Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Aer Lingus Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?

Aer Lingus Visa Signature Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down the key reasons why the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card stands out.

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• Cardholders can earn Avios points on every purchase, with accelerated earnings on travel-related spending with Aer Lingus and its partners.
• While the card comes with an annual fee, it waives foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for international travel.
• Frequent flyers can enjoy valuable travel perks like priority boarding and the opportunity to earn a companion ticket.

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Pros

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• Flexible rewards program: The card earns Avios points, which can be redeemed for flights with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and other partner airlines.
• Valuable travel perks: Cardholders get priority boarding on Aer Lingus flights and can earn a companion ticket after meeting a spending requirement.
• Great for international travel: There are no foreign transaction fees, which is a significant advantage for purchases made outside the U.S.

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Cons

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• Limited rewards flexibility: The card’s Avios points are best used for flights on Aer Lingus and its partners, offering less versatility than other travel rewards programs.
• High spending requirement for perks: Earning the valuable companion ticket requires a significant amount of spending each year, which may be out of reach for many.
• Niche appeal: The card has an annual fee, and its benefits are most valuable for those who frequently fly with Aer Lingus, making it less suitable for the average traveler.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Aer Lingus Visa Signature, depends entirely on your travel habits and loyalty preferences.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is best for frequent travelers who prefer staying at Marriott properties and want to maximize luxury hotel benefits, elite status, and premium travel perks.
• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: This card is ideal for travelers, especially those who frequently fly to Ireland and Europe or are loyal to Aer Lingus and its partner airlines.

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Redemption

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

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Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: Rewards are best used for booking flights on Aer Lingus, particularly to Ireland and other European destinations. Points can also be redeemed for flights on partner airlines like British Airways and Iberia.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card includes a Priority Pass Select membership, which provides access to a global network of airport lounges. The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card does not offer a comparable broad lounge access benefit.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• Travel Credits & Perks: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant offers a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee and includes an annual Free Night Award for use at eligible hotels. The Aer Lingus Visa Signature’s signature perk is an economy companion ticket for a travel partner on a paid Aer Lingus flight after meeting a specific annual spending threshold.
• Elite Status & Priority Treatment: Cardholders of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, unlocking benefits like room upgrades and late checkout. The Aer Lingus Visa Signature provides priority boarding on Aer Lingus-operated flights.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To help you decide, you can use a tool like Kudos, which lets you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards with its data-driven card explorer.

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• Test drive a credit card: Use your real spending data to see how much a new card could earn you before applying, with no impact on your credit score.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+: Earn $100 in rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved, Kudos will match it.
• Detailed approval odds: Get a comprehensive analysis of your chances of approval for different cards based on your credit report.
• Track spending: Monitor your transactions, spending habits, and credit score all in one 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 the Marriott brand and want to maximize their stays with premium perks. This card is particularly beneficial for those who can take full advantage of its automatic Platinum Elite status, which includes benefits like room upgrades and late checkout, and its $300 dining credit. Essentially, if you regularly stay at Marriott properties and appreciate luxury travel benefits, this card is a strong contender in the premium travel card space, as detailed in our full review.

Who Should Choose the Aer Lingus Visa Signature?

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The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers to Ireland and Europe, especially those loyal to the airline. Cardholders can maximize its value by earning extra Avios on flights and hotel stays while utilizing perks like priority boarding. Those who can meet the annual spending threshold to earn the companion ticket will find this card particularly rewarding for their travel with Aer Lingus.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Aer Lingus Visa Signature comparison has you thinking neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards to consider 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, as most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer requirements and unlock any annual spending benefits.
• Review the rewards program to confirm its airline and hotel partners align with your travel goals.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application to coincide with large planned purchases to help meet spending requirements for welcome offers or annual benefits.
• Know the issuer's rules, as many banks have specific restrictions regarding new card approvals and welcome offer eligibility.
• Look for the best offer, as some application processes allow you to review your personalized offer before committing to a hard credit inquiry.

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 international travel?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is often preferred for international travel due to its broad global hotel network and premium travel credits. However, the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is a strong contender for flights to and from Europe, particularly for travelers who frequently fly with Aer Lingus or its airline partners.

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Do both cards offer a free night certificate?

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Both cards offer a significant annual travel award, though they function differently. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Card provides a Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month, while the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card offers a companion ticket for flights after meeting a spending requirement.

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Can I use points from one card's program for the other?

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Yes, you can transfer points between the two loyalty programs. Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred directly to dozens of airline partners, including the Aer Lingus AerClub, although transfer ratios vary and may not always offer the best value.

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