Latest news with #ChaseSapphireReserve
CNET
11 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
Chase Sapphire Reserve Launches New $250 Apple Perk. I'm Not Falling for It
Chase/CNET The Chase Sapphire Reserve®* was updated earlier this week and now includes a number of new annual credits and other features, including an Apple Plus and Apple Music membership, valued at $250 annually (ends June 22, 2027). Chase also upped the card's annual fee. It now costs $795 annually, so you'll have to do more legwork to get enough value from the card to cover the cost. That likely means the average credit card user won't even want to consider this as an option. Which is fair. In my opinion, you shouldn't need to redeem dozens of credits, sign up for several complimentary subscriptions, only book flights and hotels when your points are boosted, or feel like you have to buy a Peloton to make sure you're getting enough value to justify a card's annual fee. The new credits and features sound great on paper, but to me, they just mean more work. There are some important changes to the card's rewards, too. It has a larger welcome offer and new rewards rates, and, less excitingly, Chase is changing how it values the card's points. But we'll get to that. I'm sure some travel experts and credit card aficionados will disagree and could easily get plenty of value from this card, but for credit cardholders like myself who would rather have a more automated, streamlined experience, it just doesn't seem worth the extra effort. Here's everything new with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. What does the new Chase Sapphire Reserve look like? Chase has changed the card's rewards and how much they're worth when it's time to redeem. New and old rewards compared New rewards Old rewards 8x points for all travel booked through Chase Travel 10x points for booking hotels and rental cars through Chase Travel 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly 5x points on flights booked through Chase 3x points on dining 3x points for all other travel 1x point for everything else 1x point for everything else These changes are good. Dining rewards seem like a no-brainer on a travel card, and it's something I was surprised to not see on the card originally. Also, not needing to always book through Chase Travel opens more travel and earning opportunities. The card also includes a higher welcome offer: 100,000 bonus points and a $500 Chase Travel℠ credit for spending $5,000 in the first three months from account opening. However, Chase is also changing the value of the rewards you earn with its new Points Boost program. You used to be able to redeem your points for travel through Chase at a bonus value of 1.5 cents per point. Now, you'll earn 2 cents per point, but only with rotating boosted redemption flights and hotels. And if you redeem your points for any nonboosted flight or hotel, they'll only be worth 1 cent each. You can still transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to Chase's travel partners. This is clearly less flexible than the card's previous reward program, and will likely cause cardholders to miss out on value they would've otherwise secured. What if there are no boosted flights or hotels for when and where you're looking to travel? You'll either need to wait or have less of your trip covered. Or, you could transfer your points where they could be worth more -- but again, that takes more work than simply redeeming through your card issuer's portal for a small bonus, as it was before. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* now uses the Points Boost program as well. New annual credits The card is also gaining a handful of new annual credits: $500 The Edit℠ credit. The Edit is Chase's new collection of over 1,100 hotels. You get $250 from January to June, and the other $250 from July to December. The Edit is Chase's new collection of over 1,100 hotels. You get $250 from January to June, and the other $250 from July to December. $300 dining credit. Again, split in half -- $150 for January through June, and the other $150 for July to December. Again, split in half -- $150 for January through June, and the other $150 for July to December. $300 StubHub credit. $150 for January through June, $150 for July to December. Ends Dec. 31, 2027. $150 for January through June, $150 for July to December. Ends Dec. 31, 2027. Apple Plus and Apple Music membership , worth $250 annually. Ends June 22, 2027. , worth $250 annually. Ends June 22, 2027. $120 Peloton credit. You get $10 monthly statement credits for a Peloton membership through Dec. 31, 2027, for a maximum of $120 annually. Plus, you'll earn 10x rewards on Peloton equipment purchases. Those are the new credits; there are a number of others, too. You can see them all on Chase's page. The issuer says the card offers more than $2,700 in value, but you'll really need to work to achieve that. For those who spend $75,000 in travel on the card in a calendar year, you'll unlock a $500 Southwest travel credit plus A-list status, IHG Diamond Elite Status and $250 in statement credits for The Shop at Chase. That's a high spending threshold that only the most well-off traveller will likely be able to reach, and it doesn't seem like a great return on investment. And a higher fee Lastly, the card now costs $245 more than it did a month ago. The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve now sits at $795, one of the highest on the market. While the credits offered can surpass the price of the card, you'll need to do the work to use everything it has to offer. That means buying and using a Peloton, checking the Points Boost program, ordering DoorDash, using Lyft and taking advantage of the new dining credit and two travel credits, and on and on. It's a lot of homework. If you don't use enough of the extra perks, you'll likely be on the hook for at least part of its annual fee. Should you get this card? In short, I think there are people who will find this card worth it, particularly those with higher-than-average travel budgets (and perhaps some sort of assistant to help them keep track of everything), but for the average traveler or credit cardholder, they are more likely to leave value on the table and be stuck with a high annual fee. There's just so much offered here, which is great, but the change in how points are valued, how much additional work you, as the cardholder, have to do annually to make the card's $795 fee actually worth the cost, doesn't add up to me. But again, I probably view credit cards a bit differently than most card experts. I like the easy route, the one that guarantees value without any financial corrosion or work beyond my usual routine. So I'll happily stick with my Sapphire Preferred, which offers way less, but only costs $95 each year. I use it for my dining and travel expenses, redeem my points for trips home through Chase Travel and take advantage of its annual $50 hotel statement credit. There may not be countless annual credits, memberships and subscriptions, but I barely need to do any additional work -- and definitely don't need to overspend -- to realize its value versus how much it costs me annually. *All information about the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why I'm Keeping The Chase Sapphire Reserve In 2025
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. When Chase announced it was raising the annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to $795, my initial reaction was shock with a side of frustration. After my emotions subsided, I dug into the refreshed benefits and calculated almost $1,500 in credits that I can easily use to make sure the card's value still outweighs the cost. Chase claims there's over $2,700 in annual value from the card, but here's a real picture of how I'm getting far more value from the Sapphire Reserve than the cost to carry it. Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed. Chase Sapphire Reserve New Perks Instead of limiting existing benefits with this card update, Chase added several new opportunities to save, along with its higher annual fee. New Sapphire Reserve benefits include: $500 for The Edit by Chase Travel bookings. Cardholders get up to $250 back semiannually ($250 from January to June and $250 from July to December) for prepaid bookings of at least two nights. Cardholders get up to $250 back semiannually ($250 from January to June and $250 from July to December) for prepaid bookings of at least two nights. $300 dining credit. Get up to $150 back from January to June and again from July to December when dining at select restaurants that are part of the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program. Get up to $150 back from January to June and again from July to December when dining at select restaurants that are part of the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program. $300 StubHub credit. Get up to $150 in credit from January to June and again from July to December for concert and live event tickets at StubHub and Viagogo. Get up to $150 in credit from January to June and again from July to December for concert and live event tickets at StubHub and Viagogo. $250 value for Apple subscriptions. Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music through June 22, 2027. Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music through June 22, 2027. IHG One Rewards Platinum status. Automatic elite status with IHG includes things like room upgrades and late checkout when available. These benefits enhance existing perks that are staying, like the $300 annual travel credit, DoorDash, Lyft and Peloton credits (some perks require activation). Credits that provide instant savings and easy wins for me include complimentary Apple subscriptions that I currently pay for out of pocket, and the dining credits that are ideal for exploring new restaurants for date nights or special occasions. I enjoy attending live events and concerts, so the StubHub credits will definitely be useful for me. Sapphire Reserve Travel Benefits The Sapphire Reserve still offers excellent airport lounge access with a Priority Pass Select membership (with enrollment) and access to the luxurious Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations. As someone who travels with family often, the two-guest allowance at lounges with the Sapphire Reserve sets it apart from other cards that only allow the primary cardholder free entrance. I've long been a World of Hyatt loyalist, but it can sometimes be challenging to find a location in all the places I like to travel. So I'm excited to shift some of those nights to IHG Hotels and find out how the IHG One Rewards Platinum status might enhance my travel experiences. While it's not a replacement for travel insurance , the Sapphire Reserve will continue to offer some of the most comprehensive travel protections of any card. I book most travel with my Sapphire Reserve so I have some coverage in case things go sideways, which is a reality of travel these days. Redeeming Sapphire Reserve Points Redemptions made through Chase Travel℠ are another big change to the Sapphire Reserve. The 50% bonus is being replaced with the Points Boost program. Points can be worth up to double the value for select bookings in Chase Travel, but the loss of the guaranteed 50% bonus might sting for some. However, it doesn't impact me much, since I usually book my trips directly with the airlines and hotels or by transferring points to Chase's travel partners. When I transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners, I usually get 2 cents per point in value or more—coming out ahead of both the old 50% bonus and the new upper end potential of Points Boost. When I calculate the value of the credits that I expect to easily use, I come out far ahead of the annual fee. Here's the breakdown of what should be easy returns for my normal spending. $300 annual travel credit $300 annual dining credit $300 annual StubHub credit $300 annual DoorDash promos $250 annual Apple subscription value That's $1,450 in credits and value for purchases I'll likely make throughout the year. I think of paying the annual fee like prepaying for these purchases—with bonus value thrown in. There are also more ways to gain value from this card. If I subtract the $795 annual fee from the savings from these credits alone, I'm still ahead. More value can be squeezed out of the card, like the airport lounge access and Lyft credits I'll use throughout the year. And, I'm excited to try out The Edit hotels and resorts for special occasions and will gladly use the semiannual $250 credits for those stays. Yes, the annual fee brought on some sticker shock initially, but after looking objectively at what the Sapphire Reserve offers, it's clear that it will fit nicely into my lifestyle and spending patterns. Paying an annual fee like this and keeping a card is a personal choice, so crunch the numbers for your spending and you might just be surprised. Even if you don't get the full $2,700 available, you could still come out ahead. If it's just not for you, there are other excellent travel cards and Chase credit cards to choose from. Find the best travel credit card for your travel needs.
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
People are freaking out over the new $795 Chase Sapphire Reserve card. I never got one — and I'm finally vindicated
Some financial windfalls are all about the timing — and luck: A handful of California gold nuggets in 1848. A SoHo loft in 1984. Bitcoin in 2013. A home mortgage rate in 2020. I've made peace with missing out on some of life's chances to accidentally inflate my financial standing in the world. But the one that has always made me slightly sick to my stomach is missing out on the late 2016 Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card points bonanza. Now, my painful case of FOMO has been cured. Last week, Chase said it was revamping the Sapphire Reserve — and upping its annual fee to $795, from the current $550. And it's making a bunch of changes to its rewards structure, which some people are downright furious about. They say they'll cancel. (Chase says its card will become even more valuable, with "over $2,700 in annual value.") Well, as a world-class hater, sore loser, and jealous snake, I couldn't be more thrilled. When the new yearly fee and rewards were announced last week, I watched in absolute glee as friends of mine and strangers on the internet lamented and wailed at the fact that the card that had once showered them with rewards points would not be worth the fee (again, only for some people). The Chase Sapphire Reserve card had attained a millennial mythos akin only to avocado toast and entitled attitudes. It came during the peak of the ZIRP and " millennial lifestyle subsidy" eras: Ubers were cheap, and the credit card points flowed like The Fat Jewish's personal rosé brand. The card — especially if you signed up in the early days — gave you a massive points bonus that could be used for travel or other perks. It seemed almost impossible not to have the credit card make you money (of course, assuming you paid off your balances and wisely used the points). I never had the Chase Sapphire Reserve; when it launched, my friends were excited and extolling its virtues, but I thought I needed another credit card and was intimidated by the points gaming. At some point, I realized I had missed the boat. I didn't get in while the getting was good. Now, I've been reading the r/SapphireReserve subreddit with glee, seeing some of the former evangelists of the card defeated by its new fee. The main post about the news: "Welp. It's bad and official." I should note here that the card may indeed still be a good deal for some people — it matters how much you spend, and what kind of rewards/perks you're most interested in. The perks, however, are not exactly what everyone wants, like Apple TV+ or Apple Music subscriptions (less appealing for a Spotify user). There are credits for certain hotels from Chase's selection of hand-picked hotels (which may not be the ones you want). If you spend $75,000 a year on the card, you will get status on Southwest Airlines. But as one Redditor said: "Who is spending $75k per year on this card that also wants status on Southwest Airlines?" As for Chase, it touts 8X points on all Chase Travel purchases, which is up from 5X on flights, but slightly down from 10X on hotels and car rentals. It also touts 4X points on flights and hotels purchased directly with the airline or hotel, up from 3X. The points system for the card is somewhat complicated (part of why I have always avoided a points-based card), and people's individual situations will vary a lot about whether this card is better or worse or worth it. For some people, the higher yearly fee will net out with all the new rewards; for others, they're thinking of downgrading to a cheaper version or canceling altogether. I wish all of the Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders the best journey to the path that works best for them. Me, I'm just feeling a huge burden lifted off my shoulders. Ahhhh ….
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
I Won't Be Getting the New Chase Sapphire Reserve. Here's Why
Chase/CNET The Chase Sapphire Reserve®* is well-known among travel enthusiasts and average credit card users as a great travel credit card. However, its accessibility to the former crowd is likely to change. The Sapphire Reserve was an expensive card before Chase's recent update at $550 annually, but it now costs $795, which is even more than its top competitor, The Platinum Card® from American Express. Aside from the higher fee, the biggest changes to the card are a greater emphasis on annual credits and a larger welcome offer. Chase is also changing how much your points are worth, but more on that later. The card issuer is adding several new annual credits, elite memberships and subscriptions to its list of benefits. This sounds great on paper, but personally, it makes the card even less attractive. I don't want my credit cards to require a ton of legwork to get the greatest value from them. In my mind, a credit card should make it easier to spend and earn rewards, not have several hoops to jump through to get the maximum value. You shouldn't need to redeem dozens of credits, sign up for several complimentary subscriptions, only book flights and hotels when your points are boosted and feel like you have to buy a Peloton to make sure you're getting enough value to justify a card's annual fee. I have no doubt that some travel experts and credit card aficionados will disagree and could happily squeeze oodles of value from this card, but for credit cardholders like myself who would rather have a more automated, streamlined experience, it just doesn't seem worth the effort. Anyway, here's what's changing. What does the new Chase Sapphire Reserve look like? Chase has changed the card's rewards and how much they're worth when it's time to redeem. New and old rewards compared New rewards Old rewards 8x points for all travel booked through Chase Travel 10x points for booking hotels and rental cars through Chase Travel 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly 5x points on flights booked through Chase 3x points on dining 3x points for all other travel 1x point for everything else 1x point for everything else These changes are good. Dining rewards seem like a no-brainer on a travel card, and it's something I was surprised to not see on the card originally. Also, not needing to always book through Chase Travel opens more travel and earning opportunities. The card also includes a higher welcome offer: 100,000 bonus points and a $500 Chase Travel℠ credit for spending $5,000 in the first three months from account opening. However, Chase is also changing the value of the rewards you earn with its new Points Boost program. You used to be able to redeem your points for travel through Chase at a bonus value of 1.5 cents per point. Now, you'll earn 2 cents per point, but only with rotating boosted redemption flights and hotels. And if you redeem your points for any non-boosted flight or hotel, they'll only be worth 1 cent each. You can still transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to Chase's travel partners. This is clearly less flexible than the card's previous reward program, and will likely cause cardholders to miss out on value they would've otherwise secured. What if there are no boosted flights or hotels for when and where you're looking to travel? You'll either need to wait or have less of your trip covered. Or, you could transfer your points where they could be worth more -- but again, that takes more work than simply redeeming through your card issuer's portal for a small bonus, as it was before. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* now uses the Points Boost program as well. New annual credits The card is also gaining a handful of new annual credits: $500 The Edit℠ credit. The Edit is Chase's new collection of over 1,100 hotels. You get $250 from January to June, and the other $250 from July to December. The Edit is Chase's new collection of over 1,100 hotels. You get $250 from January to June, and the other $250 from July to December. $300 dining credit. Again, split in half -- $150 for January through June, and the other $150 for July to December. Again, split in half -- $150 for January through June, and the other $150 for July to December. $300 StubHub credit. $150 for January through June, $150 for July to December. Ends 12/31/27. $150 for January through June, $150 for July to December. Ends 12/31/27. Apple+ and Apple Music membership , worth $250 annually. Ends 6/22/27. , worth $250 annually. Ends 6/22/27. $120 Peloton credit. You get $10 monthly statement credits for a Peloton membership through 12/31/27 for a maximum of $120 annually. Plus, you'll earn 10x rewards on Peloton equipment purchases. Those are the new credits; there are a number of others, too. You can see them all on Chase's page. The issuer says the card offers more than $2,700 in value, but you'll really need to work to achieve that. For those who spend $75,000 in travel on the card in a calendar year, you'll unlock a $500 Southwest travel credit plus A-list status, IHG Diamond Elite Status and $250 in statement credits for The Shop at Chase. That's a high spending threshold that only the most well-off traveller will likely be able to reach, and it doesn't seem like a great return on investment. And a higher fee Lastly, the card now costs $245 more than it did a month ago. The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve now sits at $795, one of the highest on the market. While the credits offered can surpass the price of the card, you'll need to do the work to use everything it has to offer. That means buying and using a Peloton, checking the Points Boost program, ordering DoorDash, using Lyft and taking advantage of the new dining credit and two travel credits, and on and on. It's a lot of homework. If you don't use enough of the extra perks, you'll likely be on the hook for at least part of its annual fee. Should you get this card? In short, I think there are people who will find this card worth it, particularly those with higher-than-average travel budgets (and perhaps some sort of assistant to help them keep track of everything), but for the average traveler or credit cardholder, they are more likely to leave value on the table and be stuck with a high annual fee. There's just so much offered here, which is great, but the change in how points are valued, how much additional work you, as the cardholder, have to do annually to make the card's $795 fee actually worth the cost, doesn't add up to me. But again, I probably view credit cards a bit differently than most card experts. I like the easy route, the one that guarantees value without any financial corrosion or work beyond my usual routine. So I'll happily stick with my Sapphire Preferred, which offers way less, but only costs $95 each year. I use it for my dining and travel expenses, redeem my points for trips home through Chase Travel and take advantage of its annual $50 hotel statement credit. There may not be countless annual credits, memberships and subscriptions, but I barely need to do any additional work -- and definitely don't need to overspend -- to realize its value versus how much it costs me annually. *All information about the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
CNBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
New Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business has a 200,000-point welcome bonus, tons of travel perks
The coveted Chase Sapphire Reserve brand just gained its business partner. The new Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business maintains the premium travel perks that Sapphire users are accustomed to, offering over $2,500 in annual value for business owners and entrepreneurs on the go. Plus, the card launched with a pretty favorable welcome bonus: Earn 200,000 points after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Here's what else you can expect with the new Sapphire Reserve for Business. On Chase's site On Chase's site Cardmembers can earn 200,000 points after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening Good to Excellent670–850 18.49% - 26.49% Variable $795 Earn 200,000 bonus points See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC. The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business brings over $2,500 in value to business owners who value travel and premium experiencesThe Sapphire Reserve for Business is Chase's first business card in the Sapphire line; it joins the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve. While Chase currently offers business credit cards with its Chase Ink line, the Sapphire Reserve for Business is focused on providing more premium offerings. You can think of it as a sort of direct rival to Amex's Business Platinum Card and Capital One's Venture X Business. The Sapphire Reserve for Business' $795 annual fee makes it one of the most expensive business cards on the market. Its benefits can make it worth it, though, offering over $2,500 in annual value, and the 200,000-point welcome offer for spending $30,000 over the first six months is generous for businesses that can reach that threshold. Additional employee cards are available at no cost. While they have the same purchase and travel protections, they don't have the higher-tier benefits like lounge access or hotel rewards status. With a focus on statement credits balancing out the relatively large $795 annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve for Business is following a similar path to other premium credit cards. For prospective cardholders wanting to maximize the card's value, it's important to make sure those credits fit your travel and business needs. Some of the statement credit categories, like DoorDash and can be used as for employee appreciation, and Google Workspace contains a suite of AI-powered tools for your business. The Sapphire Reserve for Business will earn you elevated earnings in the following categories: Some of these categories are available with other Chase business cards, such as with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), offering 3X points on advertising and 5X points on Lyft rides. But the Sapphire Reserve for Business stands out by having no cap on advertising spend, plus the 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly is a decent rate of return for frequent business travelers and serves as a good alternative if you can't find what you're looking for via Chase Travel. The Sapphire Reserve for Business has over $2,500 in annual value for business owners, including credits for travel as well as credits that can help run a company. The value is pretty evenly split, with over $1,300 in travel perks and more than $1,200 toward business expenses. When using your credit at The Edit properties, cardmembers who stay at least two nights will also get complimentary benefits like a $100 property credit, daily breakfast and room upgrades when available. This benefit is not available for employee cardmembers. Purchases that qualify will not earn points. After spending $120,000 in a calendar year, you'll unlock the following additional benefits: The Sapphire Reserve for Business will also be adopting the new Points Boost accelerator, which will allow cardholders to redeem their Ultimate Rewards® points for up to 2X value on select airline tickets and hotels booked through Chase Travel. Otherwise, it's a fixed 1 cent per point. Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
