Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Which Is Better In 2025?

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.

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• Cardholders receive an annual companion certificate for a domestic main cabin round-trip flight, which can provide significant value.
• While the card comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it's offset by valuable statement credits for rideshares and dining.
• Frequent Delta flyers can also enjoy a first checked bag free and priority boarding, enhancing the travel experience.

_{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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• Offers an accelerated path toward Medallion elite status with opportunities to earn qualification boosts through spending.
• Cardholders receive a discount when booking award travel with miles and can earn bonus miles in popular spending categories like dining and groceries.
• Includes statement credits for expedited security screening programs like TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry and complimentary elite status with Hertz.

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Cons

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• The card’s value is heavily tied to flying frequently with Delta; casual travelers may find a more flexible travel card to be a better fit.
• Key perks come with significant restrictions; for example, the card lacks complimentary Delta Sky Club® access, and the companion certificate is limited to certain flights.
• Unlocking the card’s full potential, such as Medallion status boosts, requires high annual spending and careful tracking of bonus categories.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Delta SkyMiles Platinum, it's essential to understand that each card caters to a different type of traveler. This comparison will help you determine which one aligns with your travel style and loyalty preferences.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is designed for frequent travelers loyal to Marriott who seek to maximize luxury hotel benefits. It's an ideal high-end option for those who value premium perks and elite status.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is best suited for frequent Delta flyers looking to enhance their travel experience and accelerate their path to elite status. It's also a strong choice for those who travel with a companion and can take advantage of the card's flight benefits.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for stays and room upgrades at hotels within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You can also use points for unique travel packages or transfer them to dozens of airline partners.

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Miles are redeemed through the Delta SkyMiles program for flights on Delta and its partner airlines. Your miles can also be used for seat upgrades, vacation packages, and other exclusive travel experiences.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Card includes a Priority Pass™ Select membership, granting access to a global network of airport lounges. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card provides access to the Delta Sky Club® and The Centurion® Lounge when you are flying with Delta.
• Annual Companion Benefit: A key feature of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card is the annual Companion Certificate, which allows a travel partner to fly on a domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight for just the cost of taxes and fees. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Card offers an annual Free Night Award for a hotel stay at participating properties.
• Elite Status & Credits: With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Card, you receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status and an annual property credit for eligible stays at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card helps you reach Medallion® Status faster with Status Boost® and offers perks like a first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent for international travel as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To eliminate the guesswork in choosing the right card, a tool like Kudos can provide personalized, data-driven recommendations to help you compare top-rated options.

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• Test Drive Cards: Simulate owning a new credit card with the “Test Drive” feature, which uses your actual spending data to project annual rewards and compare earnings against your current cards—all without a hard credit pull.
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Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card is best suited for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott brand and want to maximize their stays with top-tier benefits. These cardholders will take full advantage of the automatic Platinum Elite status for perks like room upgrades and late checkout, while also utilizing the monthly dining credits. Ultimately, it's a premium card for those who can leverage its specific hotel and travel perks to offset the annual cost, as detailed in this card review.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is primarily designed for frequent Delta flyers and brand loyalists who want to maximize their travel experience with the airline. It's also an excellent choice for travelers aiming for Medallion status or couples and families who can take full advantage of the annual companion certificate. Ultimately, moderate-to-heavy spenders with good to excellent credit will find the most value in this card's benefits and rewards structure.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum comparison has you convinced that 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 - A good to excellent credit history is typically required for approval.
• Confirm Welcome Offer eligibility - American Express welcome offers are typically limited to once per lifetime.
• Review the card’s benefits - Ensure the card’s perks align with your travel and spending habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Apply strategically - Consider the issuer's once-per-lifetime welcome offer rule before applying.
• Plan for benefit enrollment - Be prepared to enroll in select benefits to maximize card value after approval.
• Time your application - Align your application with large planned purchases to help meet spending requirements for the welcome offer.

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 lounge access?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card includes a Priority Pass Select membership, granting access to a global network of lounges. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card provides access to the Delta Sky Club when you have a same-day Delta ticket and access to The Centurion® Lounge network for a fee.

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Can I transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy and Delta SkyMiles?

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You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to your Delta SkyMiles account, offering great flexibility for booking award flights. Transfers from Delta SkyMiles to Marriott Bonvoy are not permitted.

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What are the annual fees for each card?

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Both of these premium travel cards have an annual fee. For the most current fee information, it's best to consult the issuer's official cardmember agreement and terms.

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Do both cards offer a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?

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Yes, both cards typically provide a statement credit every four to five years to cover the application fee for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. This benefit helps offset the annual fee and speeds up your airport experience.

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