I have had the Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card since 2017, and I’ve been very happy with it. It has been my primary credit card for most travel and dining purchases, thanks to its points-earning potential. With 3 points per dollar spent on dining, I have earned hundreds of thousands of points over the years. And when something went wrong while traveling, like a canceled or delayed flight, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s travel insurance came through repeatedly, refunding the expenses I had incurred as a consequence.
That’s why I didn’t mind paying its $550 annual fee. Year after year, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has paid for itself — and then some — through points, travel credits and peace of mind. But then the bank announced that it was raising the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee to $795, effective June 23, 2025,a brutal 45% hike that had many card holders wondering if they should keep the Reserve or seek less expensive alternatives.
So, I looked at the new credits and earning structure that Chase announced with the annual fee change, did the math and decided that the Chase Sapphire Reserve still makes sense for me, even at an annual fee of $795. Once the card’s various credits are factored in, that intimidating figure drops, in my situation, to just $15.
