Amex Undoes Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Bonus Restrictions From March — Here’s What Changed

Updated: May 14, 2026, 3:51pm CDT

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Amex Loosens Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Welcome Offer Restrictions
Final Thoughts

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American Express is once again changing the rules on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card— but this time, it’s good news.

After tightening welcome offer restrictions earlier this year, Amex has quietly rolled back part of those changes, potentially making more people with Chase-issued Marriott credit cards eligible for the welcome offer once again.

If you were previously shut out, it may be worth taking another look.

Amex Loosens Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Welcome Offer Restrictions

American Express has reverted the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card’s welcome offer language back to its previous, less restrictive version, as first reported by Danny the Deal Guru.

The most significant change affects the 30-day restriction tied to Chase-issued Marriott credit cards.

Under the stricter rules introduced in March, applicants were ineligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card’s welcome bonus offer if they had recently held or opened a long list of Chase Marriott cards, including products like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card, and several older legacy Marriott cards.

St. Regis Chicago suite bedroom — The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card remains highly sought after, thanks to its 85,000-point annual Free Night Award, redeemable at luxury brands like The Ritz-Carlton and The St. Regis. Image Credit: Ehsan Haque

Now, Amex has significantly narrowed that restriction. The 30-day exclusion appears to apply only to The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from Chase (no longer open to new applications but still available through a card conversion), rather than to the broader list of Marriott co-branded products.

Importantly, the other existing restrictions still remain in place. Applicants may still be denied the welcome bonus offer if they:

Opened certain Chase Marriott cards within the last 90 days
Earned a welcome offer on eligible Chase Marriott cards within the last 24 months
Previously held the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card or SPG Luxury card

It’s not clear whether Amex intentionally loosened the rules again or whether the change occurred after a limited-time offer ended.

Hot Tip:

If you were previously ineligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card’s welcome offer because you recently held a Chase Marriott card, it may be worth checking your eligibility again. Amex’s pop-up warning system should notify you before submitting an application if you aren’t eligible for the bonus offer.

Final Thoughts

American Express appears to be walking back at least some of the restrictive Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card eligibility rules introduced earlier this year.

While the card still comes with several overlapping application restrictions, the removal of the broader 30-day Chase Marriott exclusion is a positive change for travelers looking to add the premium Marriott card to their wallet.

For now, this update could allow some applicants to earn a welcome offer after they were unexpectedly shut out of the offer just a few months ago.