My pleasure in regards to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) refresh was barely stifled by the information that holding it’s getting much more expensive. The Sapphire Reserve’s new $795 annual price will make it one of many priciest premium travel rewards cards in the marketplace.
Nonetheless, this improvement hasn’t deterred me from conserving the cardboard in my pockets for not less than the following 12 months. Here is why — plus what it’s best to contemplate if you happen to’re presently holding the cardboard or interested by making use of.
Associated: The complete guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards: How to earn, redeem and transfer points
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 price on an present one is whether or not the assertion credit make sense for my particular way of life, spending behaviors and journey wants.
I pay for a number of subscriptions month-to-month, however the one I exploit each day is Apple Music. I used to be thrilled to see that the refreshed Sapphire Reserve is providing as much as $250 annually 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 one in every of my favourite pastimes. In actual fact, I’ve booked cross-country journeys to see my favourite band, Milky Probability, greater than as soon as.
Then there’s the brand new annual $500 The Edit by Chase Travel℠ credit score that I can not 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 by way of The Edit, you get complimentary perks, together with each day breakfast for 2, room upgrades as they’re obtainable and a $100 property credit score you should utilize 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 on the lookout for any excuse to return. The whole lot from the comfortable consolation of my room and the extremely attentive workers to the peerlessly combined 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 not less than $250 off my subsequent keep.
The Apple Music, StubHub and The Edit credit — together with present credit that the Sapphire Reserve is conserving, just like the $300 annual journey credit score — are nicely suited to my way of life and journey wants. Since I do know I will use them, these perks offset the cardboard’s large annual price, making it a worthwhile product for me to maintain in my pockets relatively than cancelling or downgrading.
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Acquainted Chase Sapphire Reserve credit
As talked about above, the Sapphire Reserve is conserving its versatile $300 journey credit score. As a result of Chase broadly defines “travel,” this credit score robotically applies to various purchases, together with ride-hailing providers like Uber and Lyft, cruise strains, Airbnb leases and subway fares.
This travel credit score is one in every 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 12 months, I used to be ready to make use of the credit score for an extended 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 simple to make use of, which I recognize. It is one much less factor I’ve to actively take into consideration and observe on a month-to-month, quarterly or annual foundation.
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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 will proceed to maximise.
Sapphire Reserve advantages suited to my way of life
Chase is making waves within the airport lounge area with its assortment of Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations. Fortunate for me, one in every of these lounges opened at one in every of my residence airports, Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL), in February 2025.
As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, I obtain entry to this lounge and get to convey as much as two friends with me to loosen up and luxuriate 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.
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One necessary word for present Sapphire Reserve cardholders like me: We won’t get entry to the brand new advantages outlined on this information till Oct. 26. New candidates, nonetheless, will obtain instant entry to the brand new advantages.
Importantly, the brand new $795 annual price will kick in for present cardholders throughout your upcoming cardmember anniversary. Mine, for instance, is in early January; so whereas I paid the $550 annual price in January 2025, I will be paying the $795 annual price in January 2026.
Although I will not get entry to the upgraded perks on the Sapphire Reserve till late October, I like that I will have a few months to check drive the cardboard’s new advantages earlier than the brand new annual price kicks in.
New Chase Sapphire Reserve incomes charges
Lastly, the Sapphire Reserve earns one of the crucial worthwhile reward currencies in the marketplace: Chase Ultimate Rewards factors, which TPG’s June 2025 valuations peg at 2.05 cents apiece. This incomes energy, coupled with Chase’s stellar transfer partners, makes the cardboard that rather more worthwhile.
Associated: How much are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?
As a part of the revamp, Chase up to date the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus class incomes charges. The most important adjustments fall beneath the journey umbrella (assume: motels, rental automobiles and flights), whereas eating purchases stay at a stable incomes price of three factors per greenback spent.
Whereas some classes benefited from elevated reward charges, others took a success and moved in the other way. Here is a abstract of the adjustments:
| Class | Earlier reward price |
New reward price |
|---|---|---|
| Inns booked by way of Chase Journey | Was: 10 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 8 factors per greenback spent |
| Rental automobiles booked by way of Chase Journey | Was: 10 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 8 factors per greenback spent |
| Flights booked by way of Chase Journey | Was: 5 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 8 factors per greenback spent |
| Flights booked straight | Was: 3 factors per greenback spent | Is now: 4 factors per greenback spent |
| Inns booked straight | 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 state of affairs since I do not often use Chase Travel for my reservations. The one kind 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 exterior 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 price … and that is earlier than you consider different advantages like lounge entry. At current, this card’s worth nonetheless outweighs its value, so it’ll proceed to be a mainstay in my pockets.
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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 last word journey and way of life companion — it is a Visa card, so it is accepted nearly in all places, it does not cost international transaction charges and although a few of the reward charges have been devalued, they’re nonetheless stable and supply respectable returns on my common spending.
To determine whether or not that is the fitting card for you, crunch the numbers to see in case your spending habits and way of life wants will yield outsize worth from its up to date credit and perks. If you will get greater than $795 in worth from the cardboard, it is value getting and conserving.
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