Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: Which Is Better In 2025?

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we think the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a strong choice for many travelers.

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• This card is a great entry point for American Airlines flyers, with an annual fee that is waived for the first year and no foreign transaction fees.
• Cardholders receive valuable airline-specific benefits like a free checked bag on domestic itineraries and discounts on inflight food and beverage purchases.
• It also provides a straightforward way to earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on everyday spending at restaurants and gas stations, helping you get closer to your next trip.

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Pros

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• Earns bonus miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and in common spending categories like restaurants and gas stations.
• Provides valuable travel perks for American Airlines flyers, including a free first checked bag on domestic flights and inflight discounts.
• The annual fee is waived for the first year, and you won't pay any foreign transaction fees on international purchases.

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Cons

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• Earning rates are mediocre, especially when compared to other travel rewards cards.
• The card no longer offers travel and purchase protections, a significant drawback for travelers.
• Unlocking the annual flight discount requires a high spending threshold that may be out of reach for many cardholders.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, comes down to your travel style and loyalty. One card is a premium hotel card packed with luxury perks, while the other is an airline co-branded card designed for frequent flyers of a specific carrier.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is best for frequent travelers loyal to Marriott who want to enjoy premium travel benefits, elite hotel status, and luxury perks.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is ideal for casual American Airlines flyers who want to earn miles and access elite-like benefits without a high-end annual fee.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are primarily redeemed for stays across Marriott's extensive portfolio of hotels and resorts. You can also transfer points to numerous airline loyalty programs for flight awards.

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: The miles you earn are deposited into your AAdvantage® account and are best used for award flights on American Airlines and its Oneworld® alliance partners. Miles can also be redeemed for seat upgrades, car rentals, and hotel stays.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card comes with a Priority Pass™ Select membership, offering access to a vast network of airport lounges. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card does not include complimentary lounge access as a benefit.
• Elite Status: Cardholders automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status with the Brilliant card, which provides benefits like room upgrades and late checkout. The AAdvantage® card doesn't grant automatic airline elite status but offers elite-like perks such as preferred boarding.
• Annual Credits & Perks: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card offers a substantial annual dining credit and an annual Free Night Award. The Citi® / AAdvantage® card provides a free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights for the cardholder and up to four companions.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are good companions for international travel as neither charges foreign transaction fees.
• Ecosystem Focus: The Citi® / AAdvantage® card is tailored for the American Airlines experience, offering preferred boarding and in-flight purchase discounts on AA flights. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card's perks are hotel-centric, though points can be transferred to various airline partners.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make a data-driven decision, a financial companion like Kudos can help you compare thousands of credit cards and find the best one for your unique spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, you can simulate your potential earnings with a new card based on your actual spending data, without a hard credit pull.
• 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.
• Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for new cards based on your credit report.
• Automatic card selection: The Kudos browser extension can automatically select the best card in your wallet at checkout to maximize rewards for every purchase.
• Extra rewards with Kudos Boost: Earn additional rewards on top of what your credit card offers when you shop with partner stores through the platform.

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 Marriott's portfolio of hotels and can stay enough nights to maximize its benefits. This user is someone who dines out often enough to take full advantage of the monthly dining credits and values the automatic Platinum Elite status, which provides perks like room upgrades and late checkout. Ultimately, this premium travel card is the ideal choice for those whose spending and travel habits align with its luxury perks, allowing them to easily offset the premium annual fee.

Who Should Choose the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?

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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is an excellent choice for casual American Airlines flyers who want to enjoy some elite-like benefits without the cost of a premium card. Cardholders can take advantage of perks like a free checked bag on domestic flights and earn double miles on American Airlines purchases, as well as at restaurants and gas stations. It's also a solid option for those looking to earn Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage elite status or for travelers with a good credit score seeking to diversify their rewards portfolio, as you can see in this card review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If this comparison of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has shown that neither is the right choice for you, let's explore some alternatives. Several other cards offer compelling travel rewards that might better align with your goals.

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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 rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review bonus eligibility rules - Issuers often restrict welcome offers based on your history with their cards.
• Align benefits with your lifestyle - Ensure the card’s perks match your typical travel and spending habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application strategically - Apply before a large purchase or when an elevated welcome offer is available.
• Be mindful of issuer restrictions - Some issuers limit how often you can earn a welcome offer on the same card.
• Plan to meet the spending requirement - Ensure you can reach the spending threshold for the welcome offer through your normal expenses.

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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Should I get a hotel credit card or an airline credit card?

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This depends on your travel style and brand loyalty. If you consistently stay with one hotel chain, a hotel card offers valuable perks like elite status and free nights, while an airline card is better if you frequently fly with a single carrier and want benefits like free checked bags.

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Can I have both a hotel and an airline co-branded credit card?

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Yes, many travelers hold both types of cards to maximize rewards across their entire travel journey. This strategy allows you to earn and redeem points for both flights and stays, often with complementary benefits.

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Are high-annual-fee travel cards worth the cost?

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Premium travel cards can be extremely valuable if you take full advantage of their benefits, such as annual statement credits, airport lounge access, and elite status. It's essential to do a cost-benefit analysis based on your spending and travel patterns to see if the perks outweigh the fee.

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