https://thriftytraveler.com/guides/credit-card/how-to-get-the-ritz-carlton-credit-card/ https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/ritz-carlton-rewards-card-review/
Ritz-Carlton Card Overview
The Ritz-Carlton Card isn’t talked about much these days, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the discussion. This card comes packed with many of the same benefits as the top ultra-premium travel rewards cards at a fraction of the price.
Here’s what the card has to offer:
- Earn 6x Bonvoy points for every dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Earn 3x Bonvoy points for every dollar spent on dining, airfare, and car rentals
- Earn 2x Bonvoy points for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Annual free night award good for stays up to 85,000 Bonvoy points per night
- Earn 15 Elite Night credits every calendar year towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status
- Get automatic Gold elite status, with the ability to earn Platinum elite status with $75,000 in spending per calendar year
- Three upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Club each year (valid on eligible paid stays)
- Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years
- $300 annual travel credit for things like baggage fees, seat assignments, lounge passes, and more
- Airport lounge access through Priority Pass for the main cardholder and authorized users
- Annual fee: $450
The Ritz-Carlton Card is no longer open to new applicants but can still be attained through a product change
Ritz-Carlton Rewards card pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Annual free night awardAnnual travel creditAutomatic elite statusAnnual club-level upgradesLounge accessGreat travel protections and insurance | Not open to new applicantsRequires a product change to get this cardSteep annual feeDoesn’t |
Ritz-Carlton Rewards card benefits
The Ritz-Carlton Rewards card has a plethora of benefits that can provide you with substantial value and help offset the annual fee.
- Annual Free Night Award: Cardholders will get an annual free night award each anniversary worth up to 85,000 points. According to TPG’s September 2024 valuations, 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points are worth $723, which covers the annual fee. This free night award can be combined with up to an extra 15,000 Bonvoy points from your account. You can get exceptional value from these awards if you redeem them at luxury properties in Southeast Asia, like Thailand’s Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui.
- $300 annual travel credit: Cardholders receive an annual $300 airline credit. The credit is broad and can be used on purchases like checked baggage fees, inflight Wi-Fi, seat upgrades and lounge access. This credit is much less restrictive than the travel credits on other premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express, which requires you to designate an airline. This credit is not automatic, and you must call the number on the back of your card and ask Chase to apply your credit to eligible purchases.
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Elite status: You will receive complimentary Gold Elite status by just holding this card. Gold Elite status comes with perks like 25% bonus earnings, 2 p.m. late checkout when available, room upgrades based on availability and welcome gifts upon arrival at Marriott properties. Furthermore, you can spend your way to Platinum Elite status by spending $75,000 on purchases annually.
- 15 elite night credits per year: Cardholders will receive 15 elite night credits every calendar year, making it easier to reach a higher Marriott Bonvoy status level.
- Three upgrade certificates to the Ritz-Carlton Club level annually: Cardholders receive three certificates each year, which they can use to upgrade to club-level rooms. Each certificate is valid for a club-level upgrade on an eligible paid stay of up to seven nights. Not all Ritz-Carlton properties have a club level. Be sure to check the Ritz-Carlton website to see which properties have a club level.
- Lounge access: When it comes to premium travel rewards cards, lounge access is standard, and that is no exception with the Ritz-Carlton Rewards card. It comes with a Priority Pass Select membership, which gives you unlimited access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. The real kicker is that you can bring unlimited guests with you. You will also have unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges for you and unlimited guests. If you add an authorized user, they will also get a Priority Pass membership. Priority Pass restaurants are not included. (Enrollment is required).
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit: Cardholders receive up to $100 in credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees every four years.
- Car rental status, upgrades and discounts: Since this is a Visa Infinite card, cardholders will receive Avis Preferred Plus and National Emerald Club Executive status. Cardholders will also receive discounts and upgrades when booking rental cars with Avis and National.
- Primary car rental insurance: When you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost on the Ritz-Carlton Rewards card, you are eligible for primary collision insurance that provides reimbursement of up to $75,000 for theft and damage to rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the airline, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: If your common carrier travel is delayed more than six hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.
- Trip delay reimbursement: If your trip is canceled or cut short due to illness, severe weather or other eligible covered situations, you can be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip for your prepaid nonrefundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.
- J.P. Morgan Premier Concierge
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free authorized users
Annual Free Night Award
The value of this annual free night award really can’t be overstated. Since Marriott made the move to fully dynamic award pricing, there’s no telling exactly what an award night will cost at a given property. But even so, having a free night award good for properties costing up to 85,000 points per night means that most Marriott properties will be at your disposal. And given that you can add up to 15,000 additional Bonvoy points to your certificate, that means that this free night award can really be used at properties costing up to 100,000 points per night.
Annual $300 Travel Credit
Similar to its Chase cousin, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Ritz-Carlton Card comes with an annual $300 travel credit. Unfortunately, this annual credit isn’t quite as easy to use as that of the Sapphire Reserve. But don’t worry, just because it’s not simple to use doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Far from it.
The Ritz Card’s annual travel credit is supposed to be used in a similar fashion as the airline incidental credits that you get with premium American Express Cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express. Chase advertises that it can be used for things like checked baggage fees, seat assignments, and airport lounge access. But in reality, we’ve seen the travel credit work for things like low-cost airfare purchases, taxes and fees on award tickets, and even outright points purchases.
There’s a catch, though: You have to call or chat with Chase in order to get the credit applied to your Ritz Card. Since it’s an agent applying the credit instead of an automated system, this leaves the door open for some discretion as to what the credit can be used for. If at first you don’t succeed with getting someone to apply the credit to your travel purchase, it’s best to hang up and try again. You can do this by calling (855) 896-2222 after using your card for a travel-related purchase.
Priority Pass Membership
Many of the best travel rewards credit cards on the market today offer a Priority Pass lounge membership, so this benefit alone shouldn’t be too exciting. But there are a couple of distinctions with the Priority Pass Select membership that comes with the Ritz-Carlton Card that make it worth discussing.
First off, you’ll not only get access to Priority Pass lounges, but you can also access Priority Pass restaurants. This is in contrast to the Priority Pass memberships that come with cards from American Express and Capital One. Only a handful of cards still offers access to Priority Pass restaurants and the Ritz Card is one of them. However, Chase will be removing this benefit from the card starting on July 1, 2024.
While getting a $28 per person restaurant credit might not seem all that exciting, in many airports (especially in the U.S.), having access to these restaurants is a far greater benefit than what you’d get with a true lounge.
But perhaps what makes the Ritz-Carlton Priority Pass better than any other is the fact that you can bring in unlimited guests into the lounges with you. And this benefit even applies to the card’s authorized users, which won’t cost you an extra dime to add. This is in stark contrast to the Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum which charge $75 to $175 more each year for adding an authorized user. Even the best card for family lounge access – the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – limits free authorized users to four. This easily tops that, and then some!
Read more: The 4 Best Credit Cards for Sharing Travel Perks with Authorized Users
Chase Sapphire Lounges
Priority Pass Lounges and Restaurants aren’t all you’ll have access to with the Ritz-Carlton Card, though. The Ritz Card is also your ticket into Chase’s growing portfolio of Sapphire Lounges. Not only does the card’s Priority Pass membership get you access, but you can also bring an unlimited number of guests in, too! Chase’s own access policies spell out this incredible perk.
These Sapphire Lounges are run in collaboration with Airport Dimensions, the same group behind “The Club” family of lounges that you’ll find throughout the U.S. that Priority Pass members can currently access. But Chase has upped the ante for its branded lounges: The design is chic and spacious, complimentary food and drinks are a big step above your typical airport club, and there are upscale amenities like showers and wellness areas.
Read our review of Chase’s first U.S. Sapphire Lounge in Boston! : https://957089772fae4def1c9d1805808bc4f6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html
Travel Insurance
The Ritz-Carlton Card comes with the same top-notch travel insurance as the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This means that even though the card isn’t a particularly strong points earner, it’s still a good option when paying for your trip to get some added peace of mind.
The coverage you’ll get with this card includes travel accident insurance and emergency medical and dental coverage (up to $2,500) for when you or an immediate family member becomes sick or injured more than 100 miles from home.
It also includes primary car rental insurance, so you can (and need to) waive the car rental company’s pricey insurance policy and instead utilize the Ritz Card’s coverage if you get in an accident with your rental. In addition to car rental coverage, you’ll get roadside assistance if you need to call a locksmith, get a jump-start, or even a tow.
You’ll also get Chase’s top-of-the-line trip delay or cancellation and interruption insurance – so long as you pay for your ticket (plane, train, or bus)with the card. If your trip gets cut short due to a covered event, you’ll be eligible for reimbursement of any non-refundable travel arrangements. You’ll also be covered up to $500 per ticket if your flight gets delayed by more than six hours and you’re left paying for extra meals and lodging.
If your luggage gets lost, damaged, or delayed, the Ritz Card has you covered on that front, too, with its lost luggage and baggage delay insurance. The insurance that comes with the card will provide reimbursement for your baggage as well as its contents (up to $3,000 per person) or for the purchase of essentials (up to $120 per day for five days) while you wait for your bag to show up.
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How to Get the Ritz Card
It’s pretty clear that this card is a winner and one that any savvy traveler should want in their wallet. But how do you go about getting it now that it’s unavailable to new applicants?
While not as straightforward as filling out an online application, the process is easier than you might think.
Here’s how to do it: You’ll need to start by opening a different Marriott Bonvoy credit card from Chase, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Like most cards, the welcome offer on the Bonvoy Boundless changes from time to time but right now, you can earn 125,000 bonus points towards free stays at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual $300 Travel Credit
Similar to its Chase cousin, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Ritz-Carlton Card comes with an annual $300 travel credit. Unfortunately, this annual credit isn’t quite as easy to use as that of the Sapphire Reserve. But don’t worry, just because it’s not simple to use doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Far from it.
The Ritz Card’s annual travel credit is supposed to be used in a similar fashion as the airline incidental credits that you get with premium American Express Cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express. Chase advertises that it can be used for things like checked baggage fees, seat assignments, and airport lounge access. But in reality, we’ve seen the travel credit work for things like low-cost airfare purchases, taxes and fees on award tickets, and even outright points purchases.
There’s a catch, though: You have to call or chat with Chase in order to get the credit applied to your Ritz Card. Since it’s an agent applying the credit instead of an automated system, this leaves the door open for some discretion as to what the credit can be used for. If at first you don’t succeed with getting someone to apply the credit to your travel purchase, it’s best to hang up and try again. You can do this by calling (855) 896-2222 after using your card for a travel-related purchase.
Priority Pass Membership
Many of the best travel rewards credit cards on the market today offer a Priority Pass lounge membership, so this benefit alone shouldn’t be too exciting. But there are a couple of distinctions with the Priority Pass Select membership that comes with the Ritz-Carlton Card that make it worth discussing.
First off, you’ll not only get access to Priority Pass lounges, but you can also access Priority Pass restaurants. This is in contrast to the Priority Pass memberships that come with cards from American Express and Capital One. Only a handful of cards still offers access to Priority Pass restaurants and the Ritz Card is one of them. However, Chase will be removing this benefit from the card starting on July 1, 2024.
While getting a $28 per person restaurant credit might not seem all that exciting, in many airports (especially in the U.S.), having access to these restaurants is a far greater benefit than what you’d get with a true lounge.
But perhaps what makes the Ritz-Carlton Priority Pass better than any other is the fact that you can bring in unlimited guests into the lounges with you. And this benefit even applies to the card’s authorized users, which won’t cost you an extra dime to add. This is in stark contrast to the Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum which charge $75 to $175 more each year for adding an authorized user. Even the best card for family lounge access – the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – limits free authorized users to four. This easily tops that, and then some!
Read more: The 4 Best Credit Cards for Sharing Travel Perks with Authorized Users
Chase Sapphire Lounges
Priority Pass Lounges and Restaurants aren’t all you’ll have access to with the Ritz-Carlton Card, though. The Ritz Card is also your ticket into Chase’s growing portfolio of Sapphire Lounges. Not only does the card’s Priority Pass membership get you access, but you can also bring an unlimited number of guests in, too! Chase’s own access policies spell out this incredible perk.
These Sapphire Lounges are run in collaboration with Airport Dimensions, the same group behind “The Club” family of lounges that you’ll find throughout the U.S. that Priority Pass members can currently access. But Chase has upped the ante for its branded lounges: The design is chic and spacious, complimentary food and drinks are a big step above your typical airport club, and there are upscale amenities like showers and wellness areas.
Read our review of Chase’s first U.S. Sapphire Lounge in Boston! : https://957089772fae4def1c9d1805808bc4f6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html
Travel Insurance
The Ritz-Carlton Card comes with the same top-notch travel insurance as the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This means that even though the card isn’t a particularly strong points earner, it’s still a good option when paying for your trip to get some added peace of mind.
The coverage you’ll get with this card includes travel accident insurance and emergency medical and dental coverage (up to $2,500) for when you or an immediate family member becomes sick or injured more than 100 miles from home.
It also includes primary car rental insurance, so you can (and need to) waive the car rental company’s pricey insurance policy and instead utilize the Ritz Card’s coverage if you get in an accident with your rental. In addition to car rental coverage, you’ll get roadside assistance if you need to call a locksmith, get a jump-start, or even a tow.
You’ll also get Chase’s top-of-the-line trip delay or cancellation and interruption insurance – so long as you pay for your ticket (plane, train, or bus)with the card. If your trip gets cut short due to a covered event, you’ll be eligible for reimbursement of any non-refundable travel arrangements. You’ll also be covered up to $500 per ticket if your flight gets delayed by more than six hours and you’re left paying for extra meals and lodging.
If your luggage gets lost, damaged, or delayed, the Ritz Card has you covered on that front, too, with its lost luggage and baggage delay insurance. The insurance that comes with the card will provide reimbursement for your baggage as well as its contents (up to $3,000 per person) or for the purchase of essentials (up to $120 per day for five days) while you wait for your bag to show up.
Get Free Flight Alerts
Cheap flight deal email alerts delivered straight to your inbox.
How to Get the Ritz Card
It’s pretty clear that this card is a winner and one that any savvy traveler should want in their wallet. But how do you go about getting it now that it’s unavailable to new applicants?
While not as straightforward as filling out an online application, the process is easier than you might think.
Here’s how to do it: You’ll need to start by opening a different Marriott Bonvoy credit card from Chase, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Like most cards, the welcome offer on the Bonvoy Boundless changes from time to time but right now, you can earn 125,000 bonus points towards free stays at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.