The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card offer solid rewards and benefits that can make your stays at Marriott hotels even more exciting.
The Bonvoy Brilliant offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status and valuable perks like an annual free night certificate that can be used at many premium Marriott properties. The card includes generous monthly restaurant credits and provides elite nights toward status each year, making it a strong choice for Marriott travelers.
The Bonvoy Bevy provides automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status and rewards generously for Marriott stays. While it includes 15 elite night credits annually, you’ll need to spend $15,000 in a calendar year to earn a free night certificate worth up to 50,000 points.
This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.
Overview of Each Card
Welcome Bonuses
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
The Bonvoy Brilliant Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Earning Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
The Bonvoy Brilliant Amex earns Marriott Bonvoy® points at the following rates:
- 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program;
- 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines; and
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex earns Marriott Bonvoy® points at the following rates:
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy;
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, including take-out and delivery in the U.S.;
- 4 points per dollar at U.S. Supermarkets; and
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
There is a cap of $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and supermarkets for 4 points per dollar. After that cap, you will earn 2 points per dollar.
Winner:
It depends on how frequently you fly. Frequent flyers should get the Bonvoy Brilliant Amex to maximize its 3x points on flights.
If you’re just an occasional flyer, you’re better off with the Bonvoy Bevy Amex and its 4x points on dining and groceries.
Card Benefits and Perks
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
The Bonvoy Brilliant Amex offers the following benefits and perks:
$300 Annual Restaurant Credit: Each month, you’ll receive $25 back on restaurant purchases worldwide, all automatically applied to your statement. This credit refreshes monthly and works at restaurants globally, making it easy to maximize during both local dining and international travel.
Free Night Award: Your anniversary free night certificate covers rooms costing up to 85,000 points, significantly more valuable than other Marriott cards’ certificates. You can even add up to 15,000 points to book properties costing up to 100,000 points per night.
Platinum Elite Status: You’ll automatically receive Platinum Elite status, granting you valuable perks like suite upgrades when available, guaranteed 4PM late checkout, and executive lounge access at participating properties. This status level also includes breakfast benefits at most brands and a 50% bonus on base points earned during stays.
$100 Luxury Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Priority Pass: Enjoy complimentary Priority Pass™ membership, granting you unlimited access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide upon enrollment. Escape the hustle and bustle of the terminal and relax in a comfortable lounge with amenities like free Wi-Fi, food, and drinks.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit: This card offers a credit for TSA PreCheck (expedited airport security) or Global Entry (expedited airport security and customs).
Elite Night Head Start: Starting each calendar year with 25 elite nights gives you a significant boost toward higher status tiers. These nights can be combined with the 15 nights from a Marriott business card, potentially starting you at 40 nights annually.
Travel and Purchase Benefits
Cell Phone Protection: When you use your card to pay your monthly phone bill, you’ll receive valuable coverage against damage or theft of your device.*
Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.*
Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation.*
Baggage Insurance Plan covers your baggage if it is lost, damaged, or stolen and you purchase your ticket with this card.*
Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.*
Return Protection allows cardholders to receive a refund for purchased items within a certain timeframe for items that merchants may not accept for return.*
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex comes with the following card benefits: 1,000 Bonus Points Per Stay: This card offers 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott Bonvoy for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Free Night with Spending: You can earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, which can be used at a hotel for up to 50,000 points. Marriott Gold Status: The Bonvoy Bevy card offers automatic Gold elite status for holding the card. Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status offers benefits such as a 25% points bonus available for qualifying rates, welcome amenity, late checkout, enhanced room upgrades, and enhanced internet. 15 Elite Night Credits: Earn 15 elite nights credits to get you closer to obtaining Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador. No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose. Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences. ShopRunner Membership: As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which provides free 2-day shipping and free returns at over 100 participating online retailers. This benefit can help frequent online shoppers save on shipping costs and streamline the return process. Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.* Baggage Insurance Plan covers your baggage if it is lost, damaged, or stolen and you purchase your ticket with this card.* Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.* 90-Day Purchase Protection: Your new purchases are covered against damage and theft for 90 days when you use your card. This protection helps safeguard your eligible items right from the moment you buy them.* Extended Warranty Protection: When you purchase items with your credit card, you’ll get an extra year of warranty coverage on eligible items that have original manufacturer warranties of up to five years. This valuable perk means you can protect expensive electronics and appliances that come with longer manufacturer warranties without paying extra for store protection plans* * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Travel and Purchase Benefits
Winner:
The Bonvoy Brilliant Amex wins since it offers better benefits, including annual credits, free night award, better elite status, and Priority Pass airport lounge access.
Value of the Annual Fees
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
The Bonvoy Brilliant Amex comes with a large $650 annual fee (rates & fees), but offers several valuable benefits that help offset the cost, including up to $300 in annual restaurant credits ($25 monthly), an annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points, and automatic Platinum Elite status.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex has a $250 annual fee, which is not waived in the first year. You’ll need to carefully evaluate if the card’s benefits, including automatic Gold Elite status, enhanced point earning, and the ability to earn a free night award through spending, can offset this cost for your specific travel patterns.
Winner:
The Bonvoy Brilliant Amex because it offers much better benefits despite it higher annual fee.
Redeeming Rewards
Both Cards
Both the Bonvoy Brilliant and Bonvoy Bevy cards earn Marriott Bonvoy points.
Marriott Bonvoy points offer versatile redemption options, with hotel stays typically providing the best value. We value Marriott points at 0.82 cents per point based on our data study, but you can get the best value at luxury properties or during peak seasons. The program’s dynamic pricing model means rates fluctuate, so flexibility in your travel dates can help maximize value.
A standout feature is the fifth night free on award stays, effectively giving you a 20% discount on longer bookings. This benefit applies to consecutive award nights and can significantly stretch your points. Marriott also offers Cash + Points options, allowing you to combine cash and points for more flexibility.
Transferring Bonvoy points to airline partners is another valuable option. With a 3:1 transfer ratio for most airlines and a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred, this can be an excellent way to top up airline accounts or access niche programs. However, transfer times vary, so plan accordingly.
For unique experiences, consider Marriott Bonvoy Moments. These exclusive events and activities, often unavailable for cash purchase, can provide memorable opportunities for point redemptions.
While Marriott allows point redemptions for flights, car rentals, and cruises, these typically offer lower value compared to hotel stays or airline transfers. Unless you have a specific need or excess points, it’s generally best to avoid these options.
Marriott Bonvoy Points Transfer Partners
Marriott points transfer at a rate of 3 Marriott points to 1 airline mile with a transfer bonus of 5,000 airline miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points.
Aegean Miles+Bonus
Aer Lingus AerClub
Aeromexico ClubPremier
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air China PhoenixMiles
Air France/KLM Flying Blue
Air New Zealand [200 to 1 Ratio]
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
American Airlines AAdvantage*
ANA Mileage Club
Asiana Airlines
Avianca Lifemiles*
British Airways Executive Club
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
China Southern Airlines
Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
Delta SkyMiles*
Emirates Skywards
Etihad Guest
Frontier Miles
Hainan Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
Iberia Plus
InterMiles
Japan Airlines
Korean Air*
LATAM Airlines
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Saudia Alfursan
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Southwest Rapid Rewards
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
United MileagePlus®
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Australia
* Transfer Bonus Does Not Apply
The Verdict
Both the Bonvoy Brilliant and Bonvoy Bevy cards are great options for Marriott loyalists. But if you want the best perks and benefits, the Bonvoy Brilliant Amex is your best option. The card offers a top-tier Platinum status, a free award night, Priority Pass lounge access, and annual credits.
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex is also a good option, but only if you want to earn Marriott points without the fancy benefits.
Which card are you going to choose?
