The Chase Sapphire Reserve went through a real transformation in 2025-2026: the annual fee jumped 45%, from $550 to $795, while the card gained a genuinely new perk it never had before — complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status. This review covers whether the math still works at the higher price, and what the added status and credits actually get you.
In This Review
- The Card at a Glance
- The 2025-2026 Fee Increase
- Earning Rates
- Stacking the Hotel Credits
- The New IHG Platinum Elite Status
- Other Benefits
- Who This Card Is For
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Card at a Glance
| Annual Fee | $795 (See Rates & Fees) |
| Rewards Currency | Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
| Issuer | Chase |
Terms current as of this writing (July 2026). Always confirm current terms directly with Chase before applying.
One writer stacked three separate Chase hotel credits on a single booking and brought a stay down to $9.32 out of pocket. That kind of stacking is exactly what the refreshed card is built around — but only if you actually know all three credits exist.
The 2025-2026 Fee Increase
The fee rose from $550 to $795 in June 2025, with existing cardholders seeing the increase at their first renewal after October 26, 2025. The authorized user fee jumped even more sharply — from $75 to $195 per year. In exchange, Chase expanded the card’s statement credits from two to six and added the IHG status benefit covered below.
Earning Rates
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel, including The Edit
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly (not through Chase Travel)
- 3x points on dining worldwide, including takeout and eligible delivery
- 1x point on everything else
Stacking the Hotel Credits
This card now has three separate credits that can apply to the same hotel booking:
- $300 annual travel credit — automatically applied to your first $300 in travel purchases each account anniversary year, no enrollment or specific booking channel required.
- Up to $500 in Edit by Chase Travel hotel credits — split as $250 from January through June and $250 from July through December, requiring a 2-night minimum stay. These don’t roll over; an unused half-year credit expires.
- Up to $250 in select Chase Travel hotel credits (through 12/31/2026) — for prepaid bookings at IHG, Montage, Pendry, Omni, Virgin Hotels, Minor Hotels, or Pan Pacific properties, also with a 2-night minimum.
Booking a qualifying 2-night stay that counts for both the Edit and select-hotel credits at once can mean a $400+ stay costs very little out of pocket — but this requires deliberately choosing a property that qualifies for both programs, not just any hotel.
The New IHG Platinum Elite Status
This is the card’s most genuinely new benefit: complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, available through December 31, 2027. Normally this tier requires 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 points in a calendar year — see our IHG One Rewards guide for the full tier breakdown. With this card, you get it complimentary through account linking instead:
- 60% bonus points on paid IHG stays
- Complimentary room upgrades when available
- A welcome amenity at check-in
Activation isn’t automatic — link your IHG One Rewards account through Chase.com or the Chase Mobile app, which can take up to 3 weeks to process. If you don’t already have an IHG account, you’ll need to create one first.
Other Benefits
- Priority Pass Select membership, covering 1,300+ lounges worldwide with 2 complimentary guests — now activates automatically for accounts opened on or after June 23, 2025
- Chase Sapphire Lounge access, now at 8 airports as of mid-2026, also with 2 guests
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and Café access when departing on a Star Alliance airline
- Up to $300/year in dining credits at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants ($150 semi-annually)
- Up to $120 credit every 4 years toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
- Primary rental car insurance and trip delay protection after 6 hours
- Reserve Travel Designer — a personalized trip-planning service valued at up to $300 per trip
Who This Card Is For
Worth considering the lower-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred instead if you travel occasionally rather than quarterly, since the fee gap is substantial and the Preferred still earns solid Ultimate Rewards value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth $795?
For frequent travelers who use the lounge access and can stack the hotel credits, the value regularly exceeds the fee. Occasional travelers may find the lower-fee Sapphire Preferred a better fit.
Does the Sapphire Reserve include hotel elite status?
Yes — complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, available through December 31, 2027, activated by linking your accounts. This is a genuinely new benefit as of the 2025-2026 refresh.
Do the hotel credits roll over if unused?
No. The Edit credit’s second half-year allotment ($250 for July-December) expires on December 31 if unused — it’s one of the most commonly missed pieces of this card’s value.