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Marriott is shaking up their credit card lineup in a big way.
The Marriott Brilliant AMEX will see its annual fee climb from $450 to $650 as it becomes an ultra-premium card. The higher fee is in effect for new applications. If your card renews in 2022 you’ll pay the $450 fee. Card renewals in 2023 will be at the $650 fee.
Luckily, it will have benefits to match.
- Previously the card provided Gold status. Effective today, it includes Platinum elite status, which normally requires 50 nights annually at Marriott hotels. Platinum status includes 4pm late checkout, a welcome amenity like a gift, points, or free breakfast, and upgrades to suites at checkin when available.
- Previously the card provided an annual night, good at Marriott hotels up to 50K points per night, with the ability to top it off with 15K points for rooms up to 65K points per night. Now it will provide an annual night, good at Marriott hotels up to 85K points per night, with the ability to top it off with 15K points for rooms up to 100K points per night.
- Previously the card provided 15 elite night credits annually towards higher elite status. Now it will provide 25 elite night credits annually towards higher elite status. You can stack that with a Marriott business card to start off every year with 40 nights towards elite status.
- Previously the card provided $300 in annual Marriott spending. Now it includes $25 monthly credit at restaurants worldwide, including dine-in, takeout, or via restaurant delivery apps.
- If you spend $60K annually on the card, you can select an earned choice benefit, such as another 85K free night award, 5 suite night upgrades, or $750 off a Marriott mattress.
Other benefits remain the same. Those include Global Entry/PreCheck, Priority Pass, and more.
Marriott is also launching mid-tier cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card from Chase.
Those cards will have a $250 annual fee and will include the following benefits:
- 6 points per dollar spent at Marriott.
- 4 points per dollar on up to $15,000 of annual spending on restaurants worldwide and US supermarkets.
- 2 points per dollar elsewhere.
- Gold elite status.
- 1,000 Marriott points with every paid stay at Marriott hotels charged to your card.
- If you spend $15K on the card you will earn an annual free night, good at Marriott hotels up to 50K points per night, with the ability to top it off with 15K points for rooms up to 65K points per night.
- 15 elite night credit towards higher elite status.
Surprisingly, those mid-tier cards won’t come with an annual free night unless you spend $15K on them in a year. That puts those mid-tier cards in the awkward position of having fewer benefits than the lower-tier Marriott cards have, though if you’ll spend $15K you’ll have a more valuable free night certificate.
JPMorgan Ritz Carlton cardholders are in for a real treat. Their annual fee won’t change, but the annual 50K free night from that card will be improved to an annual 85K free night!
What do you think of these changes?
Here is a comparison chart of the 8 Marriott cards:
| Chase Marriott Bold Consumer Card | Chase Marriott Boundless Consumer Card | Marriott Bonvoy Consumer AMEX | Marriott Bonvoy Business AMEX | AMEX Marriott Bevy Consumer Card and Chase Marriott Bountiful Consumer Card | JPMorgan Ritz Carlton Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer AMEX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $95 | $95 | $125 | $250 | $450 | $650 |
| Points earned on everyday purchases | 1 (2 on travel purchases) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Points earned on airfare | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Points earned on Marriott hotels | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Points earned on restaurants | 1 | 3 ($6K annual cap across 3x categories) | 2 | 4 | 4 ($15K annual cap across 4x categories) | 3 | 3 |
| Points earned on supermarkets | 1 | 3 ($6K annual cap across 3x categories) | 2 | 2 | 4, US only on AMEX, worldwide on Chase ($15K annual cap across 4x categories) | 2 | 2 |
| Points earned on gas stations | 1 | 3 ($6K annual cap across 3x categories) | 2 | 4, US only | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Points earned on wireless service and shipping | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4, US only | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Free elite status level | Silver | Silver | Silver | Gold | Gold | Gold | Platinum |
| Elite night credits | 15 consumer nights | 15 consumer nights | 15 consumer nights | 15 business nights | 15 consumer nights | 15 consumer nights | 25 consumer nights |
| Elite status with annual spending | None | Gold for $35K, plus earn 1 elite night credit with every $5,000 spent | Gold for $35K | - | - | Platinum for $75K | - |
| Anniversary night with no spending required | None | Automatic free night up to 35K Marriott points | Automatic free night up to 35K Marriott points | Automatic free night up to 35K Marriott points | None | Automatic free night up to 85K Marriott points | Automatic free night up to 85K Marriott points |
| Free night awards for spending | None | None | None | 35K night if you spend $60K in a calendar year | 50K night if you spend $15K in a calendar year | None | 85K night if you spend $60K in a calendar year, or select 5 suite upgrade nights or $750 off Marriott mattress |
| Monthly restaurant credit. | None | None | None | None | None | None | $25 |
| Bonus points on each paid stay charged to card | None | None | None | None | 1,000 | None | None |
| Savings on Marriott stays | None | None | None | 7% off standard rates | None | $100 property credit at Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve or S. Regis when you book using special rate for a 2+ nights | $100 property credit at Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve or S. Regis when you book using special rate for a 2+ nights |
| Annual Ritz-Carlton Club Level Upgrade Certs On Paid Stays | None | None | None | None | None | 3 | None |
| Annual airline fee credit | None | None | None | None | None | $300 | None |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit | None | None | None | None | None | Full credit every 4 years. | Full credit every 4 years. |
| Foreign transaction fees | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Complimentary premium in-room internet | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Pass lounge membership | No | No | No | No | No | Yes, with unlimited free guests | Yes, with 2 free guests |
| Enhanced Priority Pass access to restaurants, spas, and non-lounge credits | No | No | No | No | No | Yes, with unlimited free guests | No |
| Chase Sapphire Lounge Access | No | No | No | No | No | Yes, with unlimited free guests | One free annual visit to Chase Sapphire lounge with no guests. Guests or additional visits cost $75. |
| Priority Pass lounge membership for free additional users | No | No | No | No | No | Yes, with unlimited free guests | No |
| Enhanced Priority Pass access to restaurants, spas, and non-lounge credits for free additional users | No | No | No | No | No | Yes, with unlimited free guests | No |
| Chase Sapphire Lounge Access for free additional users | No | No | No | No | No | Yes, with unlimited free guests | No |
| Return Protection | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside Assistance | No | No | No | No | No | 4 free uses per year | No |
| US Car Rental CDW Coverage | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary |
| Emergency Medical and Dental when traveling | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Trip Delay Reimbursement | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Baggage Insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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52 Comments On "Marriott Brilliant AMEX Repositioned As Ultra-Premium Card, AMEX And Chase Adding New Mid-Tier Marriott Cards; Comparison Chart Of 8 Marriott Cards!"
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I was gonna say goodbye elite recognition
Then i remembered its already non existent
+1
Marriott status is a nice perk at this point. You might be surprised with an upgrade, but don’t count on it.
However the 85K free night is certainly valuable, albeit less valuable than before the charts were Bonvoyed. That and the restaurant credit should still more than cover the annual fee.
Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems the majority of top tier hotels price out at more than 100k putting them out of reach with the 85k fna
Thanks but no thanks
To me the brilliant is dead
25 monthly restaurants is useless
I would never put 60k spend on this card even if i get a 85k night – still get more value on a citi/cap1/amex 2x card
Platinum is useless
Fna is nice but again doesn’t get u very far
Extra 10 nights is nice but not worth it imho
I think i may downgrade to the base amex card so I still can stack the 15 nights with the business card and then if i want a 85k night I’ll open a chase and pc to the ritz which still has 300 credit and only 450
Agree charts have been bonvoyed. They “conveniently” keep the St Regis Bal Harbor between 102k and 110k points per night to avoid allowing the 85k +15k. Was planning on cancelling anyway this year. This reinforces my decision.
I currently have platinum elite status. Never gotten an upgrade or been able to use my suite night awards. I’ve been burning my points and on the verge of transferring my useless 195000 remaining points to United but wondering if the 150000 sign up is worth it to stay
Every time I went to a “bonvoy” branded hotel, I have successfully upgraded. The upgrade is easy (you have to be a bit cunning make sure that you’re recording this interaction on video/incognito, and make sure you write everyone’s name down that you’ve interacted with.) Before you identify yourself and check in, go over to the counter, and ask them is there are any suits available from A-date, to Z-date… (the dates that you already booked) then ask them how many suits are available for that period/dates, also which tier suites are available in that period… once they give you all that information, and it’s available on the days that you have booked, then politely request to speak with the manager/supervisor, ask the previous representative to remain with the manager/supervisor, then ask the manager/supervisor to confirm all what the previous representative told you. once all is confirmed, then reveal that you already have a booking for those days, and that you are X-tier elite status, and would like your free upgrade to the suite for those days.
Generally works smoothly every time!!!
If it doesn’t..
If they try to deny you, then reveal to them that you have it all on video, and that you will report them to corporate for violating terms and conditions of bonvoy…
Open Twitter/YouTube like you ready to post… make sure that that manager can see… Verbally be like I got to post about this.. not too loud, just loud enough… (this is for the extra perks they’ll give you, this is besides the suite… you’ll get extra points, free breakfast, free room service, free parking(sometimes), free ultra late check out, free massage…(depending on location) and they’ll treat you like a king..)
Still works out every time.
Enjoy!!!
(few more tips… before you ever make a booking online for a specific hotel, make sure you take screenshots of suites available for those days, then call up that location and ask them if there are suites available for those days, This way you know there’s a high likelihood of there being suites available when you arrive there. If when you arrive here they say there are no suites available, ask them if there any suites that have not yet been cleaned and that aren’t occupied, Then ask them if they can have it cleaned, and let them know that you are willing to wait for it. All this is done before you identify yourself)
Don’t see how they can charge $250 for a card w/o a FNA.
The legacy SPG and Ritz look to be the best value (can you still PC to it?)
Then again the big question is how much are these FNA worth next year when they uncap the award prices…..
I’m wondering the same, I guess they hope people will want to spend to get the 50K cert.
As far as I know, you can still product change to both those cards, and they are excellent indeed.
And agreed, we will have to wait for next year to get a better idea of the FNA value, but an 85K FNA is very valuable as it stands now.
Right now, we can confidently say it’s the worst $250 card in the market.
My renewal is Jan 2023 🙁
I’m noticing the St. Regis Bal Harbour is charging 102k points for a night…. Hmm I wonder why that is. #Bonvoyed
LOL. Though that pricing does vary by date.
I do wish the top-off had no limits, but 15K is better than nothing.
When will the Ritz 85K start? I just had my renewal in August and got the 50K, should o call?
Everything should start now. If you renewed in August you’ll have to wait for next year AFAIK.
Hopeful that Hilton / AMEX comes out with a smoking hot, competitive offer to go head to head w/ Marriott on their top tier offer
Are you sure you want Aspire to go to $650? What benefits do you want to see on it that it doesn’t already have?
That’s nuts. I hope they never change Aspire. Benefits are awesome.
If I upgrade to the brilliant from the 95 af will I still get the 450 af this year?
So many questions. Will the brilliants platinum status give you standard annual platinum choice award perk (eg 5 SNA option)? I assume not.
Will the 25 nights stack with the 15 from a biz card to max out at 40/yr? If yes and if you then stay 10 more nights do you then get a platinum choice award?
Will the brilliant’s plat status count toward lifetime?
1. No, you need 50 nights for that. The card gives 25.
2. Yes, it will stack to get to 40. You will get a Platinum choice award if you get to 50 via stays and/or spending on the Chase Boundless.
3. Yes.
What’s the difference between a “consumer” night and a “business” night?
Consumer nights can’t stack with other consumer nights, but they can stack with business nights.
And the earnings on the $650 ultra premium card is still 2 points a dollar. They did add most of the benefits that they asked on the survey, but not that one. Even 3 points per dollar is not great, but at least it’s not criminal to spend on it. Right now, it is.
Agreed, ridiculous. Remains a card that can make sense to hold in a sock drawer for the benefits, rather than one valuable to use.
As a former SPG loyalist that has been chasing Lifetime Platinum and currently has Titanium (largely from Covid boosters), I hate what Marriott has done with the program and this continues the downward trend.
There are some short term benefits I get from owning the card though. I’ll be able to take advantage of about 6 months of the restaurant credit before deciding about renewing. The extra 10 night bump did make earning Titanium for next year quite a lot easier, and it will help to close on Lifetime Platinum status.
Granting Platinum status through card membership is a huge devaluation of the status. More people will now have it, which means that more people are now fighting for the same scarce upgrades. “When everyone is super, no one will be.” While there is not yet significant differentiation between Titanium and Platinum benefits, I would bet good money that will be coming very soon.
Ultimately, Marriott just put a price tag on Platinum status and I think that’s the biggest message this gives if anyone is willing to absorb it. For $695, you get $300 worth of dining credits, so negating all other benefits, Platinum status costs you $395 now. Maybe I’m late to recognizing it myself as it may already be true, but my fear is that will be all it’s worth.
As the first comment noted, I’d assume this could lead to a devaluation of Platinum benefits, except those have already been devalued.
Annual fee is $650, so if you use the restaurant credits, the effective cost for the 85K night and the Platinum status is $350. The 85K night should be worth at least that much, so the status is essentially a freebie…
I too really miss SPG and the days when Platinum status really meant something and when spending on the SPG card was worthwhile.
Fair correction on the annual fee. That actually makes the cost of Platinum status even lower with that calculation. Yes, there are several other benefits that come with the card, but if you were to negate the value of all of them, that leaves a maximum cost of $650 where you can flat out buy Platinum status. By just including the $300 restaurant credit, the effective outlay is $350/yr to buy Platinum status.
I’ve seen valuations northward of $2k for Platinum status previously, but now that there is a price tag on the cost of buying Platinum status, it’s just another data point on how unlikely that valuation is to stay.
Do you get an 85K cert on sign up?
The problem is, that Platinum status will now become close to worthless- hotels will stop being able/stop wanting to give upgrades when there are so many more Platinum members. As of now, even though status is nowhere near what it once was, hotels are still giving suite upgrades if the suite is available and you fight for it a bit, making Platinum status worth something; that’s going to change now.
Seems like the real winner here is the JPMorgan Ritz- annual fee remains at $450, AND the $300 Marriot remains, AND the free night gets hugely bumped to 85k? Definitely worth product changing to that now- an 85k night is still worth far more than $150, even after the Bonvoyed charts.
Yes, I was very surprised that the annual fee won’t be going up to compensate for that.
You wrote “$300 Marriott” but I think you mean the $300 credit on airline incidentals.
Dan, nobody creates a chart like you. Thank you!! You are the best!
Thanks, holdover from all the charts I made during my years in Yeshiva/Smicha 😀
With revamped Bonvoy Brilliant, would suite upgrades apply to award night certificates from a lower tier Bonvoy cards?
What benefits would they add to titanium to makeb it significantly better than plat?
They could give Titanium confirmed suite upgrades a few hours before check-in– that would separate them from Platinum members, and make sure that Titanium members get priority over Platinum members for upgrades- which will be huge now that there will be so many more Platinum members.
Will you be able to apply and get a bonus? Or will that depend if you had another Marriott card in the past ?
+1
+2
From experience, the Platinum perk is often valuable for staying places not during peak times. Don’t expect a suite upgrade in Miami area in the winter or any tourist spots during busy season. But if you’re on a road trip during a non busy season, they’ll generally upgrade you if there’s availability. I like to call first before booking to see if they’ll upgrade me.
They always tell me we can’t say until you arrive. Of course then there’s no upgrade available
Isn’t it about time the brilliant gets centurion access? @650 it’s enough of a premium card that it should be able to offer similar perks to the platinum card? That’s an expensive card to offer average lounge access and no travel credits.
I currently have both the $95 AF Amex and the Business amex of Marriott, I would like to get a chase version, Which Chase Marriott card can I get a SUB on?
When will the restaurant credit start? After my new AF kicks in (already spent the $300 Marriott credit this year)?
Happy with changes. Was about to give up on platinum status after devaluation of points charts marriott pulled this year. Will keep card this year for sure at 450.00 getting 300 in dining credits 85k free night and platinum that I don’t need to spend or stay to get anymore. Thanks Dan for keeping us updated on changes.
For someone without any Marriott card at the moment, what’s the most cost-effective way to go about getting a card and then product change to the JPMorgan Ritz card? Can it still be done? Does one need to wait for a year to do it?
Does the $25 monthly restaurant credit cover Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc.?
Yes.
For Amex Marriott brilliant If I dont care about platinum status, I am paying additional $200 for increased value of certificate. Am I right?
Love your charts! What’s on my wish list for another Dan Deals chart is fuel surcharges on reward tickets by airlines/reward programs.