Maximizing Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card $300 Travel Credit in 2020

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UPDATE Good News: Starting July 1, 2020 – In addition to qualifying airline

incidental purchases, grocery store and restaurant categories will also count towards the $300 Annual Travel Credit. The purchases must post by December 31, 2020. See this post.

The Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card has a hefty $450 annual fee. One of the benefits of the card is if you can take advantage of the the annual $300 travel credit that will knock down the annual fee to $150.

You can claim up to $300 travel credit in a calendar year, starting from January through the end of December month. It is not based on the period when you sign up for the credit card or pay for the annual fee.

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Use the Credit For Restaurants

For a limited time, in wake of COVID-19 situation, starting July 1st through December 31, 2020, restaurants category qualify towards $300 travel credit benefit. This means that you can even purchase restaurant gift cards online but make sure the payment is processed directly by the restaurant and not by a third party. Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card earns 3x points per $1 spent at U.S. restaurants and 3 Marriott points is equivalent to 1 mile if you collect Marriott points to transfer to frequent flyer programs.

Use the Credit At Grocery Stores

Amidst the COVID-19, any grocery purchases also qualify towards the $300 travel credit. This a limited time offer that runs from July 1st through December 31, 2020. Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card earns 1x points per $1 spent at grocery stores.

Maximizing Chase Restaurants and Grocery Store Credits Tip #1: Chase Offers.

Check your Chase offer from time to time from now through December 31, 2020 to see if your Ritz-Carlton credit card is targeted for any statement credits at participating restaurants and grocery store categories.

Check Chase Offers within your Chase credit card’s account online or Chase app.

Maximizing Chase Restaurant Credits Tip #2: Dinning Rewards

Maximizing this limited time added benefit by joining dinning rewards programs with your favorite airline mileage program or hotel rewards program by adding your Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card. Not only you will earn miles/points, but you will also earn Marriott points and use your $300 travel credit. Most dinning program even offers sign-up bonus miles or points by spending x amount in your first 30 days after joining the program at participating restaurants for new accounts. For example, Marriott Dinning Rewards Program, American Airlines AAdvantage Dinning Rewards Program, Alaska Airlines MileagePlan Dinning Rewards Program to name a few.

Use the Credit For Qualifying Airline Purchases

According to Chase’s terms, the $300 travel credit can only be applied towards non-ticket purchases, including airline lounge day pass, or towards a yearly lounge membership of your choice, airline seat upgrades, airline baggage fees, in-flight Internet/entertainment, and in-flight meals. No airlines gift cards.

Use the Credit For Non-Qualifying Airline Purchases

While Chase has terms and conditions on what they consider as “qualifying airline purchases” for the $300 travel credit as mentioned above, the miles and points community offers some data points that some non-qualifying airline purchases actually work as well.

Data Points on What Works for the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card $300 Travel Credit?

Here are some data points on what airline charges were working based on our each successful call to request the $300 travel credit reimbursement:

British Airways award tax fees (07/2019)
United award ticket fees (02/2019)
Lot Airlines ticket purchase (01/2019)
Alaska Airlines in flight purchase (12/2018)
American Airlines ticket purchase.
Japan Airlines award ticket fees for Emirates First Class booking.
Alaska Airlines award ticket fees for partner airline booking.

How to Request Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card’s Annual $300 Travel Credit?

The process to request the $300 travel credit is not an automated process. You must either call in or send secured message to Chase to reimburse any eligible charges at a discretion of Chase.

As you can see, getting the $300 travel credit with Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card can be really annoying because you have to contact Chase to apply the credit. From my experience, I recommend that you call in instead of sending a secured message to request for the travel credit because the agent on the other end may request more paperwork through secured message. By calling in, they will let you know right away.

However, don’t worry. The calling process is really easy and painless. Chase agent is generally very effective handling this type of call. You simply call the number on the back of your Ritz-Carlton credit card and let them know you want to request travel credit by telling them the date of purchase, merchant name, and the dollar amount.

Remember, you can claim up to $300 travel credit in a calendar year, starting from January through the end of December month. It is not based on the period when you sign up for the credit card or pay for the annual fee.

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Phly Wright

Hi there, my name is Phly (pronounced as Fly). I am a dedicated travel enthusiast with a deep passion for miles and points. Always willing to share my expertise, I possess a wealth of knowledge on miles and points, extensively researching and staying up-to-date with the latest strategies for maximizing travel rewards through credit cards and loyalty program promotions.