AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant: Why I finally got a premium credit card
I avoided getting a premium credit card for a long time. The hefty annual fees over $600 can be scary especially with plenty of free credit card options that still earn decent rewards. However, these premium cards can pay back far more than that annual fee. Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers numerous benefits for families, including:
- 6X points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 3X points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
- 1 free night award (up to 85,000 points) every year after your card renewal month
- Complimentary Platinum Elite status
- Priority Pass Select membership (airport lounge access — unlimited visits for the cardholder, plus 2 guests free per visit)
- Global Entry fee credit (up to $120, or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck, every 4 years)
- Annual $300 restaurant credit
- Travel insurance and assistance
- Purchase protection and warranty extensions
- Concierge service
- Exclusive event access
With Bonvoy Platinum Elite status you'll receive 15X points spent at participating hotels.
This a long with the 6X points from the credit card, gives a total of 21X for every dollar spent on the hotel bill. This amounts to at least 18% return if you take the average Marriott Bonvoy point valuation at 0.85 cents. However these points can be worth even more at certain luxury properties, especially if you take advantage of a free 5th night when booking with points
Some popular Marriott Bonvoy hotels for families include:
- St. Regis
- The Ritz-Carlton
- The Westin
- Sheraton
- Marriott
- MGM resorts
- Atlantis Resort
Priority Pass Select gets you access to 1500+ airport lounges around the world. This is a great option to have when traveling with kids. How about a clean private bathroom to change your toddler's diaper?
The free 85K point night alone is worth the $650 annual fee. Include the $300 per year dining statement credits and its simple to come out ahead. The current welcome offer is 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months — worth roughly $850 at our usual 0.85 cents-per-point valuation. (Updated November 2026.)