Seeking Advice on Maximizing Travel Rewards with AMEX Marriott Brilliant Card

Help Needed / Question Forum
1

Hi everyone, please go easy on me as I’m still learning the credit card world. I’m 25 and finally making a reasonable salary. Let’s keep this short and sweet; I’m looking for advice/input:

I currently have the BILT card for paying rent and utilities and the AMEX Gold for food/restaurants (and everything else to ensure I hit the $6k spending minimum, which I will this month, no worries).

My very dear… brother (sure!), who works for Marriott, is adding me to his company profile as his brother. I can expect this to give me heavily discounted stays. I like the Marriott portfolio of hotels, so this is convenient. I want to focus my extra money on traveling these next few years, which means I will be spending maybe 10-20 nights a year in a hotel.

I believe the AMEX Marriott Brilliant is worth it in my case since I will have a major incentive to stay loyal to Marriott (additionally, getting TSA Pre-Check ASAP, which is covered with the Brilliant!). With the annual rate of the Gold going up, I am tempted to drop that card and switch to the Brilliant.

My big questions:

  1. Is the Brilliant an “everyday” card? Or is there another card I should/could partner with it to maximize returns? The 2x on everything else makes it seem like an everyday card from my perspective.

  2. Currently, the sign-on bonus is 95k, but I see in past threads (from Feb) that it was 150k. Should I wait to see if the bonus goes back up to that level? I’m looking to book two trips at the end of this year soon.

  3. This card only produces Bonvoy points, correct? It doesn’t produce Amex MR, right? Even though I’m focused on spending on travels, it feels weird to accrue ONLY Bonvoy points. I know Bonvoy points can be transferred to American Airlines, which is my main flying company. Is that worth it?

  4. Is there any other card you would recommend instead of the Brilliant?

Okay, I’ll stop there. Just want to read the room from individuals who know more than me. Thank you!

2 Likes
2

To get both SUBs, it is ideal to start with Bevy and then move on to Brilliant. Depending on your objective, can you wait a few months or do you need Platinum Elite right now?

2 Likes
3

Marriott credit cards have various rules that apply not only to their Amex cards but also to their Chase cobranded cards.

If you are eligible for Chase cards, the best starter card is the Bonvoy Boundless. Although the promotion for 5 free nights has ended, the current offer of 3 free nights is still a very competitive sign-up bonus (SUB) for a card with a $95 annual fee. I recommend starting with this card.

The Amex Bonvoy Bevy is generally considered a poor choice. The only reason to get it is to take advantage of the SUB, then cancel or upgrade the card after a year.

The Amex Bonvoy Brilliant is a good card, but it’s not ideal for beginners. With a hefty $650 annual fee and monthly credits to manage, it’s more suited for experienced cardholders.

Most importantly, once you get almost any personal Marriott card, you are locked out of SUBs across issuers for 24 months. Regardless of which card you choose, it will be two years before you are eligible for another SUB.

1 Like
4

Yes, one thing I should have remembered more was that business cards are covered by the same rule. I took the great, wife-got-boundless Amex way. She is upgrading to the RC in a few months. I foolishly neglected to check until recently after receiving my business card late last year and discovered that she was also not eligible to receive one for 24 months from boundless date.