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Chase Sapphire Reserve changes
tldr; The annual fee is going up
Chase is making a number of changes, with some additional benefits (most of which are useless to me) and charging a higher annual fee. Seems I'm reevaluating this card's cost-effectiveness once or twice a year...
https://thepointsguy.com/news/chase-sapphire-reserve-refresh-2025/
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Most notably, they are eliminating the 3x bonus for all charges coded as "travel'...like Tauck tours (and cruises), the main value for us with this card. Formerly worth 100's of thousands of points/miles per year for us (they transfer 1:1 immediately do many airlines like United which we use).
The added perks are mostly worthless, so likely will let it lapse when it is up for renewal at the higher cost at the end of the year.
MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT!
Thanks for posting that - I probably would not have noticed. Yes, most of the "enhanced" benefits are of little use to me. Big jump in the annual fee. And some of the "enhanced" benefits only kick in after you spend $75,000 on the card.
Portolan - So are you thinking Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum, or something else?
BKMD: no decision yet. If the Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to offer 2x on all travel, then that may be the best (but I'll be unsurprised if that perk goes away for the Preferred, as well). No other cards seem to offer the direct transfer to United miles which we only use solely for premium class travel which make the effective value of the current Reserve >=6% (3x per $ and 2 cents per mile value...the best deals for purchasing miles), but actually better since we get at least 3 cents per mile value for award travel.
The card that is increaising from 550.00 to 795.00 is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card; and not the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
I wonder how widely accepted the Amex Platihum is, as in my past experience with a Business Amex (not used for 15 years), many vendors accept MC/Visa, but not Amex?
My Citi Visa no annual fee - rewards: 3% travel and restaurants, 4% gas & EV charging and no foreign transaction fees. I use various airlines, depending on the route, (direct or length of a connection), time of departure and arrival, and cost of the ticket... so in 2024 & so far 2025 I've used Swiss Air, Delta, United, British Air, ITA, Air France and American. I periodically search other cards but have not found the perks to outweigh the annual fee and restrictions. My Global Entry will expire May 2026. I searched for a card that will reimburse the GE fee, but the annual fees are high. Any suggestions for travel cards are appreciated. I am willing to pay an annual fee if the perks are those I will actually use.
The reason I went with Chase was the $10,000 per person travel insurance. That's $20,000 of travel insurance when my wife and I travel.
We have used our Amex Plat. card all the time without any issues. There are alot of perks that I use from Amex. It is a bit of a learning curve. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/best/travel-insurance-benefits/
I too am bummed about losing the 3% on all travel with Sapp Reserve. This really paid off with Tauck, especially when you get a 50% bonus when using the points for airfare. Note that the changes (including the higher annual fee) won't go into effect until October 26, 2025 for existing cardholders. You'll have two years after to get the 50% bonus using points earned before that date, although you'll pay the higher fee with the next renewal after Oct 25. I'm debating whether to make my final payments for next year's trips before that date to lock in the points. There's a bunch of new ancillary benefits, so it may be worth it for some to keep the card.
For Amex Plat. card holders, you'll be seeing some changes, too. Amex announced that it will be making major changes later this year. Rumor has it that the annual fee for that card may go to $1000!
Amex Platinum is accepted almost everywhere in the US. Abroad, I use it only at hotels and rely on my Mastercard for other purchases. I might break even on it with the $20/month credit for my NY Times and the international travel flight savings. And I like the "pay with points" option where, if I book an airline ticket and pay with points, I still get airline miles. I occasionally use the Uber benefit, and I like my travel agent who is employed by Amex Platinum. My daughter makes out great with her platinum card because she uses Uber frequently (The card carries a $15/mo. Uber credit) and takes advantage of the fine hotels and resorts benefits. I might have to re-think it, though, if the annual fee goes to $1,000.
Our favorite Amex perk was back in the day when you could get Tauck travel vouchers for $1000 or $500 when Tauck trips were much cheaper so it was a significant discount.
My husband has Amex platinum and it entitles me to a free Amex Gold card. We love the Fine Hotels and resort perks, Early check in at noon, late check out at 4pm, free breakfast, varying resort credit. Room upgrade if available . Creat flight deals with Concierge service. Extra points booking travel. We used them to book a top NY restaurant when the booking period opened. Same with popular Broadway shows and Rock star concerts when tickets are hard to get. Sometimes use the Uber credit. New York Times subscription. Amex lounges at airports. Global entry when renewing.Think that’s it.
The comments/suggestions in this thread are so helpful. I am a widow, typically a solo traveler. When in Europe with my sister and brother-in-law, his AmEx is often not accepted at restaurants. I changed my Medicare Advantage to a PPO for 2025 and recently learned that it provides $100,000 emergency medical and ambulance coverage outside the US. I nevertheless purchased additional travel insurance for upcoming travel and for the first time will also be purchasing a year of Medjet. I am healthy and active but want peace of mind. I appologize if I deviate from the main thread topic but I was focusing on travel points/miles rewards when searching for a credit card, not the benefit of emergency medical coverage abroad or extended hotel check-in/out, NY Times & Uber etc. Thank you all for the additional perks to consider.
All the hotels take Amex however a lot of stores don't, I just came back form a river cruise on the Rhine and only one of the places I bought something accepted Amex, so I always carry a MasterCard.
Patrice, May I ask which Citi card you have, as mine have foreign transaction fees. I'm only aware of Costco Member Citi Visa that is feeless, but it is for Costco members, so not really free. I use an old Barclays Arrival no longer offered, but that pays only 2.2% on travel. Thanks!
I had an AmEx card at one time but I encountered that problem, also. When offered at smaller places, it just was not accepted. AmEx charges the merchant a higher transaction fee so a lot of places just don't accept it. They figure that most people also have a Visa or MasterCard in their wallet. I eventually gave up the AmEx card and now use the Chase Reserve card.
I was on the Chase website today exploring the changes. It looks like they will be giving existing Sapphire Reserve cardholders 8 points per $ spent on Tauck tours, IF YOU BOOK THROUGH CHASE TRAVEL. You can't book tours on their website (you have to phone), but looking at the tour page they list three "popular escapes" all of which have the exact naming of Tauck tours (Classic Italy, etc.). So, booking Tauck through them seems possible. The 8 points per $ is effective after the Oct 25 changeover tor existing cardholders. That will be a big reward for booking through Chase Travel.
Ken - Have you confirmed they ARE Tauck tours (either with Chase or Tauck) and not just knock-offs of the your names?
(Edited to correct - replaced Amex with Chase)
BKMD- I assume when you said AMEX, you meant Chase, since I'm talking about the Sapphire Reserve card.
No. I won't call until I'm ready to book another tour. The three tours listed were Classic Italy, Treasures of Greece (not an exact match, but close) and Essence of Japan. I just assume if they're booking Tauck like any other travel agent. Since they're aiming for high end customers, booking for Tauck would make sense.
MarketArt: I use the same card as Patrice. It is the Citibank Costco Visa. You just need to be a Costco member. No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, great exchange rate usually within a very small fraction of a percent within the "spot rate", 5% back at Costco gas, 4% at all other gas stations, 3% on all travel - including Tauck, hotels, air, car rentals, restaurants, 2% at Costco and 1% on everything else. Once a year, they either send you a voucher for the cash back you can use at Costco or redeem it online or in their app to have the money go back to your linked checking account used to pay their monthly bill (my preference). With a few exceptions, my go-to card.
Ken - Yes, I meant Chase. Sorry, my mistake. I was looking at the Amex Platinum card details earlier in the day. FWIW, if you have a Schwab account, in addition to the standard benefits, they offer an additioanl cash back yearly bonus from $100-1000, depending on your account balance.
Costco Visa is a good option if you want 3% cash back and not points to leverage for points redemptions for business class, etc... Apple Card works similar but is 2%.
I actually called Chase Travel Services, to inquire about booking Tauck through them. What you see on the general travel site is not click through, and what they show is general categories that match to offerings by multiple providers, including Tauck. They book Tauck and everything else just like anyone else. If you book through Chase once the new Sapphire program kicks in, you get 8X points on tours and cruises, including Tauck bookings. If you are booking a family Bridges tour, that would be a lot of points for grandma and grandpa to accrue. Tauck does not permit rebating as we know, however Chase Travel receives both a Tauck commission and a charge fee, so the points no doubt are from the charge fee portion. I think this is similar to Pavlus Travel, where they will rebate a Tauck tour, if you book air with them - the rebate comes from a non Tauck revenue stream. Chase Travel will function like any other travel agency, and it is not Expedia type stuff in the back ground - a number of years ago Chase purchased CX Loyalty and Travel, and it is that agency that underpins this program. Note that you don't have a dedicated agent, so anytime you call, it is with anyone, though they can pull up your file. That may not appeal to many on this forum. Also, to book air, that is with a separate department, so it is not seamless as it is if you have a favorite do everything agent. The travel dept is only open til 8PM Central time, so for an emergency, you can call the number on the back of your card, but they are not travel specialists. Insurance they don't handle (I presume a licensing issue) and you do that on your own, if you want something beyond what the card itself automatically provides, unless it is the Tauck insurance that is part of a booking.
@sevenseas - Good information about Chase Travel. Thanks for searching that out.
sevenseas - Thanks for your post. I currently use a TA. I wonder how Chase Travel will be, with its impersonal 800 number service, with respect to forwarding all the documents from Tauck. With my TA, I've never had an issue.
@BKMD I have to assume they have a robust system in place since CX Travel has been around for a while. I guess someone is going to find out first and report, but it is not going to be me.
Chase travel had problems during the pandemic (as did so many). However, they were run by Expedia at that time. They have now moved to their own in-house service. I was debating on whether to keep my Sapphire Reserve card with the fee increase. WIth 8x points on Tauck, it's definitely worthwhile for me. Points earned after the changeover don't get the 1.5x bonus when used for airfare, but there is a 2x bonus on some airlines. I know Air Canada is one and I think Singapore is also on that list. If you can use new points from a Tauck tour this way, it's like 16% back from your tour! Nice !$$!
Has anyone thought to call Tauck to enquire if they are affiliated with Chase Sapphire? I would assume there would need to be an agreement. If so, this is a big savings.
No affiliation other than the normal tour operator / travel agent relationship. It's not just Tauck tours, it's any tour bookable through Chase travel (not sure what others they offer). Travel agents typically get a share of the booking price. In this case they also make money off the credit card fees and annual card fees. That's how they are able to offer the big reward.