The The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card is one of the most unusual Marriott Bonvoy credit cards in the U.S. because it is no longer available for direct applications.
For travelers who do not already have the Ritz-Carlton Card, one of the most common ways to obtain it is to first hold an eligible Chase Marriott credit card and later ask Chase about a Product Change.
One of the most straightforward strategies is:
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card → The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card
This guide focuses specifically on how to move from the Boundless to the Ritz-Carlton Card, what to consider before requesting a Product Change, and when the upgrade may make sense.
👉 Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Why Start With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a useful Marriott card on its own, while also serving as one of the most practical starting points for travelers interested in eventually obtaining the Ritz-Carlton Card.
| Benefit | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless |
|---|---|
| Direct Applications Available | Yes |
| Annual Free Night Award | 35K FNA |
| Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status | Silver Elite |
| Elite Night Credits | 15 per year |
| Additional Elite Night Credit | 1 ENC per US$5,000 spent |
| Marriott Purchases | 6X Marriott Bonvoy Points |
| Other Purchases | 2X |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% |
| Future Product Change | May ask Chase about the Ritz-Carlton Card |
The Boundless provides a 35K Free Night Award each year.
Marriott allows up to 25K Marriott Bonvoy Points to be added to an eligible FNA, meaning:
35K FNA + 25K Points = up to a 60K-point redemption
So even if you ultimately decide not to Product Change, the Boundless can still be a useful long-term Marriott card.
👉 Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless → Ritz-Carlton Card Process
Step 1｜Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Because the Ritz-Carlton Card is no longer available for direct applications, the first step is to obtain an eligible Chase Marriott credit card.
For many travelers, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is one of the most straightforward options.
Before applying, check:
- Chase 5/24 Rule
- Marriott Welcome Offer Eligibility
- Your existing Chase and American Express Marriott cards
- Previous Marriott Welcome Offers or Upgrade Bonuses
Marriott credit-card eligibility rules can be considerably more complicated than the standard Chase 5/24 Rule.
Step 2｜Wait Until the Account Is at Least One Year Old
After opening the Boundless, you generally should not expect to immediately convert it to the Ritz-Carlton Card.
In practice, the typical strategy is to hold the original card for at least approximately 12 months before asking Chase whether the account is eligible for a Product Change.
A Product Change is not an application for a new Ritz-Carlton Card. Instead, Chase converts the existing credit-card account into another product.
That generally means:
- You are not opening a separate new credit-card account
- It is not a standard new-card application
- You generally should not expect a new Welcome Offer
Product Change availability is ultimately determined by Chase for the individual account.
Step 3｜Check Your Credit Limit
The Ritz-Carlton Card is positioned as a premium Chase Marriott product.
Based on historical cardholder Data Points, a credit line of around US$10,000 has frequently been associated with eligibility to Product Change to the Ritz-Carlton Card.
However, it is better not to treat US$10,000 as a universally published Chase requirement.
If your Boundless has a lower credit limit, contact Chase and ask whether the account is currently eligible for the Ritz-Carlton Product Change.
If you have other Chase cards, you may also be able to ask Chase whether part of your available credit can be reallocated before requesting the Product Change.
Step 4｜Contact Chase and Request a Product Change
Once your account is eligible, contact Chase and ask whether you can:
Product Change the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card to The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card.
The important distinction is that you are requesting a Product Change, not submitting a new application.
If the account is eligible and Chase continues to offer the Ritz-Carlton Card as a conversion option, you can then confirm the current terms before proceeding.
Step 5｜Confirm the Current Benefits Before Converting
Before completing the Product Change, verify the current Ritz-Carlton Card benefits, including:
- Annual Free Night Award
- US$300 Annual Travel Credit
- Priority Pass Select
- Authorized User benefits
- Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
- Ritz-Carlton Club Level Upgrade Certificates
- Current annual fee
Credit-card benefits can change, so the decision should be based on the terms available when you actually request the conversion.
A Product Change is not guaranteed. Final eligibility depends on the options Chase makes available to your account at that time.
Boundless vs. Ritz-Carlton Card
The biggest reason to Product Change is not a higher Marriott earning rate. Instead, the Ritz-Carlton Card adds a much stronger package of premium travel benefits.
| Benefit | Boundless | Ritz-Carlton Card |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Applications Available | ✅ | ❌ |
| Annual Free Night Award | 35K FNA | 85K FNA |
| Maximum FNA Redemption With Top-Off | 60K | 110K |
| Marriott Elite Status | Silver Elite | Gold Elite |
| Elite Night Credits | 15 | 15 |
| Marriott Purchases | 6X | 6X |
| Other Purchases | 2X | 2X |
| Annual Travel Credit | — | US$300 |
| Priority Pass Select | — | Yes |
| Authorized User Annual Fee | US$0 | US$0 |
| AU’s Own Priority Pass | — | Yes |
| Ritz-Carlton Club Level Upgrades | — | 3 per year |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
Both cards earn 6X at Marriott, so the Product Change is not primarily about earning more Marriott Bonvoy Points.
The major upgrade is:
35K FNA → 85K FNA
plus:
US$300 Travel Credit + Priority Pass + Authorized User Priority Pass + Ritz-Carlton benefits
The Ritz-Carlton Card’s 85K FNA can also be topped off with up to 25K Marriott Bonvoy Points:
85K FNA + 25K Points = up to a 110K-point redemption
This can dramatically expand the range of high-end Marriott properties where the annual certificate can be used.
A Unique Ritz-Carlton Benefit: Free Authorized Users + Priority Pass
The 85K FNA is not the only unusual benefit of the Ritz-Carlton Card.
Another major advantage is that eligible:
Authorized Users can receive their own Priority Pass Select Membership.
The Authorized User annual fee on the Ritz-Carlton Card is:
US$0
This is different from simply allowing an Authorized User to enter a lounge as the primary cardholder’s guest.
An eligible Authorized User can have an independent Priority Pass membership and use it even when traveling without the primary cardholder.
For couples and families who frequently travel separately, this can be one of the card’s most valuable benefits.
For a complete breakdown of the Ritz-Carlton Card itself, see the dedicated The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card Guide.
Who Should Product Change to the Ritz-Carlton Card?
1. Travelers Who Can Maximize the 85K FNA
The Boundless 35K FNA can be topped off to a maximum redemption of 60K points.
The Ritz-Carlton Card provides:
85K FNA + 25K Points = up to 110K Points
Travelers who regularly redeem Marriott points at higher-end properties have considerably more flexibility with the Ritz-Carlton certificate.
2. Travelers Who Can Use the US$300 Travel Credit
The Ritz-Carlton Card provides up to:
US$300 in Annual Travel Credit
For cardholders who already have qualifying airline-related expenses, this benefit can substantially offset the effective cost of keeping the card.
The credit does not work exactly like every automatically triggered statement credit, so follow the current Chase terms when using it.
3. Families Who Need Multiple Priority Pass Memberships
This is one of the strongest reasons to consider the Ritz-Carlton Card.
Eligible Authorized Users can receive their own Priority Pass membership without an additional annual fee.
That can be particularly useful when the primary cardholder and Authorized Users frequently travel separately.
4. Travelers Who Actually Stay at Ritz-Carlton Hotels
The card provides:
3 × Ritz-Carlton Club Level Upgrade Certificates per year
These certificates are most valuable for travelers who already make eligible paid stays at Ritz-Carlton properties.
If you rarely stay at Ritz-Carlton hotels, this benefit should not be a major reason to Product Change.
Who Should Keep the Boundless?
Not every Marriott traveler needs the Ritz-Carlton Card.
Keeping the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless may make more sense if:
- The annual 35K FNA is sufficient for your travel
- You do not need Priority Pass
- You do not need additional Authorized User lounge memberships
- You cannot consistently use the US$300 Travel Credit
- You rarely stay at Ritz-Carlton hotels
- You prefer a simpler Marriott credit card
The Boundless already provides a strong core package:
35K FNA + 15 Elite Night Credits + 6X at Marriott
For many Marriott travelers, that may be all they need.
Can You Apply for Another Boundless After the Product Change?
Advanced Marriott cardholders may eventually consider this strategy:
Boundless → Ritz-Carlton Card → Apply for another Boundless
After a Product Change, the original Boundless account becomes a Ritz-Carlton Card, which may lead cardholders to consider applying for a new Boundless later.
However, the more important question is not simply whether you can submit another application.
It is:
Are you eligible for another Welcome Offer?
Marriott Welcome Offer Eligibility can depend on:
- Chase Marriott cards
- American Express Marriott cards
- Previous card ownership
- Previous Welcome Offers
- Previous Upgrade Bonuses
- Chase 5/24 status
Therefore, do not automatically assume the strategy is:
Boundless → Ritz → immediately apply for another Boundless
A better sequence is:
Complete Product Change → Check Marriott Welcome Offer Eligibility → Check 5/24 → Decide when to apply for another Boundless
Always review the current application terms before applying.
Conclusion: Start With the Boundless if Your Goal Is the Ritz-Carlton Card
The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card is no longer available for direct public applications.
The important strategy is therefore not finding a Ritz-Carlton Card application page, but establishing a potential path toward a future Product Change.
For travelers who do not currently hold an eligible Chase Marriott card, one strategy worth considering is:
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless → Hold the Card → Confirm Product Change Eligibility → Ritz-Carlton Card
The Boundless is already useful on its own with a 35K FNA, 15 Elite Night Credits, and 6X at Marriott.
If the account later becomes eligible for a Ritz-Carlton Product Change, the card can add an 85K FNA, US$300 Travel Credit, Priority Pass, and independent Priority Pass memberships for eligible Authorized Users.
Product Changes are not guaranteed, and eligibility ultimately depends on the options Chase makes available to your account.
👉 Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
