The Ritz-Carlton Card gives you hotel perks, travel credits, and lounge access tied to your spending
The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is a premium rewards card issued by Chase that bundles hotel benefits with travel protections and cash-back earning. You earn points on every purchase, redeem them at Ritz-Carlton properties worldwide, and receive automatic perks like room upgrades and late checkout. The card also includes a yearly travel credit, airport lounge access, and trip protection features. What you actually receive depends on which version of the card you hold — there are multiple tiers — and how much you spend each year.
The card is designed for people who stay at Ritz-Carlton hotels regularly or want the status benefits that come with holding it. Unlike some premium cards that charge high annual fees for benefits you may never use, this one ties most perks directly to Ritz-Carlton properties and Chase's travel ecosystem. If you rarely stay at luxury hotels or travel infrequently, the annual fee may outweigh the value.
Key Takeaways
- You earn points on all purchases and can redeem them for free nights, room upgrades, and other hotel services at Ritz-Carlton locations.
- The card includes an annual travel credit that covers airfare, hotels, rental cars, and other travel expenses, though the amount varies by card tier.
- Cardholders receive automatic elite status with Ritz-Carlton's loyalty program, which unlocks room upgrades, late checkout, and complimentary breakfast at some properties.
- Priority Pass Select membership gives you access to airport lounges worldwide, a benefit that can offset part of the annual fee if you travel frequently.
- Trip cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency medical coverage protect you when travel plans change or emergencies occur.
How points and redemptions work
You earn points on every dollar spent with the card — the exact rate depends on the card version and the type of purchase. Groceries, gas, and dining typically earn at a higher rate than other purchases. Points never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
You redeem points directly through the Ritz-Carlton website or by calling their reservations line. One point equals one dollar toward a room night at most Ritz-Carlton properties, though some high-demand locations require more points. You can also use points for room upgrades, spa services, dining credits, or to cover incidental charges like resort fees. The card issuer does not set a fixed redemption rate — Ritz-Carlton determines point values based on the property and season.
Points transfer to other loyalty programs in Chase's network, though this is rarely the best use of your points if you stay at Ritz-Carlton regularly. If you book through a travel agent or third-party site, you typically earn points only if you provide your loyalty account number at check-in.
Annual travel credit and how to use it
The card includes a yearly travel credit that reimburses you for travel purchases. The credit amount varies — some versions offer $300 annually, others offer $200 or $100. The credit posts automatically once per calendar year and covers airfare, hotels, rental cars, parking, tolls, trains, and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.
The credit applies automatically when you charge travel purchases to the card. You do not need to register or submit receipts. If you spend less than the credit amount in a year, the unused portion does not roll over to the next year. If you spend more, you pay the difference out of pocket. The credit resets on January 1 each year, regardless of when you opened the card.
To maximize this benefit, plan travel expenses for the calendar year and charge them to the card. If you travel in December and January, you can use the credit twice by splitting purchases across two calendar years.
Elite status and hotel perks
Cardholders receive automatic elite status in the Ritz-Carlton loyalty program. This status unlocks benefits at check-in, including complimentary room upgrades (when available), late checkout, and in some cases complimentary breakfast or dining credits. You also earn bonus points on every night you stay, which accelerates your path to higher loyalty tiers.
Elite status is not the same as a room reservation may provide. Hotels honor upgrades and perks based on availability — if the hotel is fully booked, you may not receive an upgrade even with elite status. Late checkout is typically until 4 p.m., though this varies by property. Some properties offer a welcome amenity (a spa credit or dining voucher) to elite members, but this is not may provide at every location.
Your elite status is tied to the card itself, not your personal account. If you close the card, you lose the status unless you maintain it through another method, such as reaching a certain spending threshold in the loyalty program.
Airport lounge access through Priority Pass
The card includes Priority Pass Select membership, which grants you access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. You can bring one guest with you into most lounges. Lounges typically offer free food, beverages, Wi-Fi, and quiet seating — a significant comfort upgrade during layovers or long waits.
You receive a digital Priority Pass membership card that you present at the lounge entrance. Some lounges require you to check in via the Priority Pass app; others scan your card directly. A few premium lounges charge a per-visit fee even with Priority Pass membership, though this is rare.
Priority Pass membership is included with the card at no additional cost. If you travel more than twice a year, this benefit alone can justify part of the annual fee, since a standalone Priority Pass membership costs money to purchase separately.
Trip protection and travel insurance
The card includes several travel protections that set up when you charge the trip to the card. Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you if you need to cancel a prepaid trip due to illness, injury, or death of a family member. Trip delay reimbursement covers meals and lodging if your flight is delayed more than a certain number of hours. Lost luggage reimbursement covers the cost of baggage and personal items if an airline loses your luggage.
Emergency medical and dental coverage applies if you become ill or injured while traveling more than a certain distance from home. Emergency evacuation coverage pays for emergency transportation if you need medical evacuation during travel. These protections have caps — typically $5,000 to $10,000 per claim — and specific exclusions, such as pre-existing conditions.
To use these protections, you must file a claim with the card issuer's claims administrator within a set timeframe (usually 90 days). You will need receipts, proof of payment, and documentation of the event (such as a doctor's note or airline statement). Read the full terms in your card agreement to understand what is and is not covered.
Annual fee and whether the benefits justify it
The Ritz-Carlton Card charges an annual fee that varies by card tier. Premium versions carry higher annual fees but include higher travel credits and additional perks. The fee posts to your account once per year, usually on your card anniversary.
Whether the fee is worth it depends on your travel habits and spending. If you use the annual travel credit fully, stay at Ritz-Carlton properties at least once or twice a year, and travel frequently enough to use airport lounge access, the benefits often offset the fee. If you rarely travel or never stay at Ritz-Carlton hotels, the fee is unlikely to provide value.
The card issuer does not waive the annual fee for inactivity. If you decide the card is not right for you, you can close it at any time. Closing the card does not affect points you have already earned — you can continue to redeem them — but you lose access to future benefits and elite status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my points at hotels other than Ritz-Carlton?
Points are redeemable only at Ritz-Carlton properties. You cannot transfer them to other hotel chains. However, you can transfer points to airline partners in some cases, though this typically gives you less value than redeeming directly for hotel nights.
Do I earn points on the annual fee itself?
No. The annual fee does not earn points. Only purchases you make with the card earn points.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points remain in your Ritz-Carlton loyalty account and do not expire. You can continue to redeem them even after you close the card, as long as your loyalty account stays active.
Is the travel credit refundable if I don't use it?
No. The travel credit is a statement credit that applies only to may be able to access travel purchases charged to the card. Unused credit does not roll over to the next year and is not refundable as cash.
Can I use the Priority Pass lounge access if I'm traveling on a ticket I didn't buy with the card?
Yes. Priority Pass membership is tied to your card, not to how you purchased your ticket. You can use lounge access on any flight, regardless of which card or payment method you used to book it.