Link: Apply now for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

Chase has refreshed its Sapphire Reserve lineup this summer with a higher annual fee and higher fees for authorized users, but more rebates and strong additional perks for booking travel. Now you can earn 125,000 Ultimate Rewards bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Gets New Credits, Higher Fee, And Fresh Benefits

Let’s look at the card changes, which went into effect June 23, 2025.

Annual Fee Bump + Business Edition

• Annual fee is $795 per year (was $550) for new applicants and on renewal after October 26, 2025 for existing cardholders.
• Authorized-user fee increases from $75 to $195.
• New business version, Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, also has a $795 annual fee but with no employee card fees.

Rewards Revamp

• 8x points on all travel booked through Chase Travel (flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, activities).
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly with the provider (up from 3x).
• 1x points on other travel outside the portal (previously 3x).
• 3x points on dining remains unchanged.

New Credits & Perks

Chase is rolling out a full slate of lifestyle and travel credits, with over $2,300 in potential value:

• $500 for The Edit by Chase Travel (two $250 hotel credits)
• $300 live entertainment credit (StubHub/Viagogo)
• $300 DoorDash credit (restaurant & grocery delivery promos through 2027)
• $300 dining credit via OpenTable’s Exclusive Tables
• $250 Apple subscription credit (Apple Music and Apple TV+)
• $120 Peloton credit ($10/month)
• $120 DoorDash DashPass credit
• $120 Lyft credit ($10/month through September 2027)
• $300 annual travel credit remains unchanged
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit and Priority Pass lounge access continue

Points Boost & Elite Status

• New Points Boost feature: up to 2¢/point value on select Chase Travel redemptions.
• Existing 1.5¢ value applies for current members until October 25, 2027 for points earned prior to redesign.
• Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through December 2027.
• Spend $75,000 annually to unlock:
  • IHG Diamond status
  • Southwest A-List status and $500 Southwest credit
  • $250 Shops at Chase retail credit

Limited Time Sign-Up Bonus

As I mentioned above, you can earn 125,000 Ultimate Rewards bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months. If you’ve never had a Chase Sapphire Reserve card before, you should be able to get the sign-up bonus:

This credit card is unavailable to you if you currently have one open. The new cardmember bonus may not be available to you if you currently have any other personal Sapphire cards open, previously held this card or received a new cardmember bonus for this card. We may also consider the number of cards you have opened and closed, as well as other factors in determining your bonus eligibility.

If you have or have had a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you still may be eligible. When you click on the link and apply as an existing Chase customer, a pop-up box will tell you if you’re eligible or not (before your credit is pulled).

My Thoughts On The Recent Card Changes

When these changes were announced, I was quite happy to see no changes to lounge access. With a new Chase Sapphire Lounge coming soon to Los Angeles (LAX), that alone should pay for the annual fee for my family.

If you’re already booking most of your travel through Chase Travel, the increased earning potential and “Points Boost” can add real value. Sure, the loss of 3x on other travel categories (like public transit, tolls, or Airbnb) will sting for some users, but I think most will come out ahead.

The elimination of 1.5x cents per point for a “Points Boost” sounds suspicious to me…I’m not sure that most will come out ahead…but if you’re using your points for 1.5 cents in value instead of transferring them to partners like Hyatt, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, or United MileagePlus, you’re not using them effectively in the first place.

The higher annual fee and higher fee for authorized users on the personal card is not ideal, but when you stack the dining credit, Lyft credit, and Apple credit, you will come out ahead (as much as I loathe having to keep track of all these things).

Overall, the fundamental value proposition of this card remains intact.

CONCLUSION

Chase raised annual fees on the Sapphire Reserve, but the core value of the card remains unchanged and the new bonus points offer is worth considering. I’ll come out ahead in that I’ll use OpenTable’s Exclusive Tables benefit (and otherwise would not, but it will be fun to take my wife out on dates at fancy places), but the extra points on travel booking and continued lounge access make me breathe a sigh of relief.

Link: Apply now for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

Will you keep the Sapphire Reserve, downgrade, or jump to another premium card? Thanks for supporting Live And Let’s Fly by signing up for your card through my links.