Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card stand out.

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• While this card comes with an annual fee, it has no foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for overseas travel.
• Cardholders can take advantage of generous annual statement credits for airline incidentals and lifestyle spending to help offset the card's cost.
• Premium travel benefits include complimentary unlimited airport lounge access via a Priority Pass membership and a statement credit for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.

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Pros

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• Cardholders earn bonus points on travel and dining, and existing Bank of America® customers can receive a rewards bonus on all purchases.
• Generous annual statement credits for travel and lifestyle spending help offset the annual fee.
• Premium travel perks include complimentary airport lounge access and benefits at select hotels.

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Cons

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• Unlike many competitors, this card does not allow you to transfer points to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
• To get the most value from your points, you must book flights through the Bank of America® Travel Center, which some travelers may find inconvenient.
• The card's rewards structure is very similar to the less expensive Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, which may make it difficult to justify the higher annual fee.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite, depends on your travel habits and banking relationships. While both are premium travel cards, they serve very different kinds of spenders.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This is a high-end travel card designed for frequent travelers, particularly those loyal to the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotels.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards Elite credit card: This premium travel credit card is ideal for travelers who are already deeply involved with Bank of America's banking and investment services.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for award nights at Marriott Bonvoy hotels worldwide. Alternatively, points can be transferred to dozens of airline loyalty programs.

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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card: Points can be redeemed for cash back, a statement credit, or for booking travel through the Bank of America Travel Center. This flexibility makes it easy to get value from your rewards without being tied to a specific travel brand.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card's ecosystem is centered around the Marriott Bonvoy program. It includes an annual Free Night Award, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status, and airport lounge access. While points are best used for hotel stays, they can also be transferred to a variety of airline partners. The card does not have foreign transaction fees.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card: This card’s travel benefits are more flexible. Perks include airport lounge access and annual credits for airline incidentals and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees. Travel is booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, and like its competitor, this card has no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To find the best card for your spending habits, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated options.

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• Test drive credit cards: The platform allows you to simulate potential earnings with a new card based on your actual spending history, helping you see the real value before you apply.
• Personalized approval odds: Kudos provides a detailed analysis of your likelihood of being approved for various cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Extra rewards: Through a feature called Kudos Boost, you can earn additional rewards on top of what your credit card already offers when shopping with partner merchants.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott portfolio of hotels. This individual not only stays at Marriott properties several times a year but also dines out regularly, allowing them to take full advantage of the card's statement credits and automatic Platinum Elite status perks like room upgrades and late checkout. Ultimately, it's the ideal choice for someone seeking to enhance their travel experiences and maximize rewards on hotel stays and flights, as detailed in our full card review.

Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite?

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The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is tailored for frequent travelers who are already integrated into the Bank of America ecosystem, particularly Preferred Rewards® members looking to maximize their earnings. This cardholder values luxury perks and would fully utilize benefits like unlimited airport lounge access, comprehensive travel protections, and annual statement credits for airline incidentals and lifestyle purchases. Ultimately, it's best for someone willing to pay the $550 annual fee in exchange for premium travel benefits that rival other high-end cards on the market.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card vs. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card comparison has left you looking for other options, you're in the right place. Let's explore a few other premium travel cards that might be a better fit.

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_{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}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Review your credit - Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit score for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can naturally meet the spend requirement for the welcome offer.
• Understand the rewards - Know how you will use the points, whether through transfers or direct redemptions.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application - Apply early in the calendar year or before major travel to maximize annual credits and perks.
• Know the issuer rules - Research the card issuer’s application restrictions and loyalty programs before you apply.
• Use the reconsideration line - Call the issuer’s reconsideration line if your application is not instantly approved.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Which card offers better hotel-specific benefits?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is tailored for Marriott enthusiasts, providing automatic Platinum Elite status and a Free Night Award. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers flexible travel rewards but does not include hotel-specific status or perks.

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Do both cards provide airport lounge access?

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Yes, both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and the Premium Rewards Elite cards include a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. This benefit grants access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide for the cardholder and up to two guests.

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How do the annual statement credits compare?

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The Bonvoy Brilliant card features up to $300 in statement credits each year for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. In contrast, the Premium Rewards Elite card offers up to $300 in annual airline incidental credits and up to $150 in lifestyle credits for services like streaming and food delivery.

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