Chase Sapphire Reserve Updates
In June, Chase shared some significant updates regarding its popular premium credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve. These new benefits became available immediately for applicants approved after June 23, 2025, but as of October 26, all cardholders can now enjoy this full range of perks.
There’s quite a bit to digest with these changes, so I reached out for clarity.
This fall, I had a conversation with Sam Palmer, the General Manager of Chase Sapphire, and our founder, Brian Kelly. We discussed the revamped Sapphire Reserve and touched on other products in the Sapphire lineup. Our dialogue wandered a bit, but we certainly delved into Chase’s motivations behind the updates, the value they believe the card adds, and naturally, best practices for leveraging the new benefits alongside the card’s higher annual fee.
As a long-time Sapphire Reserve user, I was eager to hear Sam and Brian’s insights on the new features. A key point of our discussion revolved around lounge access. In fact, we recorded our chat in one of the private suites at the Sapphire Lounge located in New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Sam possesses both a personal Sapphire Reserve and a Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business. This aspect really sets Chase apart from its competitors, many of whom are limiting or will soon limit guest access for their cardholders.
I’ve visited these lounges at LGA, Philadelphia International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and San Diego International Airport, and they’ve all offered fantastic experiences.
Moreover, Sam and Brian highlighted the new Points Boost redemption option available through Chase Travel. This feature allows Sapphire Reserve holders to earn up to two cents per point when booking select flights and hotels. It’s particularly advantageous for properties featured in The Edit, a curated selection of upscale hotels and resorts worldwide. Cardholders can also receive up to $500 in statement credits each calendar year—divided into two $250 credits every six months starting in 2026, or as two $250 credits any time within the year—for prepaid stays of two or more nights at these properties.
All properties listed in The Edit provide point boosts, so if you partially pay your stay with the card and use points for the remainder, you can enjoy that benefit as well as a statement credit for the cash amount of your reservation, plus a variety of amenities:
- Daily breakfast for two
- On-site credit up to $100
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Room upgrades with more space
- Early check-in and late check-out, where availability allows
It gets even better—many of these locations now let you earn points in hotel loyalty programs when booked via Chase.
In simple terms, this really enhances the value of holding a Sapphire Reserve card.
There’s more to our discussion, so I recommend checking out the complete recording. For those who aren’t current cardholders, you might qualify for a welcome bonus of up to 175,000 points after spending $6,000 within the first three months of account opening. Be sure to review your offer; your credit score won’t be impacted. Even if you don’t qualify for this special offer, you could still potentially secure a standard bonus of 125,000 points under the same spending conditions.
