Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs British Airways Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?

British Airways Visa Signature® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the British Airways Visa Signature® Card a compelling option for travelers.

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• Its standout feature is the Travel Together Ticket, which lets you bring a companion on a British Airways flight after meeting an annual spending requirement.
• While it carries an annual fee, the card eliminates foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for international trips.
• You can accelerate your Avios earnings on travel purchases and redeem them with a variety of oneworld partner airlines.

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Pros

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• Cardholders receive a flight discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S. when booking through a dedicated portal.
• A suite of travel and purchase protections provides coverage for common issues like delayed baggage and lost luggage.

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Cons

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• The card comes with an annual fee.
• Reward flights can incur significant taxes and carrier-imposed fees, which may reduce the value of redemptions.
• Redemption options are primarily limited to British Airways and its partners, and the Travel Together Ticket benefit has notable restrictions.

British Airways Visa Signature® vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or British Airways Visa Signature, comes down to your specific travel habits and loyalty. Both are premium travel cards, but they cater to very different types of travelers.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is designed for frequent travelers who are loyal to Marriott properties. It's a high-end option focused on maximizing luxury hotel benefits and elite status perks.
• British Airways Visa Signature® Card: This card is best for those who frequently fly with British Airways or its airline partners. It excels at providing travel rewards and benefits geared toward international and transatlantic itineraries.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are most valuable when redeemed for stays across Marriott's extensive portfolio of hotels, ranging from budget-friendly to luxury properties. You can also transfer points to numerous airline partners for flight awards.

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British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Cardholders earn Avios, which are best used for booking award flights on British Airways and its extensive network of partner airlines. These points can also be applied toward flight upgrades, hotel stays, and rental cars.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card includes a Priority Pass Select membership, offering access to a worldwide network of airport lounges. In contrast, the British Airways Visa Signature® Card does not come with complimentary lounge access.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States.
• Application Fee Credits: With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card, you receive a statement credit for the application fee for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. The British Airways Visa Signature® Card does not offer this benefit.
• Core Travel Perks: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card provides an annual Free Night Award and statement credits for use at Marriott properties and restaurants. The signature benefit of the British Airways card is its Travel Together Ticket, a companion voucher for an award flight earned after meeting a substantial annual spending threshold.
• Elite Status: Holding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card automatically grants you Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, unlocking perks like room upgrades and late checkout. The British Airways card does not confer automatic elite status with the airline.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial companion that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best one for your unique spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Using your real transaction data, Kudos allows you to simulate how much you would earn with a specific card before you apply, showing you personalized calculations of potential rewards.
• Approval odds: The platform provides a detailed analysis of your approval odds for a card based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card within three months of being approved, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Boost: You can earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop at your favorite stores through the platform.
• Personalized card matching: Get matched with a card that will earn you the most rewards based on your actual spending history.

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

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card is designed for dedicated Marriott loyalists who travel frequently and want to elevate their hotel stays with automatic elite status. Its ideal user dines out regularly, taking full advantage of the monthly dining credits, and stays at Marriott properties enough to benefit from room upgrades and late checkouts. This premium travel card is also a strong fit for international travelers and high-spenders aiming for the annual Earned Choice Award.

Who Should Choose the British Airways Visa Signature®?

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The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is a strong contender for frequent flyers loyal to British Airways and its Oneworld alliance partners. This card is particularly valuable for those who often travel internationally, especially across the Atlantic, and can take full advantage of the rewards structure to earn Avios on flights and hotel stays. Its most compelling perk, the annual Travel Together Ticket, makes it a top choice for travelers who can meet the spending requirement to bring a companion along on a flight for just the cost of taxes and fees, as detailed in this complete guide.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps this Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs British Airways Visa Signature comparison has made it clear that neither card is right for you. If the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the British Airways Visa Signature® Card don't fit your travel style, let's look at a few other compelling options.

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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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• Check your credit score – Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history.
• Assess your travel habits – Ensure the card’s benefits, like Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status or the British Airways Travel Together Ticket, align with your loyalty.
• Review issuer application rules – Be aware of policies like Chase’s 5/24 rule or Amex’s welcome offer eligibility limits before you apply.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Plan to apply before a large purchase to help meet spending requirements for welcome offers.
• Plan your benefit usage – Identify key perks like monthly dining credits or elite status to maximize value from day one.
• Be patient and persistent – If you don’t receive the best offer initially, it can be worth trying again later.

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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Can I transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy and British Airways?

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You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to British Airways Avios, but you cannot transfer Avios to Marriott Bonvoy. This one-way transferability is a key factor when deciding which rewards ecosystem to prioritize.

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Do both cards offer airport lounge access?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card includes a Priority Pass™ Select membership, which provides access to a global network of airport lounges. The British Airways Visa Signature® Card does not offer complimentary lounge access as a standard benefit.

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Can I have both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and British Airways Visa Signature cards?

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Yes, it is possible to hold both cards at the same time since they are issued by different banks. This can be a strategic choice for frequent travelers who want to maximize rewards across both hotel stays and flights.

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