Background: I travel a lot and use Marriott extensively and find great value in Bonvoy Brilliant. I have the Amex Gold for restaurants and groceries. I don't usually buy flights due to family flight benefits.
A lot of threads don't like Bonvoy Brilliant for anything other than booking Marriott. However, in the "All Other Purchases" category (phone/utility bills, subscriptions, online and retail shopping etc.) it earns 2X (Bonvoy points estimated at ~0.7cpp * 2 = 1.4cpp) versus 1X with Amex Gold (MR ~ 1.1cpp). To me, it makes sense to tie all transactions that are not grocery or restaurants, which fall in the "All Other Purchases" category, to Bonvoy Brilliant instead of gold,, if you just had these 2 cards. Am I missing something?
Hey, folks! My fiancé and I are Marriott loyalists and are trying to save up Marriott points for our honeymoon. I know that Amex points are transferable, so it seems like the Bevy and Gold earn about the same (aside from airfare, which we hardly do). Do I open both since the the Gold card pays for itself with its dining credits? Do I splurge and go for the Brilliant and the Gold for the hotel status benefits? Some other combo? Thanks!
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Hello! Seeking some honest advice for this community of experts. I'm interested in applying for the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant for the plat status, and I'm also booking about 30 nights of Marriott stays this year. If I sign up for this card now and wish to sign up for regular Amex plat card later (likely next year), will having the Brilliant card disqualify me for the reg Amex plat sign up bonus?
I 'm looking forward to learning!
Thank you :)
EDIT - I will leave this up here in case someone else is as dumb as me but I didn't realize these were hotel-specific points and not just the standard amex points. Will not be switching cards. Thanks for the info reddit.
Hi,
I've been using the Amex Gold as restaurants were my biggest spender but I am starting to wonder if Amex Bonvoy Brilliant might be worth it.
I've been using the Amex Gold as restaurants were my biggest spender but I am starting to wonder if Amex Bonvoy Brilliant might work it. of person as well so this wouldn't be an "open to support my card collection" type of purchase but my main card for all purchases.
Here are my spending percentages from last year:
| Merchandise & Supplies | 32.46% |
|---|---|
| Business Services | 25.48% |
| Restaurant | 13.35% |
| Entertainment | 10.20% |
| Transportation | 7.40% |
| Other | 5.38% |
| Travel | 5.02% |
| Communications | 0.39% |
| Fees & Adjustments | 0.36% |
Here's a table comparing the Amex Gold and Brillant reward points.
| Gold | Brillant | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $250 | $650 |
| Restaurants | 4x | 3x |
| Flights | 3x | 3x |
| Groceries / Hotel | 4x / 0x | 0x / 6x |
| All other purchases | 1x | 2x |
| Other Benefits | $120 uber/eats, $120 dining, hotel collection, standard amex not travel benefits (like no lounge) | $300 dining, free night, marriot platnium (+25 nights added towards next tier), potential choice award, standard amex travel benefits (lounge, global entry) |
So in my mind, I make at least 400 a year with global entry + food credit so it's just making that other 250 back. I know the free night is worth 85k pts which sites are saying is roughly $680 so I guess I could say "Just make sure to use the free night for a room or at least work roughly 34k points" and then I'm even. I am telling myself though that if I didn't have the card, I wouldn't have stayed that night anyway so it's not really a credit in my mind but rather now a good reason to stay at a Ritz or something for day night (but not considering this a credit towards getting my annual fee back). I do value the auto platinum but maybe not as much as $250. I think though the change of 1% lost in restaurants to a 1% gain in "all other purchases" based on my spending habits seems like it would produce more money which is a plus. My wife typically does most of the grocery shopping so not to worried about losing that 4% as well (as I am a man-child whom fuels with junk food and should not go to the grocery store hungry).
Just wanted to hear your thoughts on those cards. Also, any other recommendations if you have any (as everyone says go look at the Chase Sapphire) (Also one question if anyone knows, the global entry credit, is it a one-time credit spread out over 4 years? Meaning after global entry expires, which I think is 5 years, do I not get to get this 100 again and should I actually be thinking about this as a $350 card based on my brain?). Also in case it helps with the decision, no kids currently, cute doggo though, kids planned eventually.
I'm trying to figure out if this card will be worth it for me. I have an amex platinum so far, which has been great. I recently started a new job where I travel once a week, and I stay at a marriott hotel, and it got me wondering if getting a dedicated card would be worthwhile. I do also eat out often so the $25 per month would likely be used easily, and I do travel for conferences a few times a year so I could use the free night pretty easily as well.
Anything else I should consider? Does it sound like this is worthwhile for me?