Eight Strategies to Optimize Your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Benefits
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Your Ultimate Travel Companion
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is more than just a credit card - it's a travel companion that offers a host of benefits designed to enhance your journey. Here's what you can expect from this premium offering.
Firstly, the card comes with a range of travel insurance benefits, including trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and access to the Premium Global Assist® Hotline. This hotline provides 24/7 emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from home, with emergency medical transportation assistance and related services potentially covered at no cost if approved and coordinated by the Premium Global Assist Hotline.
In addition, the TSA PreCheck application fee has recently been lowered to $78. Cardholders can also enjoy the perk of reimbursing the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck once every four years.
When it comes to earning points, the card offers 6X points at Marriott hotels, 3X points at restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on all other purchases. Leveraging spending categories that earn 6X or 3X points maximizes rewards accumulation.
One of the standout features of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the Annual Free Night Award. Each year after card renewal, cardholders receive a free night award certificate worth 85,000 points, which can be used at participating Marriott hotels, although resort fees may still apply.
Moreover, the card offers a $300 Annual Dining Credit, providing up to $300 back per year ($25 monthly max) in statement credits for eligible restaurant purchases worldwide, effectively reducing the card's net cost if you regularly dine out.
Cardholders also enjoy automatic Platinum Elite status, which comes with perks such as room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points on stays booked with qualifying rates.
For high spenders, the Brilliant Earned Choice Award offers an additional benefit. After spending $60,000 annually, cardholders can select one premium benefit such as upgrade certificates or additional free nights, adding extra value.
Finally, when booking a qualifying stay of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels, cardholders receive a $100 credit for on-property charges, enhancing luxury stays.
To make the most of these benefits, it is recommended to use the card for Marriott stays and dining to maximize points, redeem the Annual Free Night Award at high-value properties, reach the $60,000 spend threshold to earn the Brilliant Earned Choice Award, combine room upgrades with qualifying rates, leverage the $300 Dining Credit monthly limits, and book Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis two-night stays to take advantage of the $100 property credit.
With these strategies, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers elevated value through elite status, statement credits, free nights, and choice awards tailored to high spenders.
[1] Source: American Express website [2] Source: Marriott Bonvoy website [3] Source: The Points Guy article [4] Source: NerdWallet article [5] Source: Travel + Leisure article
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with a range of insurance benefits for when you travel, such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and access to the Premium Global Assist® Hotline.
- To enjoy the TSA PreCheck perk, cardholders can reimburse the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck once every four years.
- By spending on categories that earn 6X or 3X points, you can maximize your rewards accumulation with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- Each year after card renewal, cardholders receive a free night award certificate worth 85,000 points, potentially enhancing luxury stays at participating Marriott hotels.
- Cardholders can also use the Annual Dining Credit, which offers up to $300 back per year ($25 monthly max) in statement credits for eligible restaurant purchases worldwide.
- With automatic Platinum Elite status, cardholders can enjoy room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points on stays booked with qualifying rates.
- In addition, the Brilliant Earned Choice Award offers high spenders a chance to select premium benefits after spending $60,000 annually, adding extra value to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
