Earning rates
The Marriott Brilliant AMEX Card earns Marriott Bonvoy points at the following rates:
- 6 points per $1 spent for eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- 3 points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide.
- 3 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2 points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Earning at Marriott hotels
The 6X headline understates what a Marriott stay actually returns, because card points stack on top of program earning.
Every Marriott Bonvoy member earns 10 base points per dollar at participating hotels, and the Platinum Elite status this card grants automatically adds a 50% bonus — another 5 points per dollar. With the card's 6X on top, a Marriott stay returns up to 21 points per dollar, which at our 0.7-cent valuation is roughly a 15% return on hotel spending.
For a Marriott loyalist, that's a serious rate.
The 3X and 2X earning rates
The 3X on restaurants and flights is solid but not class-leading — those are categories a Membership Rewards card beats. The American Express® Gold Card earns 4X dining (on up to $50K per year) and the American Express Platinum Card® earns 5X on flights, and because Membership Rewards transfer to Marriott at 1:1, running dining and airfare through those cards and transferring can out-earn the Brilliant's own 3X.
The 2X base rate on everything else is fine but unremarkable — its worth depends entirely on how you value Bonvoy points, which we peg at 0.7 cents. This is a card to run Marriott stays through, not your everyday spending.
Rewards value
Marriott Bonvoy points are worth 0.7 cents each on average by our valuations, with a realistic range depending on how you redeem.
The best and most reliable use is free nights at Marriott properties — that's where the points earn their keep. Because Marriott uses demand-based award pricing, the points needed for a night float with cash rates rather than following a fixed chart.
Value climbs at the top of the portfolio. Aspirational, high-end properties can push redemptions to 1 cent per point or more, especially with research and flexible dates, and stacking the fifth-night-free benefit on award stays helps.
My honest rule of thumb: points are only worth what you actually redeem them for. A useful discipline is to redeem only when you're getting 1 cent or more in value, and pay cash otherwise — that way you never trade points at a loss. Earn Bonvoy points quickly, redeem them for hotel nights at good value, and don't hoard a balance expecting it to appreciate.
Marriott Brilliant AMEX Card Points Value Calculator
Enter your Marriott Bonvoy Points balance to see estimated cash value.
| Redemption Option | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Award nights at Marriott brand hotels (research, high-end resorts) | $1,500.00 – $2,250.00 1¢/point – 1.5¢/point |
| Award nights at Marriott brand hotels | $900.00 – $1,500.00 0.6¢/point – 1¢/point |
| Point transfers to airline partners | $600.00 – $1,500.00 0.4¢/point – 1¢/point |
| Marriott Fly & Drive With Points | $300.00 – $600.00 0.2¢/point – 0.4¢/point |
| Cruise line redemptions | $595.24 0.4¢/point |
| Gift card redemptions | $300.00 – $500.00 0.2¢/point – 0.33¢/point |
Perks and benefits
The Brilliant's value is concentrated in status, a free night, and a stack of annual credits — enough that a frequent Marriott guest can clear the $650 fee several times over.
Annual Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points)
Receive one Free Night Award every year after your card renewal month, good for a one-night stay at a Marriott property redeeming at or under 85,000 points. If a property costs more, you can top off the certificate with up to 25,000 of your own points to reach a night priced up to 110,000 points.
This is the card's single most valuable benefit: used at a high-end Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, or luxury resort, one certificate can be worth $600 to $1,000 or more — often covering the entire annual fee on its own. Used at a midscale property, it's worth a fraction of that, so book it somewhere expensive.
Note certain hotels charge resort fees even on award nights.
$300 Annual Dining Credit
Get up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year — up to $25 per month — for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including certain delivery providers like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.
The mechanic to watch is that it's monthly, not annual: unused credit doesn't roll forward, so to capture the full $300 you need eligible dining spend in all twelve months. Used consistently, it covers nearly half the annual fee.
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status
Receive complimentary Platinum Elite status for as long as you hold the card, with no nights required.
Platinum brings a 50% points bonus, complimentary room upgrades (up to suites, when available), 4 p.m. late checkout, lounge access at some brands, and enhanced benefits at check-in. Earning Platinum outright takes 50 nights in a year, so getting it for holding the card is a major shortcut — and for guests who use upgrades and late checkout regularly, it's worth several hundred dollars a year on its own.
$100 Ritz-Carlton & St. Regis Property Credit
Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges when you book a two-night minimum stay at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis directly, using a special rate with your card.
Unlike the annual credits, this one is available per qualifying stay rather than once a year, so guests who frequent these luxury brands can trigger it repeatedly across multiple stays. Book those properties any other way and you get nothing, so use the designated rate.
25 Elite Night Credits
Each calendar year, receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
This is a genuine accelerator for anyone chasing top-tier status: it's half the 50 nights needed for Platinum on its own, and it stacks with the 15 Elite Night Credits from the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Hold both cards and you start each year with 40 Elite Nights, leaving just 35 to reach Titanium — a powerful shortcut for anyone targeting Titanium or Ambassador status.
Priority Pass Membership
Enroll in Priority Pass for unlimited visits to over 1,300 airport lounges in more than 130 countries, regardless of airline or class.
For a frequent traveler, lounge access alone can be worth a couple hundred dollars a year, and it's an unusual inclusion on a hotel card rather than a general travel card.
Other Benefits
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: A statement credit every 4 years toward Global Entry ($120) or TSA PreCheck® (up to $85) when you apply and pay with the card.
- Brilliant Earned Choice Award: After spending $60,000 on the card in a calendar year, select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit (such as additional elite nights or a free night certificate). One per calendar year.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Insurance and protections
As a premium card, the Brilliant carries a full slate of travel and purchase protections — among the strongest on any hotel card. As with most card benefits, you generally have to pay with the Card to be covered.
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption
Reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs when a covered trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason, subject to per-trip and annual limits.
- Trip Delay Insurance
Reimbursement for reasonable expenses when a covered trip is delayed more than a set number of hours.
- Car Rental Loss & Damage (Secondary)
Coverage for theft of or damage to most rentals when you reserve and pay with the Card and decline the collision waiver. Secondary; geographic exclusions apply; no liability coverage.
- Baggage Insurance Plan
Coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage when the fare is paid with the Card, in excess of common-carrier coverage.
- Cell Phone Protection
Coverage against damage or theft of a phone when you pay your monthly wireless bill with the Card, subject to a deductible and per-claim limit.
- Purchase Protection
Coverage for eligible purchases damaged or stolen within a set window, subject to per-item and per-account annual limits.
- Return Protection
Reimbursement when a merchant won't accept an eligible return within a set window, subject to per-item and annual limits.
- Extended Warranty
Adds coverage to eligible manufacturers' warranties on qualifying purchases.
Coverage details last reviewed Jul 29, 2026. Always confirm current terms in the issuer's guide to benefits before relying on coverage.
Transfer partners
Points earned with the Marriott Brilliant AMEX Card can be transferred to 36 partners.
Marriott Bonvoy is one of the few hotel programs where transferring points to airlines can actually deliver reasonable value, which sets it apart from Hilton, IHG, and others.
Transfers are at a 3:1 ratio, and Marriott sweetens it: for every 60,000 points you transfer, you receive a 5,000-mile bonus, so 60,000 Bonvoy points become 25,000 airline miles. Our valuations put Marriott transfers at 0.4 to 1 cent per point depending on the airline and award, so it's situational rather than automatic — sometimes a strong play, sometimes worse than a hotel redemption.
The more valuable direction for most people is into Marriott. Both American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to Marriott at 1:1, and Bilt transfers 1:1 with transfer bonuses — so a Marriott loyalist can build Bonvoy points rapidly by pairing this card with a flexible points card and transferring when needed.
Transfers are one-way, so confirm your award before moving anything.
Marriott Brilliant AMEX Card Points Transfer Calculator
Use our Marriott Brilliant AMEX Cardconversion calculator to estimate the transfer of Marriott Bonvoy Points into partner rewards.
| Transfer Partner | Ratio | You'll Receive |
|---|---|---|
|
AM
Aegean Miles+Bonus
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Aegean Miles+Bonus |
Aer Lingus AerClub Avios
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Aer Lingus AerClub Avios |
Aeromexico Points
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Aeromexico Points |
Air Canada Aeroplan Points
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Air Canada Aeroplan Points |
|
AC
Air China PhoenixMiles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Air China PhoenixMiles |
Air France KLM Flying Blue Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Air France KLM Flying Blue Miles |
Air New Zealand Airpoints
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
200:1 | 900 Air New Zealand Airpoints |
Alaska Atmos Rewards Points
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Alaska Atmos Rewards Points |
|
AN
All Nippon Airways Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 All Nippon Airways Miles |
American Airlines AAdvantage Miles
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles |
Avianca Lifemiles
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 50,000 Avianca Lifemiles |
British Airways Executive Club Avios
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 British Airways Executive Club Avios |
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles |
|
CS
China Southern Airlines Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 China Southern Airlines Miles |
|
CA
Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Copa Airlines ConnectMiles |
Delta SkyMiles
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 50,000 Delta SkyMiles |
Emirates Skywards Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Emirates Skywards Miles |
Etihad Guest Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Etihad Guest Miles |
Frontier Airlines FRONTIER Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Frontier Airlines FRONTIER Miles |
|
HA
Hainan Air Fortune Wings Club Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Hainan Air Fortune Wings Club Miles |
Iberia Plus Avios
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Iberia Plus Avios |
|
IN
InterMiles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 InterMiles |
|
JA
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles |
|
LP
LATAM Pass Points
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 50,000 LATAM Pass Points |
Qantas Frequent Flyer Points
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer Points |
Qatar Avios
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Qatar Avios |
|
SA
Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan Reward Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan Reward Miles |
Singapore KrisFlyer Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Singapore KrisFlyer Miles |
Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points |
Tap Air Portugal Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Tap Air Portugal Miles |
Thai Air Royal Orchid Plus Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Thai Air Royal Orchid Plus Miles |
Turkish Air Miles & Smiles Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Turkish Air Miles & Smiles Miles |
United MileagePlus Miles
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 70,000 United MileagePlus Miles |
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points |
Virgin Australia Velocity Points
Transfer Bonus
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 60,000 Virgin Australia Velocity Points |
|
Vueling Club Avios
Airline Frequent Flyer Program
|
3:1 | 50,000 Vueling Club Avios |
Fees
Annual Fee
$650. It's a steep number, but the free night and $300 dining credit alone can cover most or all of it for a consistent Marriott guest — the card is designed to be justified through benefits, not everyday earning.
See Rates and Fees. Terms Apply.
Authorized User Fee
No fee to add authorized users. Adding household members is an easy way to funnel more spend into your Bonvoy balance at no extra cost.
Foreign Transaction Fee
None. Combined with 6X at Marriott properties worldwide, that makes the Brilliant a strong card for international Marriott stays.
Is the Marriott Brilliant worth it?
For a frequent Marriott guest who will use the $300 dining credit and redeem the free night at a high-end property, the Brilliant is worth the $650 fee — often with several hundred dollars of value to spare. For an occasional Marriott guest, it isn't. The card lives or dies on whether you actually use its benefits.
The Marriott luxury guest: the intended customer. Between an 85K free night worth $600–$1,000+, the $300 dining credit, Platinum status, and an unlimited $100 credit each stay at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis, a regular high-end Marriott guest clears the fee comfortably. The Ritz/St. Regis credit alone can justify the card for anyone who stays at those brands more than a couple of times a year.
The status chaser: a strong tool. The 25 Elite Night Credits are half the path to Platinum on their own, and paired with the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex's 15 credits, you start each year with 40 nights — a serious head start toward Titanium or Ambassador status that would otherwise take months on the road.
The occasional Marriott guest: step down. If you stay at Marriott only a few times a year, look at the the mid-tier Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. You give up the luxury credits and top-tier free night, but you also stop paying for benefits you won't use.
The points strategist: pair, don't rely. A Marriott loyalist gets the most from this card held alongside a Membership Rewards or Ultimate Rewards card (or both), since those transfer to Marriott at 1:1 — run dining and airfare through a Gold or Platinum and transfer, and you out-earn the Brilliant's own 3X. Bilt is another solid partner, with 1:1 transfers and bonuses.
Bottom line: one of the most rewarding hotel cards available if Marriott is your default and you'll use the credits and free night — run your real stay pattern and spending through the Marriott Brilliant Points Calculator to see how much of the $650 you'd actually earn back.
