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Amex Platinum vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card designed for frequent travelers who can maximize its extensive luxury travel perks and statement credits.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is ideal for Marriott loyalists looking to earn bonus points on hotel stays, dining, and at grocery stores.
American Express Platinum Card® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of why the American Express Platinum Card® (See Rates & Fees) stands out, from its premium travel perks to its extensive statement credits.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the most comprehensive airport lounge network available from any credit card, including the exclusive Centurion Lounges (Terms Apply).
- Take advantage of numerous statement credits that cover a wide range of travel and lifestyle spending (Terms Apply).
- Unlock premium travel experiences with complimentary elite hotel status and access to exclusive dining reservations (Terms Apply).
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Extensive airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including exclusive Centurion Lounges (Terms Apply).
- A wide array of annual statement credits for travel, entertainment, and everyday spending (Terms Apply).
- Complimentary elite status with partner hotel programs and access to exclusive benefits through Fine Hotels + Resorts (Terms Apply).
Cons
- A high annual fee that requires maximizing the card’s benefits to offset its cost.
- Many benefits and statement credits require manual enrollment and have specific terms, adding a layer of complexity to maximizing value (Terms Apply).
- Reward earnings are heavily focused on travel, with limited bonus categories for everyday spending.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Let's break down the specific perks and benefits that make the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Card a compelling choice for travelers.
- The card grants you automatic Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, unlocking valuable on-property perks.
- You'll receive bonus points for each paid stay at participating properties, along with accelerated earning on dining and at grocery stores.
- Cardholders get a yearly boost of elite night credits and can earn a free night award through spending.
Pros
- Automatic Gold Elite status provides valuable on-property benefits like preferred room upgrades and late checkout.
- Accelerated points earning on hotel stays, dining, and at grocery stores, plus bonus points for each paid stay.
- Receive an annual deposit of elite night credits to help you reach higher status tiers and the ability to earn a free night award through spending.
Cons
- A free night award is not an automatic annual benefit and requires meeting a significant spending threshold.
- The included Gold Elite status lacks top-tier benefits like suite upgrades, and there's no option to earn a higher status level through card spending.
- Bonus points for hotel stays only apply to paid bookings, not award nights.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs American Express Platinum Card®
Categories
The debate over which is better, the Amex Platinum or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful, ultimately comes down to your individual travel style and priorities.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express is built for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of luxury travel perks, extensive airport lounge access, and hotel elite status. It is best for those who value premium experiences and exclusive access to dining and entertainment.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is tailored for travelers who frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and want to earn rewards on their stays while receiving mid-tier elite status. This card is a strong option for those who want more than a basic hotel card without the cost of a premium luxury card.
Redemption
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Points are earned in the flexible American Express Membership Rewards program. These points can be transferred to a wide array of airline and hotel partners or redeemed for travel and other rewards through the Amex portal.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: Points are earned directly within the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. These are best used for free nights at Marriott properties worldwide but can also be transferred to airline partners.
Travel Perks
- Lounge Access: The Platinum Card® from American Express offers extensive airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card does not include airport lounge access as a benefit.
- Hotel Elite Status: Both cards provide complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status. The Amex Platinum also offers Hilton Honors Gold Status.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges foreign transaction fees for purchases made abroad.
- Travel Credits: The Amex Platinum features a variety of annual statement credits for travel-related purchases. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card allows cardholders to earn a Free Night Award after meeting a specific spending requirement.
- Rental Car Status: Cardholders of the Amex Platinum receive complimentary elite status with several major car rental companies. This benefit is not available with the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card.
- Travel Protections: While both cards come with a suite of travel insurance protections, the coverage offered by The Platinum Card® from American Express is generally more comprehensive.
- Booking Portals: Each card provides access to its own travel booking platform—American Express Travel for the Platinum card and the Marriott Bonvoy portal for the Bountiful card.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To help you find the right card for your wallet, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated credit cards based on your own spending.
- The ability to 'test drive' credit cards using your real spending data to see projected rewards before you apply.
- Personalized card recommendations based on your unique spending habits.
- Kudos Boost, which allows you to earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards when shopping at certain stores.
- Detailed approval odds based on your credit report.
- A welcome offer guarantee, ensuring that if you find a better offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?
The ideal candidate for the American Express Platinum Card® is a frequent traveler who values luxury experiences and can fully leverage its premium perks. This person regularly takes advantage of benefits like extensive airport lounge access, complimentary hotel elite status, and a suite of statement credits across dining, entertainment, and retail. It is generally not the best fit for infrequent travelers or those who prefer straightforward cashback rewards, as they may struggle to utilize enough benefits to offset the card's annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is designed for the frequent Marriott guest who wants solid mid-tier benefits without paying for a top-tier luxury card. This cardholder values the complimentary Gold Elite status and the 15 elite night credits, and is willing to spend $15,000 annually to earn a valuable 50,000-point free night award. It's also a great fit for those who can maximize the earning rates of 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 spent annually on dining and groceries (then 2 points per dollar) and the 1,000 bonus points awarded for each paid Marriott stay.
Alternatives to Consider
After a detailed Amex Platinum vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful comparison, you might find that neither card quite fits your needs. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and we have a few other top-tier alternatives for you to consider.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score, as premium cards typically require good to excellent credit for approval.
- Review the welcome offer eligibility rules, since issuers often restrict bonuses based on your past and current cards.
- Plan how you’ll use the benefits, as many perks require enrollment or meeting specific spending thresholds to unlock their full value.
Application Strategy
- Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
- Use a rewards platform to find the best available offer, as some application paths may reveal your personalized bonus before a hard credit inquiry.
- Don’t be discouraged by an initial denial or a lower-than-expected offer, as you can often try again later or call the issuer’s reconsideration line.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the annual fees for the Amex Platinum and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful cards?
The American Express® Platinum Card has a premium annual fee that covers its extensive travel benefits, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card carries a more moderate fee. You should always confirm the current annual fees and terms directly with the issuer.
Can I transfer points from both cards to airline partners?
Yes, both cards allow you to transfer points to airline loyalty programs. The Amex Platinum is known for its large network of transfer partners, while points earned with the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ card can also be converted to miles with numerous airlines.
Which card is better for hotel benefits?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ card is tailored for Marriott loyalists, providing automatic Gold Elite status and rewards on stays. The Amex Platinum offers broader hotel perks, including Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, plus access to its Fine Hotels + Resorts program.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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