Ritz Card questions

[Anonymous]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could answer a couple Ritz card questions. I will be going for the Citi Prestige card in March and was wondering if I can combine the 4th night free with the upgrade to club level.

I know that the upgrades have to be paid stays and the prestige would show as paid since the free night is credited back but didn't know if I had to use the upgrade at the time of purchase or can I call up once the reservation is done.

I was also wondering if I add an authorized user and book a stay then add them to the reservation, would they be able to check in and out without me? Would they be eligible for the room upgrade if one was available? 

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could answer a couple Ritz card questions. I will be going for the Citi Prestige card in March and was wondering if I can combine the 4th night free with the upgrade to club level.

I know that the upgrades have to be paid stays and the prestige would show as paid since the free night is credited back but didn't know if I had to use the upgrade at the time of purchase or can I call up once the reservation is done.

I was also wondering if I add an authorized user and book a stay then add them to the reservation, would they be able to check in and out without me? Would they be eligible for the room upgrade if one was available? 

Thanks in advance.

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No you cannot combine the Chase Ritz Carlton club upgrade reward with the Citi Prestige free 4th night reward.  Two different programs from two different companies.

I dont know the answer to your authorized user question but if jscucool76 is around, he probably knows,\.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the heads up. I was not sure if the club upgrades were put in directly to rewards account and whether you needed to use the Ritz card to redeem them.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for the heads up. I was not sure if the club upgrades were put in directly to rewards account and whether you needed to use the Ritz card to redeem them.

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Yeah to use either reward yu have to book the reservation thru their respective travel agent

[jsucool76]

Can't combine the upgrade cert and 4th night free,however, you may be able to combine 4th night free and the Citi prestige special Ritz benefits (free breakfast, hotel credits, room upgrades)

Contact the Citi prestige concierge and get a quote for the hotel and mention the special Ritz privileges.

Once you get the quote, compare the price to the z38 price on Ritzcarlton.com.

Depending on the price difference, the $100 hotel credit, 5 meal offerings a day, and free alcohol might be worth it (using the club level upgrade certificate.


I'd recommend booking the room through Ritz carlton using a club level upgrade cert on a flexible rate just in case availability disappears. You can always cancel if the prestige turns out to be a better deal.

Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll try my best to help.

[Anonymous]

I'd just stick with Prestige and avoid the $395 fee. It doesn't add much even to Ritz stays over the Prestige upgrades, unless you stay quite a lot at Ritz.

[jsucool76]

I appreciate your opinion in every thread even remotely related to the Ritz card, but it is your opinion. Without more knowledge of the OPs travel habits, it is impossible to say whether or not the card can be beneficial.


Maybe in the future you can use phrasing more along the lines of "what are your travel habits like, other cards may be a better option for you" as opposed to "I hate the Ritz card, so it's terrible for everyone. '

I've stayed at a Ritz once in my life, and the card more than paid for itself on that one stay, not including any other benefits associated with it.


I'd be willing to bet a club level upgrade cert would easily save the OP over $100 a night (plus the $100 hotel credit) if they choose to go that route.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'd just stick with Prestige and avoid the $395 fee. It doesn't add much even to Ritz stays over the Prestige upgrades, unless you stay quite a lot at Ritz.

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Thanks, I only see it as a $95 since I could use the $300 travel credit. When you add lounge access to authorized users and no additional cost for authorized users that seems pretty handy. I am sure I want the prestige with the 1.6 towards aa flights, 4th night free, $250 travel credit, admirals club access, and the ritz will mostly pay for itself with upgrades and the like on stays. Espcially since I would add my brother to the account and it will be his primary card so even if I use the prestige for most of my stays I would get more than enough perks with the card while he keeps my status as gold with his spend.

[Anonymous]

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@jsucool76 wrote:
Can't combine the upgrade cert and 4th night free,however, you may be able to combine 4th night free and the Citi prestige special Ritz benefits (free breakfast, hotel credits, room upgrades)

Contact the Citi prestige concierge and get a quote for the hotel and mention the special Ritz privileges.

Once you get the quote, compare the price to the z38 price on Ritzcarlton.com.

Depending on the price difference, the $100 hotel credit, 5 meal offerings a day, and free alcohol might be worth it (using the club level upgrade certificate.


I'd recommend booking the room through Ritz carlton using a club level upgrade cert on a flexible rate just in case availability disappears. You can always cancel if the prestige turns out to be a better deal.

Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll try my best to help.

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Are the club level upgrades limited? Stays would be with wife and two kids, one is an infant, so would I have to pay more for them?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@jsucool76 wrote:
Can't combine the upgrade cert and 4th night free,however, you may be able to combine 4th night free and the Citi prestige special Ritz benefits (free breakfast, hotel credits, room upgrades)

Contact the Citi prestige concierge and get a quote for the hotel and mention the special Ritz privileges.

Once you get the quote, compare the price to the z38 price on Ritzcarlton.com.

Depending on the price difference, the $100 hotel credit, 5 meal offerings a day, and free alcohol might be worth it (using the club level upgrade certificate.


I'd recommend booking the room through Ritz carlton using a club level upgrade cert on a flexible rate just in case availability disappears. You can always cancel if the prestige turns out to be a better deal.

Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll try my best to help.

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Are the club level upgrades limited? Stays would be with wife and two kids, one is an infant, so would I have to pay more for them?

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Yes they are limited in that you get 3 certificates each year for up to a 7 night stay