Will Chase Bonvoy the Ritz-Carlton Card?

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The Ritz-Carlton Card is really an #IYKYK (if you know, you know) product. So, how does a card that hasn’t been marketed for several years—and is only available by upgrading from other Marriott cards after holding them for a year—end up being one of the best values in travel?

A Hidden Gem in the Travel Card World

Maybe it’s because the card has quietly lived in that small corner of the travel rewards world where few people go (but where we tend to spend a lot of time). That low profile might actually be why it’s survived this long. Aside from a modest refresh when the free night certificate was boosted (at the same time the Bonvoy Brilliant got its overhaul), the biggest recent change was the return to an all-metal design in 2024.

That may not seem like a big deal, but Chase didn’t have to do it. The fact that they made the card feel a little classier—without stripping away existing benefits—was a subtle hint that it wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Why I Keep the Ritz-Carlton Card

What keeps me holding onto this card year after year isn’t Marriott Bonvoy points or exclusive Ritz-Carlton perks (we rarely stay at Ritz properties, to be honest). It’s the travel protections. For a $450 annual fee, you get the same top-tier coverages found on the Sapphire Reserve: trip delay, cancellation/interruption, lost luggage, emergency evacuation, and primary rental car insurance.

And then there’s the $300 annual airline incidental credit—easy to use with the right strategy—and the 85,000-point free night certificate. If you can redeem that for a stay worth $250 or more, the card practically pays for itself. Add in unlimited Priority Pass guesting and Chase Sapphire Lounge access, and it holds up surprisingly well.

But Change Might Be Coming

Frequent Miler recently reported on rumors that the Ritz-Carlton Card’s annual fee could soon jump to $695. The speculation originates from a Reddit thread, where a few users claimed that Chase phone representatives mentioned the increase.

Now, I don’t typically base posts on rumors from Reddit, especially ones sourced from call center agents. We’ve all had conversations where one rep says one thing, another says the opposite, and neither ends up being right. But every now and then, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. So while this fee hike isn’t confirmed, it’s worth paying attention to.

If the Fee Goes Up, What Changes?

If Chase does increase the fee to $695, they’ll need to add something new to justify it. The $300 airline credit and 85K free night are solid, but not enough on their own to make that fee feel like a win. After all, the Bonvoy Brilliant from American Express carries a $650 fee, comes with a $300 dining credit, Platinum Elite status, and the same 85K free night certificate. Sure, it’s loaded with Amex-style “coupon book” perks, but it’s still a strong value proposition on paper. We broke that down in our full Bonvoy Brilliant review.

The challenge for Chase? There’s no sign-up bonus for the Ritz. You can’t apply directly for the card; you can only upgrade to it. That means they have to rely solely on existing cardholders deciding the benefits are still worth it every single year.

Would I Cancel If the Fee Jumps?

Probably not—at least not right away.

There’s still a lot of value in the card’s benefits that I don’t duplicate elsewhere. The Priority Pass guest access is unmatched (no cap on guests), and the travel protections are among the best available. Plus, with Sapphire Lounges expanding to more airports, having this card could become even more useful in the future.

That said, if the annual fee really does jump to $695, I’ll be doing the math more carefully each year. I might also take another look at the Bonvoy Brilliant—especially if we find ourselves staying more often at properties where Platinum status makes a difference.

What Are Others Saying?

From what I’ve seen online, the reaction to the rumored fee increase is mixed. Some cardholders say they’d drop the card instantly if it reaches $695 without a clear boost in benefits. Others argue that even at that price, the card still offers outsized value, particularly for people who can maximize the travel credit and redeem the free night at high-end properties.

Of course, all of this is speculation until something official comes from Chase or Marriott. But if a refresh is on the way, let’s hope it brings meaningful benefits, not just a higher fee and a useless bunch of credits.

Final Thought

The Ritz-Carlton Card has always been something of a unicorn—quiet, hard to get, and oddly generous for its price. Whether it stays that way remains to be seen. But for now, I’m still holding on… cautiously.

Would you keep the card if the annual fee were to increase to $695? What perks would Chase have to add to make it worth it for you?

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary