Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Welcome Bonus: A 7-Year Look Back, From 150K to 100K

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Welcome Bonus: If you travel often and stay at Marriott hotels, you may have heard about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. This card sits at the top of Marriott’s credit card options. It is made for people who enjoy upscale hotels and want extra benefits like room upgrades and special credits.

American Express issues this card with Marriott. It is mainly for loyal Marriott guests who want to earn Marriott Bonvoy points instead of flexible bank points. These points can be used for free hotel nights, better rooms, and other hotel experiences.

The card comes with a high annual fee of $650. Because of that, it makes more sense for people who stay at Marriott hotels often. If you do not travel much, the fee may feel too expensive. But for regular guests, the benefits can help balance the cost over time.

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Welcome Bonus

Right now, the public offer says, “Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you spend $6,000 within the first 6 months of Card Membership.” This longer six month period makes it easier for many people to qualify for the bonus.

*Value based on our latest points and miles valuations, not provided by the card issuer. We value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each.

In the past, the welcome offers were sometimes much higher. Between 2021 and 2023, the card offered up to 150,000 points. Those were some of the best deals ever seen for this card. After that period, the bonus slowly came down and settled around 95,000 to 100,000 points. Even though it is not as high as before, 100,000 points can still be worth up to $700 depending on how you use them.

It is important to know that this card does not allow direct point transfers like some other American Express cards. Marriott points can be moved to airlines, but the transfer value is usually not very good. So this card works best if you plan to use the points mainly for Marriott stays.

The card first launched in 2019 after Marriott joined with SPG. In 2022, American Express made big changes. They added new statement credits and raised the annual fee. After those updates, the card became more of a true luxury hotel card.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Key Benefits

One of the biggest perks of this card is automatic Platinum Elite status. This status can give you better rooms, late checkout, extra bonus points, and lounge access at many hotels. If you stay at Marriott often, this benefit alone can save you money and make your trips more comfortable.

Here are the card’s most important benefits and earning rates:

• Earn 6x points on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties
• Earn 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines
• Earn 3x points on restaurant purchases worldwide
• Earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status
• Annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points
• Up to $300 dining credit, available as up to $25 per month
• Priority Pass™ airport lounge access (enrollment required)
• Earned Choice Benefit after spending $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Another strong benefit is the annual free night award. Many people use it at expensive hotels to get good value. When you combine this free night with the statement credits, it can reduce the real cost of the $650 fee.

The card has an APR range of 19.49%-28.49% Variable and is recommended for people with good to excellent credit. Because it is a premium product, it works best for travelers who can use the benefits every year.