Mirror Review
June 18, 2025
Summary:
- JPMorgan Chase has updated its popular Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, increasing the annual fee from $550 to $795.
- The card now includes a host of new benefits for travel and dining, which the bank values at over $2,700 annually.
- Chase has also launched a new Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card, which has a $795 annual fee and offers benefits tailored to business owners.
JPMorgan Chase has shaken up the premium credit card market by announcing a major overhaul of its iconic Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card.
The announcement on June 17, 2025, introduced a steep 45% increase in the annual fee to $795, leaving many to ask: Is it still worth it?
The bank’s answer is a resounding “yes”, as it simultaneously rolled out a suite of new and enhanced benefits valued at over $2,700.
What are the Big Changes?
The core of this update is to get cardholders more engaged with Chase’s own travel and dining platforms, which it has built up through acquisitions in recent years.
As Allison Beer, JPMorgan’s head of card and connected commerce, put it, “This is about having the best-in-class travel assets and an end-to-end travel experience.”
Here are the key Chase Sapphire Reserve changes for the personal card, which will be available starting June 23, 2025:
1. Higher Annual Fee:
The fee will increase from $550 to $795.
For existing cardmembers (who applied before June 23, 2025), the new benefits start on October 26, 2025, and the new fee will apply on their next anniversary after that date.
2. New Travel Credits & Points:
- A $500 annual credit for stays at The Edit by Chase Travel, a collection of over 1,100 luxury hotels.
- 8x points on all purchases made through the Chase Travel portal.
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly with the provider.
- 2x points on select premium airfare and hotels with the new Points Boost feature on Chase Travel.
3. New Dining & Lifestyle Credits:
- A $300 annual dining credit for reservations made at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables via OpenTable.
- A $300 annual StubHub credit for event tickets plus complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions (a $250 value)..
- Keep your existing benefits, including the $120 annual Lyft credit and a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership.
4. Maintained Benefits:
Cardholders will keep the popular $300 annual travel credit, $120 annual Lyft credit, lounge access through Priority Pass Select, and credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus.
Introducing Points Boost and Elite Status
A major new feature is Points Boost, which allows members to redeem points for up to double their value (2 cents per point) on select flights and hotels through Chase Travel.
For purchases not eligible for this boost, points are now redeemed at a 1:1 rate, a change from the previous 1.5x value.
Furthermore, spending can unlock elite status. Those who spend $75,000 in a year will receive IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status and Southwest Airlines A-List Status.
A New Card for Business Owners
For the first time, Chase is extending the Sapphire Reserve brand to entrepreneurs with the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business.
This card also carries a $795 annual fee but provides business-centric perks, including:
- Credits for ZipRecruiter ($400) and Google Workspace ($200).
- 3x points on advertising purchases on social media and search engines.
- Identical travel points and credits as the personal card, including the $300 travel credit and the $500 The Edit credit.
So What’s The Verdict in a Competitive Market
With these updates, the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card is going head-to-head with rivals like the American Express Platinum card, which is also expected to see updates and a potential fee increase.
Yes, the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee might be expensive for some.
But Chase isn’t just selling a credit card—it’s building a lifestyle package.
The strategy is to create a compelling “subscription-type business model” for affluent customers who will benefit from the perks.
Bankrate analyst Ted Rossman remarked, “These premium cards are going more luxury, and I wonder if the $800 fees are becoming too much for some to stomach.”
However, for those who travel frequently and can take full advantage of the new credits, the value proposition remains strong.
The updates reflect Chase’s ambition to be a central part of its customers’ lifestyles, from travel and dining to entertainment.
So, is the Sapphire Reserve credit card worth it?
Well, if you’re someone who travels often, books hotels through Chase, dines out regularly, or grabs concert tickets on StubHub, the math might work out in your favor!
Over $2,700 in value can go a long way—if you use it well.
Also, at the end of the day, it comes down to your lifestyle. For the right kind of spender, this card could easily pay for itself—and then some.
