AmEx Bonvoy Brilliant Luxury Card [General Discussion Thread]
Aug 10, 2022, 5:43 am
#1891
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
I have never seen anything change the #x after that appears. It can take a few days to show, but never seen it change.
Does the hotel charge show as the current hotel name? I know its a problem with Hilton charges when a hotel re-brands and joins Hilton. Like the Conrad Midtown still shows up as The London Hotel (or at least did during my stay last year). I did get the 12x, but other properties (there are threads on it in the Hilton forum) don't. If your hotel recently joined Marriott and still bills as the old hotel name, I could see it causing an issue.
Does the hotel charge show as the current hotel name? I know its a problem with Hilton charges when a hotel re-brands and joins Hilton. Like the Conrad Midtown still shows up as The London Hotel (or at least did during my stay last year). I did get the 12x, but other properties (there are threads on it in the Hilton forum) don't. If your hotel recently joined Marriott and still bills as the old hotel name, I could see it causing an issue.
Aug 10, 2022, 5:46 am
#1892
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
I have never seen anything change the #x after that appears. It can take a few days to show, but never seen it change.
Does the hotel charge show as the current hotel name? I know its a problem with Hilton charges when a hotel re-brands and joins Hilton. Like the Conrad Midtown still shows up as The London Hotel (or at least did during my stay last year). I did get the 12x, but other properties (there are threads on it in the Hilton forum) don't. If your hotel recently joined Marriott and still bills as the old hotel name, I could see it causing an issue.
Does the hotel charge show as the current hotel name? I know its a problem with Hilton charges when a hotel re-brands and joins Hilton. Like the Conrad Midtown still shows up as The London Hotel (or at least did during my stay last year). I did get the 12x, but other properties (there are threads on it in the Hilton forum) don't. If your hotel recently joined Marriott and still bills as the old hotel name, I could see it causing an issue.
Aug 21, 2022, 11:04 am
#1896
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,195
I just got bit by a hotel practice that I'm trying to resolve, but if I can't, I'll have missed getting a key Amex Brilliant Bonvoy benefit by one day: application of the up-to-$300 hotel and incidentals credit.
Stayed at a Westin for an award stay, checking in 7/28 and checking out 8/1. Credit card preauthorization was made, as expected, by the hotel at check in on 7/28 for a small amount.
Ate in the hotel restaurant on 7/31. At checkout, kept the stay and incidentals on my Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card. Have the folio that shows the check in (7/28), check out (8/1), and meal (7/31) dates.
But when the Amex charge posted, it showed a transaction date of 7/28, not the 8/1 checkout date.
The rub: My Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card has a renewal date of 7/29. That's when the new benefit year begins.
I've been in touch with Amex and they tell me there's nothing they can do to push through the credit, even though the transaction did not fully post until 8/2, a day after checkout. The transaction date, with was the pre-authorization date, is listed as 7/28 and I'm told any charges apply to my prior Amex benefit year, even though as of that 7/29 Amex renewal date, there were no charges to the room.
I'm getting back in touch with the hotel to see if there's anything they can do to correct the date since the actual transactions occured after check in, not the date of check in. If that fails, I'll have have to contact Marriott Guest Services.
Has anyone successfully had a situation like this resolved? And if so, what department did you contact at Marriott (all I have is the general Guest Services mailing address)? I plan to provide full documentation.
Thanks. This is a weird one.
Stayed at a Westin for an award stay, checking in 7/28 and checking out 8/1. Credit card preauthorization was made, as expected, by the hotel at check in on 7/28 for a small amount.
Ate in the hotel restaurant on 7/31. At checkout, kept the stay and incidentals on my Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card. Have the folio that shows the check in (7/28), check out (8/1), and meal (7/31) dates.
But when the Amex charge posted, it showed a transaction date of 7/28, not the 8/1 checkout date.
The rub: My Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card has a renewal date of 7/29. That's when the new benefit year begins.
I've been in touch with Amex and they tell me there's nothing they can do to push through the credit, even though the transaction did not fully post until 8/2, a day after checkout. The transaction date, with was the pre-authorization date, is listed as 7/28 and I'm told any charges apply to my prior Amex benefit year, even though as of that 7/29 Amex renewal date, there were no charges to the room.
I'm getting back in touch with the hotel to see if there's anything they can do to correct the date since the actual transactions occured after check in, not the date of check in. If that fails, I'll have have to contact Marriott Guest Services.
Has anyone successfully had a situation like this resolved? And if so, what department did you contact at Marriott (all I have is the general Guest Services mailing address)? I plan to provide full documentation.
Thanks. This is a weird one.
Aug 21, 2022, 11:20 am
#1897
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Programs: Marriott Platinum - LT Gold
Posts: 688
I just got bit by a hotel practice that I'm trying to resolve, but if I can't, I'll have missed getting a key Amex Brilliant Bonvoy benefit by one day: application of the up-to-$300 hotel and incidentals credit.
Stayed at a Westin for an award stay, checking in 7/28 and checking out 8/1. Credit card preauthorization was made, as expected, by the hotel at check in on 7/28 for a small amount.
Ate in the hotel restaurant on 7/31. At checkout, kept the stay and incidentals on my Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card. Have the folio that shows the check in (7/28), check out (8/1), and meal (7/31) dates.
But when the Amex charge posted, it showed a transaction date of 7/28, not the 8/1 checkout date.
The rub: My Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card has a renewal date of 7/29. That's when the new benefit year begins.
I've been in touch with Amex and they tell me there's nothing they can do to push through the credit, even though the transaction did not fully post until 8/2, a day after checkout. The transaction date, with was the pre-authorization date, is listed as 7/28 and I'm told any charges apply to my prior Amex benefit year, even though as of that 7/29 Amex renewal date, there were no charges to the room.
I'm getting back in touch with the hotel to see if there's anything they can do to correct the date since the actual transactions occured after check in, not the date of check in. If that fails, I'll have have to contact Marriott Guest Services.
Has anyone successfully had a situation like this resolved? And if so, what department did you contact at Marriott (all I have is the general Guest Services mailing address)? I plan to provide full documentation.
Thanks. This is a weird one.
Stayed at a Westin for an award stay, checking in 7/28 and checking out 8/1. Credit card preauthorization was made, as expected, by the hotel at check in on 7/28 for a small amount.
Ate in the hotel restaurant on 7/31. At checkout, kept the stay and incidentals on my Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card. Have the folio that shows the check in (7/28), check out (8/1), and meal (7/31) dates.
But when the Amex charge posted, it showed a transaction date of 7/28, not the 8/1 checkout date.
The rub: My Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card has a renewal date of 7/29. That's when the new benefit year begins.
I've been in touch with Amex and they tell me there's nothing they can do to push through the credit, even though the transaction did not fully post until 8/2, a day after checkout. The transaction date, with was the pre-authorization date, is listed as 7/28 and I'm told any charges apply to my prior Amex benefit year, even though as of that 7/29 Amex renewal date, there were no charges to the room.
I'm getting back in touch with the hotel to see if there's anything they can do to correct the date since the actual transactions occured after check in, not the date of check in. If that fails, I'll have have to contact Marriott Guest Services.
Has anyone successfully had a situation like this resolved? And if so, what department did you contact at Marriott (all I have is the general Guest Services mailing address)? I plan to provide full documentation.
Thanks. This is a weird one.
Aug 21, 2022, 2:21 pm
#1898
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: UA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 139
I just got bit by a hotel practice that I'm trying to resolve, but if I can't, I'll have missed getting a key Amex Brilliant Bonvoy benefit by one day: application of the up-to-$300 hotel and incidentals credit.
Stayed at a Westin for an award stay, checking in 7/28 and checking out 8/1. Credit card preauthorization was made, as expected, by the hotel at check in on 7/28 for a small amount.
Ate in the hotel restaurant on 7/31. At checkout, kept the stay and incidentals on my Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card. Have the folio that shows the check in (7/28), check out (8/1), and meal (7/31) dates.
But when the Amex charge posted, it showed a transaction date of 7/28, not the 8/1 checkout date.
The rub: My Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card has a renewal date of 7/29. That's when the new benefit year begins.
I've been in touch with Amex and they tell me there's nothing they can do to push through the credit, even though the transaction did not fully post until 8/2, a day after checkout. The transaction date, with was the pre-authorization date, is listed as 7/28 and I'm told any charges apply to my prior Amex benefit year, even though as of that 7/29 Amex renewal date, there were no charges to the room.
I'm getting back in touch with the hotel to see if there's anything they can do to correct the date since the actual transactions occured after check in, not the date of check in. If that fails, I'll have have to contact Marriott Guest Services.
Has anyone successfully had a situation like this resolved? And if so, what department did you contact at Marriott (all I have is the general Guest Services mailing address)? I plan to provide full documentation.
Thanks. This is a weird one.
Stayed at a Westin for an award stay, checking in 7/28 and checking out 8/1. Credit card preauthorization was made, as expected, by the hotel at check in on 7/28 for a small amount.
Ate in the hotel restaurant on 7/31. At checkout, kept the stay and incidentals on my Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card. Have the folio that shows the check in (7/28), check out (8/1), and meal (7/31) dates.
But when the Amex charge posted, it showed a transaction date of 7/28, not the 8/1 checkout date.
The rub: My Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card has a renewal date of 7/29. That's when the new benefit year begins.
I've been in touch with Amex and they tell me there's nothing they can do to push through the credit, even though the transaction did not fully post until 8/2, a day after checkout. The transaction date, with was the pre-authorization date, is listed as 7/28 and I'm told any charges apply to my prior Amex benefit year, even though as of that 7/29 Amex renewal date, there were no charges to the room.
I'm getting back in touch with the hotel to see if there's anything they can do to correct the date since the actual transactions occured after check in, not the date of check in. If that fails, I'll have have to contact Marriott Guest Services.
Has anyone successfully had a situation like this resolved? And if so, what department did you contact at Marriott (all I have is the general Guest Services mailing address)? I plan to provide full documentation.
Thanks. This is a weird one.
Don’t waste time with Marriott on this. If Amex won’t give you the credit, you should focus on applying it to a future stay by buying a gift card.
Another way to use the credit is to book a prepaid but refundable rate for a future stay. I say refundable because sometimes the hotel won’t actually charge the card until closer to the stay, so you need to retain some flexibility to make sure it’s charged before 9/22.
In the past, I’ve called a hotel a few weeks before check-in and asked them to charge my card in order to trigger an expiring Amex offer. It is possible if the front desk agent is competent; if not try later when someone else is working. Don’t explain why. Just tell them what to do and keep it simple
Last edited by esquiar; Aug 21, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Aug 21, 2022, 2:29 pm
#1899
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 1,232
I just got bit by a hotel practice that I'm trying to resolve, but if I can't, I'll have missed getting a key Amex Brilliant Bonvoy benefit by one day: application of the up-to-$300 hotel and incidentals credit.
Stayed at a Westin for an award stay, checking in 7/28 and checking out 8/1. Credit card preauthorization was made, as expected, by the hotel at check in on 7/28 for a small amount.
Ate in the hotel restaurant on 7/31. At checkout, kept the stay and incidentals on my Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card. Have the folio that shows the check in (7/28), check out (8/1), and meal (7/31) dates.
But when the Amex charge posted, it showed a transaction date of 7/28, not the 8/1 checkout date.
The rub: My Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card has a renewal date of 7/29. That's when the new benefit year begins.
I've been in touch with Amex and they tell me there's nothing they can do to push through the credit, even though the transaction did not fully post until 8/2, a day after checkout. The transaction date, with was the pre-authorization date, is listed as 7/28 and I'm told any charges apply to my prior Amex benefit year, even though as of that 7/29 Amex renewal date, there were no charges to the room.
I'm getting back in touch with the hotel to see if there's anything they can do to correct the date since the actual transactions occured after check in, not the date of check in. If that fails, I'll have have to contact Marriott Guest Services.
Has anyone successfully had a situation like this resolved? And if so, what department did you contact at Marriott (all I have is the general Guest Services mailing address)? I plan to provide full documentation.
Thanks. This is a weird one.
Stayed at a Westin for an award stay, checking in 7/28 and checking out 8/1. Credit card preauthorization was made, as expected, by the hotel at check in on 7/28 for a small amount.
Ate in the hotel restaurant on 7/31. At checkout, kept the stay and incidentals on my Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card. Have the folio that shows the check in (7/28), check out (8/1), and meal (7/31) dates.
But when the Amex charge posted, it showed a transaction date of 7/28, not the 8/1 checkout date.
The rub: My Amex Brilliant Bonvoy card has a renewal date of 7/29. That's when the new benefit year begins.
I've been in touch with Amex and they tell me there's nothing they can do to push through the credit, even though the transaction did not fully post until 8/2, a day after checkout. The transaction date, with was the pre-authorization date, is listed as 7/28 and I'm told any charges apply to my prior Amex benefit year, even though as of that 7/29 Amex renewal date, there were no charges to the room.
I'm getting back in touch with the hotel to see if there's anything they can do to correct the date since the actual transactions occured after check in, not the date of check in. If that fails, I'll have have to contact Marriott Guest Services.
Has anyone successfully had a situation like this resolved? And if so, what department did you contact at Marriott (all I have is the general Guest Services mailing address)? I plan to provide full documentation.
Thanks. This is a weird one.
Aug 21, 2022, 5:41 pm
#1900
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,195
However, the gift card is a helpful idea. Thank you.
Aug 22, 2022, 9:24 pm
#1901
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
Out team reached out to the Credit card specialist team who then reached out to AMEX.
Per Amex, the charges are showing as a lodging charge but they cannot confirm if it a Marriott charge or hotel until their system updates the info on closing date 8/26/2022 or a day later.
Please refer the member tp AMX for additional questions, the phone # is located at the back of their card..
Per Amex, the charges are showing as a lodging charge but they cannot confirm if it a Marriott charge or hotel until their system updates the info on closing date 8/26/2022 or a day later.
Please refer the member tp AMX for additional questions, the phone # is located at the back of their card..
It seems clear that the AMEX system does not recognize the hotel as a Bonvoy participant, which is unfortunate because that's the main reason I got the card (travel finally resuming where I would stay there a lot--and the double whammy of the $300 credit being eliminated for stays and this particular hotel that I had planned to use it at not being recognized by AMEX correctly, sigh).
Sitting on over 1.3 million Hilton points, it is probably time to ditch the Bonvoy card and stay at one of the Hilton properties down the road from the Autograph Collection hotel that I had hoped to be using. I don't know if Marriott cares that AMEX is screwing things up this much, but oh well.
Aug 23, 2022, 1:20 pm
#1902
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,929
Writing out my thought process -- the meaningful differences between the Brilliant and the old $95/SPG card is basically:
$450 Annual Fee (vs. $95)
50k FNC (vs. 35k FNC)
$300 Marriott Credit (becoming restaurant credit)
Assuming the restaurant credit can be valued at face (so, ignoring opportunity cost and having to remember to carry the card), you're basically paying $150 for a 50k FNC vs. $95 for a 35k FNC and with points top-up, it's basically more like "is the 15k point ceiling difference worth $55?" I'm leaning towards a pretty strong "no" at this point given how difficult it has been to use the 50k certs lately.
---
I mean, technically I could hold onto the card for one more year before downgrading as I can double dip on both the $300 Marriott and $300 restaurant credits, but I just don't know if I want to juggle that anymore as opposed to going to Hyatt.
$450 Annual Fee (vs. $95)
50k FNC (vs. 35k FNC)
$300 Marriott Credit (becoming restaurant credit)
Assuming the restaurant credit can be valued at face (so, ignoring opportunity cost and having to remember to carry the card), you're basically paying $150 for a 50k FNC vs. $95 for a 35k FNC and with points top-up, it's basically more like "is the 15k point ceiling difference worth $55?" I'm leaning towards a pretty strong "no" at this point given how difficult it has been to use the 50k certs lately.
---
I mean, technically I could hold onto the card for one more year before downgrading as I can double dip on both the $300 Marriott and $300 restaurant credits, but I just don't know if I want to juggle that anymore as opposed to going to Hyatt.
Aug 23, 2022, 1:24 pm
#1903
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
Obviously this is assuming the new perks closely match what the survey last year stated
Aug 23, 2022, 1:33 pm
#1904
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,929
When is your renewal? IMO, hold on to it one more year. The double dip is a nice perk. But supposedly this card will get a refresh next month when the 250 card is introduced. Those extra perks which still paying 450 for the card could make it worth it.
Obviously this is assuming the new perks closely match what the survey last year stated
Obviously this is assuming the new perks closely match what the survey last year stated
Technically it's net positive with the double dip, and I could theoretically fish for retention.
Aug 23, 2022, 1:43 pm
#1905
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
If I had to guess, that is the date the 250 card will be announced, as well as the revamped Brilliant card.
If you aren't happy with the refreshed Brilliant card you could still downgrade at that time and get full refund on annual fee. Not sure of your Marriott stays, but rumors of an extra 10 nights and Platinum status could be worth something to you. Also rumors include 85k certificate and 50k bonus points with $50k spend...if that is something you would shoot for. These perks along with the double dip on the credits sound like a win-win to me for 450.