Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
150,000 points welcome · 6x on hotels · $650/yr
The Brilliant is Marriott's premium card, and its strongest case is status: complimentary Platinum Elite plus 25 Elite Night Credits a year, along with an annual Free Night Award valued up to 85,000 points. The catch is a $650 annual fee, and recovering it depends on actually using the perks, including $25 a month in dining credits, a $100 property credit on stays of two or more nights, Priority Pass Select lounge access, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years. Earning is 6 points per dollar at Marriott hotels, 3 points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points on everything else. The 150,000-point welcome bonus requires $6,000 in spend over 6 months, and cell phone protection up to $800 per claim adds some everyday value. It fits frequent Marriott guests who will use the monthly dining credit and value Platinum perks; anyone else is paying a premium fee for benefits they will leave on the table.
Earn rates & credits
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
Hotels Hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy | 6x |
Dining Restaurants worldwide | 3x |
Airlines Flights booked directly with airlines | 3x |
Everything Else | 2x |
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
Dining Credit $25/month in statement credits at restaurants worldwide | $25 /mo |
Marriott Property Credit $100 statement credit for stays of 2+ consecutive nights at Marriott Bonvoy properties | $100 /yr |
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit Statement credit every 4 years for the $120 Global Entry application fee or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck | $120 every 4 yr |
Cell Phone Protection Reimburses repair or replacement costs up to $800 per claim (2 approved claims per 12 months, $50 deductible) when the prior month's wireless bill was paid with the Card. | $800 |
| Total annual credits | $430 |
Card details
Regular APR | 19.49%–28.49% variable |
Foreign transaction fee | None |