Originally Posted by
sdsearch
Even with that admission you've still got more facts wrong. The RC card only gives Gold one year:
https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...arlton-rewards
Automatic Gold Elite Status your first account year
As a new Cardmember, enjoy complimentary Gold Elite status in The Ritz-Carlton RewardsŪ program for your first account year. To continue to enjoy Gold Elite Status benefits, simply spend $10,000 your first year and each subsequent year to maintain your Gold Elite status.
after that it needs substantial spend.
On top of that, it's got a quite high annual fee of $395.
By contrast, the Hilton Amex Surpass card gives you HH Gold for $75 a year, every year you hold it, and the Hilton Citi Reserve card gives you HH Gold for $95 a year, every year you hold it.
So I don't see how a $395 annual fee + $10000 spend requirement a year (after the first year) is "giving status away".
I stand corrected. It is not give away. In my mind, I was thinking more like you could buy top elite status from credit card spent. You can do it with Marriott and Hilton but not with SPG or Hyatt. SPG only gives Gold and Hyatt only Plat.. which only gives you free internet pretty much.