Sapphire Reserve card: JPMorgan Chase raises fee to $795 with new perks

The Sapphire Reserve card is up for a big overhaul as JPMorgan Chase decided to take a bold move and rolled out a suite of new and enhanced benefits. 

The annual fee of the Sapphire Reserve card will jump by 45% to $795 from the current $550. 

The new service fee will be applicable from 23 June, and the multinational financial corporation said that it is aiming to deliver over $2,700 in annual value to cardholders. 

When it launched in 2016, the Sapphire Reserve shook up the premium credit card scene by offering top-notch travel and dining perks at a price that was within reach for many people.

New Perks: What Sapphire Reserve card is offering 

JPMorgan Chase is hoping that a beefed-up package of travel, dining, and lifestyle perks will keep its wealthier customers loyal, even as the annual fees jump sharply.

Sapphire Reserve cards are all set to become more popular among frequent travelers as the new perks include revamped points redemption programs. 

Now, cardholders can double the value of their points when booking select travel, making the card even more appealing for frequent travelers looking to maximize rewards.

The finance behemoth is also offering a $500 annual credit that can be used at Chase’s exclusive collection of hotels and resorts.

If you love food, the new card offers a $300 dining credit, which can be used at restaurants within the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables network.

In order to shine among the consumers who enjoy streaming and binge-watching, the Sapphire Reserve offers complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, together valued at $250 per year. 

Customers spending more than $75,000 per year will unlock elite status with Southwest Airlines and IHG Hotels and Resorts, giving them access to premium travel perks and upgrades. 

Will Customers Stick Around?

The real test for JPMorgan Chase is whether these new perks are enough to convince cardholders to stick with the Sapphire Reserve despite the hefty fee increase. 

For frequent travelers and big spenders who can make the most of the hotel, dining, and entertainment credits, the card could still be a great deal. 

But for those who don’t use these benefits often, the $795 annual fee might be tough to justify. These customers may end up downgrading to the more affordable Sapphire Preferred or looking at competing cards from American Express or Capital One.

The industry already has a diverse opinion about the price hike, with some analysts claiming that it can push away the original middle-class users who loved the Sapphire Reserve for its mix of luxury and value.

The price hike is seen with a recent trend where financial giants are making their premium cards more exclusive to cut down on crowded airport lounges and bring back that feeling of special treatment for their top-tier customers.