AmEx Bonvoy Brilliant Luxury Card [General Discussion Thread]
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
(I have an upgrade offer for 100K and I haven't combined accounts yet. Still deciding whether to pull the trigger.)
#93
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New York
Programs: Bonvoy LifetimeTitanium, UA Plat 2MM, LHW LeadersClub, IHGPlat, HiltonDiamnd, ASMVPG100K, WyndDiamnd
Posts: 1,227
If you can get the 100,000 points and are a Platinum member it is a great deal. I am keeping my old card, but applied for the new one. Got the bonus, which is worth ~ $750. Statement credit is worth $300. (FYI, the terms for the credit are similar to the Hilton Aspire,which, of course, is only for resorts. The Aspire pays out as you charge so if you do not make the $300, you can use the rest later.) The free night is easily worth $150. One thing to remember about free nights is that (although they may not include resort, etc. fees), they generally include taxes (in most jurisdictions, although, for example, I think India may be an exception and which may have high taxes based on imputed value), which can run fairly high. Even a room at a category 3 hotel can run over $150 by the time you add taxes in. Total value over two years is easily worth ~ $1500 ($750 + 2x$300 + $150). Great value for a card costing $900 for two years.
Still only I am getting it and not my wife (while we both have Aspire cards). I am Platinum and she is not. Gold is pretty worthless so even with a free night, she would not get breakfast, lounge, upgrade, late checkout, etc. The free night is much less valuable without that. She had the lounge with the SPG business, but that card was enhanced. Of course, if she did get it, I could use the $300 as an additional card member, but could not get Platinum benefits and use her free night.
Still the Aspire rules (as a hotel card, not as a spend card) , as it not only gives the free night (which can be used at most properties worldwide), but you get the $250 Resort credit to boot. Further a $250 airline credit. And to top it all off Diamond Status (which admittedly is not equivalent to Platinum). We will back to back our free nights later this year for a free weekend in Europe.
Still only I am getting it and not my wife (while we both have Aspire cards). I am Platinum and she is not. Gold is pretty worthless so even with a free night, she would not get breakfast, lounge, upgrade, late checkout, etc. The free night is much less valuable without that. She had the lounge with the SPG business, but that card was enhanced. Of course, if she did get it, I could use the $300 as an additional card member, but could not get Platinum benefits and use her free night.
Still the Aspire rules (as a hotel card, not as a spend card) , as it not only gives the free night (which can be used at most properties worldwide), but you get the $250 Resort credit to boot. Further a $250 airline credit. And to top it all off Diamond Status (which admittedly is not equivalent to Platinum). We will back to back our free nights later this year for a free weekend in Europe.
#96
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
Actually I would not call that great value (or really even good value) when you factor in the opportunity cost in light of 5/24 and Amex's new policy of denying bonuses if you open/close too many cards. With these anti-churning policies in place, most of us need to pick our new cards carefully. Net benefit of $600 (in MR points) over two years is in relative terms not very good at all IMO. Certainly not in same league as AMEX Plat, CSR, or Amex Aspire.
#97
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Posts: 295
Actually I would not call that great value (or really even good value) when you factor in the opportunity cost in light of 5/24 and Amex's new policy of denying bonuses if you open/close too many cards. With these anti-churning policies in place, most of us need to pick our new cards carefully. Net benefit of $600 (in MR points) over two years is in relative terms not very good at all IMO. Certainly not in same league as AMEX Plat, CSR, or Amex Aspire.
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
I was thinking more along the lines of the legacy SPG card being discontinued but time to PC is also a consideration. FWIW I've been able to PC other AmEx cards after a year with no issues.
#99
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New York
Programs: Bonvoy LifetimeTitanium, UA Plat 2MM, LHW LeadersClub, IHGPlat, HiltonDiamnd, ASMVPG100K, WyndDiamnd
Posts: 1,227
Actually I would not call that great value (or really even good value) when you factor in the opportunity cost in light of 5/24 and Amex's new policy of denying bonuses if you open/close too many cards. With these anti-churning policies in place, most of us need to pick our new cards carefully. Net benefit of $600 (in MR points) over two years is in relative terms not very good at all IMO. Certainly not in same league as AMEX Plat, CSR, or Amex Aspire.
Also, you will get additional Amex Offers, which can easily add significant value.
Last edited by Nevsky; Aug 24, 2018 at 2:06 pm
#100
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: BAGold; AA3MMPlat; UA1MMGold; FBGold; MarriottAmb; AccorPlat; HHGold; ICPlatAmb; HyattDiscoverist
Posts: 4,378
I’ve been a relatively big spender on the SPG Amex card, but received no upgrade offer. I thought about applying for the new card, but I don’t think it’s a sufficiently strong card or bonus offer. I had registered for the 20K point offer on the old card, but a slight change in travel plans today caused me to count my confirmed forthcoming Starriott nights and realize I’ll probably be sufficiently close to 100 to warrant moving all my Starriott and non bonus spend to my Marriott Visa—the extra night credits from that spend should get me to 100 nights.
#101
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,219
I personally found this offer to be very underwhelming as a new card. For a premium card, the CSR and Amex Platinum are a better package. However, if upgrading is a possibility, that's different. Frustratingly enough, I have no upgrade offer from my regular SPG Amex, so maybe one will magically show up tomorrow.
Does anyone know the answer to this question? I received my 5 nights credit in the beginning of the year from my SPG Amex. I also received my 15 elite nights credit from my Marriott Visa to my Marriott Rewards account. I have not merged the accounts yet. Will upgrading to the SPG Luxury provide an additional 15 elite night credits for this year? I realize 2019 it's 15 elite nights max regardless of number of co-brand cards. The 15 elite nights credit would be the most valuable for me, but wouldn't bother if for some reason I couldn't get it. I'm not very clear on the terms of the application.
Does anyone know the answer to this question? I received my 5 nights credit in the beginning of the year from my SPG Amex. I also received my 15 elite nights credit from my Marriott Visa to my Marriott Rewards account. I have not merged the accounts yet. Will upgrading to the SPG Luxury provide an additional 15 elite night credits for this year? I realize 2019 it's 15 elite nights max regardless of number of co-brand cards. The 15 elite nights credit would be the most valuable for me, but wouldn't bother if for some reason I couldn't get it. I'm not very clear on the terms of the application.
#102
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
I
Does anyone know the answer to this question? I received my 5 nights credit in the beginning of the year from my SPG Amex. I also received my 15 elite nights credit from my Marriott Visa to my Marriott Rewards account. I have not merged the accounts yet. Will upgrading to the SPG Luxury provide an additional 15 elite night credits for this year? I realize 2019 it's 15 elite nights max regardless of number of co-brand cards. The 15 elite nights credit would be the most valuable for me, but wouldn't bother if for some reason I couldn't get it. I'm not very clear on the terms of the application.
Does anyone know the answer to this question? I received my 5 nights credit in the beginning of the year from my SPG Amex. I also received my 15 elite nights credit from my Marriott Visa to my Marriott Rewards account. I have not merged the accounts yet. Will upgrading to the SPG Luxury provide an additional 15 elite night credits for this year? I realize 2019 it's 15 elite nights max regardless of number of co-brand cards. The 15 elite nights credit would be the most valuable for me, but wouldn't bother if for some reason I couldn't get it. I'm not very clear on the terms of the application.
#103
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 304
Saw this on /r/churning, 125k targeted. https://imgur.com/a/pfcMmHE
Right after I chose to upgrade. Ugh. Of these 3 cards, if you had to choose two, which ones do you choose? CSP/CSR/SPG Luxury.
Right after I chose to upgrade. Ugh. Of these 3 cards, if you had to choose two, which ones do you choose? CSP/CSR/SPG Luxury.
#104
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: FL
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, IC Plat Amb, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,299
Saw this on /r/churning, 125k targeted. https://imgur.com/a/pfcMmHE
Right after I chose to upgrade. Ugh. Of these 3 cards, if you had to choose two, which ones do you choose? CSP/CSR/SPG Luxury.
Right after I chose to upgrade. Ugh. Of these 3 cards, if you had to choose two, which ones do you choose? CSP/CSR/SPG Luxury.
#105
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Posts: 295
Saw this on /r/churning, 125k targeted. https://imgur.com/a/pfcMmHE
Right after I chose to upgrade. Ugh. Of these 3 cards, if you had to choose two, which ones do you choose? CSP/CSR/SPG Luxury.
Right after I chose to upgrade. Ugh. Of these 3 cards, if you had to choose two, which ones do you choose? CSP/CSR/SPG Luxury.
Among these three cards, keep CSR and maybe Luxury.