Both American Express and Chase issue co-branded Marriott credit cards. In this post, I’d like to take a closer look at the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, which is the most premium credit card in the portfolio. This card is quite compelling, and the easiest way to earn Platinum Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. This is also the ideal time to apply, given the welcome offer that’s currently available.
Link: Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
In this post:
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card welcome offer & fee basics
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is Marriott’s most premium credit card. While the card has a hefty annual fee, the perks should more than justify the cost, in my opinion. The card even offers Platinum Elite status, without any sort of a spending requirement. This is a card I have, and that I’ve found to be valuable.
Let’s take a look at all of the details of the card, including the welcome offer, incredible benefits, and more.
150,000 Bonvoy points + $250 statement credit offer
For applications through September 30, 2026, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has a limited time, two-part welcome offer where you can earn 150,000 Bonvoy bonus points plus a $250 statement credit after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months.
I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, given all the great ways there are to redeem them, so I would value 150,000 points at $1,050. Add in the $250 statement credit, and you’re looking at $1,300 in value, which is excellent for this card.
Marriott Bonvoy credit card eligibility rules
Given how many American Express and Chase Marriott cards there are, there are some pretty complicated restrictions regarding eligibility for this card.
On the most basic level, the welcome offer is not available to applicants who have had this product, or the Starwood Preferred Guest Luxury Card (which is briefly what this card was known as).
Furthermore, the welcome offer is not available to applicants who:
- Have or have had The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card from JPMorgan or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card in the last 30 days
- Have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, in the last 90 days
- Have received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, in the last 24 months
The key thing to understand is that you are eligible for this card (including the welcome offer) if you have the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (learn more) or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (learn more).
General Amex card application restrictions
I find Amex cards easy to be approved for if you have excellent credit. Anecdotally most people I’ve heard from have reported instant approvals on this card, so it really shouldn’t be very tough to be approved for. Just make sure you know that:
- You can be approved for at most two Amex credit cards in a 90 day period
- You can have at most five American Express credit cards at any point (this doesn’t include cards without a preset spending limit)
See this post for all major credit card application restrictions to be aware of.
$650 annual fee & $0 authorized user fee
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has a $650 annual fee. You can add additional cardmembers at no extra cost (Rates & Fees). Obviously the fee is steep, but for many people, the benefits will more than outweigh the cost.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card points earning structure
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has some bonus categories, though generally speaking this isn’t a card I’d be using for my everyday spending. However, the card does have a significant incentive to spend $60,000 per year, and the math could work out. Let’s talk about how the bonus categories on the card work.
6x Bonvoy points at Marriott hotels
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers 6x Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at Marriott hotels globally.
Since I value Bonvoy points at ~0.7 cents each, that’s the equivalent of a ~4.2% return on hotel spending. Personally, I still prefer to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (learn more) for my Marriott hotel spending, as it offers 4x Ultimate Rewards points.
3x Bonvoy points on restaurants & flights
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has some bonus categories that offer 3x points, including for purchases with:
- Restaurants worldwide
- Flights booked directly with airlines
Based on my valuation of ~0.7 cents per point, that’s like a ~2.1% return on spending, which isn’t amazing. Personally, I think there are better credit cards for both restaurant purchases and airfare purchases.
2x Bonvoy points on all other purchases
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers 2x points on all other eligible purchases. Personally, I don’t consider 2x points per dollar spent to be especially compelling since I value that at a ~1.4% return on spending, and there are better cards for everyday spending.
Choice Rewards benefit for spending $60K
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card allows you to select a Choice Rewards benefit when you spend $60,000 in a calendar year. Specifically, you’re able to choose one of the following:
- Five Nightly Upgrade Awards, each of which can be used to confirm a room upgrade for one night up to five days prior to arrival
- 50,000 Bonvoy bonus points
- A free night award, valid at a Marriott property costing up to 85,000 points
- $1,000 off a bed from one of Marriott’s hotel boutiques
This is in addition to whatever Choice Benefits you’d ordinarily earn for crossing 50 or 75 elite nights in a year. This could be a real incentive to spend money on the card, especially when you consider the opportunity to get a free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points.
No foreign transaction fees on spending
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has no foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees), so it could be a good option for purchases abroad.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card benefits & perks
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers a variety of perks, ranging from Platinum Elite status, to an annual dining credit of up to $300, to an anniversary free night certificate. For many people (including me), the benefits more than offset the annual fee on the card. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits offered by the card.
Complimentary Bonvoy Platinum Elite status
On an ongoing basis, just for having the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, you receive complimentary Platinum Elite status. This status ordinarily requires 50 elite nights per calendar year, and offers the following benefits:
- 50% bonus points on hotel stays
- 4PM late check-out
- A room upgrade, including to a standard suite
- Executive lounge access at most brands, assuming the hotel has a lounge
- A welcome gift, including breakfast at many brands
It’s amazing that you can now receive Platinum Elite status just for having a credit card, with no spending required. For what it’s worth, the Platinum Elite status earned with this card (as well as the elite nights) do count toward lifetime Elite status.
Up to $300 per year in restaurant credits
Just for having the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, you receive up to $300 per year in restaurant statement credits. This comes in the form of a $25 credit each month, which you can use for purchases at restaurants worldwide. This benefit is available the first year, and all subsequent years.
This should be easy enough to maximize — if you spend at least $25 a month at restaurants, you should get the full value out of this.
Annual free night award worth up to 85K points
Another major perk that makes the Bonvoy Brilliant Card worthwhile is that you get a free night award every year on your renewal month, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property costing up to 85,000 points. You receive your first one of these on your first anniversary.
The free night certificates offered on most other Marriott cards are valid at properties costing up to 35,000-50,000 points per night, so using these at properties costing 85,000 points per night is awesome. This gets you access to all kinds of luxury hotels.
Marriott even lets you top off free night certificates with up to 25,000 points, so you could redeem these certificates at hotels costing up to 110,000 points.
25 elite nights toward Bonvoy status
Just for having the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, you receive 25 elite nights toward status annually. Several co-branded Marriott credit cards offer elite nights for being a cardmember, though this is the only card to offer 25 elite nights. Furthermore, you can only receive this benefit on one personal and one business card.
So if you had this card plus the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you’d start every year with 40 elite nights.
Of course you already get Platinum Elite status with this card, but those elite nights could come in handy if you want to earn Choice Benefits (like Nightly Upgrade Awards) or go for Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite status.
$100 Ritz-Carlton & St. Regis property credit
The Bonvoy Brilliant Card also offers a $100 on-property credit at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels when you book stays of at least two nights. The catch is that you have to book an “eligible rate,” which is going to be equivalent to the best available/non-discounted rate. Personally, I don’t consider that to be so valuable. Why?
- You have to book a specific rate, so points stays, discounted member rates, etc., don’t qualify
- All of these hotels belong to Marriott STARS, and some of these hotels belong to Virtuoso, which offer similar benefits
Priority Pass™ membership
The Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers a Priority Pass™ membership (Enrollment required), giving you access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide. You can bring two guests with you into lounges, space permitting. This is a great way to make your airport experience more pleasant, and I’d say this is one of the best cards for getting such a membership.
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck once every 4 years. You’re eligible for either program, but not both. Simply charge the membership fee to your card, and it will automatically be reimbursed. It doesn’t matter who the fee is being paid for, as long as you charge it to your eligible card. (Enrollment required)
Access to the Amex Offers program
One of the great features of Amex cards is access to Amex Offers, which gives members savings on purchases with all kinds of retailers. There’s huge value to be had in getting as many Amex cards as possible so that you can get these offers on multiple cards.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth it?
If you stay at Marriotts with any frequency, the Bonvoy Brilliant Card is a slam dunk, in my opinion. The biggest perk is Platinum Elite status, so getting that just for having a credit card is huge.
Even beyond that, though, the annual fee is easy to justify. I consider the $300 restaurant credit to more or less be worth face value, while I think the free night certificate valid at a property costing up to 85,000 Bonvoy points is easily worth $350.
To me, that’s an excellent deal. The card has plenty of other perks that are also potentially valuable:
- The card offers a Priority Pass™ membership, giving you access to 1,300+ lounges around the world
- The card offers 25 elite nights toward status annually, which can help you achieve higher elite tiers, or receive Choice Benefits
- The card offers a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit, which is useful for security and immigration
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Bonvoy Bevy Card
American Express has two personal co-branded Marriott cards, with the other card being the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (learn more), which has a $250 annual fee (Rates & Fees). Many people may be trying to decide between these two cards, so which is more compelling?
- The Bonvoy Bevy Card is arguably the best for Marriott spending, as it offers 6x points per dollar spent, plus 1,000 bonus points per Marriott stay
- The Bonvoy Bevy Card offers Gold Elite status just for being a cardmember plus 15 elite nights toward status annually
- The Bonvoy Bevy Card doesn’t offer an anniversary free night award just for being a cardmember, but instead you have to spend $15,000 on the card per calendar year to get a free night award; that free night award is worth up to 50,000 points
I prefer the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, since I think it’s worth paying for the Platinum Elite status and the valuable free night award. On top of that, the $300 restaurant credit also helps offset the annual fee. Some may feel differently, but I think the choice here is pretty obvious.
Bottom line
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is Marriott’s most premium credit card. The card has a $650 annual fee, but offers perks like Platinum Elite status, an up to $300 annual restaurant credit, an annual free night certificate valid at a property costing up to 85K points, and much more. Add in all the money-saving offers available with Amex Offers, and you should easily come out ahead with this card.
If you’ve been considering picking up this card, now would be the ideal time to apply, given the welcome offer that’s available.
If you want to learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, follow this link.
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), and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).
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.
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
I cannot remember - is this card blocked by having the "basic" ex-SPG card?
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...
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 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...
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.
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?
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.
@ErikOJ I really miss Starwood.
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.
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.
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...
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:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-marriott-bonvoy/1905264-faq-marriott-s-breakfast-offering-explained-brand-bonvoy-elite-level.html
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.