RIP Unlimited Lounge Guests: Chase Hits the Ritz-Carlton Card

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If you’ve been holding onto The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card largely because of its lounge access perks, here’s some bad news: Chase is cutting back one of the card’s best (and most unusual) benefits — the ability to bring in unlimited guests with your Priority Pass.

Back in January, we wrote about how the Ritz-Carlton card’s unlimited Priority Pass guests benefit was finally confirmed. It was a legitimately industry-leading perk, especially for anyone traveling with family or in a group.

Now? That party’s ending.

To be clear: there are still plenty of reasons to keep this card — we went over all the other value-packed perks in our Ritz-Carlton Credit Card review. But this lounge change is still a big deal because the unlimited guest policy was one of the card’s most unique differentiators.

Chase is changing the Ritz-Carlton card’s lounge guest policy

Cardholders are receiving a secure message from Chase titled: The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card Airport Lounge Guest Access Update – Here’s What You Need to Know.

According to the message, starting January 15, 2026 (the secure message was sent December 12, 2025), Ritz-Carlton cardmembers and authorized users may enter Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and Priority Pass lounges with:

• Up to two guests for free
• Additional guests cost $27 each

Chase also notes that to enter, cardmembers must present their valid physical credit card or a Priority Pass Digital Membership card.

One interesting wrinkle: as of now, the official Chase Sapphire Lounge site doesn’t appear to reflect these updated guest access terms yet — even though the secure message spells them out.

Also worth noting: the secure message doesn’t mention any exception for children under two. My guess is Chase will handle it the same way it does on the Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve — meaning infants under two won’t count toward the guest limit / won’t trigger the $27 fee — but until Chase publishes this officially, that’s an educated assumption (not a confirmed rule).

This brings the Ritz card in line with other Chase premium cards

In other words, Ritz-Carlton cardholders are being moved to the same basic guest rules you’ll find on other top-tier Chase products — like the Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve.

And that’s what stings here: the Ritz-Carlton card’s lounge access wasn’t just “good.” The unlimited guest policy was a true differentiator — the kind of perk you could actually build a travel strategy around if you frequently traveled with more than two people.

Why this matters

If you’re a solo traveler (or traveling as a couple), this change probably won’t impact you much.

But if you’re the person who travels with:

• kids
• a bigger family group
• friends on the same itinerary
• a work team

…this turns a “wow” perk into something much more ordinary — and potentially much more expensive.

Final Thought

The Ritz-Carlton card’s unlimited Priority Pass guest benefit was one of those rare, tangible perks that made the card feel special—and easy to justify year after year.

Come January 15, that edge is gone. If you were hanging onto the card specifically because it was the best card for bringing a group into lounges, Chase just took that off the table.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary