Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth it?

The break-even math

Subtract the $430 of printed statement credits from the $650 fee and $220 is left to earn back through rewards. At its top rate — 3x on dining, valuing Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.70¢ — you'd need about $10,477 of dining spending a year just to break even.

The credits you'd need to use

• Brilliant Dining Credit — $300/year (monthly)
• Ritz-Carlton / St. Regis Property Credit — $100/year (annual)
• Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Fee Credit — $30/year (once every 4 years)

Credits with a monthly or quarterly cadence expire if unused — that's where most of the printed value quietly disappears.

The verdict

A close call. $10,477 of dining spending isn't a stretch for many households, so this card earns out for steady spenders in that category — and loses to a no-fee card for everyone below that line.

If the answer is no, downgrade — don't cancel

You do not have to choose between paying $650 and closing the account. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card can normally be product-changed to one lower-fee card in the American Express Marriott Bonvoy family — the cheapest is Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card at $250/yr, saving $400 a year while the account, its age and its credit line stay on your report.

The catch on that one: Roughly a third of the fee, still Bonvoy earning with an annual free-night award. Amex has no no-fee Bonvoy consumer card.

What does the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card downgrade to? See the option →

Compare it head-to-head

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — which earns more?

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