Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1189", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "High-End Travel Option"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

Here’s a high-level look at what makes the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card a standout choice.

‍

• Cardholders automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status, unlocking valuable perks like room upgrades and late checkout without meeting stay requirements.
• The card's annual dining and property credits can help offset its premium annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• It offers strong rewards rates on Marriott stays, dining, and flights, making it easy to accumulate points for future travel.

_{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

‍

• Automatic Platinum Elite Status: Cardholders are granted high-tier Platinum Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, unlocking valuable perks like room upgrades and enhanced hotel experiences without meeting typical stay requirements.
• Valuable Annual Perks: The card includes an annual Free Night Award and statement credits for dining, which help provide significant value each year.
• Premium Travel Benefits: Includes airport lounge access through a Priority Pass™ Select membership and has no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for frequent travelers.

‍

Cons

‍

• High Annual Fee: The card carries a premium annual fee, which may be difficult to justify for travelers who can't take full advantage of its benefits.
• Marriott-Centric Rewards: Its value is heavily concentrated within the Marriott Bonvoy program, making it less suitable for travelers who aren't loyal to the Marriott brand.
• Complex Benefit Structure: Some perks, like the monthly dining credits and dynamic award pricing, can make it challenging to extract maximum value consistently.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®, comes down to your specific travel habits and brand loyalties. Each card caters to a very different type of traveler.

‍

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: This card is ideal for budget-conscious travelers and Southwest loyalists who fly with the airline a few times a year. It's also a great choice for those working toward the valuable Southwest Companion Pass.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This premium card is built for frequent travelers with a strong preference for Marriott properties. It's best for those who want to maximize luxury travel perks, including automatic elite hotel status and dining credits.

‍

Redemption

‍

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed directly through Southwest's Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights. The value of your points is tied to the cash price of the flight, offering a straightforward redemption process.

‍

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem for free nights at their vast portfolio of hotels and resorts. You can also transfer points to numerous airline partners, providing flexible options for both hotel stays and flights.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• Lounge Access: For travelers who value a quiet space before their flight, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a clear winner, providing complimentary membership to a global network of airport lounges. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card does not offer lounge access.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: If your travels take you abroad, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® is the better companion as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. In contrast, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus does include a fee for purchases made outside the United States.
• Automatic Elite Status: A significant perk of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® is the automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status it confers, which can lead to valuable benefits like room upgrades and late checkout. The Southwest card does not grant automatic A-List status with the airline.
• Annual Perks: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card comes loaded with annual statement credits that can be used at Marriott hotels and restaurants worldwide. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus provides a simpler set of annual benefits, including bonus points on your cardmember anniversary and two EarlyBird Check-In® vouchers each year.

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

To eliminate the guesswork, you can use a tool like Kudos, which helps you compare nearly 3,000 cards using personalized, data-driven recommendations.

‍

• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
• Receive detailed approval odds based on your credit report.
• Get personalized card recommendations that match your spending history.
• Automatically track your progress toward earning sign-up bonuses.
• Monitor multiple credit cards, track spending, and view your credit score from a single dashboard.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus?

‍

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an excellent entry point for occasional Southwest flyers and beginners in the travel rewards world. It's also a strategic tool for loyal customers working toward the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, as all points earned count toward the qualification threshold. Ultimately, this card is best for budget-conscious travelers who want access to key Southwest benefits, as detailed in this 2025 review, without committing to a premium annual fee.

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

‍

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott portfolio and stay at least five to ten nights per year. This cardholder also dines out regularly, which allows them to take full advantage of the monthly dining credits. Ultimately, it’s an ideal fit for those who value premium travel perks like automatic Platinum Elite status, airport lounge access, and other luxury benefits found in this card review.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

If you've weighed the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® comparison and found that neither card is the right fit, several other travel rewards cards are worth considering.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["509", "118"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Exceptional Value", "Generous Travel Rewards"]} ]]

‍

_{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

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• ✅ Check your credit score – Most top-tier travel cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• ✅ Review issuer rules – Be aware of application restrictions like Chase’s 5/24 rule or Amex’s welcome offer eligibility to avoid a wasted application.
• ✅ Strategize your benefits – Know how you’ll use key perks, like hotel elite status or airline companion benefits, to maximize the card's value from day one.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Time your application strategically by applying just before a large planned purchase.
• Know the issuer’s rules, as policies like Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's welcome offer restrictions can affect your approval.
• Don’t give up after a denial; you can call the issuer’s reconsideration line to discuss your application.

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

‍

Which card is better for domestic travel?

‍

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is often the superior choice for domestic flights, particularly for travelers who frequently fly with Southwest Airlines. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card focuses more on premium hotel benefits that can be used for both domestic and international stays.

‍

Can I transfer points between Southwest and Marriott?

‍

You can transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards, making it a flexible option for topping off your airline points balance. However, transferring points from Southwest to Marriott is not an option.

‍

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card worth its high annual fee?

‍

For frequent travelers who stay at Marriott properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card's annual fee can be justified by its rich benefits. The card includes valuable statement credits and an annual Free Night Award that can easily offset the cost.

‍