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The Chase Sapphire travel credit cards (the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card) have several upgrades that can benefit applicants and existing cardholders. Here is a recap of the exciting Chase Sapphire updates.
Chase Sapphire Updates
Here are some of the Chase Sapphire updates that have taken place.
Sapphire Preferred Rewards Categories
The Chase Sapphire Preferred now earns unlimited:
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit)
- 3x points on dining (including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out)
- 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target®, Walmart®, and wholesale clubs)
- Also 3x points on select streaming services
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x point per $1 spent on all non-bonus purchases
Sapphire Preferred Anniversary Points Bonus
The Sapphire Preferred offers a 10% anniversary points bonus for your annual purchases.
For example, your bonus is 5,000 points if you earn 50,000 Ultimate Rewards from the 5-3-2-1 bonus categories.
Despite this anniversary bonus and the additional benefit introductions, the Sapphire Preferred annual fee remains $95 for the primary card and $0 for authorized users.
Sapphire Preferred Hotel Night Credit
Another perk for the Sapphire Preferred is an annual $50 hotel night credit.
Your first $50 in hotel bookings through Chase Travel℠ are reimbursed but do not earn 5x points (similar to the Sapphire Reserve $300 annual travel credit).
It comes as a statement credit that will automatically be applied to your account when your card is used for hotel accommodation purchases made through the Chase Travel program, up to an annual maximum accumulation of $50.
Sapphire Reserve Rewards Categories
Chase Sapphire Reserve® purchases earn up to 10x Ultimate Rewards. Cardholders can earn unlimited:
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchases through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 10x total points on Chase Dining purchases with Chase Travel℠
- 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 3x points on other travel worldwide (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 3x points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
- 1x points for all remaining purchases.
You will not receive rewards points on your first $300 in annual travel purchases as the annual travel statement credit reimburses these purchases.
Sapphire Reserve Airport Lounge Benefits
Chase Sapphire Reserve card members can access a few more airport lounge locations.
The first locations for the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network are:
- New York LaGuardia
- Boston Logan International
- Hong Kong
You will also continue to get complimentary access to the Priority Pass airport lounge network.
Aeroplan Ultimate Rewards Point Transfers
One of the other Chase Sapphire updates to know about is another airline transfer partner. Air Canada is a 1:1 Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. You can transfer Ultimate Rewards to Aeroplan in 1,000-point increments.
In addition to the Air Canada and Aeroplan award flights that offer flexible stopover award flights, you can book Star Alliance partner flights.
Both Chase Sapphire cards support point transfers.
Travel Protection Benefits
The travel protection benefits remain intact for both cards. Other banks have been reducing travel and purchase protection benefits recently to make room for benefits.
Your Sapphire Card can include these trip protection perks:
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
- Baggage delay insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- Emergency evacuation and transportation (Sapphire Reserve only)
The Sapphire Reserve has more extensive travel insurance benefits.
