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 :)

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?

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!

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 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?

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?

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?