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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is packed with benefits. Most of these you get automatically (or after enrollment), but one of the card's lesser-appreciated perks is the Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit you unlock after making eligible purchases every calendar year. And this benefit just got a little better. Here's how.
There’s a New Brilliant Earned Choice Award Option
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers cardholders an aptly named Brilliant Earned Choice Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year. If you hit this high spend threshold, you'll get to pick one benefit from a short list.
As of June 4, 2025, the list of award options has grown from three to four. Here's what you can now choose from:
- New: 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Points
- Five Nightly Upgrade Awards
- One Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
- $1,000 off a bed from the Marriott Bonvoy retail brand of your choice
Keep in mind that if you hit the spending threshold this year, you have until February 1, 2026, to select your Brilliant Earned Choice Award. If you don't make a selection, Marriott Bonvoy will automatically assign you five Nightly Upgrade Awards.
Related: Full Review of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning to unlock the Brilliant Earned Choice Award this year, you now have a new option: 50,000 Marriott points. Based on average redemptions by AwardWallet users, these points are worth about $470.
Arguably, this new option isn't as valuable as the Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 points or even the five Nightly Upgrade Awards if you can score an epic upgrade you'd never pay for out of pocket. But it could still be worth picking in the right situation. Perhaps you're already the proud owner of some NUAs or Free Night Awards. In that case, you could pick the points and put them to good use.
However, if you have the flexibility, it might be worth waiting until closer to the deadline to make your selection. That way, you can see what awards you already have, whether they are Nightly Upgrade Awards or Free Night Awards, and how many points you're working with once the year turns over. That way, you can make a more informed decision for the year ahead.
- Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when the stay is booked with a Qualifying Rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. 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.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Enroll in Priority Pass Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- With Cell Phone Protection*, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. *Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
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