progapanda

I would only caution you that the CSP trip delay and cancellation insurance is significantly worse than the RC Visa. CSR has the same coverage as RC Visa, but now charges $100 more in annual fees.

hi55us

You're getting a $300 airfare credit (Easy to find ways to cash it out) and 1 free night up to 50k points for $450, plus Priority Pass (with unlimited guests and restaurants). More power to you if you want to cancel this card.

Astrophsx

Plus free AU's and if I remember correctly there is no limit to how many guests you can bring into the priority pass lounge.

Totoro

Thank you very much for pointing this out. I called in 2018 to inquire about CSR and Ritz-Carlton Visa insurance coverage for tour operator bankruptcies and was told the two cards have the same coverage. Somehow, I made to leap to assume that the they have same insurance coverage across the board. Perhaps I should keep this card long-term rather than CSR. My alternative plan consists of downgrading CSR to Freedom, charging airfare and US restaurants to AMEX Business Gold, and charging other travel expenses to US Bank Altitude Reserve (I've received conflicting information regarding primary rental car insurance on this card though). I already have Chase Ink Preferred card should I ever need to transfer UR points to FF or hotel loyalty plans. I might or might not apply for CSP later on, depending on future sign-up bonus.

I'm not a one-hit wonder who posted just to complain. I really feel torn about whether to keep the card. I usually manage to max out the airline fee credit due to fees incurred on non-US airlines or domestic carriers not designated for AMEX airline fee credits. $450-$300 airline fee credit = $150. Superficially, this looks like a good value to pay for the 1 night RC stay up to 50,000 point value. However, many of these RC properties tend to be places that I'd like to enjoy for more than one night, but I don't really care to pay for the second night's cash rate (if I had two of the cards and consequently two certificates, that'd be a different story!). I find the IHG or Marriott certificates easy to use for one-night stays at airport properties or somewhere off an interstate. Obviously, RC properties don't fit this profile. Hence, my feeling conflicted.

Thanks for pointing out these finer details that evaded my notice. I didn't know about the free AU benefit although I don't plan to add authorized users in the forseeable future. I already have Priority Pass through my CSR (assuming CSR has the same Priority Pass membership benefits). As above, my alternative plan consists of keeping this card and downgrading CSR to Freedom. I made a hasty decision to keep CSR when I saw they grandfathered me in for the current annual fee when they hiked it by $100 for next year's renewal. In retrospect, I should have just downgraded CSR with the current travel hiatus making the CSR travel benefits rather superfluous.

ckpeter

The certificate given by the Ritz card is good for any Marriott property up to 50K level, not just RC hotels.

The Priority Pass member of RC card gives unlimited guest, unlike the 2 limited of the CSR. Minor, but useful, difference.

Totoro

Perhaps I really just haven't kept up with program changes. Were the certificates previously valid only at RC properties? If they've opened redemptions up for properties throughout the Marriott system, then I think I'll definitely keep this card and downgrade CSR next year (with its new higher annual fee).

I don't have immediate need for unlimited guests, but that's definitely a nice Priority Pass feature to have. Of course, with my luck they'll downgrade that benefit by the time I have a use for it!

Thanks so much for your input!

nexusCFX

The annual 50k certificate benefit was added around the merger of the SPG and Marriott programs. In the past, the annual nights on other Marriott cards didn't work at RC properties purely due to them being category based and the RC properties having a separate "tier" system which required more points than any of the CC certificates were worth anyway.

LAX

I have read people complain about it being difficult to use. I guess that largely depends on one's travel pattern. If I often don't have to pay to check bags nor purchase food/drink/wifi onboard, I assume I would have a tough time maxing out the benefit?

LAX

nexusCFX

I have never gotten pushback for charges between $0 and $150 where I SM and say I want to apply my credit to the charge. They reimbursed an $118 AirAsia ticket.

I've still not paid any AF on this card since I got it in 2018 so it has been by far the most lucrative credit card I've ever had. MR plat all through 2019. Used the two welcome bonus nights at Suiran Kyoto upgraded to a 200K JPY a night room. Used the $300 travel credit 3 times now. 3 AUs with PP memberships. Been getting $500+ of value out of the 50k certs.

Even when the AF starts showing up this card is free money. Can't imagine cancelling it unless the benefits were seriously crippled.

Soccerjoshj07

hints?

LAX

Thanks for reporting your experience. A big part of my personal decision is how easy I can use the $300 in legitimate ways to offset the AF. I certainly won't hesitate if the net AF is $150 (after the $300 credit), but I stand to lose whatever airline credits I can't use because there is no SUB to fall back on. I personally don't believe in playing some of the "games" that have been reported in the various threads for Amex Plat, which is why I have been holding out until I get that unicorn of 100K SUB offer (I realize there is a good chance it may never happen).

LAX

diesteldorf

This is the main reason I keep the card. Most of the time I am traveling alone, so the unlimited guest benefit is not a big deal, but adding free authorized users has been nice. So far, I've just added those in my immediate family, but it has been useful for them when they are traveling with their families/friends, since I know they would be hesitant to sign up for a credit card with a $450 annual fee on their own. Anytime you can make other family members happy without having to invest a great deal of personal time or expense is a good thing.

Personally, the airfare credit is not as easy as the Sapphire Reserve, but it's not impossible, and that, combined with the 50,000 point free night certificate offset the annual fee. If Chase wouldn't have offered me a $100 credit toward the CSR's annual fee, I was going to downgrade it within weeks, so my Ritz card would've still allowed me to use restaurants that were part of Priority Pass, since Amex excludes them

https://onemileatatime.com/chase-sap...ve-100-credit/

Totoro

CSR, US Bank Altitude Reserve, and Citi Prestige cards offer "travel credits" (applicable to any travel-related charges, not restricted to airlines) whereas Citi Expedia, AMEX and Ritz-Carlton Visa offer more restrictive airline fee credits. Citi Expedia restricts redemption for select US carrier incidental fees less than $100 (cannot use against fees that are higher than $100, as many change fees are) but does not require advance selection of an airline. AMEX requires the much-reviled advance selection of a domestic US carrier. Ritz-Carlton Visa will reimburse both domestic and foreign carriers' incidental fees out of the airline fee credit (without advance airline selection), and I derive the greatest value from this as compared to AMEX.

progapanda

Has anyone's status with Marriott stayed at Platinum in light of the status extension? Several RC cardholders had continued to keep Platinum status for 2019-2020 based on signup date or earlier spend in 2018-2019.

Soccerjoshj07

The press release said status EARNED in 2019. My Platinum dropped from Platinum to Gold in mid March like others who had signed up for the Ritz in 2018, and didn't jump back to Platinum since I didn't earn Platinum status in 2019.