Link: Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review) is Marriott’s most premium co-branded credit card, and there are all kinds of reasons to consider picking it up, including a massive improved welcome offer.
While the card has a steep $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees), I find that to be easy to justify, thanks to benefits like an anniversary free night award, a $300 annual restaurant credit, and more.
Arguably the biggest selling point of this card is how it can help you earn elite status. Not only does the card offer Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status, but it also offers 25 elite nights toward status annually. People sometimes get confused about the details and logistics of the card’s elite perks, so I want to talk about that a bit more in this post.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Platinum Elite status basics
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers Platinum Elite status for as long as you have the card:
- This is only available to the basic cardmember, and not to any authorized users
- There’s nothing you need to do to register, but rather the status automatically posts to the account provided at the time of application
- Officially, it can take 8-12 weeks for Platinum Elite status to post to an eligible account, though in reality, most people report the status posting within a few days of account approval, around the same time the card arrives in the mail
- The status is valid year-after-year, for as long as you maintain the card, and there’s nothing you need to do to re-register
- Officially, the Platinum Elite status is cancelled immediately if you cancel the card, though anecdotally many report the status staying active through the end of the status year (which is typically the end of February of a particular year)
- Platinum Elite status ordinarily requires 50 elite nights per year, but if you get it through this card, then you don’t get those 50 elite nights; however, you do earn 25 elite nights per year with the card (which I’ll talk more about below)
Platinum Elite status is where status really starts to get valuable with Marriott. It offers a variety of perks, including room upgrades subject to availability (including potentially to suites, though manage your expectations), complimentary breakfast at select brands, guaranteed 4PM late check-out at non-resorts, bonus points, and more.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 25 elite night benefit basics
Separate from the Platinum Elite status, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card also offers 25 elite nights toward status annually, for as long as you have the card:
- This is only available to the basic cardmember, and not to any authorized users
- There’s nothing you need to do to register, but rather the elite nights automatically post to the account provided at the time of application
- Officially, it can take up to 60 days for the 25 elite nights to post to an eligible account, though in reality, most people report the elite nights posting within a few days of account approval, around the same time the card arrives in the mail
- In subsequent years, the 25 elite nights post before March 1, though in reality, typically post within a few days of the beginning of the year
- If you cancel your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and the elite nights have already been deposited for that year, they won’t be removed from your account
- You can only earn elite nights via one Marriott Bonvoy personal card and one Marriott Bonvoy business card
The 25 elite night benefit on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card tends to cause some confusion, given that Platinum Elite status requires 50 elite nights per year. When you’re given the Platinum Elite status for having the card, you don’t get any of the corresponding elite nights.
However, you do get 25 elite nights thanks to this separate perk. What’s the value in getting 25 elite nights posted to your account?
For what it’s worth, in addition to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, I also have the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review). Between those two cards, I start every year with 40 elite nights in the program, as the former offers 25 elite nights, while the latter offers 15 elite nights.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card lifetime elite status basics
There’s a Marriott Bonvoy lifetime elite status program, and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card can help you toward earning that status. Specifically:
- Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy® Silver Elite Status requires earning 250 elite nights and having five years of Silver Elite status or higher
- Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status requires earning 400 elite nights and having seven years of Gold Elite status or higher
- Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status requires earning 600 elite nights and having at least 10 years of Platinum Elite status or higher
The Platinum Elite status and the 25 elite nights toward status annually offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card count toward both of those metrics. So holding onto this card can help you eventually earn lifetime elite status.
Of course let me emphasize that the lifetime elite status program could change at some point, and card perks could also change at some point. So I’d think twice before making too many decisions based on the ability to earn lifetime elite status.
My take on Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card elite perks
I think getting elite perks with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card represents a phenomenal value, but I also want to make sure people manage expectations appropriately, so let me share how I approach the value of this card.
To me, the card’s $650 annual fee is more or less justified by the $300 restaurant credit and anniversary free night award, so I view the elite perks as costing very little.
Earning Platinum Elite status just for having a credit card is an awesome opportunity. Now, do keep in mind that Marriott’s elite ranks are pretty swelled, so don’t expect that you’re going to roll into a Marriott in New York or Hawaii, and be treated like the world’s biggest VIP.
However, the status does offer concrete value. In particular, it’s great to get guaranteed 4PM check-out at non-resorts, and also to receive complimentary breakfast at most brands, and/or club lounge access.
Generally speaking, the further away from the United States you get, the better elite treatment will be. In many places with a lower concentration of elite members, you may pretty consistently see suite upgrades. Just trade San Francisco and Maui for Bishkek and Tbilisi, and you’ll probably find that you’re treated like royalty.
Even as someone who already has lifetime Platinum Elite status, I still find it worthwhile to hold onto the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, in order to earn 40 elite nights per year.
At 50 and 75 elite nights, I can select five Nightly Upgrade Awards at each threshold, and each can be used to score a great room upgrade, subject to availability. I know some people don’t have much luck using these, but that doesn’t reflect my experience.
For example, a while back I stayed at Hotel Maria Cristina San Sebastian, a Luxury Collection property. I applied my Nightly Upgrade Awards, and was confirmed into an incredible terrace suite, which would have cost thousands of dollars per night.
More recently, I stayed at the Tokyo EDITION Toranomon, and I used a Nightly Upgrade Award to confirm an incredible suite with Tokyo Tower views.
You just need to be strategic about using your upgrades, but I’ve consistently received huge value with these.
Bottom line
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is a lucrative credit card. The card offers a variety of perks, from an anniversary free night award, to a $300 annual restaurant credit, to Platinum Elite status, to 25 elite nights toward status annually. If you stay at Marriotts with any frequency, then I think this is a card that’s worth having. This is a particularly good time to apply, given the offer that’s currently available.
What’s your take on the elite status perks offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).
