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.” Sometimes  an extra 50k after six nights is a targeted or limited-time promotion.

Welcome Bonus History

Here are the offers we have seen on the Bonvoy Brilliant:

Best Marriott welcome offers

In earlier years the welcome bonus sometimes reached around 150,000 points, and in more recent promotions it has gone as high as 185,000 points. These limited-time deals were among the most valuable offers ever available for the card.

In more typical periods the bonus has been smaller. Many recent offers have been around 95,000 to 100,000 points, which is still a solid reward depending on how the points are used.

This card is mainly designed for people who stay at Marriott hotels. Marriott points can be transferred to many airline partners, but the value is usually better when used for Marriott hotel stays.

The card launched in 2018 as the SPG Luxury Card and was later rebranded as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card when Marriott unified its loyalty program in 2019.

Later, in 2022, American Express made major changes to the card. The update added new benefits and statement credits while also increasing the annual fee. After those changes the card was positioned more clearly as a premium or luxury hotel credit 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.