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There were quite a few changes made to the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card in terms of the $300 dining statement credit, complimentary Marriott Platinum Elite status, 25 elite night credits, and the anniversary free night award certificate that is now worth 85,000 points instead of 50,000 points per night, etc. These new benefits come with an increased cardโs annual fee from $450 to $650, the highest hotel credit card annual fee weโve ever known.ย
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Do I lose my Marriott points if I cancel my Amex Marriott Brilliant credit card?
Do I lose my Marriott Free Night Certificate if I cancel my Amex Marriott Brilliant credit card?
- Unlike Chase, American Express issues the Marriott Free Night Certificateย 8-12 weeks after your card account anniversary date. In other words, the free night award certificate only gets posted to your Marriott Bonvoy account after you pay the cardโs annual fee. Therefore, if you cancel theย American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Cardย to avoid paying the annual fee, you will NOT receive the free night certificate.ย
- Suppose you pay the cardโs annual fee. In that case, you will receive theย Marriott Free Night Certificate within 8-12 weeks after paying the annual fee. Once the free night certificate is posted to your Marriott Bonvoy account, closingย theย American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is too late to get the prorated cardโs annual fee. Amexย will prorate your annual fee based on your card membership period only if you product change the card, and the good news is you can keep that free night certificate after you product change the Brilliant card. More below.ย
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Keep the Marriott Brilliant card and enjoy Brilliant changes
- Each calendar year, you receive $300 dining statement credits ($25 monthly). This benefit lowers the cardโs annual fee to $350 by the face value.ย
- Complimentary automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status simply for being a card member.ย
- Marriott elite status benefits become valuable once you reach the Platinum status. The benefits include complimentary room upgrades, free breakfast, club lounge access, and late check-out, to name a few.ย
- Anniversary Marriott Free Night Certificate up to 85,000 points per night and the ability to top off the certificate with up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.ย
- If you can redeem the certificate each year at the top luxury Marriott Bonvoy properties, you come out ahead of the game along with the above-mentioned Marriott Platinum Elite status benefits while staying at those properties.ย
- Here are some ideas for using the Marriott Free Night 85k Certificate:
- 25 Elite Night Credits each year towards your next tier status.ย
- If you also have the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, you receive an additional 15 elite night credits, totaling 40 elite night credits each year. You only need 10 more qualifying nights to reach the โrealโ Marriott Platinum Elite status that gives you aย Marriott Annual Choice Benefit, such as five (5) Marriott Suite Night Awards.ย
- Moreover, as I said, Marriott Platinum Elite status is already valuable when staying at the Marriott property. I do not think the next-tier Marriott Titanium Elite status is worth much more than giving you a mediocre United Silver Elite status and an additionalย Marriott Annual Choice Benefitย to select, such as five (5) Marriott Suite Night Awards or a 40k free night certificate. You will need 35 more qualifying nights each year to reach Titanium status.ย
Do not downgrade to Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy credit card
Downgrade your Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Credit Card to Amex Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card
- Get credit for 15 nights towards the next Marriott Bonvoy Elite status level each calendar year.
- Earn 6X points per $1 on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Earn 2X points per $1 on other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award with a redemption equivalent to a 35,000-point stay (or less) every year of Card Membership.
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Downgrade the Brilliant credit card but keep the Marriott Free Night 85k Certificate
You must close or downgrade your card within 30 days of the statement closing date in order to receive a full refund of the annual fee. Thereafter, the only way to receive any type of refund is to downgrade and receive a prorated refund.
Close the Brilliant credit card and lose the Marriott Free Night 85k Certificate
You must close or downgrade your card within 30 days of the statement closing date in order to receive a full refund of the annual fee. Thereafter,ย the only way to receive any type of refund is to downgrade and receive a prorated refund.
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