Latest news with #travelbenefits
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Cut-price train travel for families planned in armed forces reforms
Families of military veterans could soon benefit from their own cut-price train fares, as ministers consider extending the popular Veterans Railcard to provide travel discounts. Under current rules, the railcard offers a third off most train tickets, but spouses of veterans can only access concessions when travelling alongside the cardholder, not independently. The proposed change would allow family members to use the benefits on their own. This potential expansion forms part of wider government efforts to strengthen the UK's military covenant. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed plans for a "legal duty" on all government departments, compelling them to consider the needs of military personnel and their families when formulating policy. Number 10 indicated that more details of this measure would be set out in due course, but suggested it could include initiatives such as extending travel benefits to the families of veterans and the bereaved. While the extension of the Veterans Railcard to family members is understood to be one proposal under consideration, officials stress that no final decisions have yet been made. Sir Keir earlier met trainee pilots and their families as he visited RAF Valley on Anglesey in North Wales, to mark Armed Forces Day. He said: 'Across the country and around the world, our service personnel and their families make the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe and protect our freedom and our way of life. 'When I became Prime Minister, I made a promise to serve those who have served us. 'Through the new Armed Forces Covenant, we are delivering on that promise, ensuring our service personnel, veterans and their families are treated with the respect they deserve, that is our duty. 'Our Armed Forces Covenant will put our armed forces community at the very heart of government decision-making. 'Their courage, duty, and sacrifice are the foundation of our national values, and they deserve nothing less.' Labour pledged in its manifesto to fully implement the Armed Forces Covenant, which supports the military community through a range of initiatives and grants. Under the new legislation all areas of Government will for the first time have to have 'due regard' in decision-making for the unique circumstances and position of the armed forces community, Downing Street said. Currently, this is only legally required in areas of housing, healthcare and education at local level, meaning it does not apply to central Government. The extension will cover policy areas including employment, immigration, welfare, transport, pensions, childcare and criminal justice. The Government aims to make the changes in the next Armed Forces Bill, one of which is required every five years. The last Bill was passed in 2021. It comes ahead more than 200 events expected to take place across the UK to mark Armed Forces Day. The town of Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire will host this year's annual national event, and is expected to welcome 200,000 visitors. It will feature a military parade with personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and the RAF's Red Arrows, including music from the British Army Band Catterick and the Band of the Coldstream Guards. A flypast by Chinook helicopters and historic aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take place above the town's beaches, as well as a fireworks display and a concert by military musicians. Defence Secretary John Healey, who will attend the celebrations, said: 'On Armed Forces Day the nation unites to thank our armed forces: our service personnel, our reservists, our veterans and our cadets. 'This is the day we celebrate all they do, in ordinary and extraordinary ways, to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad. 'We're matching our words with actions, committing an extra £1.5 billion to fix forces' family housing this parliament, the largest pay rise in over 20 years for personnel, and bringing the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law. 'Our government's plan for change is renewing the nation's contract with those who serve.' The Ministry of Defence has also announced that the bidding process for next year's Armed Forces Day national event will open next week on Tuesday. Show less
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Maximizing Value: The New Benefits Of Chase Sapphire Reserve
The new Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual fee may bust your budget or the new perks may have your travel ... More the world in a fabulous fashion. Chase has just announced a big jump in the annual fee for its flagship credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This financial planner loves to travel and loves for my clients to get the most value from their travel budgets. Keep reading as we share whether this credit card is worth the new fee and how you can potentially stretch your travel dollars with the new card benefits. My first reaction was to call and cancel my Sapphire Reserve when I heard that Chase was asking me to shell out the highest annual fee in the premium credit card market. The whopping $795 annual fee comes with some new features, benefits and statement credits, which may make the new higher annual fee an even better deal than the previous $550. Depending on what other credit cards are in your wallet and how you spend your money, you may be wondering if it Is worth it to keep the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Keep reading as we share the big highlights coming to the Chase Sapphire Reserve in the summer of 2025. Valuable Benefits You Still Get With The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card You will still get the $300 annual travel credit. This is one of the most valuable and easy-to-use Chase Sapphire Reserve Card benefits. Unlike other credit cards (American Express Platinum), this can be used for pretty much any travel expense with no hoops to jump through. You will also still have access to credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or a Nexus Credit. Likewise, you will still have access to airport lounges via Priority Pass. Timing Of The New Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee If you already have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you will not be charged the new higher annual fee if your renewal is before October 26, 2025. New applicants approved on or after June 23 will be subject to the higher annual fee. Either way, you will have access to the new points boost starting June 23; more on this benefit is below. If you renew your card, the remaining new benefits will become available on October 26. There is also a new $75,000 spending requirement to unlock all of the premium perks included with the card. If I had to guess, Chase is looking to capture a greater share of its wealthiest clients' spending. Additionally, offering benefits that only apply above certain thresholds will enable Chase to reward its most valuable Much Is The Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee? The Chase Sapphire Reserve's annual fee was just $550. The annual fee will increase to $795, making this one of the most expensive premium credit cards available at this time. My initial thought was that now may be time to cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve. However, for other business owners like me or those who love to travel, I think the new credit card perks will more than offset the new higher annual fee. I am pleased with the changes to the card; however, I recognize that many people will need to reevaluate how much value they get from this card when deciding whether to keep it or downgrade to a lower annual fee card. Chase is also skyrocketing the annual fee for an additional authorized user from $75 to $195 per To How You Earn Points Some spending will earn more points, and others will earn less. If you liked booking hotels or rental cars via Chase Travel, you will now earn just eight points per dollar versus the previous 10 points. However, if you book travel via Chase Travel, you will see your points increase from five points per dollar to eight points per dollar. I think the big win for travelers who spend directly with airlines and hotels is the new crediting for these purchases. Previously, you could earn three points per dollar on this spend; now, you will receive four points per dollar. With this in mind, you could cover the new annual fee solely with this increase in points potential if you spend between $12,250 and $24,500 directly with airlines or hotels each year. Assuming you get between 1-2% redemption value per point. Keep in mind that Chase appears to be eliminating the general travel bonus category. This will be terrible for those of you who like to book cruises, Airbnb stays or other public transportation. These categories will now earn only one point for every dollar spent. You will likely find better earning potential on other cards for these types of spending. More New Chase Sapphire Reserve Statement Credits Luckily, the new and updated Chase Sapphire Reserve has a bevy of new statement credits that may more than offset its higher annual fee for many users. Here are a few of the highlights: -$500 annual statement credit for the Edit, the new curated hotel collection. This amount will be split into two $250 biannual benefits. This means you will likely have to book two stays to utilize this benefit. -$300 annual credit for StubHub or Viagogo ticket purchases. This will be split into two biannual benefits, each worth $150. -$300 annual dining credit to be used on reservations via Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables. This, too, will be split into two $150 biannual benefits. -$250 annual credit for Apple TV+ and Apple Music. There will be some fine print to get this. Check with Chase to ensure you follow the proper procedures to get properly reimbursed for these services. If you use Peloton or Lyft, you'll receive a $10 monthly credit for a specific period. If you can maximize a few of these new benefits, you will see a net positive return versus the new Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee. However, the more difficult a benefit is to use, the less interested I am in it and the less valuable I find it to be. IHG Platinum Elite Status Is Complimentary Good news. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders will receive complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status. This is a middle-of-the-road status and does come with some ok benefits. IHG is not on my short list of hotels to visit, but many people do enjoy staying there. Some of the benefits you may receive with this status include 60% bonus points on IHG stays, discounts on reward nights, Hertz Five Star status, a welcome amenity, and early check-in when available. The New IHG Status via the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card could help you get upgraded to a suite at the ... More Kimpton Palm Springs. Chase Sapphire Reserve New Spend-Incentivized Perks To get some additional perks, you will likely have to put more or all of your spending on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. Some perks only become available after spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year. These new benefits include:Personally, I'm not going to move extra spending to this card to get a $250 shopping or Southwest credit. But many people still love to fly Southwest, even now that they charge for bags. The $500 credit there could be a nice gift for someone. If you stay at IHG hotels, the Diamond Elite status could be a big benefit. New Points Boost Offers When Redeeming Points Directly With Chase This year, the Chase Sapphire Reserve will roll out a new points accelerator called Points Boost. Depending on how it works, this could be a win for cardholders or a significant devaluation of Chase points. Time will tell, and the cardholder will see how easy it is to redeem points under the new system and what value they can obtain. I've found that booking directly with the Chase travel portal does not always offer the best pricing for hotels. The new Points Boost offer will enable cardholders to redeem points for up to two cents per point when booking travel directly through the Chase travel portal. This could be extremely valuable for those with flexible schedules and open to a wide variety of airlines or hotel chains. It could be crappy for cardholders if this is more dynamic pricing giving you more value for booking hotels you'd never want to say in or minimal flight options. Currently, cardholders can receive 1.5 cents per point on anything they book with points through the Chase travel portal. Keep in mind that not all flights are available through the portal, and prices may vary from those found on other websites or when booking directly with a hotel or Period For Implementation Of Points Boost You don't need to rush out and spend all your Chase points to avoid them potentially being devalued. If your Chase card was opened before June 23, you will have a grace period to use either the new Points Boost or the old 1.5 cent per point valuation until October 26, 2027. You should receive the best offer between these two methods when booking grace period is just for existing points you've already earned up to October 26, 2025. Points earned after this point will only be allowed to be redeemed via the Points Boost numbers. Is Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It? Generally speaking, I think the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth the new higher annual fee. For you, the value may vary. Take a look at your spending and the benefits offered under the card to ensure you are getting a good value in benefits versus the annual fee you are being charged. I tend to use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card heavily for travel and dining. This card rewards both of these spending categories well. I have also had good luck using its transfer partners. Depending on how much and where you spend, another credit card may be more or less beneficial for Good Is The Chase Sapphire Reserve? These upcoming changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve should keep this credit card in competition with the American Express Platinum card as one of the best cards out there. Amex has also announced changes will be coming later this year for its Platinum the Chase Sapphire Reserve remains a compelling choice for frequent travelers and diners, especially with the Points Boost option and its competitive rewards structure. As the landscape of premium credit cards evolves, careful evaluation of your spending habits, travel preferences and the benefits offered will be pivotal in determining whether this card continues to meet your financial and lifestyle needs. With thoughtful planning, cardholders can still unlock significant value as they navigate the upcoming changes. This fun financial planners want you to be able to get the most value for your credit card annual fees and travel benefits. It does look the new benefits via the Chase Sapphire Reserve can help some people travel more and/or travel better.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Chase Launches The Sapphire Reserve For Business: The Ultimate Business Card?
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Chase just raised the bar on business cards , bringing the prestige of the consumer Sapphire Reserve into the business world. A premium business card has been noticeably absent from Chase's card lineup , and the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ is shooting for the moon with rich rewards, benefits and a welcome bonus that are just as jaw-dropping as its annual fee. Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Limited-Time Offer Newly approved cardholders stand to earn an astronomical 200,000 bonus points after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening. The spending requirement may seem high, but it breaks down to $5,000 per month. That's not out of bounds for many business owners, especially if they have a large purchase or two to mix in. An offer that high takes some of the sting out of the $795 annual fee, but you'll have to evaluate the card's long list of benefits to determine if it's a long-term keeper. Sapphire Reserve for Business Card Benefits The Sapphire Reserve for Business offers over $2,500 in credits and benefits geared toward travel and business services. That's well over the cost of the annual fee. $300 annual travel credit. Like the credit offered on the consumer Sapphire Reserve, this one is extremely flexible and applied automatically after eligible purchases. Like the credit offered on the consumer Sapphire Reserve, this one is extremely flexible and applied automatically after eligible purchases. $500 annual credit with The Edit. Book stays with The Edit by Chase Travel and get reimbursed up to $250 semi-annually (January to June and July to December). The Edit also includes a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two and room upgrades when available on eligible stays. Book stays with The Edit by Chase Travel and get reimbursed up to $250 semi-annually (January to June and July to December). The Edit also includes a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two and room upgrades when available on eligible stays. Airport lounge access. Enroll in a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership and get access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club network. Cardholders are entitled to two guests per visit. Enroll in a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership and get access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club network. Cardholders are entitled to two guests per visit. IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status. Primary cardholders get automatic status that includes things like free upgrades and late checkout when available. Primary cardholders get automatic status that includes things like free upgrades and late checkout when available. Up to $120 trusted traveler credit. Every four years get statement credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fees. $120 Lyft credits. Earn up to $10 of in-app Lyft credit monthly. Earn up to $10 of in-app Lyft credit monthly. $300 in DoorDash value. Get up to $25 in monthly promos applied to your DoorDash account (includes a $5 restaurant promo and two $10 promos for nonrestaurant items). Get up to $25 in monthly promos applied to your DoorDash account (includes a $5 restaurant promo and two $10 promos for nonrestaurant items). Up to $120 value for DashPass membership. Complimentary DashPass membership that offers free delivery and lower fees for one year when activated by December 31, 2027. Complimentary DashPass membership that offers free delivery and lower fees for one year when activated by December 31, 2027. $400 ZipRecruiter hiring credit. Purchases made directly with ZipRecruiter earn up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually (January to June and July to December). Purchases made directly with ZipRecruiter earn up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually (January to June and July to December). Up to $200 Google Workspace credit toward AI-powered business tools. Make purchases directly with Google Workspace to earn the statement credit. Make purchases directly with Google Workspace to earn the statement credit. $100 credit. Earn statement credits of up to $50 semi-annually (January to June and July to December), for purchases at . Earn statement credits of up to $50 semi-annually (January to June and July to December), for purchases at . Free employee cards. There's no charge for employee cards. They don't get all the perks of a primary cardholder, but employee cards do earn rewards at the same levels and get the same travel and purchase protections. Big business spenders that charge $120,000 or more to the card each year get additional benefits through the following calendar year, including: IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status Southwest Airlines A-List status $500 in Southwest Airlines credit booked through Chase Travel $500 credit for the Shops at Chase Expect the same best-in-class travel and purchase protections offered on the Sapphire Reserve , with one notable addition: The Chase Sapphire Preferred for Business adds cellphone insurance protection. Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Rewards Earning rewards is getting a big update, with cardholders now earning: 8 points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases 5 total points per dollar spent on eligible Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027) 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked direct 3 points per dollar on social media and search engine advertising 1 point per dollar on all other purchases Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, 1:1 transfers to Chase's airline and hotel partners or used to make Chase Travel bookings. With the new Points Boost for bookings made through Chase Travel, cardholders will have the opportunity to receive up to a 100% bonus on the value of their points (i.e., a points value of up to 2 cents per point). That's up from the 50% bonus that booking with a Sapphire Reserve card has historically gotten for Chase Travel purchases. However, Chase Travel points bookings that aren't eligible for these Points Boost offers will receive a value of 1 cent per point. Eligibility for the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Chase doesn't specify a credit score, but as a premium card, the Sapphire Reserve for Business will likely require excellent credit for approval. That would mean you'd need a FICO Score of 800 or better to have a good chance of approval. Chase will now allow cardholders to get more than one Sapphire card at a time. This is a big shift, and it means customers who hold the consumer Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve card may be able to be approved for the Sapphire Reserve for Business. Since this would mean holding multiple cards with fees and some overlapping benefits, however, it may be a better choice to add a no-annual-fee Chase card, like the Chase Freedom Flex® , into the mix. This would allow you to earn bonus rewards in categories where the Sapphire Reserve for Business only earns 1X. How Does the Sapphire Reserve for Business Compare? The Sapphire Reserve for Business now has the highest annual fee among its top two competitors—the $695 annual fee on The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (rates & fees) and the much lower $395 Capital One Venture X Business (rates & fees). Like the Amex Business Platinum, the Sapphire Reserve for Business offers a 'coupon book' of credits to help compensate for the annual fee. In contrast, the Venture X Business keeps things simple and lucrative with an earning rate of 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site and 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. All three cards offer a travel credit, but the Sapphire Reserve for Business is the only one that doesn't require booking through the issuer's travel portal to earn the credit. Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Worth It? The 200,000-point welcome bonus offered on the Sapphire Reserve for Business is the highest ever seen on a Chase card, and it may never be that high again. If you've been considering a premium business card , this one might top the list now because even with its high annual fee, there are enough credits and benefits to make the math work in your favor. To view rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
CNN
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
JPMorgan Chase is hiking the annual fee of its popular Sapphire card by 45%
JPMorgan Chase is hiking the annual fee of its popular Sapphire Reserve credit card by 45% as part of a major overhaul to attract high-spending millennials. The bank announced Tuesday that the credit card, which is targeted at travel and dining aficionados, will soon cost $795 per year — a dramatic increase from the current $550 annual fee that was rolled out in 2020. The card launched in 2016 with a $450 per year fee. It's a tough fee to swallow, but Chase said cardholders will have $2,700 in annual benefits to redeem and that it is increasing the amount of points people can get on flights and hotels booked through its portal. The card is also maintaining the popular $300 annual travel credit. New benefits are pushing people to use the ecosystem of hotels and dining programs that Chase has built over the past few years. For example, the card has added a $500 credit for luxury hotels as part of its 'The Edit' program and a $300 dining credit for dining reservations in its 'Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Table' program. Other additions include a $300 annual credit for tickets purchased on StubHub and a $250 yearly credit for Apple Music and Apple TV+. It previously added a $120 yearly credit for Lyft rides, dispersed in $10 monthly increments. 'The new Sapphire Reserve cards are the culmination of years of focus on the things most important to our cardmembers: travel, dining, entertainment and exceptional service,' said Chris Reagan, president of Chase's branded cards, in a press release. Also announced Tuesday was a new Sapphire Reserve card for businesses that also has a new $795 annual fee, with perks aimed at owners like ZipRecruiter and Google Workspace. The new annual fee and most benefits begin for Chase Sapphire Reserve on October 26. The card has been redesigned with a heavier metal and a new pattern to 'reflect the refinement of the Sapphire Reserve Brand.' Chase has evolved the Sapphire into a lifestyle brand in recent years, pitting the card against American Express' suite of premium credit cards. One particular battleground has been airport lounges, with Chase opening several over the past few years at major hubs such as New York, Boston and Phoenix. It's also chasing after younger people who crave experiences, by rolling out cardmember-exclusive access to lounges at the summer Olympics last year in Paris or curated trips to Art Basel in Miami. American Express, meanwhile, this week teased upcoming changes to its cards. The company said it's making its 'largest investment ever' to its Platinum cards, but didn't reveal what changes it is making to the lineup that also targets similar customers. Those AmEx cards have had a $695 annual fee since 2021.
Bloomberg
16-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Amex Plans ‘Largest Investment Ever' in Platinum Credit Card
American Express Co. teased updates coming later this year to its travel-focused Platinum credit cards, announcing what it called 'its largest investment ever' in a credit-card refresh. 'We're going to take these cards to a new level, not only in what they offer in travel, dining and lifestyle benefits, but also in how they look and feel,' Howard Grosfield, Amex's group president for US consumer services, said in a statement Monday.
