@wasCB14 wrote:I wonder how many of the people interested in this already have 4+ Amex revolvers.
I have two, a Hilton AMEX no-AF for upgrade/downgrade games 
and a Hilton Aspire.
@dogmeat wrote:
ETA: Also I wonder if Brilliant's Platinum Elite promo will include the "Choice Benefit" which may be redeemed for 5 Suite Night Awards.
No. Choice Benefits for 50 and 75 nights are only given when the elite night requirement has been met, regardless of current status. Anyone getting Platinum Elite status will still need to meet the 50 night requirement to claim a Choice Benefit.
@Anonymous wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:The 50k certificate can be worth hundreds of dollars more than the 35k certificate. Last year I used mine to cover one of the nights in a $800/night Ritz-Carlton.
Well it also might be because you stay at their properties quite often, so they're not opposed to comping a night at that value. I'm not certain the same would happen for someone who does not stay there as often?
@K-in-Boston wrote:You can combine one or multiple award certificates, points, cash, and 5th/10th/15th/etc. night free (if redeeming at least 4/8/12/etc. other award nights) in any combination you want.
This part wasn't as easy for me, as you make it seem. Could have been because I ws trying to outsmart their computer and pay cash for the cheaper day while using the points for the higher days. lol
No. Anyone with 50,000 Marriott points would have received the same value for that night.
If you want to mix and match cash and award nights (including certificates), book it as an award and there is a clear option to choose to pay for specific nights instead. You can certainly use a free night certificate to pay for a $350 night and pay cash for the cheaper $285 night for example.
@wasCB14 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:The 50k certificate can be worth hundreds of dollars more than the 35k certificate. Last year I used mine to cover one of the nights in a $800/night Ritz-Carlton.
Well it also might be because you stay at their properties quite often, so they're not opposed to comping a night at that value. I'm not certain the same would happen for someone who does not stay there as often?
@K-in-Boston wrote:You can combine one or multiple award certificates, points, cash, and 5th/10th/15th/etc. night free (if redeeming at least 4/8/12/etc. other award nights) in any combination you want.
This part wasn't as easy for me, as you make it seem. Could have been because I ws trying to outsmart their computer and pay cash for the cheaper day while using the points for the higher days. lol
The more nights you spend in a hotel each year, the more selective you can be with which ones you pay cash for and which ones you use points or certificates for.
Bingo. This is one of the main reasons I never get poor value for Marriott points or SkyMiles.
@notmyrealname23 wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:I wonder how many of the people interested in this already have 4+ Amex revolvers.
I have two, a Hilton AMEX no-AF for upgrade/downgrade games
Sometimes the right bonus is the one that doesn't involve a new account!
With my tendency to use air miles faster than hotel points, and already being at 5 revolvers, it's hard for me to imagine a Marriott or Hilton Amex offer good enough to actually tempt me over the next few years (as I'd likely have to close two revolvers to add one).
Charge cards are another matter. I'd be surprised if I don't add one or two more of those in the next few years...mostly for the SUB.
@wasCB14 wrote:
@notmyrealname23 wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:I wonder how many of the people interested in this already have 4+ Amex revolvers.
I have two, a Hilton AMEX no-AF for upgrade/downgrade games
Sometimes the right bonus is the one that doesn't involve a new account!
With my tendency to use air miles faster than hotel points, and already being at 5 revolvers, it's hard for me to imagine a Marriott or Hilton Amex offer good enough to actually tempt me over the next few years (as I'd likely have to close two revolvers to add one).
Charge cards are another matter. I'd be surprised if I don't add one or two more of those in the next few years...mostly for the SUB.
Fair. In my case, I'm not super enamored of the AMEX cashback cards compared to my spread of cashback cards, and Delta cards would mostly be "I'm here for the SUB", unless I really decide to ditch Alaska and Southwest for Delta long term. Marriott Brilliant has a useful downgrade path to the old $95 card where I could see keeping it for the certificate. I'm mindful that at some point choices between Hilton/Marriott/Delta will crowd out my revolver options at AMEX, and if I want to jump out of the AMEX annual fee plane and pull the parachute ripcord of an ED card for keeping MR balances alive, I'll need a revolver slot for that.
... merged by moderator from separate thread ...
I haven't seen anything posted about this yet but AMEX just sweetened the deal on their Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. The SUB has been 75K points forever but until 01/31/2021, you can earn 125K points for $5K spend in first three months and then keeping it until the one year anniversary. If you value Marriott points at .008 cents per point, that works out to $1,000 SUB!
The AF is $450 but you get $300 in automatic credits on all Marriott spending as well as a 50K free night that is worth more than the remaining $150 of the AF. And if you can use it, you also get TSA Global Entry credit, $100 Marriott property credit, Priority Pass Select lounge access. The card earns 6 Bonvoy points at Marriott, 3 points on restaurants and flights, and 2 points everywhere else.
Best of all, not only do you get the automatic credit of 15 night stays towards elite status but you get automatic PLATINUM elite status for the first year. (Normally, you only get GOLD status with this card.)
It's an awesome offer!! Unfortunately, I'm kicking myself because I'm not eligible since I got the SUB on my Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card less than 24 months ago. Arrgghhh!!! Hopefully, it will be offered into 2021! (I won't be eligible until May 2021.)
