Would you pay $795 a year for a credit card? Chase thinks this popular card is worth it.
Would you pay $795 a year for a credit card? Chase thinks this popular card is worth it.
Show Caption
Hide Caption
What to do if you lose your credit card while traveling
Your smartphone can help if your credit card is lost or stolen.
Problem Solved
The Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee will increase to $795 with new perks.
New perks include expanded point earning opportunities and statement credits.
The new fee applies to existing cardholders starting October 26th and new applicants starting June 23rd.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa, a long-time favorite of points and miles hobbyists and luxury travel aspirants, is getting an overhaul and a hefty new annual fee.
Chase announced Tuesday that Sapphire Reserve cardholders will soon pay $795 a year for the privilege of using that high-end metal card. While the new fee is softened by a host of updated perks, many points and miles experts are wary that the credit card game is losing its luster.
"Honestly, this is kind of a breaking point for me, but also I could see it for a lot of people. I don't see why anyone would really splurge for this card when the Sapphire Preferred exists,' Stella Shon, a senior editor at Upgraded Points, a points, miles and travel website, told USA TODAY. 'Do you really care that much about lounges? Do you really need to get to the airport hours early to get a free meal?'
Cruising Altitude: Do you love airport lounges? Airlines are stepping it up for you.
The Sapphire Preferred is a more budget-friendly Chase card. It has fewer perks and no lounge access, but an annual fee of just $95. The current fee on the Reserve card is $550 a year.
Shon said that airport lounges remain one of the biggest value propositions offered by premium travel credit cards, but that benefit is getting diluted by higher fees and other harder-to-use perks.
Among the new benefits are expanded opportunities to earn points through Chase partners and extra statement credits to help offset a portion of the higher costs.
Shon also pointed out that the revamped Reserve card has sharp restrictions on how to earn and use some of its perks. For example, bonus points are only available in many spending categories on purchases made directly through Chase.
According to Chase, the new fee and perks will go into effect for existing cardholders starting Oct. 26. If your membership renews before then, you'll pay the old rate for one more year. The updated fee will apply to all new applicants starting June 23.
American Express, which produces the Platinum card, the Sapphire Reserve's main competitor, also announced it was planning updates of its own.
The Platinum card currently comes with a $695 annual fee and a similar slate of benefits to what Chase previously offered. Amex hasn't announced details of its updates, including whether or not the fee would change.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Burlington set to open new Michigan locations. Where they will be
Michigan shoppers, get ready to welcome more Burlington stores this summer. The New Jersey-based discount department store chain will open two new locations in the state this summer, USA TODAY reported. The stores in Brighton and Burton are expected to open July 25. Burlington plans to open about 100 new locations by the end of 2025, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kristin Kendrick Wolfe told USA TODAY on June 9. The retailer has already opened 22 locations in both rural communities and major metropolitan areas in 2025, Wolfe said. More expansions will be coming in 2026. "In fact, Burlington is on track to grow to 2,000 stores nationwide," Wolfe said in a statement. "We're excited to keep growing and bringing amazing deals on top brands to shoppers across the country." Here's what to know. Burlington will open new locations in Brighton and Burton. The two new Burlington stores in Michigan will open July 25, 2025. Each new store will include Burlington's new store layout and the company's new motto that reads "Deals. Brands. WOW!," USA TODAY reported. "The refreshed store layout provides a better and more enjoyable shopping experience, making it easier for consumers to discover deals and savings on their favorite brands," Wolfe said. All new stores have the latest format, while half of the brand's locations have already been converted. The rest of the company's locations will be converted by the end of 2026, Wolfe said. Nationwide Burlington openings are set to occur in waves during summer 2025 on the following dates: June 27 July 4 July 11 July 18 July 25 Aug. 8 Aug. 15 The company has over 1,100 stores across 46 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, USA TODAY reported. Burlington currently operates locations in the following Michigan cities: Allen Park Ann Arbor Auburn Hills Benton Harbor Bloomfield Township Chesterfield Dearborn Farmington Hills Flint Grand Rapids Holland Jackson Kalamazoo Lansing Mt. Pleasant Norton Shores Novi Portage Redford Rochester Hills Roseville Saginaw Southfield Sterling Heights Taylor Traverse City Troy Walker Warren Westland Burlington will also open new stores in the following areas this summer: Arizona California Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Kansas Massachusetts Missouri Nevada New York North Carolina Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Tennessee Texas Washington A full list of anticipated openings can be found at Burlington already opened locations in 2025 in the following states: Arizona California Florida Illinois Indiana Massachusetts North Carolina Pennsylvania Texas Washington Wisconsin USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Where new Burlington stores will open in Michigan
CNET
8 hours ago
- CNET
You Can Snag a $200 Amazon Instant Gift Card. Here's How
Zooey Liao/CNET The Prime Visa is easily the best credit card for shopping on Amazon with its high rewards rate and instant Amazon gift card offer. Ahead of the four-day Prime Day event on July 8-11, this card just upped its welcome offer from $150 to $200. It's rare for a credit card to offer a welcome bonus that you don't have to "earn" by spending a certain amount with the card. And while the Prime Visa technically has no annual fee, you'll need to be an Prime member to get approved for this card, which costs $139 annually. I've had the Prime Visa card for going on four years, and it comes in handy when I need last-minute gifts or everyday essentials. I also like that it earns 5% back on all purchases at Amazon and Whole foods, and often earns even higher rewards on select items during events Prime Day. How do you earn a $200 Amazon gift card with the Prime Visa? All you have to do to earn this $200 gift card is get approved for a new Prime Visa credit card. Once approved for the Prime Visa, you'll receive the Amazon gift card right away. Most cards require you to spend a certain amount in the first few months of account ownership to "earn" a bonus, but the Prime Visa card doesn't. The gift card is automatically added to your Amazon Prime account when you're approved for this card. What are the Prime Day benefits of the Prime Visa card? Amazon's flagship card is a great all-around rewards card, since it offers 5% back on travel booked through Chase and 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and rideshare services. You can also earn 7% back or more on eligible Amazon items from July 8 to 11 when you opt for no-rush delivery, and 10% back on select products. Checking out on Amazon is certainly convenient, but I also like to shop small. You can do both by shopping through Amazon's small business shopping hub. It's not the smoothest shopping experience, but it's worked well for me in a pinch. Is the Prime Visa the best card for shopping Prime Day? It's difficult to find another card that offers all of the same Amazon perks as the Prime Visa. But this card only makes sense if you're a Prime member and regular Amazon shopper. If you're not a Prime member, check out the card's younger sibling, the Amazon Visa, which earns 3% back at Amazon. It's not as rewarding but has no annual fee and comes with a $50 gift card on approval. Don't shop Amazon often enough to justify either card? No problem. Our CNET credit card editor, Evan Zimmer, recommends the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express for groceries and gas and the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card* for pretty much everything else. There's also the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, which has no annual fee and offers rewards with select U.S. online retailers, including Amazon. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here. *Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company. *All information about the Prime Visa and Wells Fargo Active Cash card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Former In-N-Out employee accuses burger chain of discriminatory firing for natural hair
A former In-N-Out employee is suing the West Coast burger chain for alleged discriminatory treatment and termination due to his natural hair. Elijah Obeng filed a lawsuit against In-N-Out, alleging he was discriminated against and fired based on his natural hairstyle and texture. Obeng claims he has suffered damages from the termination, including emotional distress, reputational harm and loss of employment, court documents state. He is seeking $3 million in damages and $200,000 in pay he would have earned since his firing or could have earned in the future. In-N-Out declined to comment to USA TODAY on June 18, citing ongoing litigation. Obeng and his lawyer did not immediately respond to request for comment. Lawsuit accuses In-N-Out of 'humiliating and discriminatory' action According to court documents, Obeng began working at an In-N-Out restaurant in June 2020 after graduating from high school. He continued to work for the chain until he was terminated in spring 2024. Obeng went to work with his natural hair, in accordance with In-N-Out's grooming and uniform policy, the lawsuit reads. When Obeng's hair got longer, he was instructed by management to cut or alter it to fit under the required uniform hat. In an effort to comply with the policy, Obeng began wearing his hair in braids. Management then told him, court documents state, that he needed to cut his sideburns, which Obeng found "humiliating and discriminatory." When he did not cut his sideburns, Obeng began experiencing different treatment. He was punished for minor policy violations, like not attending work meetings, which Obeng claims his colleagues did not face, the lawsuit reads. In-N-Out's grooming and uniform policy is not readily accessible online, but Indeed forums indicate that male workers must arrive to shifts clean-shaven, with no facial hair. On around May 25, 2024, Obeng clocked in for what would be his last shift at In-N-Out. Upon his arrival, management told him to go home, shave his sideburns and return, court documents state. Instead, Obeng left and texted his supervisor that he would return for his next shift. A few days later, Obeng was fired, which In-N-Out claimed was due to prior write-ups, according to court documents. Obeng, however, alleges that his termination was because of his "ancestry, color and race, including his natural hairstyle and hair texture." Former employee says In-N-Out violated CROWN Act In the lawsuit, Obeng says In-N-Out violated the CROWN Act, a law that prohibits employers from discrimination based on hairstyle and texture. Standing for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair," the law was first passed in California in 2019 with the help of Dove, the CROWN Coalition and Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell. As of June 18, the CROWN Act is law in 27 states, according to The CROWN Act website. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
