Redundant to have both Bonvoy Brilliant and CSR for work travel?

[Batsamandrobin]

I already have the CSR, which I currently use for all work travel expenses. Initially I was opposed, but now I’m also considering adding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant since I stay exclusively at Marriott’s while on the road. Currently Platinum Elite status.

My main concern is that I chose the CSR for its flexibility, since DW and I don’t really use hotels/Marriott (Airbnb instead) for personal travel. Also, don’t know if this would make CSR useless—guess I could still use CSR for personal travel?

Still, having the card might allow me to make the jump up to Titanium or even Ambassador over a full years worth of travel, with the 15 elite night credits. Id also be able to naturally build up to 200-300k in points a year, before counting the initial SUB. Might be easier to choose a hotel over Airbnb, if we have the points stashed for a nicer property.

Trips—both business and personal—currently planned for next calendar year (with more guaranteed to follow):

-1 domestic work trip and ~25 more nights at a Marriott

-5 night vacation for NYE. Could use Marriott or go Airbnb route.

-International honeymoon in Summer 2020 (Europe). Probably 2 - 2.5 weeks. Same as above.

At least 2 more business trips are probable before honeymoon, which means I’d be at ~60-75 nights by next summer.

Obviously BB would give more value on business stays, but if we decided to redeem points for flights, I feel like putting all spend on CSR would be a better option?

Would love input from the community, especially those that currently carry both CSR and BB.

[sdsoccerdad]

It would only make sense to keep the CSR if you can make use of the benefits.  $300 travel credit, Global Entry fee if you haven’t used it already would help lessen the AF of the card.  

[K-in-Boston]

With the Marriott card, you’re already going to be way ahead of the AF after the $300 credit and the 50k annual free night. The 6x earning (21 total as Platinum, 23.5 total as Titanium) is also really nice.

[wasCB14]

I consider both "keeper" cards, though I put much more spend on CSR. Virtually all my travel is personal so the CSR travel insurance benefits are nice.

I booked a ~$250 (with tax) room yesterday with my 50k Marriott certificate. Reasonable alternative hotels would have been about $200.

I got the $95 card when it offered a nice bonus, and I upgraded when I got a targeted offer.

I wasn't sure I wanted to keep Brilliant at first. It wasn't not that the card appeared a poor value. It was that a lot of my travel is to visit and stay with family, or to semi-remote places where there may not be a Marriott. Also, I have the Hyatt and IHG cards giving me annual nights...and some Hyatt award redemptions are hard-to-ignore value.

Even though I started out with a "use it and drop it" bonus chasing mentality about the card, it's been useful enough to keep.

[Botz1213]

I am a business traveler as well. I stay at Marriott properties when travelling. I have the CSR and Bonvoy Brilliant card. All of my expenses BESIDES marriott goes on my CSR ice for airline/restaurant points. The Marriott card + titanium bonus easily puts me at 300-400k points per year. I say keep both. 

[Anonymous]

If you stay at Marriott exclusively the bb is a no brainer.

[Batsamandrobin]

@Botz1213 how many nights ~ are you traveling per year? I don’t think I’ll hit above Platinum this year, but going forwards it’s pretty likely I’ll hit either Titanium or Ambassador. 300-400k in points would certainly go a long way on a honeymoon lol.

I don’t have BB yet, but I’m thinking I’ll put in an application this week.

[Botz1213]

I’m titanium now. I’ll hit 130 nights this year.

[iced]

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@Batsamandrobin wrote:
I already have the CSR, which I currently use for all work travel expenses. Initially I was opposed, but now I’m also considering adding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant since I stay exclusively at Marriott’s while on the road. Currently Platinum Elite status.

My main concern is that I chose the CSR for its flexibility, since DW and I don’t really use hotels/Marriott (Airbnb instead) for personal travel. Also, don’t know if this would make CSR useless—guess I could still use CSR for personal travel?

Still, having the card might allow me to make the jump up to Titanium or even Ambassador over a full years worth of travel, with the 15 elite night credits. Id also be able to naturally build up to 200-300k in points a year, before counting the initial SUB. Might be easier to choose a hotel over Airbnb, if we have the points stashed for a nicer property.

Trips—both business and personal—currently planned for next calendar year (with more guaranteed to follow):

-1 domestic work trip and ~25 more nights at a Marriott

-5 night vacation for NYE. Could use Marriott or go Airbnb route.

-International honeymoon in Summer 2020 (Europe). Probably 2 - 2.5 weeks. Same as above.

At least 2 more business trips are probable before honeymoon, which means I’d be at ~60-75 nights by next summer.

Obviously BB would give more value on business stays, but if we decided to redeem points for flights, I feel like putting all spend on CSR would be a better option?

Would love input from the community, especially those that currently carry both CSR and BB.

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The 15 elite night credits can help with Titanium, but honestly if you can make the $20,000 in spend for Ambassador you very, very likely will have 100 nights logged via stays. You have to stay at more expensive properties all the time to hit $20,000 but not 85 (100-15) nights - $200/night for 100 nights up to $236/night for 85 nights. The far more common scenario is that people hit 100 nights but not $20,000, since a lot of road warriors are frequenting the mid-tiers like Fairfield, Courtyard, SpringHill, etc that are frequently in the $100-$175/night range.

That said, the Marriott cards are more likely to compliment the CSR rather than render it redundant. Exceptions where the CSR would become redundant are:

- You only collect points for Marriott redemptions. You state you tend to AirBnB it on leisure so this seems very unlikely. The CSR's value isn't in transferring to Marriott, it's in transferring UR to airlines.

- You don't fly much or at all. A lot of the added benefits on the CSR after UR is airline-focused: lounge access, Global Entry, etc. Excepting the drivers in border states who do a lot of land crossings, you're likely to see some value from air travel with the CSR.

If your motiviation is the 15 elite night credits, there's a no-AF Marriott co-brand that gives 15 credits per year. That would be much better suited to your needs otherwise.

[Batsamandrobin]

@iced thanks for your reply. I’m not too worried about the 15 night credits, that’s just an extra perk. If I’m in the range of 85 nights, which I should be over a full year/cycle, I think I can use those 15 night credits to hit Ambassador—we can spend up to $275/night on lodging in my company.

Also, I’d much rather have the Brilliant than the no-AF cards. As much as I use Marriott, I’d rather be earning 6x points (plus the normal 10 + elite member percentage) on all those stays rather than 3x. Not to mention $300 travel credit. That’s essentially free money for me, since everything is reimbursed.