IS THE NEW CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE CARD WORTH KEEPING?

Introduction

If you already have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, get ready for some changes effective October 26, 2025. The annual fee will increase from $550 to a hefty $795. In addition, the authorized user fee will increase from $75 to $195. Chase boasts more than $2,700 in annual value for this card, which more than offsets the increased annual cost of $795. Is the $2,700+ in benefits real?, and is the card worth the $795 annual fee, which is now the highest annual fee for a premium card available to the public? Let's have a look.

In this article:

• Benefit summary

• Value analysis

• Premium card comparison analysis links

• Summary

Benefits summary

Let's first break down the $2,700 value in benefits Chase offers with the card, as well as additional benefits which may have changed. Below is listed each benefit:

• $300 annual travel credit

• $500 credit for stays with The Edit

• $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit

• $300 dining credit

• $120 DoorDash DashPass membership and $300 DoorDash promos

• $300 StubHub credit

• $120 Lyft credit

• $250 Apple credit

• $120 Peloton credit

• Lounge access (estimated value of $469/year)

• Reserve Travel Designers access (estimated value of $300 per trip)

• IHG One Rewards Platnium Elite status

• Rewards Program multipliers

• Insurance and travel protection

$300 Annual Travel Credit

I'm pleased to see this carry-over from the current card. It remains the easiest credit to achieve from any card because the definition Chase uses for 'travel' is quite broad.

$500 credit for stays with The Edit

This credit is broken into two, semi-annual credits of $250 each, use it or lose it. The properties in The Edit are premium so you will be paying some out-of-pocket to use this benefit.

$120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit

This credit can be used once every 4 years, and is another carry-over from the current card.

$300 dining credit

This new credit is also broken into two, semi-annual credits of $150 each, use it or lose it. It is for select restaurants on OpenTable, Sapphire Reserve Dining. This also claims to provide preferred availability for tables.

$120 DoorDash DashPass membership and $300 DoorDash promos

The membership provides $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees. The promos include, monthly, $5 to spend on restaurant orders and two $10 benefits each month to save on groceries, retail orders, and more.

$300 StubHub credit

This new credit is broken into two, semi-annual credits of $150 for StubHub and viagogo purchases.

$120 Lyft credit

This $10 monthly credit toward Lyft rides is a carry-over credit from the current card.

$250 Apple credit

This new credit entitles the cardholder to complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music across all devices.

$120 Peloton credit

This new credit is divided into $10 monthly credits toward Peloton memberships.

Lounge Access

This carry-over benefit has been enhanced and is a differentiator from other premium cards. They continue to provide lounge access for the cardholder and two guests without charge. Both American Express and Capital One have changed their access policies to charge for any guests the cardholder brings. In addition, Chase has enhanced their lounge network to include Air Canada lounge access for the cardholder and one guest whenever flying on a Star Alliance member airline flight. This excludes access to Air Canada Signature Suites and all lounges located in Montreal. The Air Canada access supplements access to the Priority Plus Select network of over 1,300 lounges worldwide, and the Chase Sapphire Lounge Network.

Reserve Travel Designers access

This is a new benefit I look forward to trying. This appears to be an enhanced concierge service for planning travel from which the other premium cards have moved away.

IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status

IHG hotels include Intercontinental and Holiday Inn, amongst others. This status entitles the cardholder to benefits such as late check-out, early check-in, free upgrades and other benefits. It enables the status without needing a separate IHG rewards card or earning the status through frequent stays in that chain.

Rewards program multipliers

These rewards are shifting from the current multiplier structure, mostly in a good way. Lost are 3x points on all travel purchases, which provided great flexibility. Purchases through Chase Travel will now be a flat 8x points, where they are currently 10x for accommodations and car rentals and 5x points for airline purchases.

Also different is a flat 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, which likely comprised the bulk of any 3x travel bonus multipliers current cardholders are enjoying. The 4x points come in handy when booking airline costs directly, either with cash or points, because this triggers the travel protection associated with the card, which is the best in the industry.

3x points on dining will remain.

One additional change is the Points Boost feature. Chase has removed the 1.5 cents per point value for the use of Ultimate Rewards points when booking through Chase Travel. In its place, they have introduced Points Boost, which can yield a value of up to 2 cents per point, but only on select hotels or flights. I don't consider this a positive when increasing annual card fees.

Insurance and travel protection

This protection remains unchanged from the current Sapphire Reserve card protection. The details are included in this blog comparing the protection of the three major premium cards:

Value analysis:

Whether it is worth keeping this card is a case-by-case decision. The value of the card is different for each individual. As part of my Rules of the Game, I only consider a benefit if it is something I would have spent money on anyway. If I reach for a benefit by spending more, then the bank is successful in seducing me to spend additional money...money which may be outside of my budget. While Chase boasts over $2,700 in value for this card, the value to me is less because I won't use all of the benefits they offer. Let's see, in my case, how much this card is worth:

As you can see, I am personally receiving $780 in value at a cost of $795. This card is essentially costing me $15/year. For that $15 I receive lounge access, excellent travel protection, purchase insurance and protection, Platinum Elite status with IHG One Rewards, the services of Reserve Travel Designers, and good points multipliers. In my case, those benefits make the card worth keeping. Your analysis may differ.

Premium card comparison analysis links:

Which Premium Credit Card is the Best?

Premium Card Comparison - The Fine Print

Summary:

The value of this card is different for each individual. I encourage you to do your own analysis keeping the following in mind:

• Assess the value only on the benefits you would use even if you didn't have the card. Don't be seduced into spending where you wouldn't to make the card seem more valuable.

• If the savings benefits exceed the cost, the decision is a no-brainer. If they do not, like in my case, consider the value the non-financial benefits (lounge access, hotel status, travel protection, etc.) bring you.

• If the numbers don't work out, let the card go. There are plenty of other credit cards out there that will bring sufficient value to you.

If you seek guidance as to whether this card is right for you, or for a guidance on how to maximize your returns on the credit cards in your wallet, send us an email at email@maxyourplastic.com.

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