As competition between premium credit cards continues to intensify, one of the industry’s top players is undergoing major changes. Chase plans to raise the annual fees for the coveted Sapphire Reserve Card, which will make cardholders and potential applicants wonder. Is the additional cost worth it?
On June 17, the card issuer announced plans to significantly revamp the Premium Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, increasing the annual fee from $550 to $795. This 45% hike places your cards in one of the highest annual fees in the premium credit card market, surpassing American Express Platinum Cards and charging $695 an annual fee. The card also raises annual fees to certified users (people who are permitted to use their credit cards by their primary cardholders) from $75 to $195.
Chase doesn’t just raise prices. They are overhauling perks to justify the increase. The improved sapphire reservoir comes with many new perks for cardholders. This claims that the brand offers cardholders more than $2,700 in value each year.
Here are some things you need to know about the changes and whether credit card pros consider it to be valuable.
Changes to Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Current Sapphire Reserve Cardholders will be checking out the new perks starting October 26, 2025, but applicants applying after June 23 will immediately unlock the perks with a higher annual fee. For existing cardholders, the annual fee increase will be applied after the October date and immediately after the next update. These are all advantages for modern users (none of these are available before new rates come into effect):
- Point boost: A new redemption feature that offers up to twice the value on select premium flights and hotel bookings through Chase Travel.
- Hotel Credit: Up to $500 per year with prepaid booking statement credits edited by Chase Travel, a curated collection of over 1,000 luxury hotels around the world.
- Dining perks: Access to dining credits up to $300 and peak bookings with exclusive tables at Sapphire Aliserve (a collection of over 300 restaurants in major cities) when booked via OpenTable. Free Doordash Dashpas membership (equivalent to $120 a year) and $300 Doordash promotion ($5 restaurant promotion and $10 daily Essentials).
- Entertainment and lifestyle credits: Up to $300 per year for entertainment purchases purchased from StubHub and Viagogo. Until June 22, 2027, free subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music are valued at $250 per year. Cardholders can also earn up to $120 in annual statement credits for Peloton memberships.
- Travel Benefits: $120 in annual LYFT In-App credits. Free IHG Platinum Elite status (including reward evening discounts, welcome amenities, early check-in, etc.).
Please note that cardholders must activate entertainment and lifestyle credits on the Chase website. This means that when you log in to your account on the Chase website, you will need to opt-in for entertainment and lifestyle perks. All credits over $300 are divided into two two years (January to June and July to December) and can be used at any time during the six months. Everything else is split into 12 monthly credits.
Cardholders will receive TSA Precheck or Global Entry Credits, $300 annual travel credits, and Chase Sapphire Lounge Access (currently New York’s LaGuardia and JFK Airports, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, Hong Kong) (enable to over 1,300 airports worldwide entry).
Those who spend more than $75,000 a year with their cards in calendar years unlock additional perks including Southwest Airline A-list status, Southwest Airline credits of $500 when flights are booked on a Chase trip, and Chase’s $250 credits (a website for cardholders selling products from reporters such as Dyson).
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card still worth it?
While annual costs help fund many card perks, travelers need to determine whether these perks are useful to them, says Kurt Adams, senior points and miles content manager at Going, a Travel app and contract newsletter.
“If you want a global entry, for example, and you don’t use Apple Music, you have a better option,” Adams told Afar.
Jennifer Yellin, senior editor at Points Path, the award flight search engine, told Afar that despite frequent travelers, high spenders and those already spending in places included in upcoming perks, it is likely that Saphire’s reserves are worth the price.
“Yes, statement credits offset annual fees, but most are used, but many people request card members to track monthly or six months. It’s a task that most travelers don’t have time.” “And as many statement credits are not part of card members’ regular credit card spending, it could potentially require card members to spend beyond their needs.”
Sally French, a travel reward expert at Nerdwallet, reiterated the sentiment, saying, “It would be difficult to narrow down full value from credits like the exclusive tables of Chase Sapphire Reserve, especially for travelers who don’t live near major cities.”
Yellin added that her personal annual fees have risen at a whopping $365. After looking through the list of statement credits she receives as part of her daily spending, she said she would not approach her new statement’s credit opportunity. Still, she said she is likely to keep her card as she lives in Boston, where the airport has a chase lounge.
“But for those without the Chase Sapphire Lounge at their home airport, you wouldn’t be surprised to see many casual travelers cancel their cards after the annual fee hit. “And there are many other credit cards that offer some kind of lounge access at a much cheaper cost, so there are other options using the monthly coupon book.”
