AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant Approval - $15K

[Aim_High]

*ETA:  Unboxing description and pictures added to Message Number 36 in-thread. 

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Aim_High  has left the garden.  

I've been eyeing the AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant since getting the Chase Bonvoy Boundless but I had to wait for at least 24 months to claim another Marriott SUB.  This latest 150K point SUB was too sweet to pass up and it expired last night!   I slipped in under the wire.   AMEX application page showed that I was "preapproved."

I've been gardening since 8/15/2020 after my AMEX Gold approval, so about 14 and a half months.  In a couple of weeks, I'll also be dropping another four "new accounts" and inquiries from my 24-month history so I'll be in pretty good shape to start opening a few new accounts again.

AMEX didn't give me the "Not eligible for SUB" language like they did a few months ago with the Hilton Surpass card.  Apparently, I'm back in their good graces. 

I thought it a little odd that I was informed of approval with no details, even by email.  I had to find my $15K SL on my home page after it refreshed and there was no indication of the APR.  I had no alerts of a HP so I'm guessing it was a SP on EX like AMEX is known to do for existing cardholders in many cases.

As for my Chase Bonvoy Boundless, while I could keep it for the "free night" in lieu of the $95 AF, I will probably close it since the AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant eclipses it and would keep my wallet more focused.  I had considered a product-change to the Chase Ritz Carlton card which is very similar to the AMEX versionn but has $300 credits against airline fees instead of $300 in Marriott properties.  I liked the AMEX credits better and honestly, I've never even stayed at a Ritz Carlton!   I'll probably just transfer my CL to my Chase Sapphire Reserve.

[M_Smart007]

@Aim_High, Congrats on your Brilliant approval

[Anonymous]

Congrats! I want this card once im out the garden. Im at 41 nights with Marriott trying to hit the 50 for the platinum. 2 months left so i need to hit these 9 nights. luckily i have a 1 start hotel about 2 hours away that I can get for about 5k points a night. 

[CreditMagic7]

Congratulations on your AMEX Brilliant approval!!

[practical1]

Congrats!  An excellent SL.

Most of us love this card -- make sure you take advantage of all the small benefits, as well as the large ones -- you should easily recoup the fee and enjoy the ride.  Might want to also order additional cards for (trusted) family members -- if memory serves, they're available without extra charge.

Good luck on getting to Platinum -- sounds like you're on your way.  These days, PT status is really essential to opening up the best experience at Marriott properties.  If I've done the math correctly, you'll get something like 20 - 23 X Bonvoy points in total per dollar spent at Marriot properties, if Platinum and charges are placed on this card.  That's really huge!  

[NRB525]

Congrats on the approval. The 150k points is certainly nice. 

[IntegerIntrovert]

Congrats on picking this one up!

[SFLSpotter9210]

@Aim_High congratulations on a great score, enjoy your perks on this gem.

[cashorcharge]

First off...kudos for gardening that long!!!!!

Secondly....WOOHOO!!!  Congratulations on your AMEX approval!! 👏🏼🎉🍾

I'm sure you've read up on the 3X/61 CLI policy etc and the plentiful benefits in the Bonvoy program.  

[Aim_High]

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@M_Smart007 wrote:

@Aim_High, Congrats on your Brilliant approval

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@Anonymous wrote:

Congrats! I want this card once im out the garden ...

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@CreditMagic7 wrote:

Congratulations on your AMEX Brilliant approval!!

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@practical1 wrote:

Congrats!  An excellent SL.    Most of us love this card -- make sure you take advantage of all the small benefits, as well as the large ones -- you should easily recoup the fee and enjoy the ride ...

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Thanks very much @M_Smart007, @Anonymous, @CreditMagic7, @practical1!  

Yes, well worth it to garden for this approval and hopefully a few more in the next 12 months!

I'm excited to take this one for a test drive, @practical1.  It does have a lot more bells & whistles than the Chase Boundless which accounts for that higher AF.  But I did the math and this one just made sense for me plus allowed me to diversify more into AMEX with a card that I could use.