Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant worth keeping?
Renewal verdict for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card — ongoing value only (a one-time welcome bonus doesn't justify year two).
Last updated
Credits cover $264 of the $650 fee — the rest rides on how you use it.
- Annual fee
- $650 Inferred by source
- Credits you'd realistically use
- $264
Why
- Statement credits you’d realistically use (~$264) don’t fully cover the $650 fee on their own.
- Whether it’s worth keeping comes down to the value you get from its lounge access, above-average earn rates, airline/hotel perks — count only what you’ll actually use.
Before you cancel
- Call the issuer and ask for a retention offer — a statement credit or bonus points to keep the card another year.
- Ask whether you can product-change to a no-annual-fee card in the same family — it keeps your account age and avoids a new hard pull.
- Run your real spend through the Find-a-card tool to see what the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant actually returns for you.
Rank cards on your real spend·Browse alternatives
Frequently asked
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant worth keeping?
Depends on how you use it. Credits cover $264 of the $650 fee — the rest rides on how you use it.
What can I do before cancelling the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?
Call the issuer and ask for a retention offer — a statement credit or bonus points to keep the card another year. Ask whether you can product-change to a no-annual-fee card in the same family — it keeps your account age and avoids a new hard pull. Run your real spend through the Find-a-card tool to see what the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant actually returns for you.
Does cancelling the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant hurt my credit?
Closing a card can lower your average account age and your total available credit, which may dip your score temporarily. Product-changing to a no-annual-fee card in the same family usually avoids that — you keep the account history.