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There are several similarities between the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Ritz-Carlton card. Chase issues both cards, which offer worldwide lounge access, robust earning structures, and key travel and shopping benefits.
The similarities mostly end there, and the cards diverge into distinct, but equally beneficial, choices.
We’ll share the attributes of both cards and the reasons the cards could earn a place in the wallet of the right cardholder.
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It can be helpful to review a high-level comparison before diving into the details of each card.
Here’s how the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Ritz-Carlton card compare across key features and benefits:
Feature or Benefit
Welcome Offer
N/A
Earning Potential
Top Redemption Options
Top Travel Protections
Top Travel Benefits
Hotel Program Benefits
Top Shopping Protections and Benefits
Annual Fees and Authorized Users
Annual fee: $795
Authorized user annual fee: $195 per user
Annual fee: $450
Authorized user annual fee: $0 per user

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus offer after meeting minimum spending requirements within the specified period following card approval.
The Ritz-Carlton card does not come with a welcome offer. Also, the card is not open to new applicants directly. To be eligible for the Ritz-Carlton card, you must first have the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card for a full 12 months. Contact Chase after 12 months to request the product change.
Here is the latest information on welcome offers and details for each card:
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!
Chase Ultimate Rewards
The Ritz-Carlton card comes loaded with perks and benefits that any Marriott loyalist is sure to love.
The Ritz-Carlton card is a valuable card to have in your wallet if you frequently stay at Marriott properties and want perks like Marriott elite status, airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, and more.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is open to new applicants and includes a generous welcome offer. The Ritz-Carlton card does not have a welcome offer and can only be obtained after holding an eligible Chase Marriott Bonvoy-branded card for 12 months or more and contacting Chase to request a product change.
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The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points, while the Ritz-Carlton card earns Marriott Bonvoy points.
We’ll discuss redemptions next, but first, it’s essential to evaluate the value proposition by determining how well the card you select earns rewards on your most common purchases.
Here’s how you earn rewards on each card:
Earning Category
Travel

Dining
3x points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery
3x points
All other purchases
1x points
2x points
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns well on purchases through Chase Travel and on flights and hotels purchased directly. Beyond that, dining and Lyft rides are the additional bonus earning categories. If you spend heavily on flights and dining, you earn well on the card.
The Ritz-Carlton card also includes bonus earnings for flights and car rentals, but is more focused on earnings at Marriott properties. Those who stay frequently on paid stays at Marriott and dine out often benefit greatly. Plus, all other purchases earn 2x points.
Earning rewards is just part of the value equation. The value you receive at redemption time is also essential.
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders who spend $75,000 or more in a calendar year receive additional benefits, including Southwest Airlines A-List status and a $500 Southwest Airlines credit when booked through Chase Travel, a $250 credit to the Shops at Chase, and IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status.
Redemption options for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Ritz-Carlton card differ greatly, as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points that offer greater possibilities.
The Ritz-Carlton card earns Marriott Bonvoy Points that can also be valuable for select redemptions.
Here are the options for each of our featured cards:
Redemption
Travel
General statement credits
Redeem points for 1 cent each for a general statement credit.
N/A
Additional redemptions
Cash, shopping with participating retailers, experiences, gift cards, charitable donations
Gift cards, merchandise
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has the edge at redemption time, with several options that can yield over 2 cents per Ultimate Rewards point. Transferring points to airline and hotel partners can yield the best results, but redeeming points with Points Boost through Chase Travel can also be a good value. Plus, you can redeem points for 1 cent each as a statement credit or for cash.
Additionally, you can also redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for up to 1.5 cents each when using Pay Yourself Back in rotating categories.
While the best value for Marriott Bonvoy points earned on the Ritz-Carlton card may be for free hotel award nights, you can also transfer to dozens of airline partners to redeem for award flights. You receive a 5,000-mile bonus when transferring 60,000 or more points to most airline partners.
Both Ultimate Rewards points and Marriott Bonvoy points can also be redeemed for experiences.
Knowing that you may receive economic relief in the event of a covered incident during your travels can provide peace of mind. Included travel protections found on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Ritz-Carlton card can help.
Here are the travel protections included with each card:
Travel Protection
Car rental collision damage waiver
Primary auto insurance coverage
Primary coverage for most cars in the United States and abroad
Trip cancellation and interruption
Included

Trip delay
If your trip is delayed more than 6 hours or overnight, you could receive up to $500 per ticket.
If your trip is delayed for a covered event for more than 12 hours, or overnight, you could receive up to $500 per covered traveler for eligible incidentals.
Baggage insurance
Emergency evacuation, medical, and dental
Up to $2,500 for emergency medical or dental when on a trip more than 100 miles from home, with a $50 deductible
Roadside assistance
Coverage for up to 4 service calls per year in the United States or Canada, up to $50 per service call
Although both cards offer several travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers better overall travel insurance, including trip delay coverage that applies after 6 hours (versus 12 hours with the Ritz-Carlton card).
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While both cards offer several useful travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has the edge with better overall travel protection coverage.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Ritz-Carlton card offer several valuable travel benefits that can make your trips more comfortable and save you money.
Travel benefits can contribute substantially to the bottom-line value you receive with your card.
Here are the general travel benefits found on our featured cards:
Travel Benefit
Priority Pass Select membership and access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club
Included for cardholder, and up to 2 guests
Included for cardholder, authorized users, and up to 2 guests
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee teimbursement
Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry only
Travel statement credits
Up to $300 annual statement credit for general travel purchases
Up to $300 each year for airline incidentals purchases, lounge membership or access
Car rental and ride-sharing program benefits
Avis, National, and Hertz discounts and benefits
Foreign transaction fees
Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a general travel statement credit that is easy to use. The airline incidentals credit and lounge access credit, although more challenging to utilize, on the Ritz-Carlton card can provide an equally valuable benefit if you travel even a few times a year. It’s worth noting that the Chase Sapphire Reserve card travel statement credit is credited automatically, while the Ritz-Carlton card credit requires you to manually apply by contacting Chase.
One significant difference in the cards is lounge access for authorized users. The Ritz-Carlton card includes Priority Pass lounge access for the primary cardholder and authorized users, without an annual fee per card for authorized users. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card Priority Pass membership is included for the primary cardholder, but each card for an authorized user has an annual fee of $195.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Ritz-Carlton card have several valuable travel benefits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a $300 annual travel statement credit that is easy to use. In contrast, the Ritz-Carlton card offers an annual $300 airline incidentals and lounge access statement credit. Both cards come with a Priority Pass Select membership, but the Ritz-Carlton card provides access for authorized users without charging an annual fee per card.
In addition to the general travel benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Ritz-Carlton card, there are several hotel-specific benefits.
Here are the hotel-related benefits on each card:
Hotel Program Benefit
Hotel program elite status
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
Hotel statement credits
N/A
Additional hotel benefits
On-site benefits with The Edit
The Edit by Chase Travel includes many Marriott properties, including Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis. By adding your Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty program number to your booking through Chase Travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you receive any applicable Marriott Bonvoy benefits.
Shopping protections can provide economic relief should you have a covered problem with an eligible purchase made with your card. Shopping benefits can save you money or help you earn additional rewards.
Here are the shopping protections and benefits on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Ritz-Carlton card:
Shopping Protection or Benefits
Purchase protection
120 days from the date of purchase for damage or theft, up to $10,000 per eligible item, up to $50,000 per calendar year
120 days from the date of purchase for damage or theft, up to $500 per eligible item
Extended warranty
For eligible items with manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less, 1 additional year is added.
Return protection
If the merchant will not accept a return of an eligible item within 90 days of the purchase date, you could receive up to $500 per item, up to $1,000 per 12 months.
Shopping statement credits
N/A
Additional shopping benefits
Chase Offers
While both cards offer shopping protections for eligible purchases, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has the edge in terms of shopping benefits and statement credits for specific purchases.
Both cards include Chase Offers that can be added to your card. Log in to your online card account, select offers from service providers and retailers, make the required purchase, and earn additional cash-back or rewards points.
It’s essential to understand any fees associated with holding a card to determine its bottom-line value.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has an annual fee of $795 and charges an authorized user annual fee of $195.
The Ritz-Carlton card has an annual fee of $450 and does not charge a fee to add authorized users.
If you currently hold an eligible Chase Marriott Bonvoy-branded card and have had it for more than 12 months, it may make sense to upgrade to the Ritz-Carlton card. You’d get lounge access for you and all authorized users, along with enhanced hotel program benefits.
Otherwise, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is better overall and offers a generous welcome offer. The card is a premium travel card that earns flexible rewards with a broader range of redemptions. The card also offers excellent travel protections and benefits, as well as statement credits that more than offset the annual fee.
If you’re a Marriott loyalist, having both cards in your portfolio could yield an excellent combination for award flights and hotel stays.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is the better premium travel rewards card, as it earns flexible rewards that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners. The card also comes with excellent travel insurance benefits. The Ritz-Carlton card is not open to applicants and must be obtained by first holding an eligible Chase Marriott-branded card for at least 12 months. The Ritz-Carlton card can be a valuable hotel rewards card for Marriott loyalists.
Yes. The Ritz-Carlton card comes with worldwide lounge access through its included Priority Pass Select membership. Lounge access includes the cardholder and authorized users on the card. They can bring 2 guests with them at no charge each visit.
Yes. The Ritz-Carlton card includes Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. The card also grants 15 elite night credits each year that count toward higher level Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Yes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with Priority Pass Select membership, which includes worldwide access to Priority Pass lounge properties and to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations.
The information regarding The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services offices. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
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