My pleasure in regards to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) refresh was barely stifled by the information that holding it’s getting way more costly. The Sapphire Reserve’s new $795 annual charge will make it one of many priciest premium journey rewards playing cards available on the market.
Nonetheless, this growth hasn’t deterred me from protecting the cardboard in my pockets for at the least the following yr. Here is why — plus what you need to contemplate in case you’re presently holding the cardboard or serious about making use of.
Associated: The whole information to Chase Final Rewards: How you can earn, redeem and switch factors
New credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve
One of many high components I contemplate earlier than making use of for a brand new bank card or renewing the annual charge on an current one is whether or not the assertion credit make sense for my particular life-style, spending behaviors and journey wants.
I pay for a number of subscriptions month-to-month, however the one I take advantage of day by day is Apple Music. I used to be thrilled to see that the refreshed Sapphire Reserve is providing as much as $250 yearly in subscriptions for Apple TV+ and Apple Music.
One other new addition to the Sapphire Reserve’s advantages lineup is a $300 annual StubHub credit- stand up to $150 in assertion credit from January by way of June and once more from July by way of December for a most of $300 yearly by way of Dec. 31, 2027. Activation is required. That is an particularly thrilling prospect for me since going to reveals is certainly one of my favourite pastimes. Actually, I’ve booked cross-country journeys to see my favourite band, Milky Likelihood, greater than as soon as.
Then there’s the brand new annual $500 The Edit by Chase Journey℠ credit score that I am unable to wait to make use of. The $500 is cut up up into two $250 biannual assertion credit for use between January and June, after which once more from July by way of December for pay as you go bookings. (Two-night minimal is required)
The Edit is Chase’s curated assortment of properties unique to Sapphire Reserve cardholders. Whenever you guide a keep through The Edit, you get complimentary perks, together with day by day breakfast for 2, room upgrades as they’re obtainable and a $100 property credit score you need to use for issues like eating and spa providers.
I not too long ago stayed at The Fifth Avenue Resort, a New York property inside The Edit assortment, and am in search of any excuse to return. Every part from the comfy consolation of my room and the extremely attentive employees to the superbly blended cocktails at The Portrait Bar and breakfast at Cafe Carmellini actually made it a world-class expertise.
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The annual $500 The Edit assertion credit score will shave at the least $250 off my subsequent keep.
The Apple Music, StubHub and The Edit credit — together with current credit that the Sapphire Reserve is protecting, just like the $300 annual journey credit score — are nicely suited to my life-style and journey wants. Since I do know I am going to use them, these perks offset the cardboard’s huge annual charge, making it a precious product for me to maintain in my pockets slightly than cancelling or downgrading.
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Acquainted Chase Sapphire Reserve credit
As talked about above, the Sapphire Reserve is protecting its versatile $300 journey credit score. As a result of Chase broadly defines “journey,” this credit score robotically applies to plenty of purchases, together with ride-hailing providers like Uber and Lyft, cruise traces, Airbnb leases and subway fares.
This journey credit score is certainly one of my favourite perks supplied by any card as a result of I can use it in full if I wish to, and it applies robotically. Earlier this yr, I used to be in a position to make use of the credit score for a protracted weekend in Puerto Rico, the place my accomplice and I stayed at a beautiful Airbnb lower than a five-minute stroll from the seashore for under $88 out of pocket.
The journey credit score is designed to be easy and easy to make use of, which I recognize. It is one much less factor I’ve to actively take into consideration and monitor on a month-to-month, quarterly or annual foundation.
Associated: Month-to-month guidelines: Bank card perks and advantages you need to be utilizing
The $120 International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus assertion credit score you get each 4 years as a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmember is one other returning credit score that I am going to proceed to maximise.
Sapphire Reserve advantages suited to my life-style
Chase is making waves within the airport lounge area with its assortment of Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Membership places. Fortunate for me, certainly one of these lounges opened at certainly one of my house airports, Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL), in February 2025.
As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, I obtain entry to this lounge and get to deliver as much as two visitors with me to loosen up and revel in a drink, snacks, a meal and even a facial earlier than a flight.
And in case your travels take you to an IHG property, the Sapphire Reserve now confers IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite standing robotically.
That is one step down from IHG’s top-tier Diamond Elite standing. Although it could not transfer to needle for some, I see it as a pleasant bonus perk that’ll elevate my stays at IHG properties.
Choices like a welcome amenity at check-in, complimentary room upgrades (if obtainable) and early check-in and late checkout (if obtainable) will make the lengthy weekend journey I am planning on the Kimpton Epic Resort in Miami that a lot better.
Associated: IHG elite standing: What it’s and how you can earn it
One essential be aware for current Sapphire Reserve cardholders like me: We won’t get entry to the brand new advantages outlined on this information till Oct. 26. New candidates, nevertheless, will obtain rapid entry to the brand new advantages.
Importantly, the brand new $795 annual charge will kick in for current cardholders throughout your upcoming cardmember anniversary. Mine, for instance, is in early January; so whereas I paid the $550 annual charge in January 2025, I will be paying the $795 annual charge in January 2026.
Although I will not get entry to the upgraded perks on the Sapphire Reserve till late October, I like that I am going to have a few months to check drive the cardboard’s new advantages earlier than the brand new annual charge kicks in.
New Chase Sapphire Reserve incomes charges
Lastly, the Sapphire Reserve earns one of the vital precious reward currencies available on the market: Chase Final Rewards factors, which TPG’s June 2025 valuations peg at 2.05 cents apiece. This incomes energy, coupled with Chase’s stellar switch companions, makes the cardboard that rather more precious.
Associated: How a lot are Chase Final Rewards factors price?
As a part of the revamp, Chase up to date the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus class incomes charges. The largest modifications fall beneath the journey umbrella (assume: lodges, rental automobiles and flights), whereas eating purchases stay at a stable incomes charge of three factors per greenback spent.
Whereas some classes benefited from elevated reward charges, others took successful and moved in the other way. Here is a abstract of the modifications:
| Class | Earlier reward charge |
New reward charge |
|---|---|---|
| Lodges booked through Chase Journey | Was: 10 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 8 factors per greenback spent |
| Rental automobiles booked through Chase Journey | Was: 10 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 8 factors per greenback spent |
| Flights booked through Chase Journey | Was: 5 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 8 factors per greenback spent |
| Flights booked immediately | Was: 3 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 4 factors per greenback spent |
| Lodges booked immediately | Was: 3 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 4 factors per greenback spent |
| All different journey (together with cruises, trip leases and transit purchases) | Was: 3 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 1 level per greenback spent |
For me, the brand new charges aren’t a make-or-break scenario since I do not normally use Chase Journey for my reservations. The one sort of reservation I do sometimes make by way of Chase Journey occurs to be worldwide flights, which now earn a wholesome 8 factors per greenback spent.
Since I extra usually reserve flights and lodging outdoors of Chase Journey, the brand new 4 factors per greenback spent in these particular classes is a pleasant increase for my private reward-earning technique.
Backside line
Being a Sapphire Reserve cardholder now prices a further $245, however when maximized, the cardboard’s new credit greater than offset the $795 annual charge … and that is earlier than you think about different advantages like lounge entry. At current, this card’s worth nonetheless outweighs its value, so it should proceed to be a mainstay in my pockets.
Associated: Simply how good is the brand new Chase Sapphire Reserve 100,000-point provide with the $500 credit score?
The refreshed card nonetheless aligns properly with my typical month-to-month bills throughout classes like streaming subscriptions and travel-related purchases. To me, the Sapphire Reserve stays the final word journey and life-style companion — it is a Visa card, so it is accepted virtually in every single place, it does not cost overseas transaction charges and though a number of the reward charges have been devalued, they’re nonetheless stable and supply respectable returns on my common spending.
To resolve whether or not that is the fitting card for you, crunch the numbers to see in case your spending habits and life-style wants will yield outsize worth from its up to date credit and perks. If you may get greater than $795 in worth from the cardboard, it is price getting and protecting.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Associated: Bank card switch bonuses
