Marriott · Credit Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Priority Pass Access: Which Cards Include It (2026)

Complete 2026 guide to Priority Pass access with Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. Which Marriott Bonvoy card gives Priority Pass, guest access rules, restaurant credits, lounge locations, and comparison to Amex Platinum lounge access.

Updated September 15, 2026

Marriott Bonvoy credit cards have a lounge access story that's simpler than most credit-card portfolios make it seem — because only one Bonvoy card in the entire lineup includes Priority Pass Select membership. This guide covers exactly which Marriott Bonvoy card gives Priority Pass, what access looks like in 2026, guest rules, restaurant credit changes, and how the Brilliant Amex's lounge access compares to other premium travel cards.

Which Marriott Bonvoy credit card includes Priority Pass?

Only the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card includes Priority Pass Select membership.

The complete Marriott Bonvoy credit card lineup and their lounge access status as of 2026:

| Card | Issuer | Annual fee | Priority Pass | Centurion Lounge | |---|---|---|---|---| | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant | American Express | ~$650s | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | | Marriott Bonvoy Bevy | American Express | ~$95-$250 | ❌ None | ❌ None | | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless | Chase | ~$95 | ❌ None | ❌ None | | Marriott Bonvoy Bold | Chase | $0 | ❌ None | ❌ None | | Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex | American Express | ~$125 | ❌ None | ❌ None | | Chase Marriott Bonvoy Business | Chase | ~$125 | ❌ None | ❌ None |

The pattern is clean: premium-tier Brilliant = lounge access; every other Bonvoy card = no lounge access.

If lounge access is a requirement for you and you also want Marriott-specific benefits (elite status, free night certificate), the Brilliant is your only option in the Bonvoy card portfolio. See our full Brilliant Amex review for the complete benefit stack.

What Priority Pass on the Brilliant gets you

Priority Pass Select membership on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant provides:

Access to 1,300+ airport lounges in ~500 airports across 143 countries.
Unlimited visits for the primary cardholder — no per-visit or annual visit cap.
Guest access per Amex's current Priority Pass policy (see below).
Enrollment is manual and one-time — you have to activate it through your Amex account after receiving the card.
Priority Pass access is a benefit of the card, not a standalone paid membership — you don't pay Priority Pass directly, but the membership is tied to the card being active.

Guest access rules

Amex's Priority Pass guest policy has changed multiple times in recent years, generally in the direction of tighter rules. As of 2026:

The primary cardholder receives unlimited visits.
Guests are allowed on visits, with the specific number of free guests and per-guest fees varying by Amex card tier and by lounge policy.
The Brilliant's specific guest allowance and per-guest fee should be verified in your Amex account under the Priority Pass Select section — Amex publishes current rules there and updates them faster than any third-party review can track.
Some individual lounges impose their own additional restrictions on guest counts regardless of Amex policy.

No restaurant credits

This is the key change most articles don't flag clearly: Amex removed restaurant access from Priority Pass on its cards in 2019. The Brilliant's Priority Pass Select covers lounges only.

If you've read older reviews that describe Priority Pass restaurant credits (the "$28 credit at airport restaurants" benefit that some Priority Pass tiers include), that benefit doesn't apply to Amex-issued Priority Pass. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve retained restaurant access longer than Amex did, but the industry has generally moved away from restaurant credits within Priority Pass programs.

What this means practically: the Brilliant's Priority Pass is exclusively a lounge-access product. Plan on eating in the lounge itself (most Priority Pass lounges include food) rather than a restaurant credit.

How to enroll in Priority Pass with the Brilliant

Enrollment is straightforward but not automatic — Amex requires cardholders to activate the benefit manually.

Log into your American Express account online (or in the Amex app).
Navigate to your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card page.
Find the "Benefits" section and locate Priority Pass Select.
Click the enrollment link — Amex directs you to Priority Pass's enrollment form.
Confirm details and submit.
Wait 7-10 business days for Priority Pass to issue your membership credentials.
Download the Priority Pass app and log in with your issued credentials. Your digital membership card in the app is what lounges scan at entry.

Do this before your first trip. Enrollment isn't retroactive — if you show up at a lounge without an active enrolled Priority Pass membership, you can't retroactively claim access for that visit.

The Priority Pass app is essential: most lounges now scan a digital QR code from the app rather than a physical membership card. Have the app installed and logged in before you travel.

Priority Pass vs Centurion Lounge on the Brilliant

The Brilliant includes both — a rare combination. Use each where it wins:

Use Centurion Lounge when available. Centurion Lounges are Amex's proprietary premium lounge network — roughly 40 locations, but concentrated at the US hubs most Brilliant cardholders fly through most often (DFW, IAH, MIA, JFK, LGA, ATL, LAX, SFO, CLT, LAS, SEA, DEN, plus international expansion at LHR, HKG, and select other cities). The lounge product is materially better than most Priority Pass lounges — buffet-style hot food, full bar, quiet zones, showers at select locations.

Use Priority Pass everywhere else. Priority Pass has vastly broader coverage — 1,300+ lounges across ~500 airports globally. Quality varies significantly by location, but for airports without a Centurion presence (which is most airports outside the largest US hubs), Priority Pass fills the gap.

When both are available: default to Centurion. When Centurion is at capacity or has a wait, Priority Pass is your fallback.

The Brilliant's lounge access vs Amex Platinum

The Amex Platinum Card is the natural comparison — it's the closest premium Amex product with a broader lounge access footprint.

| Lounge network | Brilliant | Amex Platinum | |---|---|---| | Priority Pass Select | ✅ | ✅ | | Amex Centurion Lounges | ✅ | ✅ | | Delta Sky Club (same-day Delta) | ✅ | ✅ | | Escape Lounges | ❌ | ✅ | | Lufthansa Business Class Lounges | ❌ | ✅ (Europe departure) | | Airspace Lounges | ❌ | ✅ | | Plaza Premium Lounges | ❌ | ✅ (varies) |

Amex Platinum wins on lounge breadth. If pure lounge access is your top card criterion, Platinum has meaningfully wider coverage.

The Brilliant wins on Marriott-specific benefits. Automatic Platinum Elite status, an 85K free night certificate, 15 elite night credits per year, and 6× Marriott earning aren't part of the Amex Platinum package. If you're staying at Marriott regularly, the Brilliant's Marriott value stack more than makes up for the narrower lounge footprint.

Best combined strategy: hold both. The Brilliant delivers Marriott status and the free night; the Platinum delivers broader lounge coverage and Amex's premier travel benefits. This is a common setup among frequent-traveling Marriott loyalists.

When Priority Pass on the Brilliant is worth the annual fee

The Brilliant's annual fee is in the high-$600 range. Priority Pass alone won't justify it — but it's a major contributor to the value stack.

How to estimate your personal Priority Pass value on the Brilliant:

Priority Pass Select membership purchased directly costs $429/year at the Standard Plus tier.
If you'd otherwise pay for Priority Pass, that $429 is a direct offset against the Brilliant's fee.
If you'd use lounge access without paying for it (i.e., you'd just stand in the gate area), Priority Pass is only worth the incremental comfort value — typically $15-$40 per visit for most travelers.
5-10 lounge visits per year at $20/visit equivalent = $100-$200 of pure Priority Pass value.

When Priority Pass on the Brilliant pencils:

You fly 5+ times per year and would benefit from lounge access at non-Centurion airports.
You have long connections regularly (Priority Pass showers and quiet zones become meaningful).
You travel internationally through airports where Priority Pass is your only lounge option.
You'd otherwise pay for a standalone Priority Pass membership.

When Priority Pass on the Brilliant doesn't add much value:

You fly only through major US hubs where Centurion is always available.
You fly less than 3-4 times per year.
You typically fly premium cabin with lounge access included in the fare.
Lounge quality/food isn't a priority for you.

For a comprehensive decision on whether the Brilliant fits your travel pattern, our AI card matcher walks through your country, spending, and loyalty programs to recommend the right cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant have Priority Pass?

Yes. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express includes complimentary Priority Pass Select membership after one-time enrollment through your Amex account. Access covers 1,300+ lounges globally in ~500 airports.

Does the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless have Priority Pass?

No. The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless does not include Priority Pass Select membership. Of the current Marriott Bonvoy credit card lineup, only the Brilliant Amex includes Priority Pass.

Does the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy have Priority Pass?

No. The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card does not include Priority Pass Select membership. Only the Brilliant Amex, the premium tier of the Bonvoy card lineup, includes Priority Pass.

How do I enroll in Priority Pass with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

Enrollment is one-time and manual — Amex does not auto-enroll cardholders. Log into your American Express account, navigate to the Brilliant card's benefits page, and select the Priority Pass Select enrollment link. Enrollment can take up to 7-10 days to process; complete it before your first trip.

How many guests can I bring into Priority Pass lounges with the Brilliant?

The Brilliant's Priority Pass follows Amex's standard Priority Pass Select guest policy. Historically Amex has allowed two free guests per visit; Amex has tightened Priority Pass guest rules across its card lineup multiple times in recent years, so verify the current guest policy on your Amex Priority Pass account before departure. Additional guests beyond the free allowance are typically charged $32-$45 per visit.

Do I get Priority Pass restaurant credits with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

No. American Express removed restaurant access from Priority Pass membership on its cards in 2019. The Brilliant's Priority Pass Select covers lounge access only — you cannot use it for restaurant credits at Priority Pass lounge-restaurant partners like Timberline Steaks in Denver or the various airport eateries some other Priority Pass memberships still access.

Priority Pass vs Centurion Lounge — which do I use?

Both are included on the Brilliant. Use Centurion Lounges when available (better food, better facilities, quieter) — they're concentrated at major US hubs like DFW, IAH, JFK, LAX, MIA, ATL, plus a growing international network. Use Priority Pass everywhere else — Priority Pass has far broader global coverage (~500 airports vs Centurion's ~40) but individual lounges are more variable in quality.

How does the Brilliant's lounge access compare to Amex Platinum?

Amex Platinum has more comprehensive lounge access than the Brilliant — it includes Priority Pass Select, Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club (when flying same-day Delta), Escape Lounges, and Lufthansa lounges. The Brilliant has Priority Pass and Centurion but a narrower set of additional lounge programs. If lounge access is your top priority, Amex Platinum wins. If you also want automatic Marriott Platinum status and a free night certificate, the Brilliant wins on Marriott-specific value.

Related Guides