UpInTheAir

How is the $10,000 annual spend determined? Is it the amount you spend from the month you get the card until the first anniversary, or is it from January to December?

hailstorm

From the Terms and Conditions link:

Long Islander

How do I get this? I have two 2-night stays at RCs coming up in February.

No Clue

I haven't stayed at a RC yet but according to the details:

"Hotel Credit:
Hotel credit available at participating hotels for paid stays using The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card, when booking this offer and requires a two-night minimum length of stay, subject to availability. Credit is nontransferable or combinable with other offers, consecutive reservations in the same hotel are not valid, and advanced reservations are required. Credit must be used during original reservation, no cash back, and may not be applied to room rate or hotel goods or services provided by a third party. Not valid on room rate, alcohol, taxes or gratuities. Chase Bank USA, N.A. is not responsible for offer fulfillment or the provision of or failure to provide the stated benefits and services. Does not apply to group bookings."

hailstorm

It appears that the 50,000 bonus points portion of the benefits are no longer being offered.

am1996

I just went to the website and see "Receive 50,000 Ritz-Carlton Rewards points after the first time you use your card."

Try clearing your cookies.

am1996

I don't understand this post. Amex Platinum already gives you access to all the Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits and Ritz Carlton properties are part of it.

Having "Gold" status at the Ritz is a totally meaningless benefit, as the Club level and suites are specifically excluded from upgrades. So, the only thing that Gold really gets you at the Ritz is free internet.

am1996

With this card, Club level upgrades get confirmed at the time of booking (which is the big distinguishing feature of this card, as every other program only provides upgrades based on availability at the time of check-in and with most of them Club level upgrades are excluded). So, if you are booking a qualifying rate and a Club level room is available, you are immediately booked into it.

If you are booking a qualifying rate and a Club level room is not available, you generally will not get access to the Club lounge at all, as all the RC's that I've ever stayed at are extraordinarily protective of the Club lounge and won't let people staying on a non-Club level access it (there are exceptions, but those are extraordinarily uncommon).

am1996

Please see my explanation above. With respect to the rates, you can't combine the Club level upgrade with discounted rates (corporate rates, convention rates, membership rates, etc...). From what I understand, there is no way to work around this restriction as the Club level upgrade is actually a promotional rate in itself, so that the agent reserving it has to enter it in the rate box and cannot, therefore, enter any other promotional rate in that box.

This has been by far the biggest criticism of the program and is the reason that a lot of people are staying away from it and the card.

hailstorm

That's what it still says on the splash page, but that's not what it says on the actual application page anymore.

https://applynowdc2.chase.com/FlexAp...DF01&SPID=DLW9

leonard016

I agree that Gold at Ritz properties is not much, but at Marriott properties it could be quite valuable.

Regarding vs. FHR, Ritz Card's three upgrades are guaranteed while FHR's is based on availability. Also $100 credit for every two-night stay is guaranteed while not all Ritz properties participating in FHR offer similar additional benefits.

leonard016

As long as it says 50K on the landing page, you shall be fine. Save the screen shot if you are worried.

hailstorm

Gold status at Ritz gets you free in-room internet, which is not insignificant. 25% bonus points and late checkout are also nice. So not "totally" meaningless, just not something you need to go out of your way to achieve.

am1996

The internet fee at RC's is usually about $10-$13/day, which is money but isn't a huge deal. I think that a lot of us who stay at RC's access the internet at least in part for business purposes even when we travel for pleasure, so that we get reimbursed/get to expense that charge anyway.

The bonus points can be nice but the late checkout isn't really a big deal. It's not guaranteed and, if available, RC's offer complimentary late checkouts to people staying there without any status whatsoever.

Also remember that the comment that we are discussing here is one that said that a Marriott GC status would be a nice distinguishing feature of AMEX Platinum. If you have AMEX Platinum and are booking an FHR rate, you are guaranteed a 4pm checkout.

I agree with this.

My point is that at least to me, the primary benefit of hotel status is big upgrades, which isn't really possible at RC's since suites and Club level rooms are officially excluded.

dw

Ironically, I think the best value from this card would be Gold status after only $10,000 spend for people who wouldn't normally qualify, but for stays at FS Marriott/Renaissance properties. I'm probably going to drop down to Silver next year, so this card is definitely on my radar.