On a quiet weekday morning inside Boston Logan’s Chase Sapphire Lounge, the mood often tells the story before the signage does. Families settle in. Consultants open laptops. A parent pours juice while another checks a boarding pass. For years, holders of the Chase Ritz-Carlton Card expected guests to be welcome. That understanding is about to change. Beginning January 15, 2026, Chase will revise the Chase Ritz-Carlton Card guest policy, ending unlimited complimentary guest access and replacing it with a structured limit.
Cardmembers will still enjoy lounge access, but the rules around who joins them inside are now clearly defined and priced.
The change may appear minor. In use, it changes how travelers organize their airport experience.
What are the Chase Ritz-Carlton Card Guest Policy Changes in 2026
Lounge access with the Ritz-Carlton Card will include guest limits. Each visit includes two complimentary guests for cardmembers and authorized users.
Additional guests cost $27, while children under two enter at no charge.
The updated guest policy applies across two primary lounge networks –
In practice, access will remain available through either the physical Ritz-Carlton Card or the associated Priority Pass digital membership.
However, this marks a shift from the current structure, where cardmembers and authorized users enjoy unlimited complimentary guests.
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How the Previous Chase Ritz-Carlton Card Guest Policy Worked
The Chase Ritz-Carlton Card stood apart from nearly every other premium travel card. Under the existing guest policy, cardmembers and authorized users could bring any number of guests into Chase Sapphire Lounges and participating Priority Pass lounges without additional cost.
Families traveling together faced no per-person calculations. Colleagues traveling as a group entered without friction.
That flexibility built quite a loyalty among frequent travelers who valued predictability over perks marketing.
Why Chase Is Making the Change
Chase has not framed the update as a devaluation. Internally, the shift reflects a broader trend across premium travel cards.
Airport lounges have faced growing pressure. As passenger volumes have climbed, lounge crowding has increased. As a result, the economics of unlimited guest access no longer align with capacity planning.
By introducing a two-guest limit, the Chase Ritz-Carlton Card guest policy now mirrors the structure used by other premium cards across the market. Chase preserves lounge access while limiting congestion and controlling operating costs.
For cardmembers, the benefit remains strong. The difference lies in boundaries.
Who Does the Chase Ritz-Carlton Card Guest Policy Apply To
The updated guest policy applies equally to primary cardmembers and authorized users, with no distinction in guest access rights.
As a result, each individual with card-linked lounge access receives their own allowance of two complimentary guests per visit. In practice, this detail matters for families and couples who hold multiple authorized cards.
Children under the age of two remain exempt from guest limits and fees.
What the $27 Guest Fee Means in Practice
The $27 guest fee applies per person, per visit, beyond the first two guests. For a family of four traveling with one cardholder, one additional guest fee applies. For larger groups, costs accumulate quickly.
Many lounges price guest entry at $30 to $35. The shift affects expectations.
Even so, the difference lies in expectation. As a result, cardmembers accustomed to unlimited access will now need to plan.
The Chase Ritz-Carlton Card guest policy does not restrict visit frequency. It only limits the complimentary guest count per visit.
How Lounge Access Still Works
Importantly, the revised guest policy does not alter how access works. Entry remains available via the Ritz-Carlton Card or linked Priority Pass membership.
Access continues to cover Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and participating Priority Pass locations worldwide.
In addition, dining options and beverages are included. At the same time, workspaces and family seating remain available.
Service standards and lounge amenities remain consistent across locations, maintaining the experience cardmembers expect. As a result, the policy update changes guest limits without altering the overall lounge environment.
Impact on Families Traveling Together
Families feel this change most acutely. Under the previous guest policy, a parent traveling with multiple children was rarely considered headcount.
The new structure introduces cost considerations for families with older children. For households that travel frequently, adding authorized users may offset guest fees.
Each authorized user carries their own guest allotment, effectively expanding complimentary access.
This adjustment requires planning rather than restriction.
Impact on Business and Group Travelers
Business travelers often bring colleagues or clients into lounges for brief meetings or quiet preflight discussions.
The revised guest policy introduces a marginal cost to those interactions. For many, the tradeoff remains worthwhile. Lounge access continues to offer privacy and productivity that gate areas do not.
Authorized user cards again become a strategic tool for teams that travel together regularly.
Also read –7 Hidden Reasons Your Card Does Not Qualify for Lounge Access
How This Compares to Other Premium Cards
Viewed across the premium travel card landscape, the revised policy aligns Chase with industry norms. In general, most high-end cards cap complimentary guests between one and two. In some cases, cards charge higher per-guest fees. By contrast, few offer unlimited access.
The Chase Ritz-Carlton Card retains a competitive position by maintaining generous base access while limiting extremes. The Chase policy still outperforms standard Priority Pass memberships tied to lower-tier cards.
What Does Not Change Under the Chase Ritz-Carlton Card Guest Policy
Key benefits continue without change, as cardholders retain unlimited lounge access, authorized users keep full privileges, and children under two remain free. At the same time, access networks remain unchanged. In short, the update affects guest quantity rather than access quality.
Access procedures also remain consistent. Cardmembers continue to enter lounges using the physical Ritz-Carlton Card or a linked Priority Pass membership.
Lounge amenities also remain intact. Notably, food and beverage offerings, workspaces, and family seating continue to be available. This ensures the experience cardholders expect stays consistent.
Planning Ahead for 2026 Travel
Cardmembers planning group travel in early 2026 should adjust for the guest policy change.
Functions as the transition point for the policy. Before that date, visits follow the current unlimited guest structure. Afterwards, visits follow the new limits.
For frequent travelers, reviewing authorized user options ahead of travel may reduce out-of-pocket guest fees.
Ultimately, understanding guest policy now helps prevent confusion at the lounge desk later.
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Why the Chase Ritz-Carlton Card Guest Policy Continues to Hold Value
Even so, the Ritz-Carlton Card remains a strong lounge access tool despite the new limits. In most cases, two complementary guests per visit support common travel scenarios. At the same time, the $27 fee stays below typical lounge entry pricing.
Additionally, access networks continue to expand. Ultimately, for travelers who value space, calm, and consistency, the benefit remains meaningful.
In practice, for cardmembers who travel regularly, the structure favors predictability over excess.
As a result, knowing the guest limits in advance allows travelers to plan visits with confidence, preserve lounge access value, and avoid last-minute friction at the door.
Botton Line
Airport lounges reflect how travel feels at its edges. The Chase Ritz-Carlton Card guest policy once offered boundless access. Beginning in 2026, it will offer structured access. The shift favors clarity over generosity. It rewards preparation rather than assumption. For most cardmembers, the value remains intact. The experience asks for awareness.
And in modern travel, awareness often matters more than excess.
Clear Guidance on Policy Changes and Relocation Support
Travel benefits and card policies change quietly, often without much notice. Understanding how those changes affect access, costs, and planning requires clear interpretation rather than guesswork.
At Relo.AI, we help individuals and professionals make sense of policy updates that influence travel decisions. We track rule changes, explain what shifts mean in practice, and provide clear guidance so travelers can plan with confidence.
When policies change, clarity matters. For those who later choose to relocate to a favorite city, we support that transition as well.
Schedule a meeting with us for structured guidance on travel, lifestyle policy updates, and relocation support.
