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Chase Sapphire Reserve 2025: Personal Card Refresh + New Business Card Launch This Summer
December 12, 2024

The Chase Sapphire Reserve®, one of the most popular premium travel credit cards, is reportedly getting a major overhaul this summer. With rumors swirling about significant fee increases and benefit changes, current cardholders and potential applicants are eager to know what's coming. Here's everything we know so far about the rumored Chase Sapphire Reserve refresh.
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Official Confirmation: Chase Announces Summer 2025 Launch
Chase has officially confirmed what many suspected was coming. The bank announced on Monday that both a fully refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve and an all-new business version will launch "this summer" - with summer officially beginning June 20, 2025.
The announcement came alongside a major marketing campaign in New York City, including teaser ads spotted at Grand Central Terminal. Chase also released images of the redesigned Sapphire Reserve card on social media, showcasing a noticeably more premium design aesthetic.
Confirmed Changes from Leaked Images
Leaked images from Chase's own website have confirmed changes to the points-earning structure:
- 8x points on Chase Travel (down from 10x on hotels/cars, up from 5x on flights)
- 4x points on flights and hotels (up from 3x)
- 3x points on dining (unchanged)
1x points on everything else (down from 3x on other travel
Rumored Annual Fee Increase: $550 to $795
The biggest buzz centers around a reported $245 annual fee increase, bringing the total from $550 to $795. This would make the Sapphire Reserve one of the most expensive travel cards on the market, competing directly with premium cards like the American Express Platinum.
New Benefits Package: The "Coupon Book" Approach
The rumored benefit additions follow what industry experts are calling the "coupon book" model, similar to American Express's approach:
Regular Benefits (Available to All Cardholders)
- $500 Edit Credit - $250 semi-annually for select hotels through Chase's portal
- $300 Dining Credit - $150 semi-annually via Sapphire Reserve Tables
- $300 StubHub Credit - $150 semi-annually for entertainment
- $300 DoorDash Credit - $25 monthly
- $120 DoorDash Membership - Annual membership included
- $250 Apple Services Credit - For Apple TV+ and Apple Music
- $120 Lyft Credit - 5% back, $10 monthly cap
- $120 Peloton Credit - 10x points, $10 monthly cap
High-Spend Rewards (After $75,000 Annual Spending)
- $500 Southwest Credit
- Southwest A-List Status
- IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
- $250 The Shops Credit
New Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card: First of Its Kind
Alongside the personal card refresh, Chase is launching its first-ever Sapphire Reserve Business card - a significant expansion that puts Chase in direct competition with premium business cards from American Express and Capital One.
Why This Matters for Business Owners
Key Advantages Over Personal Cards:
- Doesn't count toward Chase's 5/24 rule - You can hold both personal and business versions
- No impact on personal credit report - Business cards don't appear on personal credit reports
- Separate credit limits - Doesn't affect your personal credit utilization
- Business expense tracking - Better separation of business and personal spending
- Potential tax benefits - Annual fees and rewards may be business deductible
Expected Business Card Features
While Chase hasn't revealed specific details, industry expectations include:
- Annual fee likely $795 - Matching the rumored personal card increase
- Similar points earning structure - 8x Chase Travel, 4x flights/hotels, 3x dining
- Business-focused benefits - Potentially different credit selections than personal version
- High welcome bonus - Rumors suggest 150,000-200,000 points for $15,000-$20,000 spend
- Premium business services - Enhanced customer service and business tools
Target Audience
The business card appears designed for:
- High-spending business owners who can justify the premium annual fee
- Frequent business travelers who need premium travel benefits
- Entrepreneurs wanting to separate business and personal expenses
- Existing Sapphire customers who want to maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards earning
Marketing Strategy: Targeting Luxury Lifestyle
Chase's marketing approach represents a dramatic shift toward "quiet luxury" and premium positioning. The company has partnered with 90s supermodel Claudia Schiffer for sophisticated advertising campaigns that look more like Vogue editorials than traditional credit card promotions.
Key Marketing Elements:
- Premium card redesign with more luxurious appearance
- High-end fashion photography and styling
- Emphasis on lifestyle and status over travel rewards
- Strategic placement in upscale locations like Grand Central Terminal
This strategic pivot makes sense as the card's original millennial audience has matured over the nearly decade since the card's 2016 launch, with evolved spending habits and higher expectations for premium experiences.
Points Earning Changes: Winners and Losers
Winners
- Flight bookings - Increase from 3x to 4x points
- Hotel stays - Increase from 3x to 4x points
- Chase Travel flights - Increase from 5x to 8x points
Losers
- Other travel categories - Dramatic decrease from 3x to 1x points
- Chase Travel hotels/cars - Decrease from 10x to 8x points
The "other travel" category reduction is particularly significant, as it previously included cruises, tours, tolls, and travel booked through third-party sites like Expedia.
Industry Impact and Competition
This refresh appears to be Chase's response to increased competition in the premium card space. With American Express continuously adding benefits to the Platinum card and Capital One strengthening its Venture X offering, Chase needs to differentiate the Sapphire Reserve.
However, the "couponization" of benefits has received mixed reactions from the credit card community, with many preferring simpler, more flexible rewards.
Should You Apply Now or Wait?
Expert Recommendation: Wait for Official Announcement
Given Chase's confirmation that changes are imminent, financial experts recommend waiting to see the complete picture before making any decisions. Card issuers typically provide existing customers advance notice before implementing major changes.
Apply for Current Personal Card Now If:
- You want to lock in the current $550 annual fee before increases
- You frequently use "other travel" categories that may lose the 3x bonus
- You prefer the current, simpler benefit structure
- You're concerned about potential approval criteria changes
Wait for New Cards If:
- The rumored new benefits align better with your spending habits
- You can easily spend $75,000+ annually to unlock rumored elite benefits
- You prefer having more statement credits vs. higher earning rates
- You want to see the new welcome bonus offers
- You're interested in the business version - This is entirely new and may offer better value
Business Card Strategy:
- Consider both versions - You can potentially hold both personal and business Sapphire Reserve cards
- Business owners should prioritize the business card - Better for expense separation and doesn't count toward 5/24
- Wait for official details - Business card benefits may differ significantly from personal version
For Current Cardholders:
Chase typically gives cardholders time to evaluate changes before they take effect. You may have options to product change to a different card if the new structure doesn't work for your spending patterns.
Timeline and What to Expect
Official Timeline:
- June 20, 2025: Summer officially begins - earliest possible launch date
- Summer 2025: Chase's confirmed window for both card launches
- Coming weeks: Chase indicated launches are imminent
What Chase Won't Say Yet:
- Exact launch date
- Final annual fee amount
- Complete benefits package details
- Welcome bonus offers for new cards
Industry Expert Predictions: Given that Chase has finalized the card design and launched marketing campaigns, many experts believe the launch could happen right at the start of summer to capitalize on peak travel season buzz.
The Bottom Line
Chase's official confirmation that major changes are coming to the Sapphire Reserve marks the end of speculation and the beginning of anticipation. With summer starting June 20, 2025, cardholders and potential applicants may only have days or weeks to wait for full details.
What We Know for Certain:
- Refreshed Sapphire Reserve launching summer 2025
- New Sapphire Reserve Business card also launching - Chase's first premium business card in the Sapphire lineup
- Points earning structure changes confirmed through leaks
- Premium repositioning with luxury marketing campaign
- More upscale card design
What Remains Unknown:
- Final annual fee amount (rumored $795)
- Complete benefits package
- Welcome bonus offers
- Exact launch timing
The potential fee increase to $795 would represent a 45% jump and position the card firmly in ultra-premium territory alongside the American Express Platinum Card. Whether the new benefits package justifies this increase will determine if Chase can retain its large customer base while attracting new premium spenders.
For current cardholders, the dramatic reduction in "other travel" earning from 3x to 1x points could significantly impact the card's value proposition, particularly for those who book cruises, tours, or travel through third-party sites.
Our Recommendation: Wait for the official announcement before making any major decisions. Chase's track record suggests they'll provide adequate notice and transition options for existing customers.
As Chase prepares to launch what could be the most significant credit card refresh of 2025, the industry will be watching closely to see if the premium strategy pays off in an increasingly competitive market.
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