend on an ongoing basis OR significant benefits after I get "value" from the coupon- book style ones. I'm not chasing signup bonuses just for their sake alone. I do feel I should more than "break even" on a card if the additional benefits aren't there
So- $650 fee
minus $25/ month restaurants = $300, that I would normally spend on another card
minus a free night cert that I may or may not get more than $350 value from (even if I use for a room that sells for a higher rate, would that have really been my property choice if I wasn't brand restricted?)
So I figure those two benefits probably allow you to break even on the annual fee, but not much better. For what? Marriott status below Titanium (where the real benefits are), a priority pass lounge access plan I already have on other cards and some elite night credits. I also would not put much spend on this card given the poor returns
Frankly, for me, not worth the hassle of having to make sure I don't "lose" the restaurant and cert credits just for that.
Now, if I were more of a road warrior or stayed at a ton of the nicer Marriott properties, maybe....
When they refreshed the card, Marriott stays I already had became instantly more valuable. In Barcelona, I got a better upgrade and breakfast for two instead of a mediocre breakfast and no upgrade. They breakfast was an excellent European style buffet. How is that not meaningful incremental value on every stay just by holding the card?
Hah, I meant “mediocre upgrade and no breakfast”
Presumably this is because you didn't have Platinum status already? (Though then how were you getting free breakfast before the card "refresh"?) Mileage will very *heavily*, but in my experience as a Platinum, upgrades (at least ones that are actually noticeable) are very rare, and breakfast that isn't borderline inedible lounge food is rare as well. But I'm generally staying in the U.S., where the status is least valuable (basically worthless).
Well, good for you! Glad you feel you get value from it
I've not been terribly impressed by most of the upgrades and breakfast with this level status (in terms of frequency, quality, and not having to fight for benefits). Often times, I'd rather just pay for what I want (often elsewhere) rather than hope or beg for decent upgrades or breakfast.
I also don't go out of my way to stay at...
Well, good for you! Glad you feel you get value from it
I've not been terribly impressed by most of the upgrades and breakfast with this level status (in terms of frequency, quality, and not having to fight for benefits). Often times, I'd rather just pay for what I want (often elsewhere) rather than hope or beg for decent upgrades or breakfast.
I also don't go out of my way to stay at Marriott properties. Most of my stays are for pleasure and I'm not spending a ton of time traveling for work. I'm sure others might get a lot more out of it than I would.
The card is perfect for someone that says 25-50 nights a year at a Marriott organically, and prefers full service hotels. Why? Over that number of nights, the value of having Platinum over Gold can easily justify the the bulk of the annual fee. It also lets you allocate more stays to other programs (Hyatt) while maintaining Marriott status. It’s an expensive card to hold but I plan on keeping it long term.
If you're a "road warrior," your stays, including breakfast, etc., are most likely reimbursed, so hard to see what value you're really getting in this scenario.
This is basically why I need to cancel the card. (1) I don't want to have to set a calendar reminder to spend $25 on food on a card I would otherwise only ever use for Marriott stays. (2) If I am traveling for work, I get everything...
If you're a "road warrior," your stays, including breakfast, etc., are most likely reimbursed, so hard to see what value you're really getting in this scenario.
This is basically why I need to cancel the card. (1) I don't want to have to set a calendar reminder to spend $25 on food on a card I would otherwise only ever use for Marriott stays. (2) If I am traveling for work, I get everything reimbursed, so Platinum status has very little value (just the extra points earning, really, given the lack of true upgrades). (3) If I'm traveling *not* for work, I'm with my wife and two kids and would rather stay in an airbnb/vrbo rental with multiple bedrooms and common spaces, so the "free night" certificate is of very little use.
I’m with Chris, LT platinum, and the $25 monthly restaurant coupon isn’t much if a motivator. The Marriott business card gives 4x on restaurants, the brilliant only 3x.
Top hotels are going for more than 100k points, taking the hotel night out of the values category.
How is the year of platinum credit for lifetime calculated? Is it at anniversary date or at a certain calendar date? If I got the card mid-year, do you get platinum credit for that year and then next year with only paying 1 annual fee?
@Andrew, "qualifying" for platinum ONLY through having this card does NOT count toward lifetime status. You would still need 25 add'l night credits to hit the 50 night threshold in order for the year to count towards lifetime status.
Are you sure about that, DLPTATL? Ben's post about Lifetime Status (from the same day as this post) says it DOES count:
If you earn status with Marriott entirely or partially through a credit card, that would still count toward the requirement for number of years needed for status; for example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers Platinum status for as long as you’re a cardmember, so each year you have the card...
Are you sure about that, DLPTATL? Ben's post about Lifetime Status (from the same day as this post) says it DOES count:
If you earn status with Marriott entirely or partially through a credit card, that would still count toward the requirement for number of years needed for status; for example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers Platinum status for as long as you’re a cardmember, so each year you have the card would count as a further year toward lifetime Platinum.
You are TOTALLY wrong DLPTATL. IT DOES count towards Lifetime Status. You just don't automatically get Annual Choice Benefits for the 50 Nights (or 75 nights for that matter). All 25 Nights count towards your LT Nights Counter and the Year that your Platinum counts towards your LT Year Counter.
Not worth it for me anymore. I downgraded to the $95 Amex card with the 35k certificate last week. The restaurant coupon book credit is just getting ridiculous (Amex is starting to feel way less premium). The $300 Marriott fee made way more sense (it's a Marriott card...). Also, I have the Aspire and a friend with globalist who can do Guest of Honor, so I'm pretty much over Marriott. Blew all my points for a stay at Al Maha in May.
Doesn’t Hyatt Guest of Honor only apply to award bookings? Meaning won’t your friend need an ample supply of Hyatt points for you to take advantage of it?
Just try to use the 85k certificate at a former Category 8 property . . . even if you can add 15k points to it.
I used to run biz spend through this card to get Platinum through spending which then counted toward my lifetime Platinum goal. Now that Platinum is included as a card benefit, I'm finding it harder to actually hit platinum this year. At 7 years of platinum and the requisite number of nights I really want(ed) three more years of "earned" platinum in order to get lifetime status so I wouldn't have to hold onto this...
I used to run biz spend through this card to get Platinum through spending which then counted toward my lifetime Platinum goal. Now that Platinum is included as a card benefit, I'm finding it harder to actually hit platinum this year. At 7 years of platinum and the requisite number of nights I really want(ed) three more years of "earned" platinum in order to get lifetime status so I wouldn't have to hold onto this card with the large annual fee forever. Earning platinum through the Citi Bonvoy card requires much more spend.
Citi Bonvoy, is there a secret card out there?
typo, Chase...
The Platinum status you get from this card counts toward Lifetime Platinum, so you're worrying over nothing.
As a LT Titanium this card provides zero value to me anymore. They will either give me a nice retention or its going out of my portfolio.
I used to like this card with the $300 property credit and $150 effective fee. On the new fee, I am not sure I am as into it. Bonvoy points continues to devalue and while you could achieve outside value with the 85k certificate, I feel that you'd still have to top off that certificate with points to make it really worth it.
The bonus was 150K points at the beginning of the month. I'll wait for that bonus to come back around.
The 150K bonus was when they relaunched this card.
I don't think it's coming back anytime soon.
I've know few people who actually give up the bonus just so they can have Platinum status.
Valid point. I am a Hyatt loyalist so the Platinum status is the only appeal to me with this card. For the occasions that I can't find a Hyatt nearby it would be nice to have the breakfast perk etc.