Chase Sapphire Cards Get a New Chapter: Perks, Bonus Categories & 2026 Changes
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve have both undergone significant changes since the original Sapphire refresh covered in the now-expired 2021 article, with the Preferred receiving a major update in June 2026 and the Reserve having been comprehensively relaunched in 2025.
The older refresh centered on higher earning rates for dining, Chase travel bookings, streaming, and online groceries. Those changes no longer tell the whole story. Today, the two cards have substantially different fee structures, earning categories, credits, travel benefits, and redemption features.
This guide explains what changed, what the current cards offer, which older benefits have disappeared, and the important 2026 deadlines cardholders should know.
What Was the Original Chase Sapphire Refresh About?
The expired article was published in 2021, when Chase announced a refresh of both Sapphire cards effective August 16, 2021. At that time, the Sapphire Preferred received higher rewards on dining and Chase Travel purchases, plus new 3x categories for select streaming and online grocery purchases.
The Sapphire Reserve also gained higher earning rates for certain Chase Travel and Chase Dining purchases, while its annual fee remained $550 at the time.
Those details are useful as historical context, but they should not be treated as the current Sapphire benefits. Both cards have since gone through another major evolution.
The 2021 changes in brief
| Card | Major 2021 refresh |
| Sapphire Preferred | 3x dining |
| Sapphire Preferred | 5x Chase Travel |
| Sapphire Preferred | 3x select streaming |
| Sapphire Preferred | 3x online groceries, with exclusions |
| Sapphire Preferred | $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit |
| Sapphire Preferred | 10% anniversary points bonus |
| Sapphire Reserve | Higher earning on select Chase Travel purchases |
| Sapphire Reserve | Higher earning on Chase Dining |
| Sapphire Reserve | $550 annual fee at the time |
The important takeaway is that the original refresh is now historical. Chase has since replaced many of those features with newer benefits and earning structures.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: The 2026 Refresh Explained
The biggest recent change came on June 15, 2026, when Chase introduced new earning categories, travel credits, and protections for the Sapphire Preferred while keeping its annual fee at $95. Both new and existing cardmembers became eligible for the new benefits from that date.
New 3x categories: gas, EV charging, and vacation homes
The Sapphire Preferred now earns 3x points on:
- Gas stations
- EV charging
- Eligible vacation homes through specified brands and platforms
Chase lists vacation-home brands including Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay. com,m and Vacasa.
For example, a $500 qualifying vacation-home booking could earn 1,500 points at the 3x rate, before considering any other applicable promotions.
The category has specific eligibility rules, so travelers should check how a particular transaction is coded rather than assuming every vacation-rental expense qualifies.
Existing Preferred bonus categories remain.
The current Sapphire Preferred earning structure includes:
| Purchase category | Current earning rate |
| Chase Travel | 5x |
| Dining worldwide | 3x |
| Gas stations and EV charging | 3x |
| Eligible vacation homes | 3x |
| Select streaming services | 3x |
| Online groceries, excluding certain merchants | 3x |
| Other travel | 2x |
| All other purchases | 1x |
| Eligible Lyft rides | 5x through Sept. 30, 2027 |
| Eligible Peloton equipment/accessories over $150 | 5x through Dec. 31, 2027 |
Chase says the 5x Chase Travel category includes airline tickets, hotels, vacation homes, car rentals, cruises, activities, and tours booked through Chase Travel.
The Preferred Card’s New Travel Credits
One of the most meaningful changes is the expanded Chase Travel hotel credit.
$100 Chase Travel hotel credit
The Sapphire Preferred now provides up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel. This replaced the previous $50 annual hotel credit.
The purchase must meet Chase’s eligibility requirements, and the credit is tied to the account anniversary year rather than simply being an unrestricted cash benefit.
Up to $120 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS
Cardmembers can receive a statement credit of up to $120 every four years toward an eligible Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee.
This can be particularly relevant to frequent travelers because the credit applies to one eligible application fee within the specified four-year period.
Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage
Chase also added Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage to the Preferred card’s travel protections. Chase states that a covered traveler who becomes sick or injured during a trip 100 miles or more from home may receive coverage for eligible medical services and transportation, subject to the benefit’s terms and limits.
New Everyday Perks on Sapphire Preferred
The 2026 refresh also expanded beyond travel.
Apple TV subscription
Eligible cardmembers can receive one year of complimentary Apple TV when they activate the benefit by December 31, 2026. Chase currently lists the benefit at a $156 value. Activation is required.
DoorDash DashPass
The Preferred card provides a complimentary DashPass membership for 12 months when activated by December 31, 2027, along with a monthly $10 promotion for eligible grocery, retail, and other DoorDash purchases. Terms apply.
Lyft and Peloton bonuses
The card also continues to offer:
- 5x points on eligible Lyft rides through September 30, 2027
- 5x total points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessories over $150 through December 31, 2027
One Important Preferred Benefit Is Going Away
The 2026 refresh did not simply add benefits.
The 10% anniversary bonus is being discontinued. Cardmembers who applied before June 15, 2026, can still qualify for the bonus on eligible purchases made through October 1, 2026, with eligible bonuses scheduled to be awarded by January 31, 2027. New applicants from June 15, 2026 onward do not receive the anniversary bonus.
This is an important distinction when comparing older Sapphire Preferred reviews with the current card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: A Much Larger Transformation
The Sapphire Reserve’s evolution is considerably larger. Chase relaunched the premium card in 2025 with a $795 annual fee, a redesigned rewards structure, new credits, and additional premium travel benefits.
The current Reserve earning structure is:
| Purchase category | Current earning rate |
| Chase Travel, including The Edit | 8x |
| Flights booked directly | 4x |
| Hotels booked directly | 4x |
| Dining worldwide | 3x |
| All other purchases | 1x |
| Lyft rides | 5x through Sept. 30, 2027 |
| Eligible Peloton equipment/accessories over $150 | 10x through Dec. 31, 2027 |
The 8x Chase Travel rate is notably different from the Preferred card’s 5x rate. Directly booked flights and hotels also receive 4x on the Reserve.
Reserve Travel Credits Go Well Beyond the Original Refresh
The current Reserve includes several substantial travel benefits.
$300 annual travel credit
Cardmembers receive up to $300 in statement credits for eligible travel purchases each account anniversary year. Purchases covered by this credit do not earn points.
Eligible travel can include categories such as airlines, hotels, rental cars, cruise lines, travel agencies, passenger trains, buses, taxis, toll roads, and parking. However, Chase excludes certain travel-related merchants and transactions.
The Edit credit
Reserve cardmembers can receive up to $500 per year in statement credits for qualifying prepaid stays through The Edit, with a maximum of $250 per booking and a two-night minimum.
The Edit also provides additional hotel benefits such as a property credit, breakfast, and potential room upgrades, depending on the property and availability.
Select Chase Travel hotel credit
Through December 31, 2026, the Reserve offers up to $250 in statement credits for qualifying prepaid Chase Travel hotel bookings with participating hotel groups, including IHG Hotels & Resorts, Montage Hotels & Resorts, Pendry Hotels & Resorts, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Virgin Hotels, Minor Hotels and Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts. A two-night minimum applies.
Reserve Lounge Access Remains a Major Travel Feature
The Sapphire Reserve includes complimentary access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and more than 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide, with up to two complimentary guests under the stated benefit terms. Eligible cardmembers can also access select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés with an eligible boarding pass.
The lounge network has continued expanding in 2026, including the opening of the Chase Sapphire Lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and a planned Los Angeles location.
This is separate from the Sapphire Preferred, which does not include the same Sapphire Lounge and Priority Pass membership.
Reserve Adds a Broad Set of Lifestyle Credits
The Reserve’s current package extends well beyond flights and hotels.
Key benefits include:
- $300 annual dining credit at participating Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants
- $288 annual value in Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions, with the stated activation and eligibility period
- $120 DashPass membership
- Up to $300 in annual DoorDash promotions
- Up to $300 in annual StubHub and viagogo statement credits
- Up to $120 in annual Lyft credits, plus 5x points on eligible Lyft rides
- Up to $120 in annual Peloton membership credits, plus 10x points on eligible equipment and accessories over $150
Several of these benefits require activation or have specific redemption windows, so you shouldn’t automatically treat their advertised annual value as cash savings for every cardmember.
What Is Points Boost?
Points Boost is another major change from the older Sapphire structure.
With the current Reserve card, eligible points can be worth up to 2x when used through Chase Travel for selected hotels and flights. Chase identifies qualifying options with a Points Boost tag during booking.
For example, if a qualifying booking offers a 2x Points Boost rate, 20,000 points could cover up to $400 of that booking rather than the standard $200 value.
The key word is eligible. Points Boost is not a universal 2x value for every Chase Travel reservation; offers vary by card, flight, hotel, and booking availability.
Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Current Snapshot
| Feature | Sapphire Preferred | Sapphire Reserve |
| Annual fee | $95 | $795 |
| Chase Travel earning | 5x | 8x |
| Direct flights | 2x other travel structure | 4x |
| Direct hotels | 2x other travel structure | 4x |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Annual travel credit | $100 Chase Travel hotel credit | $300 general travel credit |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS | Up to $120 every 4 years | Up to $120 every 4 years |
| Airport lounge access | Not included | Chase Sapphire Lounges + 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges |
| Points Boost | Up to 1.5x on eligible offers | Up to 2x on eligible offers |
| DoorDash | DashPass + $10 monthly promo | DashPass + up to $25 monthly promos |
| Lyft | 5x through Sept. 2027 | 5x + monthly credits through Sept. 2027 |
| Peloton | 5x on eligible purchases over $150 | 10x on eligible purchases over $150 + membership credits |
The two cards now serve distinctly different spending patterns. The Preferred retains a much lower annual fee, while the Reserve bundles substantially more premium travel access and statement credits.
Another 2026 Change: Chase-to-Hyatt Transfers
One of the most important changes for Sapphire Preferred cardmembers isn’t a new earning category, but a change to point transfers.
Chase has announced that Ultimate Rewards points from Sapphire Preferred accounts will transfer to World of Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio rather than the previous 1:1 ratio. For example, 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points would become 750 World of Hyatt points.
For new Sapphire Preferred cardmembers who apply on or after June 15, 2026, the revised ratio applies immediately. For existing Sapphire Preferred cardmembers, the change takes effect on October 1, 2026.
The Sapphire Reserve remains at a 1:1 transfer ratio to World of Hyatt under the current terms.
This makes the transfer rules particularly important for travelers who regularly move Chase points to Hyatt.
What Happened to the Old Sapphire Benefits?
The evolution is easier to understand if you separate the original 2021 refresh from today’s cards.
Sapphire Preferred
The card still retains several concepts introduced in 2021, including 5x Chase Travel, 3x dining, 3x streaming, and 3x online grocery earnings. However, Chase has added gas, EV charging,g and vacation-home categories and expanded the hotel credit to $100.
However, however, is phasing out the 10% anniversary bonus.
Sapphire Reserve
The Reserve has moved far beyond its 2021 structure. Its current $795 annual fee, 8x Chase Travel earning, 4x direct flight and hotel earning, Points Boost system, lounge access, and extensive statement credits reflect the 2025 relaunch rather than the original 2021 refresh.
What Should Existing Cardholders Check in 2026?
Because several Sapphire benefits have deadlines, cardholders should review the terms rather than relying on an older card review.
For Sapphire Preferred
Check:
- Whether you qualify for the $100 Chase Travel hotel credit
- Whether you have activated the Apple TV benefit before December 31, 2026
- Whether you can use the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit
- Whether your spending qualifies for the new 3x categories
- The October 1, 2026 deadline affecting existing cardholders’ Hyatt transfer ratio
- Whether any remaining 10% anniversary bonus is still applicable to your account
For Sapphire Reserve
Check:
- Your $300 annual travel credit
- The $500 The Edit credit
- The qualifying $250 Chase Travel hotel credit through December 31, 2026
- Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables dining credits
- Lounge eligibility and guest rules
- DoorDash, Lyft, Peloton, and StubHub activation requirements
- Points Boost availability before transferring or redeeming points elsewhere
Is the Original Chase Sapphire Refresh Still Relevant?
Yes, but primarily as a historical reference.
The expired 2021 article correctly captured a major moment in the Sapphire program, when Chase introduced 3x dining, 5x Chase Travel, streaming, and online grocery bonuses to the Preferred card and expanded certain Reserve earning opportunities.
But those details should not be used as a current benefits guide in 2026. Chase refreshed the Preferred again on June 15, 2026, while the Reserve received a much larger overhaul in 2025.
For travelers researching either card today, the current Chase terms are the more relevant reference point.
Final Takeaway
The Chase Sapphire refresh covered in the expired 2021 article is now only one chapter in the cards’ history. The Sapphire Preferred has evolved into a $95 card with new 3x gas, EV-charging, and vacation-home categories, a $100 Chase Travel hotel credit, and additional travel and lifestyle benefits. The Sapphire Reserve now operates as a substantially more premium product, with a $795 annual fee, 8x Chase Travel earning, 4x direct flight and hotel earning, lounge access, Points Boost,t and a broad collection of statement credits.
Because Chase benefits and promotional terms can change, travelers should check the current cardmember terms before applying, booking through Chase Travel, activating partner benefits, ts or transferring Ultimate Rewards points.
Frequently Asked Questions
The latest Sapphire Preferred refresh took effect on June 15, 2026, adding new earning categories, travel credits, protections, and lifestyle benefits while keeping the $95 annual fee.
The 2026 additions are 3x points on gas stations, EV charging, and eligible vacation homes. The card also continues to offer 5x points on Chase Travel and 3x points on dining, streaming, and eligible online groceries.
No. The Sapphire Preferred annual fee remains $95.
The Sapphire Reserve currently has a $795 annual fee, with a $195 fee for each authorized user.
Not permanently. For new Sapphire Preferred cardmembers applying on or after June 15, 2026, the transfer ratio is 4:3. For existing cardmembers, the change takes effect on October 1, 2026.
Yes. The current change to the 4:3 ratio applies to Sapphire Preferred and certain other Chase cards, while Sapphire Reserve retains the 1:1 Hyatt transfer ratio under the current terms.