The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card: A Hidden Gem in the Marriott Portfolio

The Ritz-Carlton credit card is not your typical travel rewards card. In fact, it isn’t even advertised by Chase and isn’t part of the standard Marriott Bonvoy lineup. You won’t find any flashy sign-up offers or public applications for this card, and that’s part of its appeal. Officially discontinued for new applicants in 2018, the Ritz-Carlton credit card has become something of a secret among luxury travelers and Marriott frequent guests who know how to get access to it.

What makes this card special is not only its exclusivity, but also its combination of luxury hotel benefits, travel protection, and generous lounge access, all wrapped up in a Visa Infinite package with a surprisingly reasonable annual fee of $450. For the right travelers, especially those loyal to the Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, or other top Marriott brands, this card could quietly outperform some of the most hyped premium travel cards on the market, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, The Platinum Card from American Express (Amex Platinum), and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (Amex).

But getting it isn’t as simple as filling out a form — you’ll have to navigate the Chase Marriott ecosystem to request a product change. Once you do, you’ll join a niche group of cardholders who enjoy elite travel benefits that few people know about.

Why It Appeals to Luxury Travelers and Frequent Flyers

Frequent travelers, especially those who stay at luxury hotels or travel with their families, find the Ritz-Carlton card attractive because of its luxurious travel benefits and value for money. In particular, it offers access to airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited free guests, even for authorized users. This makes it ideal for families or those traveling with companions, as everyone can relax in the lounges at no extra cost. Luxury hotel lovers will appreciate the annual free night (worth up to 85,000 points) that can be used at elite Marriott hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis. The card also provides elite hotel status and exclusive benefits (such as club level upgrades and on-site credits) that enhance the luxury experience. In addition, frequent flyers receive an annual travel credit of $300 for unexpected airline expenses and a credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, which together reduce travel costs. 

Eligibility and How to Obtain the Card

New applications for the Ritz-Carlton card are no longer being accepted – Chase discontinued public applications in mid-2018. However, you can still get this card by switching products (upgrading). 

Annual fee: $450 per year. This is the card maintenance fee, which is non-waivable in the first year. If you are an active member of the US military, this $450 fee is waived under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (MLA).

Authorized user fee: $0. You can add additional card users at no cost.

Here’s how:

1. Start with another Marriott card

First, you must open a Chase Marriott consumer credit card (such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless) and keep it for at least 12 months. Chase’s normal approval rules apply when you apply for your first card (including the 5/24 rule for new credit cards). A good or excellent credit score (670+ recommended) is typically required for approval.

2. Switch products after one year

After one year, you can apply to upgrade to a Ritz-Carlton card by calling Chase or sending a secure message. To be eligible for the upgrade, you must have a minimum credit limit of $10,000 on your Marriott card, as the Ritz-Carlton card is a Visa Infinite product (which requires a high credit limit).

3. No new credit inquiries

Transferring an existing account means you won’t get new credit or a sign-up bonus, but you also bypass Chase’s 5/24 rule for this step (since it’s not opening a new account).

At the time of the upgrade, your account must be in good standing (no late payments). If you recently received a Marriott card bonus, make sure you are eligible for it under the Marriott/Chase card family rules if you plan to get other Marriott cards later (owning a Ritz-Carlton card may temporarily affect your eligibility for cards such as the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant, according to Marriott’s terms).

4. Military benefits

It is worth noting that Chase is waiving annual fees on personal credit cards for active-duty military members in accordance with the Servicemembers’ Bill of Credit Rights. This means that eligible military members can have a Ritz-Carlton card with no $450 fee, according to military, making its rich benefits even more valuable to military members.

Earning Points with the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card

A credit card allows you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for every purchase. Let’s take a look at how many points you earn per category in different categories.

Earning Rates by Category

Earning points for Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays

One of the main reasons to have a Ritz-Carlton credit card is the ability to earn extra Marriott Bonvoy points every time you check into a Marriott hotel, especially luxury hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, and W Hotels.

When you pay for your stay with your Ritz-Carlton card at participating Marriott hotels, you earn:

• 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for every dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

This is in addition to what you earn with your Marriott Bonvoy elite status (Gold Elite is automatically granted with the card) and the base points that all program members earn for bookings made through Marriott:

Note: Some Marriott brands (such as Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Element) only award 5 base points, so your total earnings will be slightly lower at these brands.

Required booking conditions:

To guarantee 6x points: Always book directly through Marriott (website, app, or call center); avoid third-party online agencies (Expedia, Booking.com, etc.) — they do not offer bonus points or elite credits.

Benefits and Perks of the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card

The Ritz-Carlton card comes packed with a long list of perks. Below is a detailed breakdown of its key benefits, from Marriott hotel rewards to travel protections:

Marriott Hotel Benefits

• Annual free night: Every year on your card anniversary, you receive an electronic certificate for a free night at Marriott Bonvoy hotels worth up to 85,000 points per night. This is enough for a stay at many luxury hotels (such as the top-rated Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels). Cardholders can even add an additional 15,000 points to this certificate if the desired hotel costs slightly more than 85,000 points. The free night certificate is credited to your Bonvoy account each year and is valid for 12 months.
  
• Elite status – Gold & Path to Platinum: The card automatically grants Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status for the entire duration of the card. Gold Elite offers benefits such as late check-out at 2 p.m., room upgrades when available, 25% bonus points for hotel stays, and welcome gifts upon check-in. Although Gold is a mid-level status (it does not include free breakfast or lounge access at most hotels), the card also offers the opportunity to earn Platinum Elite status – if you spend $75,000 on the card within a calendar year, you will receive Platinum status. Platinum Elite is a much higher tier that provides free breakfast/lounge access, late check-out at 4 p.m., better upgrades (including suites), and other benefits at Marriott hotels. Few people will spend that much on a single card, but it’s a nice incentive for those who spend a lot. 

• 15 Elite Night Credits per year: The Ritz-Carlton card also provides 15 Elite Night Credits per year, which automatically count toward your Marriott Bonvoy elite qualifying nights. These 15 nights make it easier to reach the next status level (for example, you’re halfway to the 30 nights required for Platinum if you also have Platinum through your card, or they help you meet the Titanium status requirements).
  
• Ritz-Carlton Club upgrade: This benefit is unique to the Ritz-Carlton card and is a special treat for fans of luxury hotels. Each year, you receive three Club Level Upgrade Certificates. Each certificate can be used to upgrade your paid stay up to 7 nights to Club Level at participating Ritz-Carlton hotels. Ritz-Carlton Club Level rooms provide access to an exclusive lounge offering complimentary food, beverages, concierge services, and other VIP amenities — essentially “hotel lounge access” at a Ritz hotel. To redeem your certificate, book a standard room and then contact Ritz-Carlton Reservations to apply for the upgrade.
  
• $100 credit toward luxury hotel stays: Cardholders receive up to $100 credit per booking for eligible hotel purchases during a two-night stay at participating Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels. This credit can be applied to expenses such as dining at hotel restaurants and entertainment organized by the hotel (excluding third-party providers). Reservations must be made using the special rate “$100 Property Credit, Luxury Credit Card Rate.” This rate is standard (no discounts). To receive the credit, the stay must be paid for with a Ritz-Carlton credit card. This $100 credit will be applied to the hotel bill upon departure and will not appear as a credit on your credit card statement. 

Although this benefit sounds good, in real life it is sometimes not advantageous to use the credit. It is important to compare room rates and consider alternative booking options to get the best overall value (the “$100 Property Credit, Luxury Credit Card Rate” may be higher than other available rates, such as the AAA CAA Package and others). If the difference in rates exceeds $100, the credit may not offset the higher costs. Also, estimate your spending plans for relevant services during your stay.

Travel Credits and Airport Lounge Access

• $300 per year for travel: The Ritz-Carlton card provides up to $300 per calendar year in statement credit to reimburse additional airfare expenses. This credit can cover expenses such as checked baggage fees, seat upgrades, in-flight Wi-Fi, airport lounge day passes, or even ticket change fees. You can request credit for eligible expenses from any airline. However, the credit is not automatic; you must call the J.P. Morgan Priority Services number on the back of your card and request a statement credit for the eligible purchase. 

• Priority Pass Select Lounge Membership: As a Ritz-Carlton cardholder, you receive free membership to Priority Pass Select. Priority Pass is a network of over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. With this membership, you get unlimited visits for yourself and unlimited free guests—the best offer in the industry.

• Chase Sapphire Lounge Access: A new benefit of the Ritz-Carlton card is access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club for the cardholder and their guests. This is an ever-growing network of lounges (in Boston, Hong Kong, New York (LaGuardia), and more) available to Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ritz-Carlton cardholders. With your Ritz card, you can visit Sapphire lounges without restrictions and bring an unlimited number of guests with you. 

• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit: To speed up security and immigration at the airport, the card provides credit toward the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (up to $100) every four years. Simply use your Ritz-Carlton card to pay the $78 TSA PreCheck fee or $100 Global Entry fee, and it will be reimbursed as a credit on your statement (usually within a week or two).
  
• Elite status and car rental discounts: The Ritz-Carlton card provides complimentary status in select car rental programs. Cardholders receive Avis Preferred Plus and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status. These statuses offer benefits such as skip-the-line access at the rental counter, vehicle upgrades when available, and faster check-in. In addition, you may receive special discounts or promotional offers when booking with Avis or National as a cardholder.
  
• J.P. Morgan Premier Concierge: Ritz-Carlton cardholders have access to a 24-hour concierge service provided by J.P. Morgan. This is a personalized assistance line similar to the one offered by Amex Platinum – you can call for help with restaurant reservations, event tickets, gift shopping, travel planning, and more. Need hard-to-find concert tickets or a last-minute anniversary gift? The concierge can often help with finding and arranging it. 

• No foreign transaction fees: The Ritz-Carlton card is designed for global travelers — it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. 

Travel Protections and Insurance

One of the distinguishing features of a premium travel card is comprehensive travel insurance, and the Ritz-Carlton card is unmatched in this regard. It offers a range of insurance services that often match or even exceed those of Chase Sapphire Reserve. To take advantage of them, remember to charge your travel in full to the Ritz-Carlton card, and keep documentation/receipts if you need to file a claim.

The main types of insurance are:

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: if your trip has to be canceled or cut short due to illness, adverse weather conditions, or other situations covered by the insurance, you can get reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses (airfare, hotels, tours, etc.). up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip (provided you paid for the cruise with your Ritz card).
• Reimbursement of expenses in case of trip delay: If your flight is significantly delayed (e.g., more than 6 hours) or requires an unexpected overnight stay, the card will cover your reasonable expenses during the delay, such as meals and accommodation, up to $500 per passenger covered by the insurance. This applies to you and your family members traveling on the same reservation.
• Lost baggage reimbursement: If your checked or carry-on baggage is lost or damaged by the airline, you will be reimbursed up to $3,000 per passenger for the contents of your baggage. This covers clothing, electronics, and other personal items in your luggage. (If the airline reimburses you for part of the cost, this insurance may cover the rest up to $3,000). 
• Baggage delay insurance: Although not listed above, Visa Infinite cards typically also reimburse you for necessary items if your baggage is delayed (often, for example, $100 per day for 5 days).
• Basic rental car damage insurance: When you rent a car and pay with your Ritz-Carlton card, you can decline the collision insurance offered by the rental company and be covered by basic rental car insurance. It covers up to $75,000 in the event of damage or theft of the rental car (payment is made before your personal auto insurance is paid, so you don’t have to contact your insurer for reimbursement). This coverage is valid for car rentals worldwide when you use your card and decline collision insurance from the car rental company. 
• Roadside Assistance: As a Visa Infinite cardholder, you have access to 24/7 roadside assistance. If you have car trouble while traveling, you can call and receive services such as towing, jump starts, tire replacement, fuel delivery, or locksmith assistance. The card covers up to 4 incidents per year, although you may pay a fixed amount (around $50) for each service call – this is still often cheaper than arranging everything yourself.
• Emergency evacuation and medical assistance: The card’s benefits include coverage for emergency medical assistance and evacuation if you become ill or injured while traveling far from home. However, travelers should still consider purchasing special travel insurance for very expensive international trips.

Shopping Protections and Other Perks

In addition to travel, the Ritz-Carlton card offers reliable consumer protection for purchases, similar to other Chase premium cards:

• Purchase Protection: New purchases are protected against theft or accidental damage for 120 days (up to $10,000 per claim, $50,000 per year) when using your card. If you purchase an expensive item that is stolen or falls and breaks shortly after purchase, you may be eligible for reimbursement.
• Extended warranty: The card extends the manufacturer’s warranty by 1 year for eligible warranties up to 3 years.
• Return protection: If a store does not accept returns within 90 days of purchase, Chase may reimburse you for the cost of the item (you then send the item to Chase). Coverage is up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year.
• Free authorized users: You can add authorized user cards at no additional annual fee. Authorized users also get full Priority Pass privileges (they can register separately and bring guests). They will also receive card insurance coverage (while using the card) and earn points toward the primary Marriott cardholder’s account. This makes it very beneficial to add a spouse or family member — they can enjoy lounges and perks during their travels at no additional cost.

Limitations and Drawbacks

No card is perfect. Here are some limitations and drawbacks to be aware of when using the Ritz-Carlton credit card:

• Not available to new applicants.
• High annual fee: $450. Always evaluate whether free nights, credits, etc. fit your lifestyle.
• Marriott Bonvoy points (less flexible rewards): The Ritz-Carlton card allows you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for spending that isn’t as flexible or valuable as some other rewards. Earned points are locked into Marriott Bonvoy (except for a 3:1 transfer to airlines, which is usually not worth it unless you are building up an airline account). They don’t have the versatility and high value of, say, Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to many airlines at a 1:1 ratio. 
• Average bonus categories: While the earning rates (6X at Marriott, 3X at restaurants/airlines/car rentals) are good for a hotel card, they are not the best on the market for everyday spending. Other premium cards offer 3X on broader travel categories or 5X on airfare, etc. If you don’t spend much on Marriott stays or 3X categories, you may earn points more slowly than with other cards.
• Gold status is limited: The included Gold Elite status is nice but not very influential for frequent Marriott guests. 
• Requires loyalty to Marriott: The Ritz-Carlton card is most valuable if you are a fan of Marriott/Ritz-Carlton. The free night, elite status, and points are specific to Marriott. If you are not a loyal Marriott customer or prefer boutique/non-chain hotels, these benefits lose their value. 
• Using credits requires effort: Perks such as $300 in air credit and $100 in hotel credit, while valuable, require some effort and specific use cases. 
• Customer service features: Some cardholders note that because this card is managed by JPMorgan’s premium card division, customer service (while generally very good) can sometimes be less knowledgeable about product changes or specific benefits. 

In summary, the disadvantages of the Ritz-Carlton card are mainly related to its availability (difficult to obtain) and focus (great for frequent Marriott customers, less suitable for others). The high fee requires that you get significant value from the benefits. If you do, the card can more than pay for itself, but if you don’t use the benefits, you’re better off with a card with a lower fee.

Comparison to Other Premium Travel Cards

Below is a comparison with several well-known premium cards: Chase Sapphire Reserve, The Platinum Card from American Express (Amex Platinum), and another premium card from Marriott, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (Amex). Each has its own advantages, so it is useful to compare them with each other:

Which card is “best” depends on your travel habits: if you regularly stay at luxury Marriott hotels, the Ritz-Carlton (or Brilliant) card will bring you huge benefits in the form of hotel bonuses. If you prefer flexibility and using your rewards for airfare, the Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum may be a better choice. 

In summary, the Ritz-Carlton credit card occupies a special niche in the world of premium cards. It is very beneficial for luxury hotel enthusiasts and frequent flyers who can understand its features and reap huge benefits. While it’s not as straightforward as some of the more widely available cards, those in the know often consider it a hidden gem, offering a combination of luxury hotel perks, solid travel protection, and VIP lounge access that’s hard to beat at $450 per year.