AmEx Bonvoy Brilliant Luxury Card [General Discussion Thread]
Dec 30, 2018, 9:12 pm
#571
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 278
Please keep us posted. If this gives you another year of platinum, I will spend $75k on the card in 2019.
Jan 1, 2019, 9:41 am
#572
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,931
Jan 6, 2019, 6:19 pm
#575
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,469
Buying Marriott electronic gift cards works.
Jan 6, 2019, 7:38 pm
#576
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: S Cal
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, United Silver, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,142
The problem is the opportunity cost. 75K spend on a 2% cashback card is $1500 in your pocket.
75K spend on the Lux card gives you 150K Marriott points (perhaps more if much of your spend is through Marriott, but that's not the case for me). I think Marriott points are worth about half a cent per point, so 150K Marriott points is equivalent to around $750 in value. That doesn't look as good as my cashback card or even my other points-earning cards.
My other question (and I can't find this answered anywhere): if you spend 75K on the Lux card and either (1) earn or (2) retain Marriott Plat, would you also then get a Marriott Choice Benefit? That would allow you to select 5 Suite Night Awards, for example. 5 SNAs has some value and levels the playing field somewhat compared to spend on my 2% cashback card, but I still don't think it entirely makes up the difference for the cash you are forgoing or the other types of points you could be earning.
So in my wife's case, she would retain Plat status with 75K Lux card spend. Does anyone know if she will earn a Choice Benefit this way?
Jan 6, 2019, 9:01 pm
#577
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,469
I'm mulling this over too. I doubt that my wife will hit 50 nights in 2019, so for her to retain Plat this would be an alternative.
The problem is the opportunity cost. 75K spend on a 2% cashback card is $1500 in your pocket.
75K spend on the Lux card gives you 150K Marriott points (perhaps more if much of your spend is through Marriott, but that's not the case for me). I think Marriott points are worth about half a cent per point, so 150K Marriott points is equivalent to around $750 in value. That doesn't look as good as my cashback card or even my other points-earning cards.
My other question (and I can't find this answered anywhere): if you spend 75K on the Lux card and either (1) earn or (2) retain Marriott Plat, would you also then get a Marriott Choice Benefit? That would allow you to select 5 Suite Night Awards, for example. 5 SNAs has some value and levels the playing field somewhat compared to spend on my 2% cashback card, but I still don't think it entirely makes up the difference for the cash you are forgoing or the other types of points you could be earning.
So in my wife's case, she would retain Plat status with 75K Lux card spend. Does anyone know if she will earn a Choice Benefit this way?
The problem is the opportunity cost. 75K spend on a 2% cashback card is $1500 in your pocket.
75K spend on the Lux card gives you 150K Marriott points (perhaps more if much of your spend is through Marriott, but that's not the case for me). I think Marriott points are worth about half a cent per point, so 150K Marriott points is equivalent to around $750 in value. That doesn't look as good as my cashback card or even my other points-earning cards.
My other question (and I can't find this answered anywhere): if you spend 75K on the Lux card and either (1) earn or (2) retain Marriott Plat, would you also then get a Marriott Choice Benefit? That would allow you to select 5 Suite Night Awards, for example. 5 SNAs has some value and levels the playing field somewhat compared to spend on my 2% cashback card, but I still don't think it entirely makes up the difference for the cash you are forgoing or the other types of points you could be earning.
So in my wife's case, she would retain Plat status with 75K Lux card spend. Does anyone know if she will earn a Choice Benefit this way?
Jan 8, 2019, 6:43 pm
#579
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
I upgraded to the SPG Luxury Card with the $5k/100k bonus several weeks ago. Two questions about that bonus:
1) Does the $5k target include purchases that were rebated by the $300 Marriott annual credit and various Amex promotional credits, or is the $5k figure net of these rebates?
2) How soon after reaching the $5k target do the points post? Past Amex signup offers seem to have posted quickly after hitting the target, not waiting until the next statement date (a la Chase).
1) Does the $5k target include purchases that were rebated by the $300 Marriott annual credit and various Amex promotional credits, or is the $5k figure net of these rebates?
2) How soon after reaching the $5k target do the points post? Past Amex signup offers seem to have posted quickly after hitting the target, not waiting until the next statement date (a la Chase).
Jan 8, 2019, 6:46 pm
#580
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 161
I upgraded to the SPG Luxury Card with the $5k/100k bonus several weeks ago. Two questions about that bonus:
1) Does the $5k target include purchases that were rebated by the $300 Marriott annual credit and various Amex promotional credits, or is the $5k figure net of these rebates?
2) How soon after reaching the $5k target do the points post? Past Amex signup offers seem to have posted quickly after hitting the target, not waiting until the next statement date (a la Chase).
1) Does the $5k target include purchases that were rebated by the $300 Marriott annual credit and various Amex promotional credits, or is the $5k figure net of these rebates?
2) How soon after reaching the $5k target do the points post? Past Amex signup offers seem to have posted quickly after hitting the target, not waiting until the next statement date (a la Chase).
Jan 8, 2019, 8:17 pm
#582
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: +61
Programs: SQ*PPS, QF-WP1 & LTG, VA-Gold, Marriott*LTT, Hilton*Gold, Accor*Platinum
Posts: 5,735
Free night at end of membership period, not at start
One thing I missed upon sign-up: you get the free night at the end of the membership year, not at the beginning. No real drama, but wasn't what I was expecting.
Jan 8, 2019, 9:13 pm
#583
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
Jan 8, 2019, 9:30 pm
#584
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: +61
Programs: SQ*PPS, QF-WP1 & LTG, VA-Gold, Marriott*LTT, Hilton*Gold, Accor*Platinum
Posts: 5,735
Jan 8, 2019, 10:17 pm
#585
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,469