Have the Ritz-Carlton Card? Good News. Want It? Bad News.

Chase announced that the high-end Ritz-Carlton hotel credit card has stopped accepting applications. Existing cardholders will get richer benefits, though.

Melissa Lambarena, Claire TsosieJul 27, 2018
Have the Ritz-Carlton Card? Good News. Want It? Bad News.
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The Ritz-Carlton® Rewards Credit Card has packed its bags for good: As of July 26, 2018, Chase is no longer accepting applications for the high-end hotel card. Current cardholders can continue using their cards, however — and they will be getting improved rewards and perks beginning in August. The new benefits make the card more competitive with other top-shelf options.

What’s changing?

Cardholders will get richer rewards for their spending as well as ongoing Gold Elite status. Here’s how the old and new benefits compare:

Previous benefits

Benefits taking effect Aug. 26, 2018

Ongoing rewards

  • 5 points per $1 spent at qualifying Ritz-Carlton Rewards and SPG hotels.

  • 2 points per $1 spent on qualifying airline tickets purchased directly through airlines, and at car rental agencies and restaurants.

  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other card purchases.

  • 6 points per $1 spent at qualifying Ritz-Carlton or Marriott purchases (includes Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards and SPG hotels).

  • 3 points per $1 spent on qualifying airline tickets purchased directly through airlines, and at car rental agencies and restaurants.

  • 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Annual free anniversary night

No

Yes (can be used for stays worth up to 50,000 points)

Gold Elite status

Automatic Gold Elite status only in first year. Status renews after you spend $10,000 in a year.

Automatic ongoing Gold Elite status.

Ancillary benefits

  • Price protection.

  • A 10% premium on points earned throughout the year.

  • No price protection.

  • No points premium.

After Aug. 26, 2018, the card won’t offer the previous 10% premium on points earned throughout the year. However, it will more than make up for it by giving cardholders 1 extra point per dollar spent in each category. Plus, the automatic ongoing Gold Elite status gives you a 25% bonus on Ritz-Carlton Rewards base points earned at participating Ritz-Carlton properties. Other Gold Elite status benefits include room upgrades, late checkout and Wi-Fi. You'll also get premium Wi-Fi at participating Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest properties.

The previous benefits also offered price protection. That will be eliminated going forward — following a recent trend of credit card "side perks" disappearing.

What’s staying the same?

The $450 annual fee remains the same. The following features are also sticking around:

  • A $300 annual travel credit for baggage fees, seat upgrades, airport lounge access and more. (Unlike cards that apply travel credits automatically, the Ritz-Carlton® Rewards Credit Card requires cardholders to request the credit by phone.)

  • No foreign transaction fees.

  • Global Entry application fee reimbursement.

  • $100 airline ticket discount on two qualifying round-trip domestic coach airline ticket purchases on the same itinerary.

  • $100 hotel credit on paid stays of two nights or longer.

  • Access to more than 1,000 airport lounges with Priority Pass Select.

The changes to the Ritz-Carlton® Rewards Credit Card follow Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Marriott, which also owns Ritz-Carlton, announced that it will combine the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Starwood loyalty programs into as single program this August. Marriott also hashed out a deal with Chase and American Express to offer new Marriott and Starwood co-branded credit cards.

Information about the Ritz-Carlton® Rewards Credit Card was collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer of this card.