Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Review: Basics, Benefits, and Scope
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is the most premium member among the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card provides luxurious services to a chosen few, which include frequent travelers, devoted Bonvoy followers, big spenders, etc. It offers excellent benefits like automatic Platinum Elite status, an annual free night award, and several extras and rewards.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: An Overview
Type of Card: Hotel
Annual Fee: $650
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Welcome Bonus: 95000 points welcome bonus on spending $5000 in the first three months.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Basics
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is up for multiple uses as a dining card, hotel card, travel card, etc. You get to earn:
Six points per $1 spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Three points per $1 spent at direct airline flight bookings and US restaurants
Two points per $1 spent on all the other purchases
Earning and collecting these points will be helpful in multiple instances:
Claiming free nights at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Renting cars
Booking flight tickets by transferring the points to the airline partner. Three Bonvoy points can transfer for one airline mile.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Benefits
1. Automatic Platinum Elite Status
Marriot Bonvoy Brilliant card holders gain a complimentary platinum elite status with many rewards. Free upgrades, lounge access, complimentary breakfast, late checkouts, 50% bonus points on purchases, etc., are some of those many privileges. The other benefits include the following:
Welcome gift choice
Exclusive rates for the members
Elite support
Instant redemption
Ultimate reservation guarantee
2. Free Night Award
The cardholders receive an annual free night award after the card renewal month. Reputed five-star hotels like The St. Regis Langkawi and The Ritz-Carlton Macau partner with this free night award. The award is worth 85,000 points.
3. Priority Pass Lounge Access
Cardholders and two of their guests get unlimited access to the 1200+ airport lounges across the world. This priority pass membership is originally worth $99 per year. Priority passes are currently active in over 130 countries.
4. Dining Credits
The cardholders receive $25 per calendar month worth of credit to use at chosen restaurants worldwide. So, in total, it gives $300 restaurant credits. No prior registration is mandatory for using this credit in restaurants.
5. Night Credits
The cardholders are eligible to receive 25-night credits per calendar year. You can also couple this credit with the Marriott small-business card and combine the reward night credits to earn a total of 40 nights per annum.
6. Annual Earned Choice Award
The cardholders qualify for the annual earned choice award for spending $60,000 on various eligible purchases. The qualifying cardholders can choose from a Marriott bed discount, a free night worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points, or five-suite award nights.
Some other essential perks and privileges associated with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card are:
Gains free credits for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
$100 luxury credit for properties like St. Regis and The Ritz- Carlton
Avoids foreign transaction fees on international purchases
Reimbursement for trip cancellations or delays
Supports rental car insurance
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Review
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is of major help to the loyalists of Marriott. Even if you do not travel very often, the annual $300 credit and the 95000 welcome points come in handy during any of your trips. The possibility of using the points for flight bookings and air miles further increases the card’s scope.
