Chase Sapphire Goes Premium: New $795 Annual Fee Tops Amex Platinum
Chase has just lifted the curtain on a Chase Sapphire overhaul: an annual fee spike to $795 on its Sapphire Reserve card, now exceeding the American Express Platinum’s $695 fee. With revamped rewards, luxury credits, and a sleeker look, Chase is staking its claim in the premium travel-card arena. Discover what’s new, what stays, and whether it’s worth the high-stakes price tag.
The Fee Hike That Surpasses Amex
Starting June 23, 2025, the Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee jumps from $550 to $795, a 45% increase and now the highest in major US travel credit cards. Authorized user cards will also go up from $75 to $195 annually.
This dramatic hike signals an aggressive repositioning toward an ultra-premium audience, intent on offering unmatched benefits that can justify the higher cost.
New Perks That Might Offset the Cost
Cheese is backing the price increase with enhanced perks and bigger credits:
Points Boost
- Earn up to 2× points on select premium travel bookings via the Chase portal, replacing the current 1.5× redemption.
Travel & Lifestyle Credits worth nearly $1,500 annually
- $500 for elite hotel stays via “The Edit”
- $300 dining credit at Exclusive Tables restaurants
- $300 credit on StubHub or Viagogo
- $250 for Apple TV+ and Apple Music
- $120 Peloton credit
These should help savvy users reclaim much of the extra $245 annually, if they fully utilise them.
Revamped Rewards: More Travel Power
The updated earning structure value for travellers:
- 8× points on travel booked via Chase Travel (including hotels, flights, car rentals)
- 4× points on direct airline and hotel bookings
- 3× dining and bonus 10× points on Peloton gear
This amplifies rewards for frequent travellers and lifestyle spenders, though certain categories, like transit, now earn just 1x.
What Remains and What’s New
Staying the same:
- $300 annual travel credit
- Airport lounge access (Chase Sapphire Lounges + Priority Pass)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
- Comprehensive travel insurance, Lyft, and DoorDash perks
New additions:
- IHG Platinum elite status, with upgrade potential to Diamond after $75K spend
- Southwest A‑List status and $500 Southwest credit after meeting spend thresholds
Chase clearly aims to offer not just benefits, but status and exclusivity.
Who Should Apply and Who Should Skip It?
This elevated version of Sapphire Reserve is tailored for:
- Frequent travellers who use hotel and travel credits, elite status perks, and premium redemption rates.
- Lifestyle-focused consumers who can maximise Apple, Peloton, dining, and ticketing credits.
Casual users, or those who don’t leverage multiple credit categories, may find the new fee hard to justify and could be better served by other cards.
Final Take
With the Chase Sapphire makeover, Chase has doubled down on premium offerings, turbocharged travel rewards, elite perks, and a modern design, all behind the steep $795 annual fee. For the right cardholder, the potential annual value exceeding $2,700 could make it a smart upgrade over the Amex Platinum. For others, it may feel like a “coupon book” with more strings attached than before. Careful consideration of your spending habits is the key before committing.
FAQs
The fee takes effect for new applicants on June 23, 2025; existing cardholders renew at the new rate after October 25, 2025.
Yes. At $795, the Sapphire Reserve now exceeds Amex Platinum’s $695 fee.
Points Boost offers up to 2× redemption value on premium flights and hotels, while new earning rates reward you with up to 8× points for travel booked through Chase.
They can, if you maximize hotel ($500), dining ($300), Apple ($250), StubHub ($300), and Peloton ($120) credits, you can recoup most of the fee.
Frequent travelers and lifestyle spenders who fully exploit credits, status perks, and premium redemption. Lower usage patterns may not justify the price jump.
Disclaimer:
This content is made for learning only. It is not meant to give financial advice. Always check the facts yourself. Financial decisions need detailed research.