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Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card
The new Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card is a Visa Infinite card, only the second in the U.S. that I’m aware of (the other is offered to wealthy private clients of City National Bank).
In addition to Gold Elite status (which is honored at Marriott hotels, comes complimentary the first year and that you retain each year you spend $10,000 on the card); a $300 Airline Fee credit, $100 Global Entry credit, and unlimited use $100 Airline Ticket discounts when buying for 2 or more passengers; 3 complimentary upgrades to The Ritz-Carlton Club® Level each year valid on paid stays of up to seven nights; plus airport lounge access and a premium concierge, the card gives you:
- A great signup bonus of 3 complimentary nights at any participating Tier 1-4 Ritz-Carlton hotel after $5,000 spend on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
What I want to explore here is Visa Infinite which, before this month, was only being issued by City National Bank intended for their wealthy private clients.
Visa Infinite is intended to be an exclusive product. The interesting thing is that even when they were issuing it as a Visa Signature it was already a heavy metal card. It’s nothing like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card which is itself praised for its look and feel. The Ritz-Carlton credit card is heavier than a normal credit card, but also heavier than Sapphire Preferred. Its card construction just blows everything else that’s available to apply for away from a weight and feel perspective.
The biggest benefit that’s bundled with the card as a Visa Infinite is the $100 airfare credit when buying tickets through their portal (which limited you to United, Delta, and American) for two to five passengers.
As with any card product, there’s a suite of benefits offered by the card issuer and also benefits available through the payment network (Visa) that can be negotiated into a card’s suite of offerings.
As a Visa Infinite the Ritz-Carlton card offers car rental discounts, and premium benefits on hotels booked through Visa. You get access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection which provides automatic room upgrade on arrival (subject to availability) and complimentary continental breakfast. There’s also Visa Infinite Preferred Hotel Benefits at Relais & Châteaux properties.
The protections bundled with the card are really strong. You get primary car rental collision damage coverage — so instead of secondary coverage where the card covers what your insurance doesn’t, this comes first so in many cases your own insurance doesn’t even need to know if you’ve played adult bumper cars.
There’s also trip accident coverage, trip cancellation coverage, trip delay coverage, and a lost luggage benefit as well. Pay for your airfare with the card and if there’s a long enough delay you can send over receipts for hotels and meals and get those reimbursed. If your luggage doesn’t arrive you’ll get coverage for incidental items you need to purchase while the bags are gone.
Visa Infinite also provides extended warranty, purchase protection and return protection for when you’re unhappy with a product and the retailer won’t accept a return.
The $100 companion airfare discount also applies to VX, AS, and B6.
Does this card “count” against the Chase no more than 5 cards in 2 years rule? On a related note, can you list the cards excluded from the Chase rule?
@Jonathan
As of now, this card is not subject to 5/24. It “counts” in the sense that any newly opened credit card will count in your total.
Excluded from 5/24 as of today: IHG, Hyatt, British Airways, Disney, Fairmont, Marriott Business (business only!), Ritz, Amazon, AARP
Gary, I spent quite a bit of time comparing benefits of Infinite, Citi Prestige and Amex Platinum a d overall, Prestige came out way ahead followed by Platinum and then Infinite.
Not only are benefits offered by Citi on Prestige and Amex on Platinum better than does Infinite, City National is a better value than Ritz Carlton. Between me and my wife, we have all four. I canceled my personal Ritz card and will be soon canceling my wife’s as well.
Two benefits where Infinite stand out are: Primary card rental insurance and $100 off on two to five tickets. You get those benefits with Crystal as well. Additional benefits you get with Crystal but not with Ritz or what has so far been reported about Sapphire Preferred are: 12 GoGo passes per user as well as $250 credit per user. Ritz is good if you are looking for Gold status with Marriott. Other than that, it’s useless because Crystal offers far better benefits.
Are you sure about the Relais & Châteaux benefits? That seems like a conflict with the Ritz-Carlton branding.
I have all of amex plat, citi prestige and CNB infinite. One thing I can say about infinite – the concierge is absolutely ramping. Way better service and outcome than amex plat.
Does it come with emergency evacuation insurance? That’s a key perk on the Palladium card that I don’t see on the others.
Most blogs oversell the club upgrades. I had this card… The club upgrade rooms are not always available, and when they are the upgrade is only valid on some of the most expensive rates. In many cases you may as well just pay a discounted cash rate for the club level rooms.
Gary, I appreciate your feedback. I am sorry certain people don’t appreciate the expertise and advice you provide to the community at large.
@Gary,
Any idea of which version of Priority Pass Select this card offers (i.e., the Prestige, Amex Plat or Surpass versions)? Love the Prestige because it lets the whole family in, but with Prestige dumping Admirals Club next year, I could be swayed. Thanks.