@SPChaser wrote:Anyone familiar with Chase cards, URs, and PCs, especially @Aim_High , please let me know your thoughts on these questions. TIA.
May I please have your thoughts on these questions, as I don’t want to make a wrong step, especially when it comes to Chase? Since next month will be 5 years with the CSR, I wanted to inquiry about possible product changes. I’ve been thinking about the Ritz- Carlton, and my first question would be, can I product change from the CSR to the Marriott Boundless or Bold for a year prior to requesting the product change to the Ritz-Carlton? Second, if I were to do a product change, I currently have over 200,000 UR points with CSR alone. Should I transfer those points to my wife’s CSP beforehand, or, I was thinking, upgrade her CSP to the CSR before this transfer - would it matter? Also, I would like to eventually apply again for the CSR to take advantage of another sign-on-bonus; this depends on the offering and what are the better options for that pathway toward the Ritz-Carlton.
As far as I know, @SPChaser, the downgrade paths for a Chase Sapphire Reserve would include the Sapphire Preferred, the (original no-AF) Sapphire, Freedom Flex, or Freedom Unlimited. However, I'm fairly certain that you can't product change to either of the Marriott cards, Boundless or Bold. As you're probably aware, the Ritz Carlton card is no longer open to new applications so it would only be available as a product change from one of those Marriott cards. I believe you'd have to be under 5/24, apply for a Marriott card, and product change which I believe would be after no less than 12 months to the Ritz Carlton.
Transferring your 200K UR points to DW's CSP would be one easy way to keep them. Keep in mind that if she does not upgrade her CSP to CSR and you want to redeem in-portal, you'd be losing 25% value (25% bonus instead of 50% bonus in-portal.) If you plan to cash-in points or transfer the URs to partners, the value is the same on the CSP/CSR.
I don't recommend the downgrade path to the old Sapphire card. It's just not a very good value anymore. See >this link< where I recently wrote what I learned about the current structure.
Of course, as you're probably aware, you can't have two Sapphire cards simultaneously and to get a second SUB, you would need to have 48-months since your last Sapphire SUB.
The Ritz Carlton Visa Infinite is a great card, but a comparable twin is the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. I've considered the RC card but I like how the AMEX $300 credit is applied to Marriott charges automatically instead of against airline fees with the RC, which I believe you must request reimbursment. I also thought the RC was too much like my CSR, so I opted for the AMEX card instead. In terms of Marriott status, earnings, and perks, there are many similiarities between the two.
If you want to downgrade the Sapphire with the intent of a new app/SUB, your best choice would be to move the UR's to DW's CSP; either maintain that card as CSP or upgrade to CSR depending on your plan for the points; downgrade your CSR to CFF or CFU, and if you desire the Ritz Carlton card, apply for the Bonvoy Boundless card as a new application when you are eligible for a new Chase card.
@SPChaser wrote:@Aim_High thank you very much for the in-depth response! I was not aware the Bonvoy Brillant and RC were so similar, let alone being comparable to the CSR . Upon initial research, I didn't like the fact one has to request reimbursement with the RC. Late last year back in November, I had applied for the Bonvoy Brillant, yet was shockingly surprised when Amex had placed me in SUB jail. I was approved for the Hilton Apsire in April of 2021 and had maintained use of the card - it wasn't my main driver but I did put it to use. I had no idea why Amex deemed me worthy of SUB jail, other than it wanted more spend out me, which I decided to give them. While not being approved for the Brillant at that time, I decided to apply for their Bonvoy Business instead, which I was approved. Can you have both the Bonvoy Busniess and Brillant? I may not be eligible for the Brillant SUB, yet if it's better than then RC, I'd rather apply for that instead and forgo dealing with having to worry about the Chase 5/24 or double HPs.
You're welcome, @SPChaser.
The Ritz Carlton and Sapphire Reserve are most similar in their Visa Infinite benefits for travel protections including things like primary rental car coverage. And, they are both on the Visa network. Of course, they are also different in that they earn different types of points, have different types of credits, and have some other variations in perks.
URs are more flexible and can be transferred at a higher 1:1 value to airlines. Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to airline partners but at a lower 3:1 value.
Yes, you can have both the AMEX Marriott Business and AMEX personal Bonvoy Brilliant. And one benefit to having both is that you can double-up on the 15 annual night stay credits towards a higher elite status! With both cards, you start out with 30 nights annually. I've considered whether adding the business card would be helpful to me for that reason. (Having multiple personal cards with 15-night credits only allows the first of those to count. But the business card is separate. I currently the Chase Boundless and AMEX Brilliant which both advertise 15-night credits but I only get 15 nights between them.)
I experienced that AMEX "SUB jail" last year also but I exited it after one year with my Gold card and giving them enough spend on it. They gave me an enhanced MR earning offer which helped so check your offers. So just be patient and you'll probably graduate in-time.
Yes, the Ritz Carlton and AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant are extremely similar. Both have:
- $450 AF's
- $300 credits. (AMEX: any Marriott spend; RC: airline fees)
- $100 Marriott property credit for certain property charges on 2-night stays at Ritz Carlton or St Regis.
- Automatic Gold elite status
- 15 Elite Night Credits
- Earn Platinum Elite with $75K+ annual spending
- 6x - 3x - 2x earnings structure. (6x at Marriott; 3x for restaurants/flights; 2x everywhere else.) RC 3x includes car rental.
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
- Reimbursement for TSA Global Entry/TSA Precheck
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership
- Free annual night worth up to 50K Bonvoy points
- Shopping protections including Return Protection, Purchase Protection, and Extended Warranty coverage.
- Access to special offers (Chase or AMEX offers)
There's a lot more to it, but that gives you a quick overview of similarities. Now the Ritz Carlton's Visa Infinite's travel protections exceed the AMEX card and it also offers some perks at Ritz Carlton (upgrade to Club level) that the AMEX card doesn't have. From what I've read and from my experience, AMEX offers tend to be more lucrative if they appeal to organic spend. While I love the travel protections on my Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa Infinite, I felt that it would be unnecessary duplication to have two cards with similar coverages (CSR + RC.) I'm not saying that the AMEX card is better than the Chase version; it just depends on your overall card lineup and needs. There are some of our members who want to have both since they would earn those credits and double the free night awards, which could fully reimburse the AFs. I just don't think I want to bother with keeping up with the second card. And since I'm leaning against a long-term investment with AMEX charge cards, the Bonvoy Brilliant was a great way for me to stay diversified with AMEX with a card that was more useful to me.
Jezz @Aim_High I've been dithering between these options for some time now, and I knew I should've came here with my questions a LONG, LONG time ago. Again, thank you so very, very for the amazing feedback!!! I have a few things to think about, and my choices are A LOT more clearier today 