Amex Marriott Brilliant Enhanced, Fee Increased
Marriott Bonvoy announced today enhancements to its premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, including Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, a $300 annual credit at restaurants worldwide (up to $25/month back) and an annual Free Night Award.
Besides the enhancements, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card also gets a new design and an improved welcome bonus of 150,000 points. And all those goodies come at a price. The annual fee on the card is also going up.
The Offer
- To celebrate the enhanced benefits, new Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card Members can earn 150,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after they spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in the first three months. The offer is available through January 11, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card annual fee will be increasing to $650.
- For Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Card Members who opened accounts prior to September 22, 2022, the new annual fee will take effect on those Card Members’ annual renewal dates on or after January 1, 2023.
- DIRECT LINK
Enhancements
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card has been refreshed to offer even more benefits. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant now gives Card Members complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, which provides access to hotel lounges, room upgrades and late checkout when available.
Existing Card benefits such as a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee and a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required) continue to give Card Members a premium travel experience.
Benefits:
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status (New)
- One Free Night Award each year after Card renewal month that can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees. (New)
- Up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 back per month) for dining purchases at restaurants worldwide (New)
- 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year (New)
- Up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve or St. Regis brands when you book direct using a special rate for a 2+ night stay
- New Annual Earned Choice Award: Each calendar year (starting January 2023), after making $60K in purchases, Card Members can select an Earned Choice Award benefit
- Priority Pass Select Membership (enrollment required)
- Application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (which comes with access to TSA PreCheck)
Conclusion
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant gets some new valuable additions such as Platinum Elite status and an annual Free Night Award. The welcome bonus has also been doubled from 75,000 to 150,000 points.
But there’s also a big annual fee increase. New applicants will have to pay $650, up from the old fee of $450. For existing cardholders, the new annual fee will take effect on the renewal date on or after January 1, 2023. So they get to enjoy some of the new benefits without paying the higher fee.
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So my annual fee just posted at $450. Does anyone know if that is good for the full 12 months, or are they going to pro-rate an increase in on Jan 1, 2023 ? Thanks in advance !!
The big loosers here are the “lifetime” platinum members, that had to be platinum for 10 years with more than 600 nights to get the status. Know you just can be platinum by paying an annual fee. The fair thing would be to elevate the lifetime platinum that got it that way, to lifetime platinum. It is not going to happen.
I was going to cancel my AX BB card next year but the plat elite status has me thinking twice. I travel to Asia several times a year and they treat you like a king with this status. I stayed recently at the Manila Sheraton Airport location. Met by a manager at the FD, taken to the concierge floor to check in. Upgraded to a huge suite welcome amenities were awesome. Club lounge access was awesome. Maybe. I will reconsider. Now I have to think to myself HH Dimond status vs Bonvoy Plat Elite. ?
This is the first Marriott card to put a spend threshold on the FNA. Hopefully does not spread to the $100 cards!
Hmm….this was supposed to be on the article for the $250 cards.
I beleive that is for a second 85k certificate. It is a new enhanced benefit after 60k spend.
Today I noticed ten extra nights on my Bonvoy account. The 25 nights (instead of the old 15) explains it! This was not rumored as far as I remember, nice!