Major Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Changes: Platinum Status & More!

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Now is the time to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card.

The Marriott Bonvoy BrilliantTM American Express ® Card, which is Marriott's premium personal credit card, has been changed a lot. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status without a spending requirement has been added to the card. The annual fee has gone up.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card annual fee increases to $650

The bad news should be the first thing that comes to mind. The annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has gone up. It applies to new applications.

After January 1, 2023, the annual fee increase will take effect for those who opened their account before September 22, 1992. Existing card members can enjoy the new benefits without paying a higher annual fee.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card gets awesome new benefits

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is getting a number of new perks despite the increased annual fee. There are positive changes when it comes to the ability to earn elite status. What is changing can be covered in detail.

Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status

If you are a cardmember, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card will give you Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. Platinum Elite status gives you perks such as room upgrades, breakfast or lounge access, bonus points, and much more.

This is the easiest pathway we have ever seen to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. Many will be interested in this. Status with the group comes in handy if you are not a Marriott loyalist.

25 Marriott Bonvoy elite nights toward status annually

Previously the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offered 15 elite nights. You already get Bonvoy Platinum Elite status for having the card, but you don't get the elite nights that go with it.

This could be useful if you want to earn Marriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits or Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status.

You can now earn up to 40 elite nights annually just for having two Marriott credit cards, as you can earn them from one personal and one business card, and 15 elite nights from the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express®

10 additional elite nights have already been posted to your account if you are an existing card member. This new perk allows you to go from 15 elite nights to 25 elite nights.

Marriott free night award worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points

Every year, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card gives an anniversary free night certificate, valid at a property that costs up to 85,000 Bonvoy points. You can top off the free night award with up to 15,000 points to redeem at a property that costs 100,000 points.

You will be able to redeem the card at more premium properties now that it is valid at properties costing up to 50,000 Bonvoy points.

Spend $60K, earn more Marriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card will have an additional incentive to be spent. If you make $60,000 in purchases on the card in a year, you will be able to choose an earned Choice reward. You will be able to pick one of the following.

• Five Suite Night Awards, each of which can be used to confirm a suite upgrade for one night up to five days prior to arrival
• A free night award, valid at a Marriott property costing up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
• $750 off a bed from Marriott Bonvoy boutiques

If you cross 50 or 75 elite nights in a year, you would normally get Choice Benefits. There is a chance to get a free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points if you spend money on the card.

Up to $300 per year in restaurant credits

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card can now give you up to $300 in statement credits for dining out. A $25 credit is given every month. The card used to offer a Marriott credit. It should be easy to maximize.

What’s not changing about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

A lot has changed with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card.

• The points earning structure on the card remains unchanged, as you can earn 6x Bonvoy points on eligible Marriott hotel purchases, 3x Bonvoy points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2x points on all other eligible purchases
• You can receive a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required)
• You can get a statement credit for the application fee of TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years) or Global Entry (every 4 years)

Earn 150K points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card will give you 150,000 Bonvoy points if you spend $5,000 in the first three months.

I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents per point, so the bonus is worth over $1,000. You can get Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite benefits when you redeem your points.

My take on Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card changes

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has been changed a lot. You can now get Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status if you hold onto a credit card.

This card has an annual fee of $650 but I think it's worth it. To do some basicaccounting on the card.

• Most people should be able to fully utilize the $300 annual dining credit; this could be as simple as spending $25 per month at Starbucks
• I’m thrilled that the annual free night award is now valid at a property costing up to 85,000 Bonvoy points per year, with the potential to use up to 15,000 Bonvoy points to top it off, and redeem at a property costing up to 100,000 Bonvoy points; I easily value this certificate at $350, and that’s very conservative

The annual fee is justified by the benefits. The value of Platinum Elite status, the 25 elite nights toward status, the Priority Pass membership, and more are not accounted for.

Being a Marriott Bonvoy lifetime Platinum Elite member doesn't add much to me. I like the 25 elite nights each year. I earn 40 elite nights each year without actually staying a night because I have a Marriott business card. Choice Benefits is something I value immensely.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card FAQs

I wanted to address some of the questions that I have been asking about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card changes. Let me know if I missed anything and I will add them.

Does credit card status count toward lifetime elite status?

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status by accumulating 600 elite nights and 10 years of Platinum Elite status or higher. The Platinum Elite status offered by this card is counted towards the requirement.

Are you eligible for the Bonvoy Brilliant Card bonus?

Credit card application restrictions can be hard to understand. If you have already had the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, you won't be eligible for the welcome offer.

Welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton^® Credit Card from JPMorgan or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards^® Credit Card in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful^™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful^™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.

When do existing cardmembers have to pay the higher annual fee?

The new annual fee for Bonvoy Brilliant Card holders will kick in on January 1, 2023.

When is the $25 monthly restaurant credit benefit live?

As of September 22, 2022, the monthly restaurant credit of up to $25 will be available for both new and existing card members.

Do Bonvoy Brilliant Card authorized users get Platinum Elite status?

Adding authorized users to the Bonvoy Brilliant Card is free. They don't get Platinum Elite status, they don't get a Priority Pass membership, and they don't get an additional monthly dining credit.

Is Marriott imminently devaluing Platinum Elite status?

Platinum Elite members will not be able to access the club lounge as of 2023, according to an Amex chat rep. A Marriott representative has confirmed to me that this isn't true. There will be program changes in the future, but they don't seem to be happening right now.

Is anything changing to the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card?

The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card was issued back in the day. The annual fee will not be changing, and cardmembers will receive an anniversary free night award worth up to 85,000 points instead of 50,000 points.

Is the Bonvoy Brilliant Card worth it for existing elite members?

Platinum Elite status is one of the biggest perks of the Bonvoy Brilliant card. Where does the value proposition of the card go for those who already have Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador elite status?

Everyone has to work on their numbers. I am a lifetime Platinum Elite member as well as a Titanium Elite member.

• For me, the $300 annual restaurant credit and annual free night award more than justify the card’s annual fee; I hope to consistently redeem that free night award at properties that would cost $800+ if paying cash
• I value the 25 elite nights offered annually with the card, as that will make it easier to hit 50 or 75 elite nights on an ongoing basis, which earn me Choice Benefits, like Suite Night Awards
• While this doesn’t benefit me, others will certainly value the Priority Pass membership offered by the card, to gain airport lounge access

Bottom line

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is back to normal. The card now has all kinds of new benefits, even though the annual fee has gone up. Platinum Elite status is given to cardmembers as long as they are a cardmember, a free night award valid at a property costing up to 85,000 Bonvoy points, and more.

Marriott Bonvoy is launching two new credit cards in addition to this.

What do you think about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card?

The rates and fees can be found in the links. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card has rates and fees.