Amex Platinum Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card [Detailed Comparison]

When it comes to ultra-premium cards with luxury travel benefits and top-notch service, American Express reigns superior over all other companies.

And 2 of the most spectacular products Amex has to offer today are The Platinum Card^® from American Express and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.

Both of these cards are jam-packed with amazing benefits but come at a much higher cost than you’re likely accustomed to.

Not to fret — both of these cards have benefits that can pay for the annual fee in spades if you’re able to utilize the perks. In this guide, we’ll be showcasing these cards from A to Z.

Overview

Before going knee-deep into the specifics of each card, we’ll present you with the highest-level comparison of these 2 cards. Check out the overview table below:

*No preset spending limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history

Welcome Bonus Compared

One of the easiest ways to justify making the initial investment in a new card is with a large welcome bonus. If you’ve already identified the card that makes the most sense for you and are just having doubts about paying an annual fee, the right welcome bonus can make it a no-brainer for you to make the jump.

Here are the welcome offers currently available for these 2 cards:

Amex Platinum Card

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

95,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$665

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Welcome Offer Valuations

Truthfully, the bonuses on these cards are some of the highest bonuses you’ll see. It’s not unusual to see welcome bonuses in the 6 figures of points.

Realistically, we value Amex Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each, thanks to the ability to transfer points to travel partners for luxury award travel. Similarly, we value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each. However, it’s possible to get better value when you book award stays at aspirational luxury Marriott resorts using points.

Membership Rewards Points vs. Marriott Bonvoy Points

In this section, we’ll go through a detailed examination of Amex Membership Rewards points versus Marriott Bonvoy points!

Earning Potential

When it comes to rewards, the Amex Platinum card is generally better for flights and non-Marriott hotels. Meanwhile, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card earns solid rewards at restaurants as well.

Earning 5x Amex Membership Rewards points (on up to $500,000 per year) on these purchases per calendar year is equal to an 11% return on spending while earning 1x Amex Membership Rewards points is a 2.2% return on spending.

With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, 6x points are worth a 4.2% return on spending, 3x points are worth a 2.1% return on spending, and 2x points are worth a 1.4% return on spending.

In reality, the only categories where the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card ekes out a decisive victory against the Amex Platinum card would be for eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.

But if you book Marriott stays through the AmexTravel.com portal, and they happen to be prepaid stays, the Amex Platinum card earns 5x Amex Membership Rewards points (on up to $500,000 per year), which are much more valuable than 6x Marriott Bonvoy points.

Bottom Line:

Even though you might typically earn fewer Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent with the Amex Platinum card, you can’t ignore the fact that Amex Membership Rewards points, on a per-point basis, are much more valuable than Marriott Bonvoy points.

Redemption Options

Both Amex Membership Rewards points and Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to travel partners to book award travel. And in some situations, Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to partners that Amex can’t, such as Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan or American Airlines AAdvantage.

However, Marriott Bonvoy points can usually only be transferred at a 3:1 ratio, while most of Amex’s transfer ratios are at least 1:1.

For this reason, you’ll usually need to transfer triple the points with Marriott Bonvoy when compared to Amex.

For example, if you need 10,000 Delta SkyMiles, you’ll need to transfer 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points if you have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card; in contrast, you’ll only need to transfer 10,000 Amex Membership Rewards points if you have the Amex Platinum card.

If you want to squeeze as much value from your points as possible, whether they’re Amex Membership Rewards points or Marriott Bonvoy points, you ought to focus on transferring your points to airline and hotel partners.

With 97,000 Amex Membership Rewards points, you can book a one-way first class flight from New York City (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) on Singapore Airlines, which is worth at least $7,000. That’s a redemption value of more than 7 cents per point!

In contrast, travel booked through AmexTravel.com, cash-back, Amazon.com purchases, and so on will only net you a redemption value of up to 1 cent per point — that means you’re literally losing more than 86% redemption value by using your points in these subpar ways.

With Marriott Bonvoy points, the 2 best ways to get value from your points are transfers to airline partners like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (where you can book business and first class award travel on airlines like Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, or Qatar Airways) or free night award stays at luxury Marriott Bonvoy properties around the world.

Hot Tip:

Learn more about Amex’s hotel and airline transfer partners and Marriott Bonvoy’s airline transfer partners.

Statement Credits Comparison

Another area where the Amex Platinum card outshines its competitors and peers is statement credits. These are arguably the easiest ways to justify the value of a card due to its tangible value.

Amex Platinum Card

Here’s what you can expect to get with the Amex Platinum card (some benefits require enrollment):

• Up to $200 per year in airline fee credits
• Up to $200 per year in prepaid hotel credits on eligible stays
• Up to $199 per year in CLEAR Plus credits
• Up to $120 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit, as of October 1, 2024
• Up to $100 per year in Saks Fifth Avenue credits
• Up to $240 per year in digital entertainment credits
• Up to $300 per year in Equinox credits
• Up to $155 per year in Walmart+ credits
• Up to $300 in SoulCycle credits

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card has 2 different types of statement credits:

• Up to $300 per year in dining credits at restaurants worldwide (up to $25 per month)
• Up to $120 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit, as of October 1, 2024

Enrollment may be required to earn various statement credits on either card.

Airport Lounge Access

We would be willing to bet that if you surveyed luxury travelers, one of the top benefits they would look for in a new card would be airport lounge access. In fact, for many travelers, it’s a non-negotiable!

So in this section, we’ll walk you through what you can expect with both the Amex Platinum card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.

Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card is truly the gold standard when it comes to a single card with the best airport lounge access. That’s because you can get access to more than 1,400+ airport lounges around the world through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Here are the lounges you can access:

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you can activate your Priority Pass Select membership to access Priority Pass lounges, but none of the other lounges above.

Hotel Program Perks

One of the areas in which the 2 cards compete most closely against each other is in the hotel benefits arena.

In this section, we’ll walk you through both the hotel and car rental perks you get with each card.

Amex Platinum Card

One of the reasons why we love the Amex Platinum card is that its luxury travel benefits extend to hotel stays. Let’s be specific — you’ll have the ability to enjoy additional benefits on luxury and premium hotel stays through the Fine Hotels+ Resorts and The Hotel Collection.

Fine Hotels + Resorts is specifically for high-end hotels, and you can get these benefits when booking through AmexTravel.com:

• Room upgrade (subject to availability)
• Complimentary breakfast for 2 guests per room daily
• Early check-in (subject to availability)
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• A special amenity, valued at a minimum of $100, once per stay
• Free Wi-Fi

The Hotel Collection is more for premium hotels that aren’t quite as lavish. On stays of at least 2 nights, you’ll get:

• Room upgrade (subject to availability)
• $100 property credit once per stay

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you’ll enjoy Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, which gets you these benefits:

• 50% bonus points on stays
• 4 p.m. late checkout
• Enhanced room upgrade (including standard suites)
• Welcome gift choice (points, breakfast offering, or amenity)
• Hotel lounge access, including complimentary breakfast in the lounge
• Free Wi-Fi

Also, if you spent $60,000 in a calendar year on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you will get an Earned Choice Award benefit (up to once per year).

Plus, you can get 25 Elite Night Credits towards elite status, a $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis for qualifying charges, as well as 1 Free Night Award every year after your card renewal month (up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points). The Free Night Award could be worth upwards of $1,000 alone, making it easy to justify the annual fee you pay for this card.

Hot Tip:

You can get elite-like benefits when you book certain luxury or upscale Marriott brands through Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection.

Rental Car Program Privileges

Amex Platinum Card

Those who have the Amex Platinum card get 3 different types of privileges at car rental companies. These are:

• National Emerald Club Executive Status (upon enrollment)
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle status (upon enrollment)
• Avis Preferred Plus status (upon enrollment)

At National Emerald Club and Hertz, these are top-tier statuses! When using this status, you can get bonus points, complimentary upgrades, guaranteed reservations, and more.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card doesn’t currently offer perks at rental car agencies.

Comparing Travel Insurance and Protection

To protect yourself while traveling, credit card companies often include exclusive benefits and insurance policies that give you peace of mind, as well as the ability to file claims for reimbursements in the event that an incident occurs.

The Amex Platinum card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card are no exception. We’ll walk you through the exact perks in this section.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

The Amex Platinum card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card both offer secondary rental car insurance with up to $75,000 in coverage, plus the ability to purchase primary coverage for $12.25 to $24.95 per rental.

Secondary rental car insurance requires you to first file a claim with your own insurance before filing for any claims with the secondary insurance provider.

Trip Interruption and Cancellation Insurance

If you’re the type of person who often books nonrefundable plane tickets or hotel stays for better deals, you’ll love the trip interruption and cancellation insurance included with the Amex Platinum card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.

Simply put, if your trip is disrupted or canceled due to covered reasons like injury, death, or illness, you can file for reimbursements on prepaid, nonrefundable expenses. This gets you a maximum of $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 every 12-month period.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your trip is delayed due to a covered reason and you used your Amex Platinum card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card to pay for the common carrier ticket (like an airplane ticket), you can get up to $500 per trip in trip delay reimbursements for covered delays of 6 or more hours (or delays that require an overnight stay).

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Luggage Coverage

Amex offers a baggage insurance plan on the Amex Platinum card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card — you can access up to $3,000 in total coverage for carry-on and checked baggage that is lost, with a limit of $2,000 for all checked baggage.

For residents of New York, there’s an aggregate limit of $10,000 per trip for all covered persons.

Emergency Travel Assistance

We hope you never have to use this, but it can be useful when you encounter an urgent situation abroad and need help.

With both the Amex Platinum card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you can access the Premium Global Assist Hotline, which gets you:

Shopping Showdown – Benefits and Protection

Get Extra Points or Cash-back With Amex Offers

One of our favorite shopping benefits offered on both cards is access to Amex Offers, one of the easiest ways to save money or get bonus rewards on purchases at specific merchants.

Cell Phone Protection

Both of these cards offer cell phone protection insurance as long as you charge your monthly cellular phone bill to your Amex Platinum card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.

This insurance protects against theft or covered damages, and with a $50 deductible per claim, you can get up to $800 in reimbursement per claim with a maximum of 2 claims every rolling 12 months.

That’s equal to a maximum of $1,500 in net cell phone protection reimbursements per year!

Purchase Protection

When you make an important purchase, you probably want to know that if it’s stolen, lost, or damaged right after you bought it, you can recover at least some money back. That’s what purchase protection is for!

In the case of the Amex Platinum card, you’ll get reimbursed for up to $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 in total reimbursements per calendar year if the incident happens within 90 days after purchasing the item.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card shares the same purchase protection coverage.

Extended Warranty

If you buy a fancy gadget and it suddenly stops working or you discover it’s defective, extended warranty can really help you in a pinch.

With both the Amex Platinum card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you can get 1 additional year of warranty on items with an eligible, original U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less.

For example, if you purchase a tech gadget with an eligible warranty of 3 years, you’ll get 1 more year, which is 4 years total. In contrast, if you buy a tech gadget with a 10-year warranty, you won’t get any additional extended warranty coverage.

Return Protection

Have you recently purchased an item, didn’t like it, and attempted to return it, only to have the return denied?

With either the Amex Platinum card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you’ll be eligible to file a claim for reimbursement through the return protection benefit.

Right now, the policy covers up to $300 per item and $1,000 per calendar year in total return protection reimbursements.

Zero Liability Protection

As you might expect from ultra-premium cards, the Amex Platinum card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card both have zero liability protection against unauthorized purchases.

No Preset Spending Limit

The Amex Platinum card has no preset spending limit, which is a unique benefit over the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.

No preset spending limit means that your spending limit adjusts from time to time depending on your purchase, payment, and credit history. This gives you greater flexibility, and for the eligible members, the ability to spend more from month to month.

Meanwhile, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card has a traditional credit limit, which means you won’t be able to spend more than this every billing statement unless you make additional payments.

Fees and Adding Additional Users

No Foreign Transaction Fees

There are no foreign transaction fees with the Amex Platinum card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.

Annual Fees

The Amex Platinum card has a $695 annual fee while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card has a $650 annual fee.

Authorized Users

If you want to add authorized users to your card, the fees will vary. The Amex Platinum card allows you to add additional cards for a $195 fee.

Authorized users will have access to benefits airport lounges, Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, purchase protection, and more.

However, if you want to add authorized users to your Amex Platinum card without annual fees, you can add them as basic Gold cards (up to 5 additional cards for no additional annual fee, $35 per additional authorized user after that) or basic Green cards (no additional annual fees). Just keep in mind that these basic cards will not have extra perks.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with no-additional fee authorized users, but authorized users will not receive most benefits, including the Platinum Elite status, statement credits, Free Night Award, and more.

Authorized user cards on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card essentially consolidate spending into 1 single account to help accumulate more rewards.

Final Thoughts

Both of these cards are lovable products that’ll treat you well for years to come if you’re someone who values travel rewards and benefits.

We give the edge to the Amex Platinum card because of its universality of earning valuable Amex Membership Rewards points, the amazing airport lounge access, and the series of benefits including statement credits and no preset spending limit.

But if you’re a loyalist at Marriott Bonvoy, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card affords you automatic Platinum Elite status, a Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points) after every cardmember anniversary year, and the ability to earn Marriott Bonvoy points from credit card spending directly.

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For the trip delay insurance benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express^® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the premium global assist hotline benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by premium global assist hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each covered person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the return protection benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express^® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the premium global assist hotline benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by premium global assist hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each covered person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.