Solid video. Good point about pre-paying for travel. It’s easy to over value the credits, gotta make sure it works for you. Used to have the Brilliant and loved it before they changed the resort credit to a dining credit and raised the annual fee. That’s when I dropped it. The Aspire is my personal favorite because the resort credits are easy for me to use. I combine 1 with the free night certificate, then use the other to offset a cash stay for another trip. Keep up the good work
Yeah the brilliant can be great if you’re a true Marriott loyalist, but can’t blame you for dropping it. The aspire is basically tied with the Ritz and has some fantastic value. I like your strategy of combining the free night with the resort credit! Definitely an easy way to use it
Very nice video breaking down this card. I just did a product change to the Ritz-Carlton card this past week, and have already received my new card. The card is made of the heavy metal and is absolutely stunning. And I agree, on balance, this feels like the best premium travel credit card out there.
Appreciate the comment and congrats on the Ritz card! Out of curiosity, did you get the full metal card that was recently announced is coming back? Should be about 28g (double the weight of other ‘metal’ cards) and I’m curious if it has tap to pay!
@@Cody.Little - It is indeed the full metal card. I also carry the BILT Mastercard, and it's clear the RC Visa is heavier. And yes, it does have "Tap to Pay"...
@@chatanp That’s awesome, I know some were worried the full metal version wouldn’t have tap to pay since it can be difficult to do with metal rather than plastic. Appreciate the data point!
Good stuff, you’ll love it! I’m hyped about the metal card too, but I heard it’s 18g, not the original 28g. Still will be one of the heaviest in my wallet though
@@Cody.LittleHave you seen any data points from existing card holders who received their metal upgrade? I'm wondering if a PC today is getting the hybrid metal and the all metal are still in process. If an existing cardholder received their unsolicited "all-metal" upgrade and it's an 18g hybrid, so be it
@@JoeGugel I’m in a Marriott Facebook group and saw some people post that they got the new metal card and one of them weighed it and stated it was 18g. So based off that it’s just a heavier hybrid compared to the previous one. I don’t think we’ll see full metal again unfortunately since tap to pay doesn’t work with it
I think the Brilliant is a better value proposition with Platinum status. If you travel in the Int'l space, and enjoy their more premium brands, the perks and bene's blow the Ritz card away. Marriot Gold status is blah. The RC card is not a CSR equivalent, as it does not earn UR points... a different ball game altogether. The 3 RC club level access/yr is overrated imo. RC is still leveraging its prestigious name from the past - for now. Otherwise - nice vid👍🏾
The brilliant is a fantastic card and I agree, if you travel internationally a lot then the platinum status will take you far. I travel internationally a few times a year but typically don’t stay in their luxury brands unless it’s a good deal or I’m using points. As a points earner, the CSR is no doubt superior with chase UR points. However, the CSP is a solid runner up and benefits wise I like the ritz and it’s cheaper, which is where the CSP+Ritz combo comes in. Appreciate the input!
1:48 Nice video. You referred to cheep airlines. Do you think they decide based on a price of credit we ask them to apply? I agree that around $30-60 is a reasonable range for incidental charges.
Appreciate it! I think there’s multiple factors that come into play. The main ones are likely the price and what the purchase codes as. For example, smaller purchases are more likely to be approved and reimbursed, however if the charge literally states “southwest gift card” then they’ll deny it
Hope to product change to it in a few months! Then downgrade a year from it, and get the bonus on the brilliant and business amex cards. Then upgrade back, and eventually get another boundless sign up bonus. And maybe grab another brilliant a year after first brilliant, and downgrade first brilliant to the regular bonvoy. 2 85k nights, and 3 35k nights.
Now that is how you get SUBs and FNAs 😤 I’m considering doing the same to get the brilliant if I end up being okay with more AFs, but we’ll have to see if it’s worth it to go through the hassle of downgrading and upgrading and I’ll also need to confirm if you can downgrade from the ritz and then upgrade to it again 🤔 you would think so but I feel like I heard somewhere that there’s a rule for that
@@Cody.Little oh? Well that will stink if they bar you from upgrading back to it again. Might have to sacrifice the sub on the brilliant then; because I think you can have the ritz and still get the sub on the business card.
@@Cody.Littlesubscribed! Didn't have to, but you did. Much respect to cc youtubers like yourself that are always helping out the community. Wish your channel 10k + subs!
@@donaldomere I think that’s a good combo! One airline and one hotel card. As long as you can partially use the airline credit and then get some good value from the free night, it’s definitely worth it. The delta platinum doesn’t have lounge access but the Ritz does which will be a nice addition
Thanks Cody for the feedback! You usually receive the free night in the beginning of the first year. Do you if it’s because most people upgrade after their anniversary and you won’t receive the next free night until your anniversary comes back around. If we have to wait until the second year to get the annual free night that means you’re paying the annual fee the first year without the free night. I don’t like the idea of that haha. I’m coming up on my anniversary soon and wondering if I should product change before assuming I’ll get the free night!
@@linlondyn Good question! So with Chase Marriott cards, you get the annual free night award on the renewal of the card. So if you product change to the Ritz, you won’t get the 85k free night until about 12 months later, which does make the first year a bit harder to justify since there’s no sign up bonus. What most recommend is waiting for your 35k free night award to hit your account if you have the Boundless, and once that hits your account, then you product change. The only thing I’m unsure of is if you wait for the 35k free night, then product change, I don’t know if you lose the free night. I imagine you don’t since it’s already in your account, but just wanted to let you know. The way around that would be to use your 35k award immediately (even for a future stay) and then product change. In the long run, I still think the Ritz is worth it as long as you use the free night for nice hotels and can use at least half of the airline credit
For the most part that’s correct! But I have seen data points on cheaper flights being approved. I think the main thing is what it codes as and what it’s listed as on your statement. If it doesn’t say “ticket” or similar, Chase probably won’t care
do you happen to know if the product change to Ritz count as +1 card to the 5/24 rule? im at 4/24 and in dont wat to max it out by getting the Ritz@@Cody.Little
Since Chase/Marriott decided to market a “new metal card” for the Ritz not too long ago, it’s clear they won’t be closing the card anytime soon. Then to your point, maybe they increase the fee and/or change some benefits? Honestly I’m not sure. I think it’s 50/50 cause the card is really good, but you have to use the benefits, there’s no sign up bonus that is costing Chase money, and it’s a way to keep people in the Marriott/Chase ecosystem to compete with the Amex Brilliant
A concise and well done video. You did a really good job man Thank you
@@lyleanderson9615 thank you! I appreciate you watching
Really Good video bro remember your early subscribers when you hit thousands later 👍🎉
Much appreciated!
Subscribed just now
Solid video. Good point about pre-paying for travel. It’s easy to over value the credits, gotta make sure it works for you. Used to have the Brilliant and loved it before they changed the resort credit to a dining credit and raised the annual fee. That’s when I dropped it. The Aspire is my personal favorite because the resort credits are easy for me to use. I combine 1 with the free night certificate, then use the other to offset a cash stay for another trip. Keep up the good work
Yeah the brilliant can be great if you’re a true Marriott loyalist, but can’t blame you for dropping it. The aspire is basically tied with the Ritz and has some fantastic value. I like your strategy of combining the free night with the resort credit! Definitely an easy way to use it
Very nice video breaking down this card. I just did a product change to the Ritz-Carlton card this past week, and have already received my new card. The card is made of the heavy metal and is absolutely stunning.
And I agree, on balance, this feels like the best premium travel credit card out there.
Appreciate the comment and congrats on the Ritz card! Out of curiosity, did you get the full metal card that was recently announced is coming back? Should be about 28g (double the weight of other ‘metal’ cards) and I’m curious if it has tap to pay!
@@Cody.Little - It is indeed the full metal card. I also carry the BILT Mastercard, and it's clear the RC Visa is heavier. And yes, it does have "Tap to Pay"...
@@chatanp That’s awesome, I know some were worried the full metal version wouldn’t have tap to pay since it can be difficult to do with metal rather than plastic. Appreciate the data point!
The more I look at it the RC + Sapphire Preferred is better than the Reserve alone for $5 less
That’s what I’m saying! That’ll be my setup in a few months when I product change to the Ritz
In got the Boundless card last June and will soon be able to change to the Ritz, excited that they are going back to the metal card
Good stuff, you’ll love it! I’m hyped about the metal card too, but I heard it’s 18g, not the original 28g. Still will be one of the heaviest in my wallet though
@@Cody.LittleHave you seen any data points from existing card holders who received their metal upgrade? I'm wondering if a PC today is getting the hybrid metal and the all metal are still in process. If an existing cardholder received their unsolicited "all-metal" upgrade and it's an 18g hybrid, so be it
@@JoeGugel I’m in a Marriott Facebook group and saw some people post that they got the new metal card and one of them weighed it and stated it was 18g. So based off that it’s just a heavier hybrid compared to the previous one. I don’t think we’ll see full metal again unfortunately since tap to pay doesn’t work with it
I think the Brilliant is a better value proposition with Platinum status. If you travel in the Int'l space, and enjoy their more premium brands, the perks and bene's blow the Ritz card away. Marriot Gold status is blah. The RC card is not a CSR equivalent, as it does not earn UR points... a different ball game altogether. The 3 RC club level access/yr is overrated imo. RC is still leveraging its prestigious name from the past - for now. Otherwise - nice vid👍🏾
The brilliant is a fantastic card and I agree, if you travel internationally a lot then the platinum status will take you far. I travel internationally a few times a year but typically don’t stay in their luxury brands unless it’s a good deal or I’m using points. As a points earner, the CSR is no doubt superior with chase UR points. However, the CSP is a solid runner up and benefits wise I like the ritz and it’s cheaper, which is where the CSP+Ritz combo comes in. Appreciate the input!
1:48 Nice video. You referred to cheep airlines. Do you think they decide based on a price of credit we ask them to apply? I agree that around $30-60 is a reasonable range for incidental charges.
Appreciate it! I think there’s multiple factors that come into play. The main ones are likely the price and what the purchase codes as. For example, smaller purchases are more likely to be approved and reimbursed, however if the charge literally states “southwest gift card” then they’ll deny it
Will you share how you redeemed your 85k certificates? Would be cool to hear your personal experiences with this card
I’ll definitely be making some videos in the future on redemptions with both FNAs and points!
Hope to product change to it in a few months! Then downgrade a year from it, and get the bonus on the brilliant and business amex cards. Then upgrade back, and eventually get another boundless sign up bonus. And maybe grab another brilliant a year after first brilliant, and downgrade first brilliant to the regular bonvoy. 2 85k nights, and 3 35k nights.
Now that is how you get SUBs and FNAs 😤 I’m considering doing the same to get the brilliant if I end up being okay with more AFs, but we’ll have to see if it’s worth it to go through the hassle of downgrading and upgrading and I’ll also need to confirm if you can downgrade from the ritz and then upgrade to it again 🤔 you would think so but I feel like I heard somewhere that there’s a rule for that
@@Cody.Little oh? Well that will stink if they bar you from upgrading back to it again. Might have to sacrifice the sub on the brilliant then; because I think you can have the ritz and still get the sub on the business card.
@@GEN512X I did some more research on it and it seems it is possible to downgrade and then upgrade again so should be good!
@@Cody.Littlesubscribed! Didn't have to, but you did. Much respect to cc youtubers like yourself that are always helping out the community. Wish your channel 10k + subs!
@@GEN512X I really appreciate that! I just love the cc game and helping others makes it even better
I have the boundless, delta platinum card. Do you think I should upgrade to RC to keep both the delta platinum and the RC?
@@donaldomere I think that’s a good combo! One airline and one hotel card. As long as you can partially use the airline credit and then get some good value from the free night, it’s definitely worth it. The delta platinum doesn’t have lounge access but the Ritz does which will be a nice addition
Do you know when you’ll receive the 85k night after product change?
You wouldn’t get it until a year after paying the annual fee on the Ritz, so about a year after the product change
Thanks Cody for the feedback! You usually receive the free night in the beginning of the first year. Do you if it’s because most people upgrade after their anniversary and you won’t receive the next free night until your anniversary comes back around. If we have to wait until the second year to get the annual free night that means you’re paying the annual fee the first year without the free night. I don’t like the idea of that haha. I’m coming up on my anniversary soon and wondering if I should product change before assuming I’ll get the free night!
@@linlondyn Good question! So with Chase Marriott cards, you get the annual free night award on the renewal of the card. So if you product change to the Ritz, you won’t get the 85k free night until about 12 months later, which does make the first year a bit harder to justify since there’s no sign up bonus. What most recommend is waiting for your 35k free night award to hit your account if you have the Boundless, and once that hits your account, then you product change. The only thing I’m unsure of is if you wait for the 35k free night, then product change, I don’t know if you lose the free night. I imagine you don’t since it’s already in your account, but just wanted to let you know. The way around that would be to use your 35k award immediately (even for a future stay) and then product change. In the long run, I still think the Ritz is worth it as long as you use the free night for nice hotels and can use at least half of the airline credit
@@Cody.Little Got it! Thanks so much for the breakdown!
Greta vid
or even airfare? i dont think so, cant really redeem for airfare
For the most part that’s correct! But I have seen data points on cheaper flights being approved. I think the main thing is what it codes as and what it’s listed as on your statement. If it doesn’t say “ticket” or similar, Chase probably won’t care
do you happen to know if the product change to Ritz count as +1 card to the 5/24 rule? im at 4/24 and in dont wat to max it out by getting the Ritz@@Cody.Little
Don't you think the Ritz-Carlton card is going to cost a lot more this year?
Since Chase/Marriott decided to market a “new metal card” for the Ritz not too long ago, it’s clear they won’t be closing the card anytime soon. Then to your point, maybe they increase the fee and/or change some benefits? Honestly I’m not sure. I think it’s 50/50 cause the card is really good, but you have to use the benefits, there’s no sign up bonus that is costing Chase money, and it’s a way to keep people in the Marriott/Chase ecosystem to compete with the Amex Brilliant
Not worth the process.
Definitely takes a bit more steps, but getting an elevated SUB on the boundless and then product changing is worth it to me!