How to use the Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card's Club-Level Upgrade Awards

Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card is one of my favorite travel credit cards currently for a multitude of reasons, especially after the changes made to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Even though Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card doesn’t come with an introductory bonus offer like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® does, it still comes on par with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® because of the extensive travel benefits it offers for a lower annual fee.

To start off, Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card isn’t open to new applicants via a traditional credit card application. In order to get Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card, you’ll need to hold an eligible Chase Marriott credit card for at least 12 months, and request a product change. Additionally, the eligible Chase Marriott credit card you're holding must have a minimum credit limit of $10,000.

While the annual fee for Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card is a hefty $450, the annual fee can be easily offset by the benefits it offers to cardholders.

The benefits that Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card offers to its cardholders include, but are not limited to:

• Annual free night award: Every anniversary year, you’ll receive an annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points. You can top off free night awards with an extra 15,000 points, meaning that you can use your annual free night award to redeem a night worth up to 100,000 points, unlocking serious value if you redeem your award for a night at a luxurious Ritz-Carlton property.
• Ritz-Carlton club-level upgrade certificates: Every calendar year, you’ll receive three club-level upgrade certificates that are redeemable at participating Ritz-Carlton properties for an upgrade to a club-level room.
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status: As a cardholder, you’ll receive complimentary Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, which includes perks such as a 25% bonus point earning rate when spending at Marriott properties, 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability), welcome gift upon check-in, etc.
• $300 annual airline credit: Every calendar year, you’ll receive an annual $300 airline credit that you can apply towards qualifying airline purchases, such as baggage fees, seat selection/upgrade fees, in-flight WiFi, lounge access passes/membership, etc. The statement credit isn’t automatically applied, and you’ll need to call Chase to apply your credit. However, qualifying purchases are pretty broad, so you’ll easily be able to apply your credit to any airline-related purchases.
• Global Entry application fee statement credit: Every four years, you’ll receive a $120 statement credit for an application to Global Entry. Even if your application is denied, or you’re paying the fee for a renewal instead of a new application, you’ll still be eligible to receive the statement credit.
• Lounge access: The primary cardholder and any authorized users will receive complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, as well as unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges. Additionally, you’ll have unlimited guest access, meaning that you can bring as many guests as you want into a lounge with you at no additional cost.

These benefits easily offset the annual fee, especially when you take advantage of the annual $300 travel credit and the annual free night award. You’ll most likely want to maximize the value of your credit card; however, it might be difficult to understand how the club-level upgrade certificates work and how to apply them.

What is Club Level

Club Level is an amenity exclusively available at Ritz-Carlton properties, but not all Ritz-Carlton properties have a Club Level. You might even be wondering what Club Level even is.

In short, Club Level is defined by The Ritz-Carlton as “a hotel within a hotel”. The Club Level elevates your experience into a truly luxurious hotel experience, as you are provided with exceptional comfort and personalized service.

The Ritz-Carlton Club provides you with a plethora of amenities that enhance your stay, with perks such as a dedicated hotel concierge, a private Club Lounge, unique in-room amenities, access to exclusive experiences, and additional amenities that allow you to fully relax and immerse yourself in your destination.

At the Club Lounge, you’ll enjoy a personalized concierge and a dedicated check-in area, and the Club Lounge offers complimentary food and beverage five times a day with selections that reflect the local cuisine and culture, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the location of your vacation.

Additionally, when you book a hotel stay with Club access, you’ll be given access to a wide variety of exclusive amenities and activities that you can utilize to enjoy your vacation and elevate your travel experience.

For example, at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, exclusive experiences that you can enjoy during your stay are access to a golf course, an authentic luxury Hawaiian lu’au with a hula dance and a fire dance, beach activities in the western Maui town of Kapalua, etc.

How to Redeem Club-Level Certificates

Club-level upgrade certificates are valid for hotel stays of up to 7 nights. In order to redeem a certificate, you’ll need to book an eligible cash rate, and contact a Marriott representative via phone call to apply the certificate to your booking.

You unfortunately can’t apply a club-level upgrade certificate to a stay booked using points or free night awards, so you’ll need to fork over a bit of money in order to book an eligible stay that will allow you to redeem your certificate.

If you don’t have the capability to fork over thousands of dollars on a hotel stay, you might think that you’re out of luck to using your club-level upgrade certificates.

Luckily, there are a handful of Ritz-Carlton properties out there that are on the more affordable side and will only cost you a few hundred dollars a night, making your dream Ritz-Carlton club-level stay more accessible.

For example, you can book a three-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton located in Chengdu, China, in November for a total of about 4,000 Chinese yuan, which is about $560 USD. You’ll need to book an eligible cash rate, such as the $100 property credit rate, that can be upgraded with your club-level upgrade certificate.

This is much more affordable and realistic to achieve than booking stays at high-priced Ritz-Carlton properties, such as The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.

There are many other affordable Ritz-Carlton hotels, such as the Chengdu Ritz-Carlton, and if you do some more searching and poking around, chances are you’ll be able to come across a Ritz-Carlton hotel that you can afford.

Final Remarks

Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card remains one of the most underrated luxury travel cards on the market. While it’s not open to new applicants in the traditional sense, its unique perks, especially the Club Level Upgrade Certificates, make it a hidden gem for Marriott Bonvoy loyalists and frequent travelers seeking elevated hotel experiences.

By understanding how to redeem your upgrade certificates strategically, you can turn a standard stay into a premium, all-inclusive experience complete with personalized service, exclusive lounge access, and elevated amenities. Pair that with the annual free night certificate, $300 airline credit, and unlimited Priority Pass™ Select + Chase Sapphire Lounge access, and you’re looking at a package of benefits that can far outweigh the annual fee.

If you’re someone who values comfort, exclusivity, and maximizing every dollar spent, this card is worth considering through a product change. With a little planning, your Ritz-Carlton stays can easily transform into unforgettable luxury experiences.