In our hobby, attaining credit card welcome bonuses is one of the fastest ways of quickly racking up miles and points. American Express is offering two elevated bonuses on their co-branded Marriott cards. However, today is the final day for these elevated bonuses as these offers are ending tonight.
CO-BRANDED MARRIOTT CREDIT CARDS
Here’s how the two offers stack up against each other. One is for the personal American Express card while the other is a business credit card.
| Link to Bonus Offer –> | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant | Marriott Bonvoy Business Card |
| Welcome Bonus Offer | 125,000 points + $200 at U.S restaurants | 100,000 points + $150 statement credit |
| Min. spend required in 3 months | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Annual Fee | $450 | $125 |
| Anniversary Bonus | One Free Night upon renewal (up to 50k points redemptions) | Two – up to 35k points redemptions ( One upon renewal, another after spending 60k) |
| Points Earned for Marriott Spend | 6x | 6x |
| Dining/Airline spend points earning | 3x | **4x |
| Points earned on all other purchases | 2x | 2x |
| Statement Credit for Marriott Stays | $300 (per card anniversary year) | None |
| Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit | $100 | None |
| Elite Night Credits | 15 (per calendar year) | 15 (per calendar year) |
| Priority Pass Membership | Priority Pass Select Membership | None |
| Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check Credit | $100/$85 | None |
| Premium Internet Access | Complimentary | Complimentary |
** Note: Unlike the Bonvoy Brilliant, the Bonvoy Business credit card gives you 4x Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar you spend at US restaurants and gas stations, but no bonus earning on airline purchases like you get with the personal version. However, you earn 4x points for each dollar you spend on wireless telephone purchases and shipping in the US.
WELCOME BONUS OFFERS
With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 125,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. In addition, you’ll also earn a statement credit of $200 when you spend at U.S restaurants in the first 6 months.
APPLY NOW
With the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 100,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. Moreover, you’ll also earn a statement credit of $150 in the first 3 months on all eligible purchases.
APPLY NOW
THE PUNDIT’S MANTRA
If you travel more frequently, then the Bonvoy Brilliant clearly wins over the Business version. However, not many are traveling that frequently right now. If you’re looking to earn more points for a lower annual fee, then the Business version does have the edge over the Bonvoy Brilliant.
Go for the Bonvoy Brilliant if you:
- Have a high frequency of upcoming Marriott stays to easily utilize the free night certificate, stay credit, resort credit and priority pass membership
- Do not qualify for a business credit card
- Clearly value 50k points certificates over the 35k points certificates with the Business version
Go for the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card if you:
- Are uncertain about upcoming stays in 2021 and purely want to focus on earning Marriott points to book in the future or transfer to Marriott’s airline partners
- Want to pay a lower annual fee
- Value points earning over benefits
- Have upcoming advertising spend which will help you use the $150 credit to wipe out the annual fee
- Have a higher spend at restaurants and gas stations compared to spend on flight tickets
Which card do you intend to go for? Tell us in the comments section.
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With this best ever offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points. What’s more, Chase is also throwing in an additional $50 in statement credits on grocery purchases. For a card that charges an annual fee of $95, this is a fantastic limited time offer!
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