The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card Is Hard to Get, But Totally Worth It

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I think the Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card might be the best value luxury travel card out there. That’s a bold statement, I know—but when you stack up the perks against the annual fee, it’s hard to ignore how much value this card can deliver.

Now, when I say the card is “available,” I don’t mean you can just apply for it. You can still get it, but only by upgrading from another Chase Marriott Bonvoy personal card, like the Boundless or Bold. That might sound like a lot of effort for one credit card—and in some ways, it is. But if you’re someone who will actually use the benefits, the payoff makes the process more than worth it.

How to Get the Ritz-Carlton Card

You can’t apply for the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card outright anymore—it was pulled from Chase’s public lineup years ago. But there’s still a backdoor way in: you can product change to it from either the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® card.

Important: Only Chase-issued personal Marriott cards are eligible. You can’t upgrade from a Marriott business card, an AMEX Marriott card, or other non-Marriott cards issued by Chase.

To be eligible for the upgrade, you’ll need to:

• Hold the card for at least one year
• Have a $10,000 credit limit on the account
• Call Chase and request the product change

The annual fee is $450, which puts it in premium travel card territory—but as you’ll see, it’s surprisingly easy to extract far more value than that.

What You’ll Earn (Hint: It’s Not the Card’s Strength)

This isn’t the card to swipe at the grocery store. While it has a few elevated earning categories, they don’t make up for the mediocre value of Marriott Bonvoy points:

• 6x on Marriott Bonvoy stays
• 3x on dining, airfare, and rental cars
• 2x on all other purchases

If you want to rack up valuable rewards, you’re better off using a card that earns flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards. This card is for the perks, not the points.

Perks That Apply to Ritz-Carlton Stays

$100 Property Credit

Book a paid stay of two nights or more using the special Ritz-Carlton cardholder rate and get a $100 property credit to use at the spa, restaurants, or on other room charges.

Club Level Upgrade Certificates

You’ll get three Club Level Upgrade Certificates each year. These can be used on paid stays (not awards) of up to 7 nights at participating Ritz-Carlton properties. Lounge access, elevated service, and serious value—when you can use them.

Marriott Bonvoy Perks (Beyond Just Ritz-Carlton)

85K Free Night Certificate (Topped Off to 100K)

Every cardmember year, you get a Free Night Certificate worth 85,000 points. Marriott lets you top it off with 15K points, which means this cert can cover stays worth up to 100,000 points.

Gold Elite Status (and a Spend Path to Platinum)

The card includes Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with no spending requirement. That gets you late checkout, room upgrades, and a 25% point bonus on paid stays.

If you spend $75,000 in a calendar year, you’ll be upgraded to Platinum Elite status, which includes complimentary breakfast and lounge access at most Marriott brands.

15 Elite Night Credits

Each year, you’ll also receive 15 Elite Night Credits, which help you reach higher Marriott Bonvoy status tiers. These stack with nights from a Marriott Bonvoy Business credit card, making them a valuable shortcut to Platinum or even Titanium status.

Travel Benefits That Compete With Top-Tier Cards

$300 Airline Incidental Credit (Any Airline)

This credit applies to seat assignments, baggage fees, in-flight purchases, and JetBlue Even More seats. It works on any airline, not just a pre-selected one. You have to call or message Chase to request the reimbursement—it’s not automatic.

Priority Pass with Unlimited Guests

The Ritz card comes with Priority Pass Select membership—but unlike most cards, it offers unlimited guest access. It’s one of the last cards to do so without extra fees.

Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges

The Ritz card also gets you into Chase Sapphire Lounges. Entry is tied to the Priority Pass membership issued through this card, so be sure you use the correct one. We break down the process in this post.

Global Entry Credit

Once every four years, you’ll get a reimbursement of up to $125 when you use the card to pay the Global Entry application fee. If you already have Global Entry, you can use the credit to pay someone else’s fee instead.

Note: Unlike many other Chase cards, this benefit is only valid for Global Entry—it does not cover TSA PreCheck or SENTRI fees. That said, Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, so you’re still covered for domestic travel.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

As expected for a premium card, there are no foreign transaction fees when using it abroad.

Travel Protections That Go Above and Beyond

• Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Up to $10,000/person and $20,000/trip (only covers expenses charged to the card)
• Trip Delay: Up to $500 after 6 hours
• Baggage Delay: $100/day for 5 days
• Lost Luggage: Up to $3,000 per person
• Primary Car Rental Insurance: Including select luxury vehicles
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: Up to $100,000

Purchase Protections That Cover the Unexpected

• Purchase Protection: 120 days, $10,000 per claim
• Extended Warranty: Adds 1 year to eligible warranties
• Return Protection: Up to $500 per item ($1,000/year)

How It Compares to Other Premium Cards

Other cards may work better if you want more flexible points or automatic perks. But when it comes to pure value, the Ritz-Carlton card holds its own:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Better for earning, but more expensive for similar perks
• Amex Platinum: Better lounge access, but full of “coupon book” credits
• Capital One Venture X: Great for simple rewards, weaker travel perks

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® from American Express (AF: $650)

If you’re looking for a Marriott card with Platinum status included, the Bonvoy Brilliant is your only option. It comes with:

• An annual 85K Free Night Certificate
• Automatic Platinum Elite status (no spending required)
• 25 Elite Night Credits each year, which stack with nights from Marriott business cards

But with a $650 annual fee, you’ll need to work a little harder to justify keeping it. Amex tries to offset the cost with various credits, like a $300 dining credit and statement credits at Marriott luxury brands, but you must be intentional about using them.

The Downsides (Because No Card Is Perfect)

As much as I like this card—and I genuinely do—it’s not all five-star perks and unlimited lounge guests. There are a few real drawbacks that might make it less appealing, depending on your travel style or wallet strategy.

It Takes Time and Effort to Get

This isn’t a card you can apply for. You must already have a Chase Marriott Bonvoy personal card (Boundless or Bold), keep it for at least one year, and then request a product change. If you’re just now hearing about this card, you’re looking at a 12-month minimum wait. And even then, there’s no welcome bonus, which is a big opportunity cost if you’re used to 100K+ signup offers.

The Airline Credit Isn’t Automatic

The $300 annual airline credit is genuinely useful, but it’s not frictionless. You have to send a secure message or call Chase to request reimbursement. It’s an easy task, but one more thing to remember in an age where other premium cards apply credits automatically.

The 85K Certificate Has a Ceiling

The Free Night Certificate, especially when topped off to 100K, is excellent. But it’s still not enough for Marriott’s most aspirational properties, which often exceed 120K–150K points per night. If you dream of those, this card won’t get you there.

Final Verdict: The Best Value—If You Can Get It

With a $450 annual fee minus the $300 airline credit, you only need to get $150 in value from the 85K certificate to break even. If you’re not staying at places that cost that much? This card probably isn’t for you.

But if you are—and you want Club upgrades, lounge access with unlimited guests, and strong insurance protection—this card quietly delivers more than most cards in its price range.

In a world where *breaking even* isn’t enough, the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card gives you a reason to keep it year after year.

And if you’re not in a position to upgrade yet?
Well… the waiting is the hardest part. (Thank you, Tom Petty.)

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary