The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card remains one of the leading premium travel cards on the market.
IN A NUTSHELL: The revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card has added a multitude of credits to help offset the major hike in annual fee. While cardholders who already tend to book nicer hotels, eat at the hottest, hard-to-book restaurants, or utilize Apple TV or Apple Music are a shoe-in to keep this card, the new $795 annual fee may be difficult to justify for others.
However, Chase just announced a fee increase to $795, a notable jump from the previous $550. While it’s true that they’ve added loads of additional perks and credit benefits, features like ‘credits’ can be notoriously challenging to use, especially if they don’t align with services or businesses that are already integrated into your lifestyle.
Many of the top rewards cards have added credits like these in an attempt to soften the blow of ongoing fee increases. While on the face of it these additional benefits may seem appealing, these credits often have limitations such as monthly increments or other usage restrictions buried in the fine print, leaving credits often unused at the end of the year.
Here’s a breakdown of the current features of the card, with new features highlighted:
REVAMPED CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE BENEFITS
- Priority Pass Select membership with up to 2 free guests
- Chase Sapphire lounge access with up to 2 free guests
- $120 Credit for TSA, Global Entry or NEXUS every 4 years
- $120 Lyft credit ($10/month)
- $300 Travel credit through the Chase Travel Portal
- Travel Insurance and Auto Rental Coverage
- Purchase, Return, and Warranty Protection
- IHG Platinum Rewards Elite Status
- $500 Travel credit for The Edit hotel collection through the Chase Travel Portal ($250 Jan-June, then July- December, 2 night minimum)
- $300 Dining credit when dining at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables($150 Jan-June, then again July- December)
- $300 DoorDash credit and complimentary DoorDash membership ($5/month on food delivery and $10/month twice a month for groceries and retail)
- Complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music ($250 value)
- $300 Stubhub credit ($150 twice a year-Jan-June, then again July- December)
- $120 Peloton credit
REVAMPED CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE MULTIPLIERS
- 8X points when booking through Chase Travel (replaces 5X for flights and 10X hotels and car rentals)
- 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly with carrier or brand (replaces 3X for travel) DOES THIS MEAN NO MORE FOR THIRD PARTY? YES. SUCKS (1X on Chase Travel not eligible for points boost?)
- 3X points on dining
- 5X points for Lyft
- 10X points for Peloton hardware and accessories
Chase also extends a handful of additional benefits for their top tier spenders, those who spend $75,000 on their card annually.
Additional benefits for cardholders whose annual spending surpasses $75,000
- IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
- $250 credit for The Shops at Chase
- $500 Southwest Airlines Chase Travel Credit
- Southwest Airlines A-list status
NOTE TO CURRENT CARDHOLDERS
Existing CSR cardholders will not have access to these additional features until October 26, 2025 and will be charged $795 at the time of account renewal. Current and new applicants will have immediate access, as well as be charged the higher annual fee.
INCREASED FEES FOR AUTHORIZED USERS
An additional change to the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the fee increase to add authorized users. What was once $75 for each additional user is now a whopping $195 annually per person. This presumably is Chase’s effort to help limit the overcrowding in airport lounges, as both primary and authorized card holders are entitled to their own Priority Pass Select memberships for lounge access, as well as access for up to 2 guests per person, per visit.
For families and households who may have multiple users on a single account, this uptick in fee will likely be a significant setback. It may be time to revisit the importance of shared lounge access, as well as the importance of funneling spending into one family or group points account and consider alternative, more budget-friendly options.
CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE REVAMPED: ARE THE NEW BENEFITS WORTH THE COST?
Let’s delve into the nitty-gritty of the added benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve and determine if this card is the right fit for you. Although many of the add-ons may seem attractive at first glance, it’s important to consider if the credits will actually enhance your life $245 worth, not just add stress and additional costs as you try to shoehorn in a bunch of expenses you wouldn’t otherwise be taking on.
IHG Platinum Rewards Elite Status
If you are a fan or frequent guest of the IHG hotel collection, having Platinum Elite status could be a great perk. Benefits include early check-in, late check-out, and complimentary room upgrades when available, and a welcome amenity (such as a drink, snack, or hotel points). However, if you’re like me and love trying out different boutique hotels or kinds of lodging, the elite status may be of little value to you and your travel style.
$500 Travel credit for The Edit hotel collection
The $500 credit usable when booking through the Chase travel portal will be most beneficial to cardholders who regularly book higher-end hotels. The benefit of this credit is broken down into two $250 credits, one usable January to June, and then again July to December. To qualify for the credit, the bookings require a 2-night minimum.
Booking in The Edit collection includes:
- Daily breakfast for 2
- $100 property credit usable at the hotel restaurants, spa or other activities
- Subject to availability: early check-in, late-check out, and room upgrades
Booking lodging through Chase travel tends to be a bit pricier than booking directly with hotels, other credit card portals, or through a third party website, and hotels in The Edit collection are no different. Nightly rates for these properties typically start in the $400 range, and with the two-night minimum, costs can add up quickly, even with the $250 credit.
If you typically book more budget-friendly hotels on your travels, this credit might tempt you into spending far more on a stay than usual just to use up the credit. That said, the stay would be absolutely fabulous and luxurious, so if you think you can make this work to your benefit for a few special occasions a year, this could be a worthwhile perk. Let’s delve into the nitty-gritty of the added benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve and determine if this card is the right fit for you. Although many of the add-ons may seem attractive at first glance, it’s important to consider if the credits will actually enhance your life $245 worth, not just add stress and additional costs as you try to shoehorn in a bunch of expenses you wouldn’t otherwise be taking on.
$300 Dining credit when dining at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables
Like The Edit hotel credit, the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables credit will be best utilized by members that tend to dine at the world’s highly sought-after restaurants. The $150 credit would apply twice a year- once January through June, and again July through December when booking through Open Table’s exclusive experiences. If you are into haute cuisine and want an edge on snagging one of these highly coveted reservations with an added dining credit, this perk can hit it out of the park. For someone like me, this benefit does not move the needle.
$300 DoorDash credit and complimentary DoorDash membership
If you regularly use Doordash, this credit could be a great addition- depending on how you typically utilize the service. Doordash membership benefits include perks like free delivery and lower service fees, and the $300 annual credit is divided into monthly usages: two monthly $10 credits for grocery and retail purchases, and $5 a month towards food delivery. Personally I feel this credit would be far easier to use if it were a flat $25 a month for anything Doordash related and not fragmented, so once again, this is a miss for me.
Complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music
Subscriptions for Apple TV and Apple Music together is a value of $250 a year, so if these are subscriptions you already pay for, then, this is a great value. However, if you need to make adjustments to add these into your current lifestyle, this benefit is not something worth losing sleep over.
$300 Stubhub credit
The $300 Stubhub credit is divided into two $150 increments, one in the first half of the year, and again the second half. As ticket prices for experiences have only increased in the years, this can be a valuable perk for concertgoers. Keep in mind that Stubhub is a third-party reseller, not a direct seller, if that matters to you. On the flip side, since they are a secondary marketplace, the chances of finding tickets for sold-out shows is far more likely, which can be a notable bonus. This credit is a great perk and a total win for show-goers.
$120 Peloton credit and 10X earning on Peloton hardware and accessories
If you’re a Peloton user, this $120 Peloton credit that can go towards your regular memberships and points earn could be a huge win, especially since these purchases earn 10 times what they normally would.
REVAMPED MULTIPLIER SYSTEM FOR ULTIMATE REWARDS EARNING
While the increase in points per dollar earned for hotels and rental cars through the Chase travel portal is a definite win, increasing from 8X to 10X, it is clear that the revisions to the card are an effort to steer cardholders away from booking through third party sites. Whereas before the redux, any ‘‘travel’ expense (think Airbnb, parking garages, any kind of car service) would earn 3X points, the new rules outline that any ‘travel’ booked outside the Chase portal or not directly through an airline or hotel will earn only one point per dollar.
For the budget-conscious traveler who may likely find a better deal elsewhere than booking direct, this devaluation is a bummer and will certainly eat into the ability to earn points in the Ultimate Rewards system.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO KEEP OR APPLY FOR THIS CARD?
I imagine that for anyone applying to the card for the first time, these new features are a large part of the appeal. In that case, I am talking to current card holders, many whom are battling whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth renewing.
If you already pay for Apple TV and Apple music, or spend more than $300 on Stubhub a year, then renewing the card feels like a no-brainer. It is only necessary to justify an additional $245 in value, so either of those scenarios would push past that expense threshold. However, if you have authorized users that you would like to keep on the card, that adds another layer.
The Edit hotel collection credit and Exclusive Tables dining credit are tricky. I suggest being honest with yourself if you would genuinely seek these experiences if the credit weren’t there? I tend to fall victim to this kind of marketing all the time- buying 3 of something I don’t need, just because there was a ‘buy 2 get 1 free’ deal so I’m wary of this kind of perk. With the hotel credit, I know I’d wind up booking a far fancier hotel than normal, simply because I got $250 ‘free’.
That said, if being budget-conscious is not your main priority and the allure of these perks gives you just the nudge you need to explore different hotel or dining experiences, the revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve might be exactly the excuse you’ve been looking for.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Chase Sapphire Reserve remains a solid credit card, especially since benefits like the travel insurance, lounge access and TSA/Global Entry credit remain intact and are the most valuable features to me. However, for those who already might be paying for any of these new additional benefits outlined above, this revamp is a welcome upgrade and well worth the $795.
While these additional features will no doubt attract new Chase clients, especially with their limited-time 100,000 points welcome bonus, they will likely lose a slew of existing cardholders. I imagine many will downgrade to the remarkably cheaper Chase Sapphire Preferred, a far more affordable option with an annual fee of $95. For many, the ability to stay in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem while retaining the majority of the same travel insurance and purchase protection benefits will be enough to keep them in the Sapphire family.
Check back next week, when I’ll share my strategy for replacing the Chase Sapphire Reserve with other credit cards, while still enjoying valuable multipliers, travel credit and airport lounge access.
