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

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down the key reasons we're fans of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

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• Despite its premium annual fee (See Rates & Fees), the card grants automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status, unlocking valuable hotel perks like room upgrades.
• It offers a robust rewards structure, earning 6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 3X points at restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• The up to $300 Brilliant Dining Credit, which provides up to $25 in statement credits monthly for restaurant purchases, helps offset the card's cost (publisher-formulated estimate).

_{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.}

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Pros

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• An annual Free Night Award valid at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for airport lounge access (enrollment may be required).
• Valuable credits on eligible stays at luxury properties like The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis, plus no foreign transaction fees.

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Cons

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• A significant annual fee that may not be justifiable for all users.
• Benefits are heavily concentrated within the Marriott ecosystem, limiting its value for travelers who are not loyal to the brand.
• The dynamic pricing system for award nights can make point values inconsistent, adding complexity to redemptions.

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

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, depends entirely on your travel style and brand loyalty.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card - This card is best suited for semifrequent Southwest flyers who want a balance of travel perks. It is ideal for users who value day-of-travel benefits and earning points for award flights.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card - This card is designed for frequent travelers who are loyal to Marriott properties. It is a great fit for those who value elite hotel status and luxury travel perks like room upgrades and lounge access.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Points are primarily redeemed for flights on Southwest Airlines, though they can also be used for other travel purchases like international flights, hotels, and car rentals through the airline's portal.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are most valuable when redeemed for free nights at hotels and resorts within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, but they can also be transferred to numerous airline partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card grants access to a global network of airport lounges, including the Priority Pass™ Select network (enrollment is required). Terms apply. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does not include this perk, instead concentrating its benefits on the core flight experience.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are strong choices for international travelers, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the U.S.
• Booking Portals: Each card has a travel portal, but their strengths vary. The Marriott card’s points provide the best value for hotel stays, while the Southwest card’s points are optimized for booking Southwest flights. Other travel, like car rentals, can be booked through either portal.
• Ecosystem Flexibility: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card provides superior flexibility, allowing you to transfer points to dozens of airline partners. The Southwest Premier card’s ecosystem is more focused, with points primarily redeemable for travel on Southwest Airlines.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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If you're struggling to decide, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards using your personal spending data to find the perfect match.

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• Test Drive Feature: Before you apply, you can test drive a card to see a personalized calculation of your potential earnings based on your actual spending history.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: Kudos will match a better public welcome offer if you find one within three months of getting your card through the platform.
• Approval Odds: The service provides a detailed analysis of your approval chances for different cards based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: You can earn additional rewards on top of your card's points when shopping at partner stores through Kudos.
• Personalized Card Matching: Based on your spending habits, Kudos offers personalized recommendations to help you maximize rewards.
• Sign-Up Offers: New members may be eligible for bonuses, such as a $20 reward for signing up with a promo code and making a qualifying purchase.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is best suited for semi-frequent Southwest flyers who are loyal to the airline but don't travel enough to justify a top-tier card's annual fee. This cardholder is looking for a mid-tier option that provides tangible value through anniversary bonus points, day-of-travel perks like EarlyBird Check-In, and a clear path to earning the coveted Companion Pass. Ultimately, it's for the savvy traveler who wants to enhance their occasional Southwest journeys and accelerate their progress toward elite status, as detailed in this card’s review.

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

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is built for the dedicated traveler whose loyalty lies with the Marriott family of hotels and who seeks top-tier elite status. This individual travels enough to maximize the automatic Platinum Elite status and dines out regularly, making full use of the card’s annual dining credits. As our in-depth review shows, it’s a premium card for those whose lifestyle and travel patterns can unlock its full value.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our comparison of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has left you feeling that neither is the right choice, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards that might better suit your spending habits and travel 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 – you will generally need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending – ensure you can meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer without overspending.
• Know the application rules – issuers like American Express and Chase have restrictions on earning welcome offers.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer’s rules – some issuers limit how many cards you can open within a specific timeframe, like Chase’s 5/24 rule.
• Check welcome offer eligibility – issuers like American Express often restrict offers if you have previously held the card.
• Time your application – applying before a large planned purchase can help you meet the spending requirement naturally.

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 is better for domestic vs. international travel?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is generally better for domestic U.S. travel, given Southwest's extensive domestic network. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card often provides more value for international travelers due to Marriott's global hotel footprint and premium travel benefits.

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Can I transfer points between Southwest Rapid Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy?

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While you cannot directly transfer points between the two loyalty programs, Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to Southwest Rapid Rewards, typically at a 3:1 ratio. Transferring points from Southwest to Marriott, however, is not an option.

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What are the annual fees for these cards?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a $650 annual fee.

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