Marriott offers four different co-branded cards to new customers, ranging in annual charge from $0 to $450. With an annual charge of $450 (for details, see rates and fees), the Marriott Bonvoy BrilliantTM American Express Card is the most costly option, but is it also the best?
Making $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership will earn you 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points as part of the current welcome promotion. The annual cost is reduced to $150 because of the unprecedented earning rates and attractive perks, such as yearly credits of up to $300 at hotels that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy program
To Whom Is This Card?
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is a co-branded credit card that may let Bonvoy members earn more loyalty rewards points and enjoy additional benefits while staying at Marriott hotels. You don't have to be a frequent traveler to make the card worthwhile; even one or two stays per year at Marriott are enough to reap the perks and more than cover the $450 annual charge. Because of the program's many airline transfer partners, even occasional Marriott guests may get a lot of use out of their Marriott Bonvoy points.
Welcoming Bonus Worth $600
You may earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases with your new Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit card within the first three months of card membership. TPG estimates each Marriott Rewards point worth $0.8, making your 75,000-point balance $600.
However, suppose you have previously had a Chase Marriott product or an American Express Starwood Preferred Guest credit card. In that case, you may not be eligible for a new-member incentive this time. Check the promotion terms on the card's information page to see whether you qualify.
Primarily Advantages and Perks
The card comes into its own with the benefits it provides:
• Top-tier Elite Member of Marriott:
Primary cardholders are automatically upgraded to Marriott Gold Status at no further cost, with the opportunity to upgrade to Platinum Status by spending $75,000 in a calendar year. Gold status's most valued perks are the free upgrade to a better room and the 25% point bonus on all hotel expenditures. More desirable than gold level, platinum offers additional privileges, including suite upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and access to exclusive lounges.
• Annual Free-Night Award:
A free night reward is issued annually in the month after your card renewal month. Five-star hotels like The Ritz-Carlton Macau and Indeed, the St. Regis Langkawi, where rooms often cost over $500 per night, are great places to utilize a 50,000-point free night voucher. Still, Marriott's new dynamic pricing may make it more difficult to book some of these locations.
• $300 Credit For Marriott Purchases:
Each cardmember year (beginning with the month and day your account was started), you and your authorized users are each eligible to receive up to $300 in statement credits for purchases made at Marriott hotels that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy program and charged to your card. You won't have any issue making the most of this perk because the credit covers your room fee and any incidentals you may have charged to your stay. That effectively brings the yearly charge of the card down to $150.
Techniques for Gaining Advantages
When compared to the standard Marriott Bonvoy Amex and also the Marriott Bonvoy Limitless Credit Card, the Bonvoy Brilliant's earning structure is quite comparable; however, it includes two different bonus categories: eating at U.S. restaurants and certain flight expenditures. For every dollar spent at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel, cardholders earn 6 Bonvoy points; at U.S. restaurants and then on flights booked individually with airlines, cardholders earn 3 Bonvoy points; and on all other transactions, cardholders earn 2 Bonvoy points.
Procedure for Redeeming Points
Making the most of your Marriott Rewards points is easy. The most basic and immediately useful redemption is for free lodging. You have many options, as you may choose from over 7,500 properties spread over 30 companies and 131 countries. The Marriott hotel chain features a wide variety of high-quality establishments, including some of the world's most extravagant hotels.
Summary
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is the perfect cobranded credit card for any Marriott devotee. While the card's earning rates aren't as generous as those of some of its competitors, the card's large welcome offer and impressive built-in perks, such as a $300 annual statement credit for use at Marriott properties and a free night certificate worth up to 50,000 points, make it easy for even infrequent travelers to get tremendous value out of the card.
