Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

Checking-In to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is a co-branded hotel rewards credit card from American Express. The card offers impressive rewards-earning potential and is the flagship of the Bonvoy collection of credit cards. New cardholders receive an exceptional 75,000 bonus Bonvoy points when they make just $3,000 in purchases within the first three months after opening an account. Customers are also entitled to Bonvoy Gold Elite status for their first year of membership and earn up to 6 points for every dollar spent with Marriott – all for a $450 annual fee.

How it Works

Earning Points:

Earn Points with Marriott Stays: Bonvoy program members earn six bonus points for every dollar they spend with participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels when they use their Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.
Earn Points When Dining or Traveling: Cardmembers also earn 3 points per every eligible dollar spent using their card at U.S. restaurants or when booking flights directly with airlines.
Earn with Everything Else: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Cardholders also earn 2 points per dollar spent for all other purchases made with their card.

Redeeming Points:

Hotel Stays: The easiest way to redeem Marriott Bonvoy membership points is through stays with Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide. Marriott divides its properties into eight categories for rewards, with typical hotels placed in Category 1. Ultra, high-end resorts and luxurious boutiques go all the way up to Category 8. For a Category 1 property, a standard room per night will cost 5,000 points for off-peak stays. The higher up the scale you go, the more points you can expect to spend. One night at a Category 8 property, for instance, can cost anywhere from 70,000 points for an off-peak stay up to 100,000 for peak season stays.
Cash & Points Bookings: Bonvoy points are also applicable towards part of an eligible hotel stay. The Bonvoy Cash & Points option allows Bonvoy members to use a combination of cash and points to pay for their stay – with as few as 3,500 points and $55 needed to book a stay.
Transfer Points to Airline Rewards Programs: Bonvoy members may also transfer points to frequent flyer programs with most carriers. Bonvoy points transfer at a rate of 3:1, though there are some notable exceptions. Air New Zealand, for instance, transfers at a rate of 200 Bonvoy points to 1 Airpoint™.

Today’s Bonus Offer

New cardholders earn 75,000 bonus Bonvoy points when they use their Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. 75,000 points are good for up to 10 standard rate nights at Category 1 Bonvoy hotels – not bad!

Getting Under the Sheets with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

Annual Fee: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card features an annual fee of $450. This yearly rate is at the top of the heap with hotel rewards cards, but the card does offer significant value. The initial bonus offer of 75,000 points, for instance, more than covers for the annual fee, as it provides the potential of up to 10 free stays.

Hotel Perks:

Automatic Gold Elite Status: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Cardholders receive complimentary Bonvoy Gold Elite status for their first year of membership. Gold Elite status entitles members to a bonus 25% points earning on all Bonvoy stays, enhanced room upgrades, and exclusive 2 p.m. checkout. Cardholders must make $75,000 in eligible purchases within the calendar year to qualify for Platinum Elite Status after the first year.
Free Night Award Every Anniversary: Cardholders receive a complimentary free night on each anniversary year of membership. Redemption level for the free night award must be at or under 50,000 points.
Statement Credit: Cardholders receive a $300 statement credit each year of membership, which is applicable for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties.

Cardholder Protections:

Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on their account.
Baggage Insurance: Cardholders can rest assured that if they are separated from their luggage, American Express is on hand to help with comprehensive protection for lost or delayed baggage.
Travel Accident Insurance: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Cardholders receive insurance coverage should they be injured or killed while traveling.
Global Assistance: 24/7 access to American Express’ Global Assist hotline, which provides travel assistance and coordination for any issues that may arise during travel.
Purchase Protection: American Express offers a suite of purchase protections, including extended warranty protection, purchase protection, and return protections.

“Suite” Perks That Make the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card Worthwhile:

Initial Bonus Offer: The initial bonus offer provides exceptional value for those who plan to use their card regularly. 75,000 bonus points are good for up to 10 nights at Category 1 properties, or up to 2 off-peak nights at mid-tier hotels – all for an easily achievable minimum spend of $3,000 in the first three months.
Gold Elite Member Status: The perk of automatic Gold Elite status is another great feature of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. Gold Elite status entitles members later checkout times, room upgrades, and increased points earning on Bonvoy stays worldwide.
One Free Night Every Year: Cardholders receive one complimentary night at Marriott Bonvoy properties on every cardmember anniversary.

“Reservations” About the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card:

Steep Annual Fee: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is an ultra-premium hotel card – that much is clear. Unfortunately, however, being a luxury hotel card comes with a luxury price tag. The $450 annual fee may be a bit too much for many travelers who may choose to opt for other Marriott Bonvoy co-branded cards. For those who travel frequently, however, the $450 price tag is manageable.

Time to Check-Out

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is a luxury hotel card that doesn’t skimp on the bonuses. New cardholders will undoubtedly benefit from the introductory 75,000 bonus Bonvoy points, which offer exceptional value for money. With a spend of just $1,000 per month for the first few months ($3,000 in the first three months), cardholders can potentially earn up to 10 free nights at Category 1 Marriot Bonvoy hotels. For the frequent traveler, that’s an enticing offer.

The $3,000 spend in just a few months may be too costly for some people’s blood, as is the $450 annual fee. Fortunately, this isn’t a card for the squeamish. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is designed for the high-end or regular traveler who wants to get the most bang for their buck. The addition of a $300 statement credit applicable towards purchases at Bonvoy properties, as well as an additional $100 credit for using the card to book a stay at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties, isn’t a bad perk, either.

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