If you've spent enough time in the points and miles world, you've probably heard whispers about a mysterious credit card that supposedly offers incredible value.
A card with an annual free night worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
A card with a $300 annual travel credit.
A card that comes with Priority Pass lounge access.
A card that lets you add authorized users for free – and even gives those authorized users their own Priority Pass memberships.
A card that many people would happily choose over cards with annual fees approaching $700.
And yet...
You can't actually apply for it.
Welcome to The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card.
Wait... What Exactly Is The Ritz Card?
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card is essentially a legacy Marriott credit card that Chase stopped offering to new applicants years ago.
However, the card never actually disappeared.
Instead, it lives on as a product change option for certain Chase Marriott cardholders.
Think of it as a secret menu item – if you know about it (and you're eligible), you can still get it.
How To Get The Ritz-Carlton Card
The most common path is pretty straightforward:
Open a Chase Marriott card, such as Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
Hold the card for at least 12 months.
Contact Chase and request a product change to The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card.
There are a few eligibility requirements, including minimum credit line requirements, and approval isn't guaranteed.
But in general, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless has become the most popular gateway into the Ritz-Carlton Card strategy, since it’s a card worth holding anyway (especially when there’s an elevated welcome offer).
Which is exactly the route I took.
Years ago, I signed up for Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, which I’ve enjoyed since.
Earlier this year, I called Chase, asked for a product change to the Ritz card, and voila – now I have it.
The Benefit That Pays For Most Of The Annual Fee
The Ritz-Carlton Card carries a $450 annual fee.
At first glance, that might sound steep… But the card also comes with a $300 annual travel credit.
Officially, this credit is intended for qualifying airline purchases.
In practice?
I've personally used it for award taxes and fees and even inexpensive airfare purchases… 🤫
Here’s how to actually use it:
Make an airline incidental purchase (or small airline purchase)
Send Chase a secure message from your account (website or app), tell them the date and amount of the charge you want deducted
They will post a credit to your account and confirm the remaining credit amount
This purchase was for taxes and fees on a Qatar Airways award ticket
Obviously, I can't guarantee that every airline-related purchase will qualify, and policies can change at any time.
But based on my own experience, I've found the credit to be significantly more flexible than many airline incidental credits offered by competing cards like American Express Platinum Card®.
If you're able to use the full credit each year, your effective annual fee drops from $450 to just $150.
And that's where things start getting really interesting…
The Annual Free Night Certificate Is Ridiculous
Every year on your card anniversary, you'll receive a Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
That's enough for some truly exceptional properties.
This hotel in London costs $522 USD per night, but is bookable with the 85k Free Night Award.
Depending on Marriott's pricing, you may be able to redeem it at luxury resorts, aspirational city hotels, and properties that would otherwise cost hundreds (or even over a thousand) dollars per night.
You can even top off the certificate with up to 25,000 additional Marriott points if needed.
Personally, I have no problem getting far more than $150 of value from an 85,000-point certificate.
In fact, more often than not, this annual free night is going to yield $500+ in value, which already makes this card worthwhile.
Everything else becomes a bonus. 🤷🏼♂️
This Card Has CRAZY Lounge Benefits
This is where things get a little absurd.
The Ritz-Carlton Card comes with a Priority Pass membership.
That's already a useful benefit.
But…
The Ritz-Carlton Card also lets you add authorized users at no additional cost, and those users receive their own lounge privileges.
For families, couples, and frequent travelers, this can be incredibly valuable.
In fact, you could make a strong argument that The Ritz Card is one of the best lounge access cards on the market.
Other Valuable Benefits
As if the free night certificate and lounge access weren't enough, the card also includes:
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits each year
Three Ritz-Carlton Club Level upgrade certificates annually
A $100 property credit on eligible Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis stays
Strong travel protections
No foreign transaction fees
None of these benefits alone would justify keeping the card.
But together they create a premium travel card that feels far more valuable than its annual fee suggests.
Earn Rates (A Side Note, IMHO)
For me, the earn rates aren’t super important. I keep this card for the aforementioned host of benefits and funnel my spend onto cards that earn transferable points. But for completion’s sake, this card earns:
6x for every $1 spent at over 30 hotel brands around the world participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
3x for every $1 spent on dining, car rentals and airline purchases
2x for every $1 spent on all other purchases
The Simple Math
Let's keep this simple.
Annual fee: $450
Travel credit: -$300
Effective annual fee: $150
For that $150, you're getting:
An 85,000-point Free Night Award
Priority Pass membership
Lounge access for authorized users
Marriott Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits
Club Level upgrade certificates
Additional travel protections
That's pretty compelling, if you ask me.
And honestly, it's one of the easiest "keep or cancel" decisions in my wallet.
In Summary
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card is one of the strangest cards in the points and miles world.
Anyone can get it, but nobody can apply for it.
And yet, for Marriott loyalists and frequent travelers, it may be one of the most valuable premium cards Chase offers. 💰️
