Pay attention if you have a Marriott Bonvoy BrilliantTM American Express® Card.
This fall, a significant modification will be made to one of the card's most well-liked (and convenient) features.
The $300 annual bill credit for eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties will no longer be available for the Bonvoy Brilliant as of September 22, 2022.
It will be swapped out for $25 in dining statement credits each month.
While the dollar amount of the perk is staying the same, the change to a monthly credit is probably unattractive to many consumers. This reward was an excellent method to offset a significant chunk of the card's $450 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Here is everything you need to know about this transition because there is a fair amount of information to process.
Marriott credit of $300 being lost to Bonvoy Brilliant
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant currently entitles cardholders to up to $300 in statement credits each card membership year at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties when eligible purchases are charged to their card.
It's a good thing that this credit is so broad because it covers almost all on-property transactions, like:
• Room prices.
• resort costs.
• Taxes.
• Spa services
• Dinning
Sadly, as of September 22, 2022, this credit will no longer be available.
If you haven't already used the advantage, you have until September 21 to charge Marriott stays to your card, but I'd advise doing it a few days beforehand to make sure the transaction posts in time.
Monthly new eating credit
The Bonvoy Brilliant will gain a new, monthly dining credit while losing the Marriott credit.
When cardholders use their cards at recognized restaurants throughout the world, they can receive up to $25 in statement credits each month.
This amounts to a total annual value of $300.
It's important to remember that the Bonvoy Brilliant has previously featured dining credits.
This card was one of many American Express products that, during the height of the epidemic, offered a momentary statement credit of up to $15 for dining out expenses, including takeout.
This is a brand-new, ongoing benefit, however it will start for current cardholders on a slightly modified schedule, on September 22, 2022.
What happens if you've already utilized your $300 Marriott credit?
How this move will affect current cards who have already used (or will use) their $300 in Marriott credits prior to the transition on September 22 is one important question.
Fortunately, a spokeswoman for American Express has some encouraging news to share the following declaration
“A cardholder can still earn up to $25 per month in dining credits from October to December 2022 if they spend their $300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit before September.”
The $300 Marriott credit and the $25 in monthly dining credits can actually be used in tandem by current cardholders until your next renewal date, thus doubling your benefits.
For instance, your $300 Marriott Bonvoy credit would reset in March 2022 if your card was renewed on that day.
Before another annual charge is due, you can take advantage of five months of $25 dining credits from October 2022 through February 2023 if you utilise all of that credit before September 22.
Our opinion
Overall, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant's popular, simple bonus has undergone a noticeably unfavourable adjustment.
The change from a single, annual credit to a monthly credit demands the cardmember to put in more effort to use it, even though the credit's dollar value won't change.
The card does offer a bonus on certain restaurant purchases (3 points per dollar spent) (3 points per dollar spent).
When it comes to collecting rewards for dining, there are many other excellent possibilities.
The fact that American Express is giving up incentives for purchases at its cobranded partner is also intriguing.
Having said that, there is something to keep in mind for anyone who now possesses the Bonvoy Brilliant after opening its initial iteration (the Starwood Preferred Guest Luxury Credit Card) soon after its release in August 2018.
The $300 Marriott credit's terms and conditions state the following on the timing of the perk (emphasis mine):
“For eligible purchases made directly at hotels and timeshare ownership properties taking part in Marriott Bonvoy on your Marriott Bonvoy BrilliantTM American Express® Card during that reward year, you are eligible to receive up to $300 total in statement credits on your Card Account during each year of your Card Membership ("reward year").
Your account opening date marks the start of your first reward year.
On the anniversary of the day your account was first opened, the subsequent reward year begins.”
My account opened on August 24, 2018, I discovered when I went back over my old emails (right after the SPG Luxury Card launched).
I should be able to use the $300 Marriott benefit before it expires in just under a month this year, based on this.
Before I have to pay another annual fee, I'll have nearly a year's worth of $25 monthly eating credits.
If you already have a card, it would be worthwhile to locate your approval email (or to call American Express) to find out the precise date on which this advantage will reset for you.
On the other hand, if you've been coveting this card, you might want to submit your application as soon as possible.
You can also be eligible for $25 in monthly dining credits starting in October if you apply now and can utilise the $300 Marriott credit by September 22.
In conclusion
As of September 22, 2022, American Express will replace the $300 annual Marriott bill credit on the Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card with up to $25 in monthly dining credits.
Given how simple it was to use the previous perk to save up to $300 on Marriott stays annually, this change is disheartening.
Other benefits offered by the card include a yearly free night certificate (worth up to 50,000 points), Priority Pass Select membership, and a price credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. These benefits may make the card useful to carry in your wallet.
It is sad, though, to lose a prominent benefit in favour of one that demands more effort.
Although it's wonderful that current cardholders can benefit from both the $300 statement credit and the monthly meal credits this year, I'd anticipate that many will start looking at other card alternatives for future Marriott visits as a result of this move.
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