Chase Sapphire Reserve Gets Major Upgrade: New Travel Rewards, Higher Annual Fee & How to Apply
Chase, America’s largest credit card issuer, has unveiled a major update to its Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card, enhancing its travel perks and launching a new business version for high spenders. Known for its premium benefits and loyalty among points collectors, the card is now even more attractive for frequent travelers.
What’s New in the Chase Sapphire Reserve 2025 Update?
Chase announced several key enhancements to the Sapphire Reserve card, effective this year:
Earn 8x Ultimate Rewards Points on flights booked through the Chase Travel portal (up from 5x).
8x Points on hotel stays, rental cars, cruises, tours, and activities booked through the portal.
4x Points on direct airline and hotel bookings via the portal (up from 3x).
3x Points on dining purchases remain unchanged.
New travel credits and elite status with IHG Hotels & Resorts and Southwest Airlines.
Exclusive access to “Shops at Chase”—a new online store with cardholder discounts.
Points Boost feature (launching June 23): raises point value to 2 cents per point on select airline routes, up from 1.5 cents.
Chase has also introduced a Sapphire Reserve for Business card, available to customers who spend over $120,000 annually.
How to Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
Though Chase hasn’t officially released the eligibility criteria, applicants generally need:
A good to excellent credit score (typically 700+).
A stable income to support the $795 annual fee.
To avoid being denied due to Chase’s “5/24 rule” — if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards in the past 24 months, your application may be declined.
Annual Fee Increased to $795
Along with the added perks, the annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve will increase from $550 to $795, effective October 26, 2025.
