The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is Marriott Bonvoy’s premium personal co-branded credit card issued by American Express. Cardholders receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status, an annual 85K Free Night Award, 25 Elite Night Credits, dining credits, Priority Pass, and other premium travel benefits.
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | US$650 |
| Additional Card Annual Fee | US$0 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status | Platinum Elite |
| Free Night Award | 1 annual 85K FNA after card renewal; add up to 25K Points to redeem for a stay costing up to 110K Points per night |
| Elite Night Credits | 25 Elite Night Credits annually |
| Dining Credit | Up to US$25 per month in statement credits for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, up to US$300 annually |
| Marriott Purchases | 6X Marriott Bonvoy Points |
| Restaurants Worldwide | 3X |
| Flights Booked Directly with Airlines | 3X |
| Other Purchases | 2X |
| Brilliant Earned Choice Award | Spend US$60,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year to select one Brilliant Earned Choice Award |
| Ritz-Carlton / St. Regis Property Credit | Up to US$100 Property Credit on eligible stays of at least 2 nights at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis |
| Priority Pass | Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership after enrollment |
| Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit | Up to US$120 for Global Entry or US$85 for TSA PreCheck, according to the applicable benefit period |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% |
85K Free Night Award: Redeem for Up to 110K Points
Cardholders receive one 85K Free Night Award each year after renewal.
Marriott Bonvoy’s Free Night Award Top Off feature allows members to add up to 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points when redeeming a Free Night Award.
Therefore:
85K Free Night Award + 25K Points = up to 110K Points per night
This significantly expands the range of properties where the award can be used, including opportunities at higher-end Marriott Bonvoy brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and The Luxury Collection.
Conclusion
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is one of the most benefit-rich personal Marriott Bonvoy credit cards available in the U.S.
Cardholders receive Platinum Elite Status, an annual 85K Free Night Award, 25 Elite Night Credits, and up to US$300 in Dining Credits, making the card particularly attractive to travelers who stay regularly with Marriott Bonvoy.
The ability to add up to 25K Points to the 85K FNA also allows redemptions of up to 110K Points per night, making the annual award much easier to use at higher-end Marriott Bonvoy properties.
Travelers who stay with Marriott less frequently may want to compare the Brilliant with the Bevy, Boundless, and other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards before applying.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Historical Welcome Offers
Below are representative public welcome offers from 2024–2026:
| Date | Welcome Offer | Spending Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Aug–Sep 2026 | 150K Points + US$250 Statement Credit | Spend US$6,000 within 6 months |
| Mar–May 2026 | 200K Points | Spend US$6,000 within 6 months |
| Jul–Sep 2025 | 185K Points | Spend US$6,000 within 6 months |
| Mar–May 2025 | 185K Points | Spend US$6,000 within 6 months |
| Aug–Oct 2024 | 185K Points | Spend US$6,000 within 6 months |
| Feb–May 2024 | 185K Points | Spend US$6,000 within 6 months |
The highest public points-only offer during this three-year period reached 200K Marriott Bonvoy Points. Offers in the 185K–200K Points range can therefore serve as a useful benchmark when evaluating future welcome offers.
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Marriott Bonvoy American Express Credit Card Comparison
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Key Benefits | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | US$650 | Platinum Elite, annual 85K FNA, up to US$300 Dining Credit, 25 Elite Night Credits, 6X at Marriott | 0% |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card | US$250 | Gold Elite, 50K FNA after US$15K annual spend, 15 Elite Night Credits, 6X at Marriott | 0% |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card | US$125 | Gold Elite, annual 35K FNA, additional 35K FNA after US$60K annual spend, 15 Elite Night Credits, 6X at Marriott | 0% |
Marriott Bonvoy Chase Credit Card Comparison
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Key Benefits | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit Card | US$250 | Gold Elite, 50K FNA after US$15K annual spend, 15 Elite Night Credits, 6X at Marriott | 0% |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | US$95 | Silver Elite, annual 35K FNA, 15 Elite Night Credits, 1 Elite Night Credit per US$5K spent, 6X at Marriott | 0% |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card | US$0 | Silver Elite, 5 Elite Night Credits, 3X at Marriott | 0% |
| The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card | US$450 | Gold Elite, annual 85K FNA, US$300 Airline Credit, Priority Pass, 6X at Marriott | 0% |
The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is no longer available for direct applications. It is generally obtained by product changing from an eligible Chase Marriott credit card.
Application Rules & Restrictions
When applying for American Express credit cards, keep these key rules in mind:
– Once in a Lifetime: The Welcome Offer on the same Amex Card is generally available only once. Some cards also have Family Language, meaning that previously holding another card in the same family may affect Welcome Offer Eligibility.
– Card Slots: You can generally hold around 5 Amex Credit Cards, with Personal and Business Credit Cards counted together. Charge Cards typically do not count toward this Credit Card limit. Actual limits may vary.
– 1/5 & 2/90 Rule: A commonly observed guideline is generally no more than 1 Amex Credit Card approval within 5 days and 2 approvals within 90 days. This primarily applies to Credit Cards rather than Charge Cards.
– Pop-Up: During the application process, Amex may notify you that you are not eligible for the Welcome Offer. You may still be able to continue the application and receive approval, but without the Welcome Offer.
A simple Amex application strategy is:
Check Welcome Offer Eligibility → Check Family Language → Manage Card Slots → Submit Application
Actual application and Welcome Offer Eligibility requirements are subject to the current terms of each American Express Card.
How Can Foreigners Apply for American Express Credit Cards?
For foreigners entering the U.S. credit card market, Amex Global Transfer can be one of the best starting points.
If you already hold an eligible American Express card in another country, your existing Amex cardmember history may help support an application for a U.S. Amex card without first building a long U.S. credit history.
Overseas Amex → Amex Global Transfer → U.S. Amex → Build U.S. Credit History
Actual eligibility and required information are subject to current American Express requirements.
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