Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
150,000 points welcome · 6x on hotels · $650/yr
The Brilliant is Marriott's premium card, and its strongest reason to exist is complimentary Platinum Elite status plus an annual Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 points. Around that it stacks 6x at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3x at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, 2x on everything else, Priority Pass Select lounge access and 25 Elite Night Credits a year. The catch is a $650 annual fee, and getting your money back means using the $25 monthly dining credit, the $100 property credit on 2+ night stays and the free night every year. The 150,000-point welcome bonus after $6,000 in 6 months helps the first year, and cell phone protection and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit round things out. It fits a frequent Marriott traveler who values Platinum perks, but anyone who stays only a few nights a year will be better served by a cheaper Marriott card.
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 |