【Updated 2025.12】Cardholders received notice that starting January 15, 2026, the Priority Pass benefit on this card for both primary cardholders and authorized users will be reduced: each visit will include only two complimentary guests, down from unlimited guests before. Additional guests will cost $27 each. This devaluation is not too surprising, since most mainstream cards that come with PP already limit guest access to two people. As long as authorized users still have no annual fee and still receive their own separate PP membership, this change is not a huge deal.

Starting January 15th, The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card cardmembers and authorized users may enter Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and Priority Pass lounges with up to two guests each for no charge; any additional guests will cost $27 each. To access a lounge, cardmembers must present their valid physical credit card or Priority Pass Digital Membership card.

The benefits have been refreshed. The annual Free Night has been upgraded to 85,000 points, and a new $100 Credit benefit was added for stays at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis. The $300 airline incidental reimbursement remains unchanged. The annual fee is still $450.

  • Benefit terms (scroll to the bottom and click the terms to see the FN change)
  • $100 Ritz-Carlton / St. Regis Credit: You need to book an eligible rate through the official website marked with the $100 label, and the stay must be at least two nights. This benefit is somewhat similar to FHR.

Chase Ritz-Carlton Credit Card Overview

How to Get This Card

Although this card is discontinued and no longer available for direct application, you can still upgrade to it from a Marriott card. Since the airline incidental reimbursement is based on the calendar year, the end of the year is the best time to upgrade. If you can make good use of this card’s benefits, an upgrade may be worth considering. After all, three rounds of $300 reimbursement can outweigh the $450 annual fee. Benefits worth considering include:

  • $300 airline incidental reimbursement per calendar year (usually requires sending an SM and calling in; in general, charges described as airline incidentals can be reimbursed) + 50,000 annual Free Night starting in the second year + Priority Pass for both the primary cardholder and authorized users (authorized users have no annual fee)
  • Cost: $450 annual fee

What you need before upgrading:

  • A Chase Marriott co-branded credit card (held for more than one year)
  • A credit limit above $10,000 (because the Ritz card is a Visa Signiture; if your credit limit on one card is not enough, you can send an SM to move credit from another Chase card)
  • Call the customer service number on the back of the card and request the upgrade (you can no longer upgrade via SM; calling is required)
  • Airline incidental reimbursement is based on the calendar year, so there is usually only about a week left to use it at year-end. It is recommended to wait for the charge to post, then immediately send an SM or call for reimbursement. Award ticket taxes and fees, small airfare purchases, baggage fees, in-flight food and drinks, lounge incidentals, etc. can all be reimbursed.

Basics

  • Sign-up bonus: None (this card is discontinued and cannot be applied for)
  • Earning rates: 6x on Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, and SPG hotel purchases; 3x on airfare purchased through the official website, car rentals, and restaurants; 2x on all other purchases
  • Points redemption: Points can be redeemed for Ritz, Marriott, and Starwood hotels, and can also be transferred to airline miles
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee
  • Annual fee: $450

Highlights

  • Annual free night: Starting in the second year, after paying the annual fee you receive a Free Night (FN) certificate that can be used at Marriott, SPG, and Ritz-Carlton hotels worldwide costing up to 85,000 points. It can cover most Marriott properties and even many Ritz-Carlton hotels, with a value of $300+.
  • $100 airfare discount through Visa Infinity
  • Airline reimbursement: This card offers up to $300 in airline incidental reimbursement per calendar year, including baggage fees, seat selection fees, lounge charges, and other incidental fees, but not airfare itself. Reimbursement usually requires calling customer service or sending a Secure Message. However, award ticket taxes and fees, change fees, and various unofficial incidental charges can also be reimbursed in practice. If you want to go this unofficial route, keep each purchase amount small, and when calling or sending an SM just describe it as an airline incidental fee.
  • Airport lounge access: This card comes with complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which provides access to participating airport lounges and allows you to bring one travel companion. In addition, authorized users can also enjoy complimentary membership, and authorized user cards have no annual fee. Getting several AU cards for family members can be very nice.
  • Hotel property credit: When you use this card to book a paid two-night consecutive stay at an RC hotel, you can receive a $100 hotel credit for dining, spa, and various on-property activities.
  • Metal card construction: Heavy and premium feel.
  • Marriott Gold status: Simply holding the card gives you Marriott Gold status. If you spend over $75,000 per year, you receive Marriott Platinum status. If your spending is high enough, spending your way to Platinum may be worthwhile, since meaningful perks like breakfast and lounge access generally require Platinum status.
  • $100 TSA PreCheck / Global Entry reimbursement every four years.

Downgrade Options

According to TravelWithGrant, this card can be converted to the Marriott Premier card with an $85 annual fee or the Marriott card with a $45 annual fee. Personally, if you are going to downgrade, the Marriott Premier card seems better because you can still get an annual Cat 1-5 Free Night. In addition, the Ritz card is temporarily not subject to 5/24, while the Marriott Premier is subject to 5/24. If you want to get a Marriott card indirectly, converting into it is also one possible route. If you currently hold this card and do not want to pay the next annual fee, a product change may be worth considering.

Points Program Overview

  • Point value: Average value is 0.8 c/p, 100 Marriott points = $0.80 (Point value and analysis)
  • Hotel redemptions: Marriott points can be redeemed for stays at Marriott hotels, Ritz-Carlton, and hotels that were previously part of SPG. Marriott now uses dynamic pricing, so the number of points required depends on the room rate. You can also redeem using cash+points. All-points bookings qualify for a stay 5, pay for 4 offer.
  • Point transfers: Marriott points can be transferred to the following airline miles at a 3:1 ratio, with an additional 10% bonus when transferring to UA. In addition, every 60,000 points transferred earns an extra 5,000-mile bonus, which means a maximum transfer ratio of 3:1.25 for miles (eligible miles only). Air Canada Aeroplan (AC) miles (domestic U.S. flights, one-way economy tickets between the U.S. and China, emergency flights, and infant tickets on two-cabin itineraries); Alaska Airlines (AS) miles (domestic U.S. flights, U.S.-China flights, U.S.-China two-cabin itineraries, free one-way Stop Over); ANA miles (U.S.-China flights, round-trip economy for just 60,000, business class for 95,000); AA miles (U.S.-China CX and JL two-cabin itineraries, no fuel surcharges); BA miles (domestic U.S. flights and short nonstop flights between China and Japan, very low change/cancellation fees, emergency tickets); Delta miles (domestic U.S. flights, U.S.-China flights, can be redeemed at 1 c/p); UA miles (U.S.-China economy, domestic U.S.)
  • Point characteristics: Points can be transferred between different accounts, with an annual limit of 100,000 points. When booking rooms, you can combine your family members' points with no limit. Points expire after 24 months with no activity.
  • My quick take: Marriott inherited SPG's extremely strong flexibility and can be transferred to many very useful airline miles, with pretty good transfer ratios as well. Point value for hotel redemptions is not as high as Hyatt points, but it is still decent. The ability to pool points for the whole family is also a big plus.
  • Detailed analysis: Marriott points guide

Hotel Photos

  • Lobby of the New York Ritz-Carlton
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  • Night view from a room at the Tokyo Ritz-Carlton
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