Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

The card_name is a premium travel rewards card designed for people who enjoy staying at Marriott hotels and others in the chain, such as Ritz Carlton and St. Regis. It includes a welcome offer and some valuable travel benefits, including a free night award every year on your cardmember anniversary (fees may apply). The annual fee is quite high, so make sure you’ll take advantage of the benefits this card offers if you decide to apply. We dive into the details and your approval odds in this Bonvoy Brilliant review.

Welcome Offer

Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Our Rating

4.4/5.0

Welcome Offer

Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points

Annual Fee

$650

0% on Purchases

N/A

Reward Rate

2x – 6x points

0% on Balance Transfers

N/A

Welcome Offer

Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Features & Benefits

SecurityEMV Chip Enabled
Contactless PaymentsTap to Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay
BenefitsCell Phone Protection, Extended Warranty Coverage, Price Protection, Purchase Protection, Return Guarantees, ShopRunner, 24/7 customer service
Travel PerksAccess to Special Events and Concerts, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Travel Assistance, Airport Lounge Access, Luggage Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation Insurance, TSA PreCheck & Global Entry credit

Rewards

2x points
On all other eligible purchases
Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
3x points
Airfare
Earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines.
3x points
Dining
Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide.
6x points
Hotels
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.

Interest Rates & Fees

Annual Fee$650
Foreign Transaction FeeNone
Regular APR20.99% - 29.99% (V) APR

Insurance

Trip Delay Insurance

Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. 
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. 
  • Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. 
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. 
  • Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Cell Phone Insurance

With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Extended Warranty

When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. 
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. 
  • Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Return Protection

With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. 
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Purchase Protection

Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply. 

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. 
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
  • Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Lost Baggage Insurance

Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip.  For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. 
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. 
  • Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

What Credit Score Is Required to Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

The following credit score data are based on publicly available information we have collected from various forums. We have no way to confirm the accuracy of this data. In addition, keep in mind that credit card issuers use numerous factors in their underwriting process, and these factors can change at any time.

Lowest Approved Credit Score: 740

Average Approved Credit Score: 805

App StatusDateCredit ScoreBureauCredit Limit
Approved07/26/2023
819
Experian
$25,000
Approved07/26/2023
831
Equifax
$25,000
Approved07/26/2023
831
TransUnion
$25,000
Approved10/24/2023
740
Not Provided
$35,000

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Welcome offer
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Up to 6x points
Cons
  • Annual fee
  • Requires good credit

What Are the Best Alternatives?

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Rating

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Rewards Range

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Annual Fee

$550

Hilton Honors American Express Card
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Rating

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Rewards Range

3x to 7x points

Annual Fee

$0

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Rating

4.9

Rewards Range

2x - 10x

Annual Fee

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