Jan 8, 2022, 5:58 pm
Last edit by: rrgg
The Ritz-Carlton Rewards VISA Infinite card was closed for applications in July 2018. The only way to obtain the Ritz card now is to Product Change from a Chase Bonvoy Bountiful or Boundless card, which must be open for a full year to be eligible for Product Change. Upgrades from free Chase Bonvoy Bold will not succeed UNLESS (a) the Bold card was obtained as a downgrade from another Chase Bonvoy card, (b) Or if you convert Bold to Boundless or Bountiful before switching once more to Ritz-Carlton within a few days of the product change (reports here)
Previous thread is here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...16-2021-a.html
Ritz card information still available on the Chase SITE.
Feature Summary:
Things qualifying/not qualifying under $300 annual travel credit
one member wrote: AA is now showing gift cards as "giftcard" rather than general purchase if the csr looks closely. Last year it worked for me, yesterday it did not and csr told me that's why. However, later the same day I also requested the credit by Secure Message (for "baggage fees) and it was approved. Very YMMV now but still doable. 2/10/2017
Southwest Airlines GCs work fairly easily. I've generally bought them for $150 and said they're excess baggage fees.
AS upgrades from coach to premium coach or first work.
Frequent Miler has a collection of data points of what has worked in the past. Link
Previous thread is here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...16-2021-a.html
Ritz card information still available on the Chase SITE.
Feature Summary:
- Annual fee of $450 NOT waived.
- 6 Marriott points per dollar at Marriott properties, including former Starwood and Ritz-Carltons.
- 3 Marriott points per dollar at restaurants, car rental companies and airline tickets purchased directly from airlines
- 2 Marriott points per dollar on all other purchases (same as all Chase & AmEx Marriott cards)
- Annual (anniversary) free night award good at any Marriott (including Ritz) property up to 85,000 MRs.
- Automatic Marriott Gold Status.
- Marriott Platinum Status after $75,000 card spending in a card-member year.
- $100 statement credit for Global Entry after the Global Entry program application fee is charged to an eligible card.
- $300 Annual (calendar) Travel Credit "Only the following types of non-ticket purchases qualify for this offer: airline lounge day pass, or towards a yearly lounge membership of your choice; airline seat upgrades; airline baggage fees; in-flight Internet/entertainment; in-flight meals." This does not happen automatically. It must be requested by phone or by private message.
- Three (3) Ritz Carlton Club Level upgrade certificates each year for up to 7 nights each stay. The stays must be paid stays, excluding point redemption and award night. Use code Z34 to check for price; Z38 is club upgrade code and can only be booked by phone
- Troon Rewards and PRIVÉ ACCESS golf benefits
- $100 credit for qualifying dining, spa or other hotel recreational activities. Use the credit with any paid stay at The Ritz-Carlton of two nights or more OR get a $100 hotel credit per stay at all Marriott luxury properties. Advance reservations are required. Valid only on non-discounted rates. Cannot be combined with any packages, discounts, negotiated corporate or group rates or point-redemption bookings.
Things qualifying/not qualifying under $300 annual travel credit
one member wrote: AA is now showing gift cards as "giftcard" rather than general purchase if the csr looks closely. Last year it worked for me, yesterday it did not and csr told me that's why. However, later the same day I also requested the credit by Secure Message (for "baggage fees) and it was approved. Very YMMV now but still doable. 2/10/2017
Southwest Airlines GCs work fairly easily. I've generally bought them for $150 and said they're excess baggage fees.
AS upgrades from coach to premium coach or first work.
Frequent Miler has a collection of data points of what has worked in the past. Link
Ritz-Carlton VISA Infinite. Available by PC from Bountiful/Boundless. Refreshed 09.22
Sep 26, 2022, 1:19 pm
#211
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,092
Good Luck!
Sep 26, 2022, 1:31 pm
#212
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,369
Am I the only one who thinks the logical, expected approach is that a benefit tied to an anniversary date that occurred before the announcement of a changed benefit for future anniversary dates will not retroactively be changed? I can't see why 50k certificates would be converted to 85k certificates. You can get it next year. There's always a cut off date.
Sep 26, 2022, 1:53 pm
#213
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,092
Sep 26, 2022, 1:58 pm
#214
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,740
Am I the only one who thinks the logical, expected approach is that a benefit tied to an anniversary date that occurred before the announcement of a changed benefit for future anniversary dates will not retroactively be changed? I can't see why 50k certificates would be converted to 85k certificates. You can get it next year. There's always a cut off date.
Sep 26, 2022, 6:44 pm
#215
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Grey areas and blue zones
Posts: 428
Chase mailed out to cardmembers a card with the words "Your anniversary free night award is now worth up to 85k points...Soar even higher. Now you can combine your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points to access even more destinations you have."
What is the meaning of "is"? What is the meaning of "now"? I can definitely see the unused 50k certs being converted into 85k certs even if that wasn't Marriott's intention. Chase's wording can get themselves into trouble if they don't convert the unused certs.
What is the meaning of "is"? What is the meaning of "now"? I can definitely see the unused 50k certs being converted into 85k certs even if that wasn't Marriott's intention. Chase's wording can get themselves into trouble if they don't convert the unused certs.
Sep 26, 2022, 6:45 pm
#216
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 540
Congrats. Welcome to the Club!! Your scenario is exactly what happened to me, in 2019, so you may not see an 85K certificate till 2023. However, I wasn't charged the full annual fee until 2020, so if you're smart, you'll find a way to utilize your 2022 $300 travel credit before the end of the year, and that should take take some of the sting away Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Sep 26, 2022, 10:13 pm
#218
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,369
Chase mailed out to cardmembers a card with the words "Your anniversary free night award is now worth up to 85k points...Soar even higher. Now you can combine your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points to access even more destinations you have."
What is the meaning of "is"? What is the meaning of "now"? I can definitely see the unused 50k certs being converted into 85k certs even if that wasn't Marriott's intention. Chase's wording can get themselves into trouble if they don't convert the unused certs.
What is the meaning of "is"? What is the meaning of "now"? I can definitely see the unused 50k certs being converted into 85k certs even if that wasn't Marriott's intention. Chase's wording can get themselves into trouble if they don't convert the unused certs.
I'm not sure how they could get "in trouble" if people who paid fees expecting a 50k certificate got a 50k certificate. At most, a brochure created an ambiguity, which would not change the terms of the cardholder agreement. If youd like to proceed to arbitration about this, though, you can go ahead. I think it's unreasonable to expect, even with this language, that you are entitled to anything other than what was in effect on your anniversary date.
Sep 27, 2022, 12:00 pm
#219
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,910
I am not surprised. When they added this feature to the card a few years back, I had to wait 10-11 months to get my first 50K certificate. They explained I had already paid the annual fee in August and "you'll get one next year!" Anyone with an july/august anniversary hasn't lucked out too well. The good news is so far I have been grandfathered into the $395 fee.
Sep 27, 2022, 1:07 pm
#220
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 913
I have been toying over upgrading my Boundless card for quite a few years now but with have never quite pulled the trigger yet. The 85K free night might just be it since its getting harder and harder to get anything decent for the 35K award. My current anniversary is in June. If I upgrade now -
1. Do I get charged a pro-rated annual fee? Or does the first fee increase happen at my next anniversary?
2. Do I get the 85K award in June or does my anniversary get reset and I now get one in Sep/Oct 2023?
1. Do I get charged a pro-rated annual fee? Or does the first fee increase happen at my next anniversary?
2. Do I get the 85K award in June or does my anniversary get reset and I now get one in Sep/Oct 2023?
Sep 27, 2022, 4:09 pm
#222
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,976
Reportedly not. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34519432-post137.html
Sep 28, 2022, 8:50 am
#223
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 718
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Diamond
Posts: 969
Sep 28, 2022, 8:52 am
#224
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 718
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Diamond
Posts: 969
I have been toying over upgrading my Boundless card for quite a few years now but with have never quite pulled the trigger yet. The 85K free night might just be it since its getting harder and harder to get anything decent for the 35K award. My current anniversary is in June. If I upgrade now -
1. Do I get charged a pro-rated annual fee? Or does the first fee increase happen at my next anniversary?
2. Do I get the 85K award in June or does my anniversary get reset and I now get one in Sep/Oct 2023?
1. Do I get charged a pro-rated annual fee? Or does the first fee increase happen at my next anniversary?
2. Do I get the 85K award in June or does my anniversary get reset and I now get one in Sep/Oct 2023?
Sep 28, 2022, 2:46 pm
#225
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 913
So does that mean going forward I get charged an annual fee in Oct and I get my free night in June? Have others experienced the same thing?