Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
If you’re loyal to Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card can help you save money and improve your stay, thanks to automatic Marriott Platinum elite status and lots of opportunities to earn additional points. The card just got a refresh, improving its annual Free Night Award (now worth up to 85,000 points) and introducing an annual Earned Choice Award for meeting a spending threshold — but its annual fee has also jumped from $450 to Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.
Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant the best card for you?
If you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is a great option for making your stays more luxurious and accelerating your points earning toward the next award stay.
The card just got a makeover, adding automatic Platinum elite status and an annual Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 points. Previously, the card offered Gold status and the anniversary night was worth up to 50,000 points, so this is a significant improvement.
There’s also a new welcome bonus offer: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. That’s worth around Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card in stays, based on Insider’s valuation of Marriott points as worth 0.7 cents apiece, on average.
But it also bumped the annual fee to Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card from $450, which means it’s now the most expensive premium co-branded hotel credit card. So it’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy loyalist and stay at the chain’s properties multiple times a year, it’s not hard to get significant value from this card.
You’ll earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar spent on airline tickets and restaurants worldwide, and 2 points per dollar spent everywhere else. You’ll also earn a free night certificate every year after your card renewal month, which you can redeem at Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points per night. You can get massive value from this benefit alone, especially if you use this free night at an expensive Marriott hotel.
The card also offers up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide (previously, this credit was for up to $300 per year toward Marriott purchases, but it’s been replaced as part of the card’s refresh). If you max out this annual credit, you’re effectively reducing the card’s annual fee to $350.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card also provides some helpful travel coverage, including baggage insurance, rental car insurance, and a host of purchase protections.
How to earn points with the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card offers a straightforward earning structure, earning bonus points at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties and in other useful categories. Cardholders earn:
6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (this is in addition to up to 10x points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and up to 5x points for having Platinum elite status from the card)3x points on dining at restaurants worldwide 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines2x points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
How to use Marriott points
You can redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points and free night rewards at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels in cities around the world. Marriott recently eliminated its award charts and moved to dynamic pricing, which means the price of an award night will vary based on demand, the paid price of the room, season, and other factors.
Award nights start as low as 5,000 points and go up to 120,000 points per night. If you use your points to book a stay of five nights or more, you’ll get the least expensive night for free. This discount is automatically calculated when you search for a stay of five or more nights on marriott.com.
Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy allows you to convert your points into frequent flyer miles with over 40 partner airlines — more than any other loyalty program. You’ll receive 1,000 airline miles for every 3,000 points transferred, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points (so 60,000 points becomes 25,000 airline miles). Transfers to United Airlines MileagePlus get an extra 10% bonus.
Marriott Bonvoy points are worth, on average, 0.7 cents each according to Insider’s points and miles valuations — but the exact value you’ll get depends on how you redeem them.
You’re best off using your points to book Marriott stays, though, since you don’t have to worry about odd transfer ratios, and you can score some real deals — especially when you can lock in off-peak travel dates at high-end hotels that would cost hundreds of dollars a night if you paid in cash.
Marriott Bonvoy brands
AC HotelsAloftAutograph CollectionCourtyard by MarriottDelta HotelsDesign HotelsEDITIONElementFairfield Inn & SuitesFour Points by SheratonGaylord HotelsHomes & Villas by Marriott InternationalJW MarriottLe MeridienThe Luxury CollectionMarriott Executive ApartmentsMarriott Hotels & ResortsMarriott Vacation ClubMoxy HotelsProtea HotelsRenaissance HotelsResidence Inn The Ritz-CarltonThe Ritz-Carlton ReserveSheratonSpringHill SuitesSt. RegisTownePlace SuitesTribute PortfolioW HotelsWestin
There are other redemption options available, including cashing in points for gift cards, rental cars, and experiences like concerts and events.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant benefits and features
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status
As long as you have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, you’ll receive automatic Platinum elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, which includes the following benefits:
50% bonus points on stays at Marriott propertiesEnhanced room upgrades (including select suites)Hotel lounge access and complimentary breakfast at hotel brands that have loungesA welcome gift on arrival (points, breakfast offering, or amenity depending on brand)Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability at resorts and convention hotels)Annual Choice Benefit for members with 50 elite night credits (five Suite Night Awards, 40% off a mattress and box spring from your favorite hotel brand, give the gift of Silver Elite status to a family member or friend, $100 charity donation, or five elite night credits)Complimentary enhanced in-room internet access
The card also helps you climb toward higher levels of elite status, providing 25 qualifying nights every year just for having the card.
Annual free night award
Every year after your account card renewal month, you’ll receive a free night award valid at Marriott Bonvoy properties charging up to 85,000 points per night. Depending on when you travel, that could get you a night at a very upscale property. Marriott also offers the ability to top-up free night certificates with up to 15,000 Marriott points from your account, making this certificate potentially useful at hotels that cost up to 100,000 points.
Monthly $25 dining credit
Previously, this card offered up to $300 credit every year for eligible purchases made directly at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, including room rates and incidentals. That’s now been replaced by up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. This benefit starts as soon as you open the card, so as long as you spend at least $25 per month at restaurants, this alone offsets almost half of the card’s annual fee.
Annual Earned Choice Award
Starting January 1, 2023, cardholders who’ve spent at least $60,000 in a calendar year can select an Earned Choice Award from the following list:
Five Suite Night Awards$750 off a bed from Marriott Bonvoy BoutiquesFree Night Award with a redemption value of up to 85,000 points
You can make your selection on Marriott’s Choice Benefit site after you’ve met the spending threshold for the calendar year. If you don’t choose by March 1 of the year following the qualifying year, you’ll receive five Suite Night Award by default.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit
Holding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card also gives you access to an exclusive rate for stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels and resorts, which includes a $100 credit toward room service, spa treatments, and other qualifying purchases.
25 elite night credits each calendar year
As mentioned above, in addition to offering complimentary Platinum elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card comes with 25 elite night credits each year. If you’re working toward Titanium elite status, which requires 75 elite night credits, these credits will get you 25 nights closer.
Priority Pass Select membership
The card includes a complimentary membership to the Priority Pass network of airport lounges, with more than 1,300 locations around the world (activation is required).
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck enrollment credit
The primary cardmember receives a credit toward enrollment in Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), making your travel experience easier. This credit can be used once every 4 or 4.5 years (exact dates vary by program) so as long as you have the card you’ll never have to pay to maintain your membership in these trusted traveler programs.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you use your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card to reserve and pay for a car rental, you may be covered against loss or damage to the vehicle. This coverage is secondary, and does not provide liability insurance.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
If you paid for a covered trip with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and it’s canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you could be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per consecutive 12-month period.
Baggage insurance plan
When you purchase a ticket on an airline or other common carrier with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, you’ll be covered for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage up to $3,000 per trip.
Trip delay insurance
You can get reimbursed up to $500 for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you’ve paid for a covered trip with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and it’s delayed by six hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period.
Travel accident insurance
If the unthinkable happens to you or a loved one on a trip you booked with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, you’ll be eligible for up to $500,000 in death and dismemberment insurance for you and each of your additional cardmembers, the spouse or domestic partner of each cardholder, and any of their children under age 23.
Purchase protection
Your eligible purchases are covered against accidental damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.
Extended warranty
Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less.
Return protection
If you purchased an eligible item with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and the merchant won’t accept your return, you’re may get a refund of the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling), up to $300 per item, and a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.
Premium Global Assist Hotline
Cardholders get access to Amex’s Premium Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services.
The service itself is complimentary, but you may be responsible for any third-party costs. One big difference from the regular (versus premium) Global Assist Hotline is emergency medical evacuation coverage — Amex may provide emergency medical transportation assistance at no cost if it’s approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card fees and costs
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card annual fee. While that’s high, it’s easy to get a ton of value out of the card if you stay with Marriott frequently. It also has no foreign transaction fees, so using this card is a great way to avoid extra charges when traveling abroad.
Beyond that, you can avoid most other fees on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card by paying your balance in full each month so you don’t accrue any interest. If you do carry a balance, you’re looking at a 15.74% to 24.74% variable APR on purchases. That adds up quickly, so consider a balance transfer credit card or a card with an intro APR offer if you need some time to pay off your credit card balance.
Like most other cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card charges fees for cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.
Comparison: American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs other Marriott credit cards
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Rewards rate
6x bonus points* on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
3x points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
2x points on all other purchases
6x bonus points* on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
3x points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining (on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year)
2x points on all other eligible purchases
6x bonus points* on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
3x points on dining and grocery stores (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year)
2x points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus offer
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Marriott benefits
Up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status
Annual free night award***
25 elite night credits each calendar year
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status
Annual free night award****
15 elite night credits each calendar year
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status
1,000 points per eligible stay
15 elite night credits each calendar year
Free night award after spending $15,000 in a calendar year*****
Other card benefits
Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership**
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Secondary car rental insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Baggage insurance plan
Trip delay insurance
Travel accident insurance
Purchase protection
Extended warranty
Return protection
Premium Global Assist Hotline
No foreign transaction fees
Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise)
Lost luggage reimbursement
Trip delay reimbursement
Baggage delay insurance
Purchase protection
Extended warranty
Travel and emergency assistance services
Visa Signature concierge
No foreign transaction fees
Lost luggage reimbursement
Baggage delay reimbursement
Trip delay reimbursement
Purchase protection
Visa Signature concierge
No foreign transaction fees
Review
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card review
*Bonus points at Marriott hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
***the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers an annual free night award each year after your card renewal month for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points
****the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card offers an annual free night award each year after your account anniversary for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 35,000 points
*****the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card offers a free night award after you spend at least $15,000 in a calendar year for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 50,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex vs other premium cards
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
$550
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Rewards rate
6x bonus points* on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
3x points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
2x points on all other purchases
5x points on flights purchased from airlines or Amex Travel****
5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1 point per dollar on all other purchases
14x points* at Hilton hotels
7x points on eligible flights booked with the airline, car rentals booked with select rental companies, and at US restaurants
3x points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus offer
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
150,000 points after you spend at least $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening
Hotel benefits
Up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status
Annual free night award***
25 elite night credits each calendar year
Complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required)
Up to $200 in credits per year toward prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay)
Access to the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program
$250 annual Hilton resort statement credit
Automatic Hilton Honors Diamond elite status
Annual weekend night certificate
Another free weekend night certificate after you spend a total of $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
Up to $100 in on-property credits for minimum stays of two nights at participating Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties
Other card benefits
Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership**
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Secondary car rental insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Baggage insurance plan
Trip delay insurance
Travel accident insurance
Purchase protection
Extended warranty
Return protection
Premium Global Assist Hotline
No foreign transaction fees
Up to $200 in airline fee credits each calendar year**
Up to $100 in Saks credits each calendar year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Up to $300 annually (up to $25 per month) in Equinox credits
$189 per year in credits for CLEAR® membership**
Up to $240 in annual credits (up to $20 per month) toward eligible digital subscriptions******
Up to $200 in Uber Cash each calendar year
Airport lounge access (Priority Pass, Centurion lounges, and more)
Secondary car rental insurance
Trip cancellation insurance
Baggage insurance
Trip delay insurance
Return protection
Purchase protection
Extended warranty
Premium Global Assist Hotline
Discounts and bonuses through Amex Offers**
No foreign transaction fees
Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership**
Up to $250 in airline incidental fee credits per calendar year
Secondary car rental insurance
Baggage insurance plan
Premium Global Assist Hotline
American Express Concierge
Return protection
Purchase protection
Extended warranty
Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers**
No foreign transaction fees
Review
American Express Hilton Aspire card review
*Bonus points at Marriott and Hilton hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
***the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers an annual free night award each year after your card renewal month for participating Marriott Bonvoy properties that cost up to 85,000 points
****starting January 1, 2021, the Platinum Card earns 5x points on up to $500,000 spent on eligible flights per year
******Eligible digital subscriptions include Hulu, ESPN+, Disney+, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and Peacock
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What credit score do you need for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?
Most people who are approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card have a credit score in the good to excellent range, which means a FICO score of at least 670. If you’re still working on building your credit, read about how to increase your credit score and how using credit cards can help improve your score.
Who is eligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?
Because both Amex and Chase issue Marriott co-branded cards, the rules for who can get approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card are a little more complicated than other cards.
To start, if you already have (or have had) the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (or the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card, which isn’t available to new applicants), you aren’t eligible for the welcome bonus offer.
You also aren’t eligible for the welcome bonus offer on this card if any of the following apply to you:
You are a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember within the last 30 days, of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan or J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit CardYou’ve opened the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card in the last 90 daysIn the last 24 months, you’ve received a new cardmember bonus offer or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card worth it?
For frequent Marriott travelers, especially those who spend at least $25 per month on dining and can take advantage of Platinum elite status, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is very much worth it. Perks like airport lounge access can make your travels more comfortable, and earning a free night award each year worth up to 85,000 points can offset most (or all) of the card’s annual fee.
However, if you don’t stay with Marriott that often or aren’t sure you can use the card’s premium benefits, you’re likely better served by cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card (Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card annual fee) or Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card annual fee). There are also two new mid-range Marriott cards to consider (Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card) which both have a Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card annual fee).
Does Marriott have a no-annual-fee credit card?
If you’re opposed to paying an annual fee, there’s the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. It doesn’t come with an anniversary free night or a ton of extra Marriott benefits, but it does have a decent welcome bonus offer: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. Here’s our Marriott Bonvoy Bold review with the details.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card metal?
Yes, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is made of metal and weighs about 15 grams.
Are additional card members free on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?
There’s no additional fee to add authorized users to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. Keep in mind additional card members don’t receive most of the premium perks offered to the primary cardholder.
One exception is the $100 property credit on qualifying stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels and resorts, which both the basic cardholder and any authorized users can use.