Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
At the start of the week I had no intention of writing about Marriott all day, everyday, but things happen. On Monday, I published my Marriott Bonvoy Complete Guide and figured that would be enough about Marriott for a while. But then I realized that it was past time to publish up-to-date tips on earning Marriott Platinum status, so on Wednesday morning I published “10 Shortcuts to Marriott Platinum Elite status (2019 edition).” I definitely planned on taking a break from Marriott stuff after that.
But then…
Soon after I published my elite shortcuts post on Wednesday morning, Amex and Chase announced changes to their Marriott/SPG credit cards. That couldn’t be ignored, so I published “Marriott Bonvoy credit card changes announced.” And, that led to more thoughts and questions, so I followed that up with “Bonvoy Opportunities,” and “Downgrade from Lux/Brilliant to SPG/Bonvoy? Yes, it will be an option.” And I updated the post “Which Marriott Bonvoy card is best?”
And now this post.
After learning about the Amex downgrade path described above, I wondered if going the other direction with Chase cards would be possible. If you have a Chase Marriott consumer card, could you upgrade it to the Ritz-Carlton card, even though the Ritz card hasn’t been available to new applicants since last summer? I reached out to Chase and was told “Yes”.
Rather than just take a Chase representatives word for it, I called Chase to ask about product change options from my Marriott Rewards Premier card. I was told that there were two options showing on my account. I could change to the Plus version of my card (but I wasn’t eligible for earning points on the upgrade anymore since that offer ended 12/31), or I could change to the Ritz-Carlton card. I didn’t do either, but it gave me a lot to think about.
Upgrading from the $85 Marriott Premier to the $95 Marriott Premier Plus is almost a no-brainer since the former comes with an annual 25K free night certificate and the latter comes with an annual 35K certificate. The 10K difference can easily mean the difference between staying in a highway-side hotel or a beach side hotel. The main thing I would lose is the ability to earn an elite night credit for every $3K of spend. But I’ve never used that feature before, so at best it’s a nice to have backup in case I’m very close to earning whatever level of elite status I’m shooting for.
Ritz Perks
But what about the Ritz card? Should I consider upgrading to it instead? The Ritz card costs $450 per year, but comes loaded with perks:
- 50K free night certificate annually
- Automatic Gold status
- 15 elite nights (not stackable with elite nights earned from any other card)
- Earn Platinum status with $75K membership year spend
- $300 in airline incidental fee credits (see: Chase Ritz-Carlton Visa airline fee credits: What works?)
- $100 Global Entry credit
- Priority Pass with unlimited free guests
- Authorized users are free, and each can get their own Priority Pass with unlimited free guests
- Visa Infinite Discount Airfare $100 discount on multi-passenger ticket purchases
- 3 club level upgrades for paid Ritz stays
- $100 hotel credit for each paid 2 night or longer stay
- Awesome travel protections (primary auto, trip cancellation & delay, emergency medical & dental, etc.)
That’s a huge collection of perks. And, for many people, upgrading to the Ritz card can make a lot of sense. But…
I already have a Ritz card.
If I upgrade from the Marriott Premier to the Ritz card, I would then have two Ritz cards. And most of the perks listed above are meaningless if you have two of the same card. The only perks that I care about from the second card are:
- 50K free night certificate annually
- $300 in airline incidental fee credits
I’ve learned how to get full value from airline incidental fee credits, but I still don’t value that perk at the full $300 since there is some effort involved. Let’s say I value that perk at $250. That brings the effective annual fee of the Ritz card down from $450 to $200. So, that brings up these questions:
- Is the 50K certificate worth $200 per year?
- Is it worth paying $105 more for a 50K certificate vs a 35K certificate?
(Here I’m comparing the $200 effective annual fee of the Ritz card to the $95 annual fee of the Premier Plus card)
My gut tells me that the answer to both of the above questions is yes, but only because I’m pretty sure that I can easily use the 50K certificate each year toward great value. I have a favorite use for these certificates that just happens to cost 50K per night:
In my unique situation, the 50K certificate is arguably worth close to 50,000 points. But points are worth more. You can’t book a 5th Night Free award if you use free night certificates. And you can’t book two nights at a 25K hotel with a 50K certificate. Both of these options are available with points though.
The Decision
Ultimately, I should phrase the question to myself like this: Would I pay $105 per year to upgrade my 35K per night certificate to 50K? This decision needs to be made before the annual certificate is issued (which, in my case means deciding by mid-March). For some reason, when I phrase it this way, I lean towards “no”. I don’t want to sink extra money into Marriott just in case I’ll get great use from the 50K certificate.
So, for this year, I think I’ll simply upgrade to the Premier Plus and see how it goes. If I find during the course of the year that I really could have used that 50K certificate, and if it seems likely to happen again in the future, then maybe I’ll upgrade to the Ritz next year.
Thanks for listening!
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Upgraded to this card Fall 2019, for a number of good reasons. Got the travel credit for 2019 and 2020. AF just posted. My plan, given COVID and not being able to use benefits otherwise for some time was to product change (after the free night cert posts) back to a $95 AF Marriott card, or even the no fee version. Question: using your crystal ball do you think this Ritz card will still be around in the next year to change back to?
I think the plan makes a lot of sense. On the other hand, I do think there’s a reasonably good chance that they’ll cut off product changes to the Ritz card at some point. So it is a gamble.
why would you not care about and not value the 3 upgrades? I realize they are a pain to use and sometimes don’t save money but there are opportunities and they do have value
I’ve never used them as is, so getting extra upgrade certificates has no value to me.
I know I’m late to the conversation but I just PCed by Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and was wondering if the Ritz is a metal card (think Chase Sapphire Reserve). Insight anyone?
My Ritz card weighs more than 2 CSRs combined. Literally. According to US Credit Card Guide, the CSR is 13g and the Ritz is 28g. The CSR is a piece of metal sandwiched in plastic, whereas the Ritz card is a hunk of metal that clangs when you drop it. I don’t know for sure that they are still issuing it that way. I’ve had mine for several years and have gotten a replacement once or twice for one thing or another — sometimes a plastic one comes, sometimes a metal one comes. If you get a plastic one, you could try calling and asking for a metal one. I don’t know for sure if they still issue it or not.
Thanks for your response, Nick. I do realize that the original Ritz card’s weight was substantial for a credit card, especially compared to other competitors, but I’m curious to see if the refreshed Ritz card is anywhere close to its original variation’s weight. I’ve read that the newly-refreshed version (that can only be acquired via product change) is CSR weight, but I’ve also read that some folks have received a plastic one. Mine should be coming in the mail within the next couple of days so we’ll see.
I don’t think there is a “refreshed” version — it’s just that sometimes Chase sends out plastic versions of the card. I got a new one last year, so I won’t see another one for quite a while, but my last one was metal. I have an older metal one and a couple of plastic ones from long before they dropped the card. It’s certainly possible that they’ve stopped issuing them in metal, but I wouldn’t take whichever card you receive next week as the final word on that. If it isn’t metal, maybe try calling and asking if those are still available (assuming that’s what you want).
@Gabe HUCA. Just upgraded. Called the number on the back of the card. Good luck.
Greg
Recently I called Chase and asked if it was possible to upgrade to the Ritz-Carlton card. The representative said that to their knowledge it was not possible. Did you speak to a specific department about upgrading to the Ritz-Carlton card?
Gabe
Greg,
I called Chase CSR regarding product change (Marriott Premier to Ritz Carlton). They said since this is a product change I won’t be eligible for platinum status upgrade once $75K spending threshold is met. Do you have any insight on this?
The CSR clearly didn’t know what he/she was talking about. It doesn’t matter if you get the card through a product change, you still have access to its current benefits including that one.
Thank you for clarifying. I will do the product change as soon as as I get my annual certificate in approximately 2 months.
Just curious, were you able to still product change to this card? I am still hoping to in a few months.
Sarah,
Yes I was.
With the devaluation of Marriott Bonvoy program, it makes the Premier card less desirable. If you can put $75K spending on the card, you’re guaranteed to have Platinum status (until Marriott changes their policy .. again)
I thought they got rid of the 1 elite night for each $3k spend; is it still around? What cards offer this and does it count towards lifetime status?
Only the old Marriott Rewards Premier (not the Plus version) still has that feature. You might be able to product change to it, but you can’t sign up new. Yes, I think it counts towards lifetime, but I don’t know for sure.
[…] On my mind (Ritz-Carlton addition edition) […]
Please note that Southwest Gift Cards are no longer eligible for the Ritz travel credit. I called to claim credit of $75 GC just like the previous two times but was told that the transaction shows up as Gift Card purchase so not eligible. I didn’t have any problem in Oct doing the same reimbursement over the phone for SW GC, so I really can’t think of a good way to spend that $300 travel credit anymore. Wish they would be less restrictive like Chase Sapphire Reserve! You may want to update your “What works” page.
Thanks. I will update that page shortly. https://frequentmiler.com/ritz-fee-credits-what-works/
Greg, how does this compare to the CNB Visa. That seems to be the most similar card in my eyes. I was thinking of going CNB, but now wondering if this is better (initially discounted RC card due to 5/24)
They’re similar in that they share some of the same Visa Infinite features, but a lot is very different:
-CNB points are worth a lot more than Marriott points, so CNB’s 3X categories are meaningful (and they’re good categories too!)
-CNB offers up to 3 free authorized user cards and each gets there own $250 airline fee reimbursements, so I get $1,000 back each year!
-CNB offers free Gogo inflight internet
-Ritz offers much better travel protections
-Ritz offers the annual free night certificate
Ritz has more Marriott focused perks – automatic Gold status, earn Platinum status with $75K membership year spend, 3 club level upgrades for paid Ritz stays (up to 7 days each stay), and $100 hotel credit for each paid 2 night or longer stay. This could be more than thousands if you utilize them.
Would make a great segue to full list and rank of cards available from all issuers via product change only.
That would be useful. If someone wanted to compile that info, I’d happily publish it.
Could you share (or point to) how to get full value out of the airline incidental fee credits?
That’s something I’ll talk about in person, but not on the blog. Sorry. This post might help though (I plan to update it very soon): https://frequentmiler.com/ritz-fee-credits-what-works/
Problem is that the upgrades and $100 credits are really worthless because they are only good on the higher standard rate. I love Ritz Carlton Hotels but the dishonesty of their team in the design of this card has made me swear off ever staying again. I’d rather just use Citi Prestige for 4th night or use Hotels.com and stay at the best boutique available in that city if there’s no Park Hyatt
I tried doing this same upgrade last July, hoping for an easy path to Platinum status Chase unfortunately wouldn’t allow. I had to make new application which has still absolutely been worth doing.
“My gut tells me that the answer to both of the above questions is yes, but only because I’m pretty sure that I can easily use the 50K certificate each year toward great value.”
Don’t listen to your “gut”. Instead, you should whip out that very nice Ultra Premium Card Value Spreadsheet that you created a few months back, and answer the question more scientifically.
For me, the best-in-class travel insurance (tied with CSR), pushes this card to the “keep” column
ETA: I see that others are also mentioning the travel insurance. Nice for them to also catch this!
Yes, I plan to update that spreadsheet. Thanks for the 2nd reminder 🙂