Targeted offer for AmEx Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardholders

[GetawaysRus]

If you have an American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (that's the one with the high $650 annual fee), check this page and see if you are targeted for the offer:

[Expired] [YMMV] American Express Brilliant: Spend $4,000 & Earn 85,000 Free Night Certificate

American Express is offering a 85,000 point free night certificate when you spend $4,000 by 3/15/23…

www.doctorofcredit.com

I was suspicious at first, but the link appears to be legitimate. My wife has this card, and she was approved for the offer. So if we spend $4000 on this card by March 15, 2024 she will earn an extra 85K certificate in addition to the 85K free night certificate that comes with this card. If I understand, we would be able to top off these certificates if necessary with as much as an additional 15,000 Bonvoy points each for use at a hotel requiring 100,000 points per night.

That 85K free night cert. that she gets with this card has been an orphan in the past, but if we meet the terms of the offer, now we'd at least have a 2 night stay.

And if you haven't yet paid your Marriott timeshare maintenance fees (I already did, unfortunately), that would make it even easier to hit the 4K spending requirement.

 

[DanCali]

Did not get the targeted email yet, but seems to have worked for me!

 

[klpenny]

My husband and I both got the offer and have two cards. That would make four 85,000 certificates for the year between us. We were grandfathered in at the $450 this year and with the $300 dining credit so worth the $150 each.

 

[NJDave]

I recieved the same offer and signed up for it. I was planning on cancelling the card becasue of the $650 fee but now I will wait until I recieve the second free night. It's nice timing for spend since maintenance fees are due now.

 

[danill]

I recieved the same offer and signed up for it. I was planning on cancelling the card becasue of the $650 fee but now I will wait until I recieve the second free night. It's nice timing for spend since maintenance fees are due now.

I called to cancel because of the fee increase, but they offered to put a $200 credit on the card to compensate for the increase. You might try calling them.

The 85k cert link appeared to work for me as well, even though I was not targeted with the offer. Many thanks to @GetawaysRus!

 

[1Kflyerguy]

The promo link worked for me too. It was great timing as I have my annual auto insurance premium payment in the next few days. Was able to enroll in the promo and change the autopay to my Brilliant card. That will almost meet the spend right requirement. Just a few more purchases or meals out will do it.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Didn’t work for me, likely not invited. But thanks!!

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Nice deal but still not worth the premium increase. We downgraded Brilliant this year to the $95 Bonvoy. No retention offer. Applied for another Hilton Aspire to get 150k points and another uncapped free night upfront and at anniversary. However that card is now requiring hoops to get max value so will see how long we keep that.

Still have the final 85k Bonvoy night to use before it expires. Will ride these offers as long as they have value.

 

[MOXJO7282]

I used the link and it said I wasn't invited. Its likely targeted to those that don't use the card a lot to drive spend because I use mine a ton and because of my hefty MF fees I get an extra one 85k to go along with the one you get on your anniversary. You're getting the same for just $4k where I have to spend $60k for my second one.

On a side note I don't know how anyone says this card isn't worth it, unless you don't eat out or travel because the $300 dining credit and the 85K cert that is easily worth $500-$700 makes the card well worth it.

 

[GetawaysRus]

I used the link and it said I wasn't invited. Its likely targeted to those that don't use the card a lot to drive spend because I use mine a ton...

You're probably right.

We use our card at restaurants once a month to make sure we get the $25 monthly restaurant credit.

I'll use it sometimes when we stay at Marriott hotels, but we also have a Chase Marriott card, so we alternate. Mostly that's to pay the annoying things (parking fees and resort fees).

And I'll use the card when a decent AmEx offer pops up that we can make use of, but that's only occasional.

Most of the time, it's not in my wallet. Other credit cards give us a better rewards return.

 

[Davey54321]

I used the link and it said I wasn't invited. Its likely targeted to those that don't use the card a lot to drive spend because I use mine a ton and because of my hefty MF fees I get an extra one 85k to go along with the one you get on your anniversary. You're getting the same for just $4k where I have to spend $60k for my second one.

On a side note I don't know how anyone says this card isn't worth it, unless you don't eat out or travel because the $300 dining credit and the 85K cert that is easily worth $500-$700 makes the card well worth it.

I was also not invited! I also use my card quite a bit but may adopt another credit card strategy for next year, due to this targetted award (and my not being invited). My husband suspended his Brilliant AMEX card this year due to increased charge and fact that he has the Delta AMEX, but I agree that its worth the increased charge for me due to dining credit and annual 85k certificate.
Vicki

 

[dougp26364]

That’s great except for one major drawback, I have two 50,000 point certificates and have yet to find a hotel that will accept them. Getting an extra certificate that’s not usable means very little.

.

 

[MOXJO7282]

That’s great except for one major drawback, I have two 50,000 point certificates and have yet to find a hotel that will accept them. Getting an extra certificate that’s not usable means very little.

.

I'm sure you know if you have additional points they can be used up to 15k added on to a 50k certs, so I'm surprised you're having difficulty finding something. They would work for me at The Buoy Haus, a super nice autograph collection resort on ST. Thomas, where we're using 252k for 5 nights next July.

 

[dougp26364]

It’s not that I can’t find uses for them. It’s that every hotel I want to use them at refuses to accept them, making them useless.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I was able to get the promotion added to my card. Thank you so much! @GetawaysRus

 

[BarbmC]

thanks - did not see the email, but tried the link and it worked for me too!

 

[frank808]

Did not work for either mine or wife's Brilliant accounts. Could have used 2 more nights 85K certificates with all these maintenance fees due.

Dang, hopefully we qualify for the next promo.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Did not work for either mine or wife's Brilliant accounts. Could have used 2 more nights 85K certificates with all these maintenance fees due.

Dang, hopefully we qualify for the next promo.

You used the link in the article?

I hope I get the certificate after paying my MF's yesterday. Paid about $10,000 worth of MF's.

 

[frank808]

Yes I did and no bueno.

 

[michael49]

Worked for me and I have maintenance fees to pay!

 

[GLehman]

Thanks for the great tip! Worked for me and the timing was great!

 

[luv_maui]

Has anyone trying the link not eligible called to see if you could get it added. Our friends said American Express needed some po ID CODE from the promotion?

 

[DanCali]

On a side note I don't know how anyone says this card isn't worth it, unless you don't eat out or travel because the $300 dining credit and the 85K cert that is easily worth $500-$700 makes the card well worth it.

But most of us still remember when it was just a $300 credit you could get all at once by paying MFs... much easier.

We do eat out but the problem is that it's not my "go-to" card for dining. I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve for that which is 4.5% (3% + 50% bonus) when used on travel redemptions. I always have to remember to use the Bonvoy card at least once a month and probably lose $60-$80 per year because of that...

The 85K certificate (good for 100K with top-off) is a good value at many locations, but I also noticed that some hotels have crept awards to 102,000 points to keep guests out of the free certificate nights.

 

[sdtugger]

My wife has the Brilliant card that we only use for maintenance fees and Marriott stays. Her annual fee posted on Nov. 17 and we had planned to cancel it because of the new $650 annual fee. But, this promo was interesting so we called and were told that if we put the offer in our account and then spent $4K before we closed the account (prior to statement closing on Dec. 18), that we'd get the extra free night and all of the points earned this period, etc. We were also told to subtract the amount of the fee from the prior bill when we paid it.

When we paid the bill, I started worrying that without paying the full amount of the bill, including the annual fee, that likely we would be charged interest, etc. So, I called again. This time we were told we had to pay the full amount AND that we wouldn't receive any points from our $4K purchase (we charged maintenance fees) or the extra free night unless we held the card through the next closing and the date when we receive the free night.

We were given the option to swap to the $95 card once we receive the extra free night (8-12 weeks from qualifying). They said we would be charged pro rated amounts for each card for the period of time we hold each card. Otherwise, you are stuck with the $650 fee for the full year. If my math is correct, that means we would end up paying around $200 between the two cards for the extra 85K night and the original 85K night. That isn't too bad. We weren't planning anything like that. But, this gives us a push to plan something.

Does all of that sound right to all of you? It is a little irritating to be told one thing, to make $4K in charges in reliance on what you are told, and then to be told something else. But, I've been around this block long enough that I probably should have known better anyway.