AmEx Bonvoy Brilliant Luxury Card [General Discussion Thread]
Sep 27, 2022, 9:34 am
#2266
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,866
IMO, if you consider the dining credit and the 85k room night the two things you can "break even" on (given that everyone and their uncle puts Priority Pass and Global Entry reimbursement on a card and the value of Platinum is pretty ineffable and dependent on stays), you need to be using the cert instead of paying $350 on a hotel room for a single night to "break even". That's not as easy as you think given that ADR in the US is well below $150.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/...us-since-2005/
Which is exactly why AMEX and Marriott want this, if you recall this card had a $20 monthly dining credit in 2021.
https://onemileatatime.com/amex-dini...eless-credits/
It undoubtedly increased the amount of use those cards got. Having Brilliant cards in a sock drawer save for cashing out the $300 Marriott credit doesn't serve AMEX or Marriott.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/...us-since-2005/
Which is exactly why AMEX and Marriott want this, if you recall this card had a $20 monthly dining credit in 2021.
https://onemileatatime.com/amex-dini...eless-credits/
It undoubtedly increased the amount of use those cards got. Having Brilliant cards in a sock drawer save for cashing out the $300 Marriott credit doesn't serve AMEX or Marriott.
Sep 27, 2022, 9:40 am
#2267
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
A few points:
1) The average “luxury” rate last week was $415 in the US - so many ways to recoup the $350
2) For those more interested in lower priced hotels, downgrade to the $95 fee card makes more sense. The card is aimed towards “luxury” buyers
3) The $25 monthly usage is annoying but pretty easy - a few lunches or coffees at work should do
1) The average “luxury” rate last week was $415 in the US - so many ways to recoup the $350
2) For those more interested in lower priced hotels, downgrade to the $95 fee card makes more sense. The card is aimed towards “luxury” buyers
3) The $25 monthly usage is annoying but pretty easy - a few lunches or coffees at work should do
Sep 27, 2022, 10:02 am
#2268
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,928
I've seen quite a few charges with the APLPAY prefix. I've never had a problem with charges posting correctly (e.g. bonus earn category, credits, etc.) when paying through Apple Pay.
That is so weird. That box doesn't render at all for me on Firefox, but on a whim I checked on a different browser, and it does appear I've earned $25 in credits for September. I paid for my coffee shop punch card (~$55) for it through Apple Pay last week (23rd or so?).
I have yet to see the credit post though. I put another $25 in actual restaurant spend (via Square online ordering site thingy w/ a real restaurant) so I'll report back if it turns out this was the transaction that counted (I suspect the coffee shop counted for it though).
That is so weird. That box doesn't render at all for me on Firefox, but on a whim I checked on a different browser, and it does appear I've earned $25 in credits for September. I paid for my coffee shop punch card (~$55) for it through Apple Pay last week (23rd or so?).
I have yet to see the credit post though. I put another $25 in actual restaurant spend (via Square online ordering site thingy w/ a real restaurant) so I'll report back if it turns out this was the transaction that counted (I suspect the coffee shop counted for it though).
Sep 27, 2022, 10:05 am
#2269
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 718
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Diamond
Posts: 967
Anybody see any dining credits post when using Apple Pay yet?
With the digital wallet/wireless terminal exception in the T&Cs for the dining credits (using the word "may") I'm wondering if anybody has seen this? I paid using Apple Pay with the card at a local pizza place that uses a square reader. With a Citibank (non-Amex) card, the category is Dining/Fast Food, and it posts as SQ* PIZZA FRESH ... With Amex, the transaction posted today as "APLPAY PIZZA FRESH MAKAWAO HI"
I don't think I've even seen a charge post with the APLPAY prefix before.
It just posted today as of Sept 25, Statement closed on Sept 25. Will be interesting to see if a credit posts or not.
-David
With the digital wallet/wireless terminal exception in the T&Cs for the dining credits (using the word "may") I'm wondering if anybody has seen this? I paid using Apple Pay with the card at a local pizza place that uses a square reader. With a Citibank (non-Amex) card, the category is Dining/Fast Food, and it posts as SQ* PIZZA FRESH ... With Amex, the transaction posted today as "APLPAY PIZZA FRESH MAKAWAO HI"
I don't think I've even seen a charge post with the APLPAY prefix before.
It just posted today as of Sept 25, Statement closed on Sept 25. Will be interesting to see if a credit posts or not.
-David
Sep 27, 2022, 10:31 am
#2270
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: MB Titanium, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, UA Silver
Posts: 185
Sep 27, 2022, 10:56 am
#2271
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,392
It's never free money, that was AMEX and Marriott trying to goose credit card usage at a time when hotel stays were way down and collecting some data, as it turns out.
Sure, and of course AMEX and Marriott are hoping for either breakage or just using the card more frequently for dining and overall.
Sure. But a ~$65 savings (and hey, possibly WAY more!) where you have to pony $350 up front isn't amazeballs.
My problem is that a one day stay at a luxury hotel is hardly enough for a nice relaxing luxury stay. Which is probably also what AMEX and Marriott are counting on.
Very much so. This is probably going to make me defect to Chase since once I perform the correct dance steps the Boundless is a reasonable option (and another SUB).
Agreed, I nailed that $20 credit the 11 months I had it on the Brilliant in 2021.
All told it's been an excellent ride for $1350 in annual fees from 2020-2023:
- $600 in Marriott credits
- $620 in monthly dining credits from 2021-2023 ($220 in 2021, $100 in 2022, $300 in 2023)
- Platinum status in 2021 from holding the card, earned Platinum for 2022 (wind-aided because of one time credits + Marriott credits + points stays), Platinum in 2023
- 125k Marriott points via SUB (100k + 25k at 2021 renewal)
- 50k cert in 2022 (burned at Montcalm East)
- 85k cert in 2023
Easily worth paying $1350 out of pocket over 3 years. Going forward for $650 for dining credit + 85k cert... probably not.
My problem is that a one day stay at a luxury hotel is hardly enough for a nice relaxing luxury stay. Which is probably also what AMEX and Marriott are counting on.
All told it's been an excellent ride for $1350 in annual fees from 2020-2023:
- $600 in Marriott credits
- $620 in monthly dining credits from 2021-2023 ($220 in 2021, $100 in 2022, $300 in 2023)
- Platinum status in 2021 from holding the card, earned Platinum for 2022 (wind-aided because of one time credits + Marriott credits + points stays), Platinum in 2023
- 125k Marriott points via SUB (100k + 25k at 2021 renewal)
- 50k cert in 2022 (burned at Montcalm East)
- 85k cert in 2023
Easily worth paying $1350 out of pocket over 3 years. Going forward for $650 for dining credit + 85k cert... probably not.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Sep 27, 2022 at 11:02 am
Sep 27, 2022, 11:33 am
#2273
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX PLAT, DL PLAT, RITZ CARLTON PLAT, HILTON GOLD
Posts: 49
[QUOTE=TravelerMSY;34630094]It was getting annoying that my Ritz Carlton card free night barely had enough points to actually get me into a decent RC.[.
It allowed me to stay at The Gwen Luxury Collection in Chicago. That’s a lovely hotel.
It allowed me to stay at The Gwen Luxury Collection in Chicago. That’s a lovely hotel.
Sep 27, 2022, 12:41 pm
#2275
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: MB Titanium, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, UA Silver
Posts: 185
Sep 27, 2022, 12:44 pm
#2276
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,281
Sep 27, 2022, 1:24 pm
#2277
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SBA
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 941
DP, $10.83 charge on 9/23, credit the next day. $20 charged the next day, $14.17 credit. So pretty easy to do some smaller charges and get the $25 credit. Got mine in 2 days.
Sep 27, 2022, 1:25 pm
#2278
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 49
How come mine didn't count?
It is marked as 3X but no credit!
Sep 27, 2022, 1:52 pm
#2279
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,928
Points From:
- PayPal 5% Uber Eats Offer
- Base/Restaurant Spend
- Marriott/Uber Partnership Bonus Points
- Monthly Dining Credit
Sep 27, 2022, 8:01 pm
#2280
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,311
To your previous comment, this is the first time I've seen that wording I quoted above. I've never had an issue with Citibank and other issuers getting dining or other category based credits when I've used Apple Pay or other wireless readers. I've never noticed the AplPay thing before on Amex charges, but I've never looked for it. When I download transactions into Quicken, it will likely simplify the merchant name. On this one, I had to undo the transaction renaming to see it.
-David