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American Express credit card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

$650 a year. 80,000 miles after you spend $3,000 in 3 months. Purchase APR 19.74–28.74%, variable. No foreign transaction fees.

Checked Nov 1, 2026Updated

Welcome offer
Annual fee
Purchase APR · variable
Foreign transactions

Select an underlined figure to see where it comes from.

American Express’s terms

Welcome offer

80,000 miles

After you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months.

Spending it takes
$1,000 a month
for 3 months
Tracking since
Nov 1, 2026
history will chart every change

An additional 20,000 bonus miles are offered after the first anniversary of Card Membership.

In dollars

What it’s worth

Yearly value in dollars: rewards and credits minus the annual fee, for three ways of spending. First year includes any welcome bonus.

SpendingValue against the feeFirst yearAfter
Light spender−$125−$525
Typical spender$70−$330
Heavy spender$465$65
The spending each assumes, and what isn’t counted
  • Light spender: groceries $300, dining $100, gas $100, everything else $500 a month
  • Typical spender: groceries $600, dining $300, gas $200, travel $150, everything else $1,250 a month
  • Heavy spender: groceries $900, dining $600, gas $300, travel $600, airfare $300, hotels $300, everything else $2,500 a month

Assumed: points valued at an assumed 0.5¢.

−$525a year

−$125 the first year, with the welcome bonus.

Rewards and credits$125

−$525 after the fee−$650 annual fee

The spending this assumes

A month: groceries $300, dining $100, gas $100, everything else $500. Assumed: points valued at an assumed 0.5¢.

−$330a year

$70 the first year, with the welcome bonus.

Rewards and credits$320

−$330 after the fee−$650 annual fee

The spending this assumes

A month: groceries $600, dining $300, gas $200, travel $150, everything else $1,250. Assumed: points valued at an assumed 0.5¢.

$65a year

$465 the first year, with the welcome bonus.

Rewards and credits$715

You keep $65−$650 annual fee

The spending this assumes

A month: groceries $900, dining $600, gas $300, travel $600, airfare $300, hotels $300, everything else $2,500. Assumed: points valued at an assumed 0.5¢.

Use your own spending

Estimates from the published terms above, as checked Nov 1, 2026; not advice. How we value cards

Against the market

How it compares

Other points cards with fees over $300

Against this card, for our typical spender’s value (rewards and credits minus fees, after the first year).

Shares rounded to 5 points. Fees and APRs as stated; value for our typical spender. Method

Marriott Bonvoy

How you earn

6×
Eligible purchases charged directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, standalone Marriott branded retail establishments, and Marriott branded online stores
3×
Airfare on a scheduled flight charged directly with passenger airlinesPurchases charged at restaurants worldwide
2×
Everything else

Points per dollar. “What it’s worth” values a point at an assumed 0.5¢.

Benefits

  • Brilliant Dining Credit: $25 monthly
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: $120 every 4 years
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: $100
  • Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status (Described on the product page as complimentary with the Card: includes the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit (up to 5X from Marriott Bonvoy on eligible hotel purchases) and room upgrades when available at check-in at participating hotels when booked with a Qualifying Rate.)
  • Global Entry statement credit of $120, or TSA PreCheck statement credit of up to $85; one credit per 4-year period
All 26 benefits
  • Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status (complimentary, per product page)
  • Free Night Award every year after the Card renewal month: one night at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy, redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points; certain hotels have resort fees
  • 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year toward the next Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card elite status level; limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account
  • No foreign transaction fees from American Express on purchases abroad
  • Premium in-room Internet access; booking requirements apply
  • Premium Global Assist Hotline: 24/7 medical, legal, financial and other emergency coordination while traveling more than 100 miles from home
  • Brilliant Earned Choice Award: after $60,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year, select one Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit (one per calendar year)
  • Amex Special Ticket Access to purchase Amex Presale Tickets and Amex Reserved Tickets, while supplies last
  • American Express Venue Collection: on-site benefits such as dedicated entrances or fast lanes at select stadiums and arenas; enroll to get 10% back on qualifying concessions purchases up to $250 per calendar year (one enrolled Card per eligible Card Member)
  • Amex Offers: browse and add Amex Offers to earn extra rewards on qualifying purchases at select brands
  • Dispute resolution assistance for fraudulent or incorrect charges
  • Year-End Summary of charges to review annual spending
  • Rental car
  • Baggage: Up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage; $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, $2,000 per bag or suitcase per covered person and $10,000 aggregate for all covered persons per covered trip
  • Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period
  • Trip delay: Up to $500 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period
  • Return protection: Up to $300 per item and up to $1,000 per calendar year per Card account
  • Purchase protection: Up to $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per calendar year
  • Extended warranty: Up to one extra year
  • Cell phone: Up to $800 per claim, with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period
  • Emergency assistance

Every figure with its receipt

Rates and fees

Annual fee
Purchase APRPrime + 12.74% to Prime + 21.74%
Cash advance APRPrime + 21.99%
Cash advance fee
Penalty APRPrime + 26.74%
Late payment
Returned payment
Foreign transactions
Grace period

Before you apply

  1. What the application asks: your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number (or ITIN), income and housing payment. By law the issuer must consider your ability to pay (Regulation Z, 1026.51).
  2. Your credit report: applying usually means a hard inquiry, which can lower your score slightly for a while. Some issuers let you check whether you’re pre-approved first without one. How credit reports work (CFPB)

Questions

What is the annual fee?
$650 · Filed with the CFPB · PDF, since Sep 29, 2026
Does it charge a foreign transaction fee?
No. · Filed with the CFPB · PDF, since Sep 29, 2026
What is the purchase APR?
19.74–28.74% APR · Filed with the CFPB · PDF, since Sep 29, 2026
Is there a welcome bonus?
80,000 miles after $3,000 in purchases in 3 months. · americanexpress.com, since Oct 1, 2026
See it on americanexpress.com

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