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 :)

Hey all- had the Marriott bonvoy brilliant Amex and switched to Amex platinum. Long story short- I miss the Marriott card. Can I switch easily without cancelling one card, reapplying for the other, etc?

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?

Hello, wanted to get your opinion. I'm not a super traveller but I do go places from time to time. I currently have the Amex Gold and I typically use my points on flights but I don't like the thought of getting an airline card as I like the flexibility of picking my flight.

As for hotel stays though, I do not care about the flexibility. I see the 185k deal ends today and curious on your thoughts if this card is worth it for the "less frequent traveler". I am a one-card guy so I would be demoting my gold to green and never using it. The $300 credit will get used easily so to me this is a $350 a year card. I don't have TSA Precheck/Global Entry so I will take advantage of that. My wife and I can spend 60k a year to get the free night aware and would treat that as a date night to the beach or a bigger city near us. The 25 night credits probably won't mean anything as I won't hit titanium or higher. The $100 property credit at the ritz or regis is a question mark for me as I am unsure whats eligible (I'm assuming it would be part of the date night package as its a 2 night stay minimum at one of those hotels).

To me, I lose out, on the freedom to use my points on anything but I gain the relief of not struggling to figure out where we are staying when travelling (airbnb vs hotel vs motel, etc...). The point structure doesn't seem horrible, its just that they can only be used at Marriott.

Would you consider this card only for the frequent traveller?

So I currently need two more years of Platinum or higher to reach lifetime Platinum. I have already exceeded the nights requirement.

My predicament is that my current job only adds up to maybe 10-15 nights a year and personal travel is even less. I greatly benefited from status extensions during COVID to get me to the 8/10 years, so I’m figuring it would be worth the $1300 to carry Platinum for two more years to achieve lifetime?

Hey All,

Which would you choose? Bonvoy is $650, comes with platinum status, priority pass, and 85k cert every year.

Platinum is $695 and comes with centurion and priority pass, and other perks.

Hello I have been on the credit card game for about a couple years now and I am curious how people justify the high price co-branded cards?

For example

The bonvoy brilliant card at $650 a year gets you the same redemption value as the bonvoy boundless which is only $95. I know it has a better redemption free night value and a $300 dollar dining credit but what am I missing vs owning the platinum and gold for flights and dining? Is it for people who stay at Marriott a lot and the platinum value can offset the upfront fee?

Same general questions for the delta reserve card?

Earning 3x miles on flights is less than the plat 5x on flights?

Are these cards just a status and perks play for brand loyal customers or can it still be finically smart to a credit card points maximizer?

New to the points game and frankly I don't travel enough to really maximize anyway (usually 4-8 trips/year for 4-10 days at a time). But could anyone explain how to figure out whoch card is best to use for a particular stay? Im trying to figure out whether its better to use my Amex Platinum or Marriott Boundless card for a stay at a Marriott property (Ritz Carlton) and I'm not totally sure how to check for the amount of points I'd get in either case, bonuses, etc. TIA.

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?

Just about to book a round trip flight, I currently have both Canadian pers plat and the US Bonvoy brilliant (just got brilliant few months ago, cancelling plat before renewal)

Any advantage of using one vs the other for travel?

I read thru the benefits as much as I could and couldn't spot anything that stood out in terms of cancellation/delay insurance, any opinions on which one might be better?

Same goes with car rental, everything looks on par but maybe I'm missing something?

I’m considering a new Amex Marriott Bonvoy card. I currently have the Amex Marriott Bonvoy card that automatically replaced the Amex SPG card. I have had this card for 12 years and I’m currently an authorized user of the account (parents applied for me when I graduated college). The card is linked to my Bonvoy account. I frequent Marriott hotels for work and leisure. I’m currently a lifetime Platinum Elite member. My wife does not have status.

Is it worth upgrading or applying myself (for bonus points) or having my wife apply to the Amex Brillaint, Gold or Platinum card? I’d love to gain lounge access and other perks.

My other cards are:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred (8 years) - upgrading to Reserved after my annual anniversary in December

2. Chase Freedom (10 years) - use for quarterly 5% CB

My wife’s cards are:

1. Mostly uses my cards

2. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Chase Card that we use at Amazon And Whole Foods. We pool the points into our Chase Ultimate Rewards for Travel Redemption.

Happy to provide more information.

—update— I’m thinking my wife or I getting the Amex Platinum Card. We keep the Bonvoy card as-is. I’m hesitant to reapply for the Sapphire Reserve and lose an old age card. Thoughts?

Currently have 3 cards (Discover, Chase, and Apple (Goldman Sachs)). I'm considering the Amex Brilliant Bonvoy based on the fact my partner and I travel often and always stay at Marriott. She's currently a Titanium Elite but dropping a tier next year. We would definitely use the points/free stay(s) and the airport lounge access as well. I've a decent credit score of 750/765 Fico/Experian so I'm not too worried about approval.

9/23/23 update:

Thanks everyone for the comments! I did went ahead and applied for the card. Was suprised it was denied immediately but when I looked at the reason, it said it was due to a security lock or freeze that I had on my Experian CR (forgot all about that). Duh!

Once I had temporarily unlocked my Experian CR, I called AMEX and they were able to check my CR and the account was approved immediately.

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I just checked into the Newport News Marriott and to my surprise, I actually got upgraded to a suite :), which doesn't happen very often for me. But thank you, Marriott.

Currently, I'm at Platinum Elite with just 32 nights this year (lifetime Silver Elite) and have 3 more upcoming stays (about 7 nights total) by the year end. I saw that AMEX currently has Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card with 170,000 bonus points (after $6K spend) and was debating whether if it's worth to go for it. While I doubt I'll have $6K spend between now and year end to reap the 170K bonus points, to me, the benefits of this card that would appeal to me would be:

- Platinum Elite status (breakfast/lounge, 4 pm checkout, enhanced internet); the 4 pm checkout is the most beneficial perk to me in all my years of being in the program, especially when traveling with family/kids.

- The 25 elite night credits

- Priority Pass (currently have United Explorer card which comes with two UC passes)

The $650 fee is steep and I don't now if I'll have 50 nights of Marriott stays year after year, as it varies (for work and personal travel) but if the $650 buys me 25 nights to start, I think that helps me get to 50 nights quicker.

Looking at my history, I have:

Lifetime Nights

Total Nights:327

Lifetime Statistics

Years as Silver Elite:6

Years as Gold Elite:6

Years as Platinum Elite:5

So, if I were to apply to for this card this week and get approved, I assume the 25 nights will automatically add to my existing 32 nights, which will get me to 57 and that's before the 3 more upcoming stays. This will push me into maintaining my Platinum Elite and come 2024, I assume the 25 free nights will be deposited around the anniversary of when I applied/receive (assuming October)?

RE: $300/year dining statement credit, does that basically mean you get a $25 credit if you have $25 or more in dining charged to the card? If so, that is easily achievable.

RE: Priority Pass Select lounge access; I travel (mostly on United) maybe 2-3 flights per year so I think the Priority Pass would be nice to have, especially if I already use up the two free United Club passes that I get from my United Explorer card.

Thanks!

Hello everyone,

New to the sub and did an exhaustive search on the following question. Hopefully all of you seasoned "veterans" can help!

I was pre-approved for the AMEX Platinum and Bonvoy Brilliant, and I am trying to decide which one to get. My wife will be added as an authorized user.

We currently have the Gold that we use extensively for dining and groceries. However, my wife travels quite a bit for work, and thus looking into having the Platinum or Brilliant card. She is not really devoted to any particular hotel chain, however I stay almost exclusively at Marriott properties when I travel.

We both are Mileage Plus members on United, and would prefer to keep using United as our preferred airline. We live in the midwest, and Delta airlines is a tough sell for us as United flies non-stop from our airport to many locations.

Which card would you recommend to get to compliment our AMEX Gold.

We also have the Citi Rewards Plus and AMEX Everyday Cards.

Thank you so much in advance!

I've recently moved from the US to Canada and need to figure out what to do with my high annual fee cards — Amex Platinum and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. I have quite a lot of points with each card and want to downgrade (so I'm not paying the high AF!). Once I've redeemed all the points, I'll eventually cancel the cards. I still travel between US and Canada quite often, if that's helpful to know.

Amex Platinum
What downgrade options do I have that will allow me to retain my MR points? I've got 200k+ and can't easily use them in a hurry.

1. Is there a downgrade option that has zero annual fee? I don't have a business so the Blue Business Plus isn't an option.

2. Am I able to downgrade AND transfer to a Amex Canadian CC and keep my MR points?

3. Or is my only option the Green card??

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Same question — what no annual fee downgrade options do I have that will allow me to keep my Bonvoy points?

Thanks!

I’m currently a platinum cardholder, and I’m not the best at using all the perks that come with it. I’ve been thinking about cancelling for a while, so when I saw an ad for the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card it got me curious.

Bonvoy Brilliant is $650 annually, and gives you 95k points when you spend 6k in 6 months. It also automatically gives you platinum status.

The platinum status is interesting because I am going on vacation to a Marriott property later this year and feel like platinum status will almost certainly get me a nice upgrade.

Is there anything I should consider before switching the card? Does Amex make this process easy? Will the annual fee I already paid thru Amex for platinum apply directly towards the fee of my Brilliance card?

It’s showing on their website or through referral links. This is the highest I’ve ever seen they last did it in August of 2024.

I’m currently at a fork in the road. For work I stay exclusively at Marriott properties roughly 100 nights per year and figured it’s time to really start cashing in on these stays. Obviously Marriott has 2 AMEX options Bevy vs Brilliant (both 6x on Marriott spend).

Bevy while i understand there’s not much value to make up for the absurd $250 AF, it does have 1k point bonus per stay and has 4x Restaurants & Grocery that i like.

The biggest difference in the two earning wise is Brilliant has lesser on Restaurants & Grocery (3x) but has the addition of 3x Airlines.

For me I fly more than average person but definitely am spending a lot of food which leads me to think the 4x Restaurants & Grocery are more appealing.

The Brilliant is superior in every insurance category, comes with Titanium (I’m almost there on my own), cell phone protection, and has $300 dining credit which makes its AF essentially $350 vs Bevy $250.

Really undecided here and wanted some other opinions in addition to insight on if one of the AMEX Green/Gold/Plat would actually be better since MR points are more valuable than Marriott points.

Trying to figure out what credit card I should get in addition to my Amex Platinum that would maximize points on dining/hotel purchases. I travel weekly for work so I cover my flights with Amex Platinum. I’m debating on getting the Amex Gold to help get points for meals/groceries, but I feel like I’m missing an opportunity on points for hotel stays. I was doing some digging and came across the Brilliant card and seems like it might be better than the Gold card since I try to only stay at Marriott hotels and it gives points for hotels and meals. I know Amex points are worth more than Bonvoy points but it might be better to go the Bonvoy route? My work also reimburses all my flights/meals/hotels and reimburses $700 in annual fees. Some help would be great!