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.
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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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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.
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