American Express
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Key Features
| Annual Fee | $650.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Up To 150,000 bonus points |
| Rewards Rate | 2x-6x points on eligible purchases |
| Regular APR | 19.49% to 28.49% variable APR on purchases. |
| Network | American Express |
About this card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is a premium travel card with a mixed value proposition. Its strengths lie in its excellent rewards program (rated 4.0) for Marriott loyalists, including high earning rates on Marriott stays, dining, and flights, along with valuable perks like an annual free night award, dining credits, and Platinum Elite status. The card also benefits from American Express's strong reputation (4.5), known for excellent customer service. However, the card is significantly hampered by its high APR (1.3) and substantial $650 annual fee (1.7). While the rewards can offset the fee for frequent Marriott travelers, the high cost and APR make it less attractive to the average consumer. Considering the trade-offs between the valuable rewards and luxury perks against the high costs, an overall rating of 3.3 is appropriate, indicating a 'Good' card that is best suited for dedicated Marriott enthusiasts who can maximize its benefits. The high fee and APR are significant drawbacks that limit its appeal to a broader audience.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fees
- Luxury perks
- Automatic elite status
Things to consider
- High annual fee
- High regular APR
- Requires good or excellent credit
What this card offers
Sign-up bonuses
- Earn Up To 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Bonus Points
- Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Rewards
- 6X POINTS On Hotels For eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- 3X POINTS At Restaurants At restaurants worldwide.
- 3X POINTS On Flights Booked directly with airlines.
- 2x Points For Each Dollar Spent on other eligible purchases.
Other features
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Free Night Award Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status. With Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available upon check-in at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy when booked with a Qualifying Rate.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees Enjoy every trip abroad with no foreign transaction fees from American Express with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card.
- Brilliant Earned Choice Award Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- Plan It Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.