Big Changes to a Top Travel Card — Is It Still Worth It or Is There a Better Fit for You?

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Ginormous news in the world of travel credit cards smacked us yesterday.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a new due.

Tons of changes to this card were just announced, and the annual fee is going up to, wait for it, $795.

Dude, that is higher than the annual fee on the platinum card from American Express, which is still incredibly high at $695.

Well, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is also adding a boatload of new benefits, which Chase claims is worth more than $2,700 a year.

But just to be clear, that is not $2,700 in cash.

That is $2,700 in coupon book energy.

And some huge changes, they're not all great, to the ways you can earn and redeem points.

Welcome to Smart Travel, a deep dive into the tips, tools, and tactics to maximize your travel dollars.

I'm Megan Coyle.

And I'm Sally French.

And we're the travel nerds ready to help you plan your next big trip.

We are unpacking all the changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve today, but before we get there, let's talk about some of the other news in travel today.

We're going to talk about a few credit card companies that are nerd wallet partners in this show, but that does not influence how we discuss them.

The benefits, terms, and fees mentioned were accurate at the time of posting, but things can change.

Some offers may have expired by the time you're listening, so for the latest details, follow the links in the episode description.

Kicking us off, not one, but two airlines are ceasing operations in the U.S.

The first one is regional airline Silver Airways, which was based in Florida and operated flights to the Bahamas and the Caribbean as well.

They shut down abruptly last week with a post to their social media and their website telling passengers, don't go to the airport.

Oh my gosh, how terrible for those travelers.

I hope they got refunds.

Yeah, they said passengers with existing tickets would be refunded, but it was still a surprise.

Silver Airways filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy about six months ago, but they had hoped to restructure their finances and keep operating.

And then the other airline that's ending all of its U.S.

flights is Play Airlines.

That is an Icelandic budget airline.

It says it's going to focus on flying passengers from Iceland to Europe instead of transatlantic flights.

So those flights from New York, Stewart, Boston, Logan, and Baltimore, Washington to Reykjaviks airport will end in the fall.

This isn't a huge surprise since Play began cutting U.S.

flights last year and honestly, they just haven't been profitable.

Megan, remember?

Wow.

Yeah, what a throwback.

Throwback.

They were the other Icelandic budget airline.

They tried to do the same thing back in the 2010s, but they ended operations entirely.

Yeah, it was fun while it lasted.

I got some super cheap flights to Iceland on WoW back in the day.

It was like $400 round trip from LA, and that was one of my favorite family vacations ever.

We got to see so many puffins.

Okay, also in airline news, American just changed how its upgrades work.

Now, American Airlines flyers will start seeing an instant upgrade option available on AA.com.

That's where you can upgrade with cash or miles, and your seat will be confirmed right away.

That means no more getting on a wait list.

And now that they're switching to instant upgrades, that means another award chart is going away.

Oh no, the people hate this.

Yeah, American used to have this table that would show you how many miles it would cost to upgrade to the next cabin based on where you are flying and which airline.

For example, if you were flying North America to Europe, it would have cost 15,000 miles to upgrade from full fare economy or premium economy to the next class.

I always prefer an award chart.

I know many listeners do because then it's just so clear how many miles you need to spend for an upgrade, how much you need to save up to actually get that flight.

Our smart travel listeners know that once you lose an award chart, airlines usually switch to dynamic pricing.

And that's where the number of miles you might need goes up or down based on demand.

Dynamic pricing is a bad word or I guess words on this show.

Very bad words because it means the price goes up in most cases.

American Airlines flyers like myself do have some time though.

Passengers have until August 11th to make mileage upgrade award requests under the old chart for trips that begin no later than December 31st this year.

And if listeners want to start testing out the new upgrade system, you can find your trip online at aaa.com.

Just see what the upgrade options are.

The cash options will show up on aaa.com or in the American app anytime before departure.

The thing is, the mile option only shows up on desktop right now and it won't show up until 24 hours before departure.

Okay, so many little fine print things.

Sally, why don't you tell listeners about the latest pricing numbers for travel expenses?

You just updated that last week.

Oh, you know, I'm happy to.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics just released the latest consumer price index.

This tracks all sorts of data, and it does specifically break out the cost of airfares, lodging, meals, and rental cars.

And good news for us, airfares in May 2025 were down 7% compared to the same time last year.

And not only is that a huge decrease, Megan, but it is also significant when you consider that average prices for all items.

So we're talking about everything else you spend money on, on, food, clothing, went up 2.4% over the past year.

Okay, so what about hotels then?

Hotel prices are down almost 2%.

I know that's not as significant as airfares, but still really surprising and really good news.

If you are traveling this year versus last year, expect to pay slightly less for your hotel and even cheaper, more or less for that flight.

Even if you're sticking closer to home, the average regular gas price in the U.S.

is also down compared to last year.

According to AAA,

the average average gallon of gas is close to $3.10 right now.

And that's down from about $3.50 a year ago.

Good savings for those summer road trippers.

That is our quick news, but now it is time for the big stuff.

Let's talk about the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

This is huge news in the travel credit card space.

You really only see changes like this once every five years or so.

The last time the Chase Sapphire Reserve got a refresh was in 2021, and that's when the annual fee went up.

It was also COVID, so the whole rollout took a long time.

It was a little bit messy.

And I don't think the changes were as significant as what we have this week.

This time, there are so many changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

I think it's practically unrecognizable from its old self.

So let's dive into the biggest changes with this card.

Wait, we should mention that there were cards plural in this announcement.

Yes.

Chase also announced it's launching a business version of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which has many similarities to the consumer version.

But for this episode, we'll focus on the personal card since that's the one many of us are familiar with already.

So the headline here is that the Chase Sapphire Reserve's former $550 annual fee now goes up to $795.

That is a 45% hike.

And the authorized user fee is going up to $195.

Just a heads up, the new version of this card will be available on June 23rd, 2025.

If you already have the card or applied for it prior to June 23rd, you will get these new benefits and features starting October 26th, 2025.

And your annual fee will go up to $795 on your next card anniversary following that date.

To lessen the blow of the annual fee increase, they have changed the points earnings and then they added a bunch of these coupon book style credits.

Really taking the lead from Amex with those coupon book style statement credits.

They also changed the way you redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Okay, Megan, let's talk about those new credits first because that to me stands out as the biggest changes here.

Yeah, should I just list them out?

Yeah, just like boom, boom, boom, rapid fire the big ones.

Then maybe we talk about the spiciest ones after.

Okay, that sounds good.

So the standouts to me are.

I feel like I should say on your mark, get set, go.

All right, I'm going.

$500 annual edit credit, $300 annual dining credit and primetime reservations at Chase Sapphire Reserve exclusive tables, $250 annual value through complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV Plus and Apple Music.

$300 annual stub hubs credit on concert and event tickets.

Those join existing credits, including an annual $300 travel credit, a once every four years global entry TSA precheck, or Nexus application fee statement credit, which is worth up to $120.

Dude, Megan, that was pretty good.

We should get you a job as an auctioneer.

I'm practicing.

I'm practicing.

Okay, but I want to say, do not forget my favorite existing benefit.

That is the complimentary Dash Pass subscription alongside a semi-complicated assortment of DoorDash discounts, including up to $5 off monthly on DoorDash restaurant orders, and then up to $10 off two two orders per month on DoorDash non-restaurant orders.

Did you get that?

Sally does not DoorDash anything, folks.

She is totally joking.

These credits are so complicated.

Also, I live three blocks from a Target.

I do not understand why I would pay for delivery when I can get it myself.

Sure, you can do pickup on the restaurant orders to avoid those fees, but for the non-restaurant orders, that usually is not an option.

I agree.

I can't stand the delivery fees.

I also love grocery shopping, so I don't know why I would let someone else do that for me.

Also, didn't you get banned from DoorDash, Megan?

Yeah.

Okay, get this.

I was working on another podcast and to record remotely, everyone needs to have headphones.

Uh-huh.

And we were interviewing a celebrity and their assistant told me that they literally did not have any headphones anywhere in their entire giant mansion house.

So my boss was like, why don't we just DoorDash them headphones?

And I was like, great, okay.

And she gave me her expense card and I used it.

And I think they thought because our names didn't match that I was like trying to do something fraudulent.

And so they've totally banned me.

Like I can't log in at all.

That's so weird.

The internet comes up blank.

There's literally like one line that's like entry denied or something.

It's very weird.

This does not bode well for either of us able to use these hypothetical DoorDash credits.

Yeah, I have anxiety just thinking about it.

And if I do use it, I have to like not log in.

So the dash pass is like off the table for me.

Oh, no.

And then I just have anxiety thinking about how to spend three separate DoorDash credits per month, two of which cannot be used at restaurants.

Yeah, if you do use them, that's theoretically $300 in annual value worth of monthly DoorDash promos.

Megan, I'm saying if you can use it, this is negative $300 in value for the anxiety.

Fair.

Okay, let's talk about a new credit that I'm actually curious about, the $500 annual credit to spend at hotels in the Edit.

Edit is Chase Travel's collection of curated hotels and resorts, mostly luxury hotels.

Yeah, it's similar to Amex's Find Hotels and Resorts program.

If you book through the edit, you'll get some extra perks like daily breakfast, a $100 property credit, space available, room upgrades, and early check-in or late checkout if that's available.

These are basically elite status perks that you can get without the status.

But don't fall for that $500 figure, people, because annoyingly, this credit is broken out into two semi-annual $250 credits.

So if you really want to max out this perk, you have to book yourself not one, but two separate hotel stays per year over separate periods of six months.

that is so annoying 250 of credit toward a luxury hotel is like half the cost of one night oh you know megan i did some research i looked up where we could stay this weekend on the edit so for the night of june 20th here in san francisco they've got the four seasons for 583 that night the cheapest i'm seeing is around 400 this friday night for the palace hotel right there downtown i do love that hotel again this credit is not getting you very far folks okay and get this megan this was buried in the fine print i'm so glad I saw it.

You have to stay a two-night minimum.

Ah, they're just piling it on now.

I know.

I mean, similarly, Amex has a two-night minimum on their hotel collection hotels, which is another similar program to find hotels and resorts.

So the two-night minimum isn't that surprising, but that's how you end up spending a thousand dollars just to use a $250 credit.

And also, you're only locked in for the two-night minimum on the hotel collection.

You can still do one night on the fine hotels and resorts with Amex.

I think these luxury hotel programs are all fun, but it can be so easy to overspend like sometimes the property credit just won't cover like a full spa treatment or whatever you want and you order one nine dollar orange juice and suddenly you owe money on that free breakfast that's not free ultimately this basically comes out to you spending like a thousand dollars for a two night stay only to save 250 that is not save with sally approved this is why i just go away from the luxury hotels anyway hyatt place has free breakfast the orange juice is included with this free breakfast okay now i'm hungry for breakfast let's take a quick break and we will be right back.

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Going back to dining, let's talk about that $300 annual dining credit and primetime reservations at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.

This one is also broken out into $150 twice per year.

You know, Megan, I actually had to Google what Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables was.

It is basically a curated collection of restaurants.

Chase says they can help you get primetime reservations.

And much like the edit, this is just a curated list of super bougie restaurants.

And though Chase says new restaurants are being added across the U.S., they're really only in major cities.

We're talking about the ones you'd expect like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, and Philadelphia, to name a few.

Yeah, so if you don't live in one of those major cities, you basically either lose the credit or you have to save it for if and when you're traveling to one of those cities.

This to me just feels like an unnecessary planning headache.

So I was curious what they have in San Francisco.

I will say it is good stuff, but all expensive restaurants.

Yeah, I mean, were you expecting the whole Neval taco place?

Okay, well, I will say, have you been to House of Prime Rib?

Because that is on there.

No, but that sounds like the most Sally restaurant ever.

I knew you'd pick a place with meat so that you could hit your protein targets.

This makes sense.

Dude, hopper is an SF staple food.

It's fancy and it's so, so good.

Did you call it Hopper?

Yeah, House of Prime Rib.

It's shortened as Hopper.

That's how you know you're in the SF Club.

Oh, got it.

So even if you live in that city, this seems like a headache just to remember to use the credits on this thing.

Okay, next up, let's talk about the credits that have some more national appeal, like the complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV Plus and Apple Music.

I'm actually really excited about the Apple TV Plus subscription.

I've been pleasantly surprised by a lot of movies and shows on there.

You know, Megan, this is maybe embarrassing to say, but I could not tell you a single show on Apple TV Plus.

Come on, you don't know Severance, the studio, Pedlasso.

I've heard of them, but I've never seen this.

I've told you this before, Baby Yoda or Bust.

I am not kidding.

The only shows I watch are the Star Wars shows on Disney Plus and or Season 2 is all I needed for my TV quota this year.

Okay, Disney Plus is not the only place to watch sci-fi, so I'm just saying you're really missing out.

Okay, and then the final really notable credit is an $150 twice a year stub hub credit that's to be used for concerts and event tickets.

Again, twice a year is way more annoying than $300 in one go.

And then there are still a bunch of other credits that we won't dig into too much.

There's a new Peloton credit.

Oh, and by the way, this card comes with IHG1 Rewards Platinum Elite status through December 31st, 2027.

So that's kind of interesting and different you can see the full slate of changes in the article we'll link in the episode description oh and speaking of fine print we should tell listeners that many of these benefits require activation yeah so for many of these credits you have to go in and click a button and then opt in so you can't just buy a ticket on stub hub with your card and assume you'll get the statement credit you have to go in separately and then activate this benefit this is something you have to do on other cards as well another annoying thing we could say annoying like a hundred times this episode yeah but honestly i think a lot of people make this mistake and then they buy the concert tickets that maybe they wouldn't have bought otherwise, but they're like, oh, it's free.

And then they don't get the credits.

So don't make that mistake, people.

You heard it from us on Smart Travel.

We should talk about some of the existing benefits like priority pass and travel insurance.

My favorite is the existing $300 travel credit.

That one is still there for our Chase Sapphire Reserve loyalists.

Well, you said we should make annoying the word of this episode.

I will say this credit is actually not annoying.

The $300 travel credit on this card is honestly my favorite credit in the whole world of premium travel credit cards.

It's super easy to use, unlike the rest of these new credits.

None of those weird monthly credits broken up.

This is just an easy $300 to spend annually on travel purchases.

The most important thing is it's automatic.

It also covers such a wide range of travel.

You don't have to book it through the portal.

It could be an airline purchase, a hotel purchase, but it also could be something like toll bridges, limos, parking garages, buses, and trains.

Shout out to trains.

You know, I love BART here, my Bay Area trains.

Yep.

Credit card holders really just need to strategize.

It is probably unrealistic for most people to use all of the credits on this card, but can you use enough that you'll offset the annual fee?

The $300 annual travel credit kicks in automatically.

So subtract that from the annual fee and you've got $495 left.

Could you max out the edit credit?

Can you ball out on some concert tickets through StubHub?

twice?

Do you need to renew your global entry?

There's a lot of ways that you could kind of make up the other portion of of that annual fee.

And a lot of ways you could just have anxiety.

The catch with these things is often I end up spending more money than I ever did just to max out that value.

And especially depending on where you live, so often those people in the Midwest, it can be harder to squeeze maximum value out of it.

And we haven't even touched the value you might get from redeeming your points.

So let's go over some of the changes to earning and redeeming points.

Okay, let's start with earning.

All right.

So as far as earning goes, you'll get 8X points on all chase travel purchases.

That replaces the 5x points you earned on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through chase travel.

Tldr nerfs earnings on car rentals and hotels, but ups it for flights.

Again, these are things booked through chase travel.

And we often recommend booking direct so you can earn both chase ultimate rewards points and points with an airline or hotel loyalty program.

So, for flights and hotels booked directly, you'll now get four points per dollar on those purchases up from the old three points per dollar.

So, that is good news for those things.

The other good news is that 8x points on Chase Travel means you can get points for other types of travel purchases through Chase Travel.

I'm thinking about things like cruises, which are only now appearing on Chase's travel portal.

And we can link to my story on that in the episode description.

The other big nerf, spending on all other travel, not through Chase and not directly with airlines or hotels, is dropping from three points per dollar to one point per dollar.

So, that's stuff like booking through OTAs, OTAs, like Expedia.com, or just any other type of travel.

When I just said shadow trains, I like San Francisco Public Transit, and that was covered by the 3X points.

Even though you'll still get the $300 statement credit if you charge, say, your public transit to it, you only earn one point beyond that.

That's a huge downgrade for other things like cruises.

If you put a lot of your travel spending on this card, you won't earn the 3X points.

It'll now just be one X.

They're basically like forcing you to book three three chase travel, yeah.

Okay, and then let's talk about all the changes to redeeming points.

Now, where this card really stood out before was with redeeming the points because you could redeem a chase ultimate reward point for 1.5 cents a piece on the chase travel portal, and that was so good.

Yeah, I mean, most are like one cent or even less sometimes.

Now, for existing card holders, points earned prior to October 26, 2025, that's this year, are only eligible for that redemption rate until October 26, 2027.

So you have two years to try to get that rate on your future travel bookings through the portal.

And I feel like if you have a bunch of chase points, you might want to just start spending them down and dial down your balance before October 2027.

That's because for all other points and for new card members, Chase is switching to this thing called points boost.

With points boost, that means chase travel purchases will only be worth one cent apiece unless you book it with a type of travel eligible for what Chase calls points boost, where they will be worth two cents a piece.

Why do you keep saying points boost like that?

Points boost.

Why do they call it points boost?

Just be like bonus points or something normal.

Yeah.

They're trying to make it exciting.

And here's the thing, Megan, it is not.

I mean, it's actually a huge blow to this card because now you have to go searching for the points boost eligible trips and it might not be the one you want to book.

Right.

I really liked that before redeeming points was so straightforward.

And again, that redemption rate beat the value of other credit card points in other issuer portals.

We should also note that this points boost is coming to not just the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but also the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Inc.

business preferred.

So this isn't like an exclusive cool thing for the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

It's like everyone has a Chase Sapphire card or Inc.

card will have this.

And, you know, I will say, if you like the options available for points boost, that could make those other lower annual fee cards more attractive as the possibility to get two cents per point is now not going to be exclusive to the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Okay, so let's talk about the signup bonus.

Right now, Chase has not said whether the bonus will change when the product relaunches.

Right, but we should still talk about how a signup bonus offer could factor into your decision making.

Okay, so this might be a hot takeoff, but I really don't try to factor in the welcome offer when I judge a credit card.

Interesting, because I feel like that's the first rule in trying to reach the next level of using points and miles.

You want to get it when the signup bonus is high, right?

I totally hear you.

Those people are called churners.

These are people who apply for a good signup offer just to get the points, then they cancel the card as soon as they can after they do.

Here's the thing.

I like to recommend that people have a card they hold on to for many years, and especially with a card like this, with a $795 annual fee, it is way more important to factor that in, as that is something you will be paying every year.

And then you really only get that huge windfall of points once.

I see what you're saying.

And for me, the signup bonus doesn't really decide whether I get the card, like whether I'll pay the annual fee, but when I get it.

So if it has a massive bonus, then that's when I want to apply for the card.

Okay, I do agree with you there.

So if you are thinking about all those credits and you are like, I love my Apple TV.

I love my DoorDash.

I do three DoorDash orders a month and two of them are at grocery stores, then let's go.

Then I look at some of these other superfluous credits, like the stay at the Palace Hotel, maybe the dinner at the House of Prime Rib.

Then I would say applying for the card and getting the signup bonus is the cherry on top right so you'll have to see what the bonus offer is when the card relaunches and make your decision luckily you'll have some time to weigh the pros and cons honestly that's why we did this episode today well i think that leads into the question everyone is thinking what do i do now if you don't have it do you apply if you do have it do you cancel let's spell out where we're both at so you used to have this card but i've never had this card i am og i applied for this card way back in the day when the annual fee was just 450 And then keep in mind, there was that $300 travel credit.

So I looked at it as really just having an $150 annual fee.

And then you know I love my lounges.

So I easily justified that with Priority Pass Lounge Access.

So that was when Priority Pass lounges were cool and they weren't overrun.

TBT, when Priority Pass lounges were actually good.

So I ended up downgrading that to a freedom card when the annual fee went up to $550.

And now it's going up to $795.

So what should people do?

The way I see it is, you have a couple of options.

Number one, you can keep it if you think you can still stomach the annual fee.

We went over some of the new benefits.

You can decide whether that's worth it for you.

Number two, you could downgrade it to a no annual fee chase card like Sally did previously.

That will preserve the credit history of your card.

And that's good because the longer your accounts are open, the better for your credit score.

It's really easy to downgrade.

All you have to do is you just like call Chase and you just say, hello, I would like to downgrade to a Freedom or any other no annual fee Chase card.

You do have to call them, though, which I know is scary for some people, but I really had no issues with it.

Number three, you could consider getting or keeping some of the alternatives instead.

So we'll cover a few of the other alternatives here, but if you really want to drill down into the numbers, then check out NerdWallet's list of the best travel credit cards.

You can compare all the benefits of each card, including their annual fee, rewards breakdown, and NerdWallet's take.

And we'll put a link to that in today's episode description.

But can we just talk about some of these alternatives, like the best ones?

Yeah.

So Sally, you and I have what is easily the closest competitor to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Platinum Card from American Express.

And these cards are similar in that they have super high annual fees.

At this point, this is bananas.

The platinum card is now cheaper.

I never thought I would say that.

It has a $695 annual fee.

And then, again, all sorts of statement credits to expensive places.

Yeah, they also both have lounge access.

We didn't really talk about this much yet, but there are only seven lounges in the Chase Sapphire Lounge Network right now.

With the platinum card from American Express, the lounge network is way bigger.

There are almost 25 Centurion lounges in the world.

Plus, Amex Platinum card holders get access to Delta Sky Clubs when they're flying Delta.

And there are a few other lounges you get access to as well.

So for the lounge access alone, this card is amazing.

Yeah, it's way better.

Like I will say there is an Amex Lounge in San Francisco, but not a Chase Lounge.

So that's already kind of a good choice for me.

Yeah, we should point out that the Chase Lounge Network is growing, though.

Yes, it is building one in Dallas-Fort Worth.

That's That's news.

And then they've already announced that they are building one in Las Vegas and one in LAX.

That'll be good for you, Megan, since you and I both agree the Centaurian Lounge in LAX is one of our least favorite of the Centaurian lounges.

Yes, I really don't like their food.

Like the salad is so sad, the cookies aren't good, the hot food is just like really uninspired to me.

You know, for me, it's the low ceilings that get to me.

Yeah, it really has sad cave energy in there.

Those new chase lounges, though, are super nice.

I went to the one in San Diego when it opened and it's so bright and airy.

There's a wall full of windows.

The food has a lot more variety because they have both a buffet and a la carte items that you order at your table and they have complimentary facials.

Is that amazing?

Did you get a facial?

Oh, of course.

You bet.

It has this like skin analysis.

Like it's so great.

Oh, so bougie.

You cannot get that kind of service at a Centurion lounge.

They've really gotten rid of most of their spa services.

Well, if you're debating between these two cards, my key advice would be just consider what airport you live near.

You can actually search both of these cards and then their airport lounge access.

So San Diego has a chase lounge and it does not have a dedicated Centurion lounge.

So maybe my San Diego peeps, a chase card would work better for you.

Or if you fly out of Washington, Dallas, you might choose the Capital One Venture X.

Oh, yeah.

Okay, let's talk about this card.

In the team group chat, I feel like everyone just kept saying this makes the Venture X look so much better.

Oh, yeah.

I mean, the annual fee is like half of the new Chase Sapphire Reserve fee.

It's only $395 for the Capital One Venture X, but it also comes with a $300 annual travel credit that you have to book through the portal and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles.

So it's just much easier to justify that $395 annual fee.

Way easier to spend than those DoorDash credits.

I'm still mad about the changes to the Capital One lounge guest.

Sorry.

For me, that really made this card stand out from everyone else.

And I also don't think Capital One's transfer partners are as good as Chase's, especially if you're more of a novice at Points and Miles.

You might not have heard of some of these airlines and hotel partners.

I do think you're in it for the small plates at the Capital One lounges.

You caught me.

I love, I mean, those little tiny black cast iron-looking pots of mac and cheese, like the grab and go food section.

The Capital One lounges were designed for travelers, and the Centurion Lounge at LAX was designed for cavemen.

Oh,

I said it.

Sorry.

Let's break it down.

Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve change mean anything to you?

You know, I actually just got the Chase Sapphire preferred preferred the $95 annual fee card with the 100K signup bonus in the spring.

Dude, that was good.

Yeah, that was awesome.

I can only pay so many annual fees.

I already pay the annual fees on the Amex Platinum and the Capital One Venture X, and that pretty much maxes out my budget for high annual fees.

Dude, can I add in one more hot take?

Okay, go for it.

When people have these cards and they're like, I have so much free travel.

I travel for free.

I spend zero money on travel.

And then I'm like, wait, you have all three of these cards?

You do not spend zero dollars on travel.

Yeah, you actually spent like $1,500 on travel.

I just did it ahead of time.

All right.

Well, that is our show.

We are so excited to hear what you think about the Chase Sapphire Reserve changes and points boost.

How do you say it?

Points boost.

Points boost.

Points boost.

Okay.

Okay.

I really want to know what people think about these changes.

If you have opinions, email us at travel at nerdwallet.com or leave us a voice memo with your take.

You can also leave us a comment.

And typically when you comment, your favorite podcast app will ask for a review like Starz.

We do love five stars.

However, we take all levels of stars.

Five stars is a preference though if you would be so generous.

It is the currency of our show.

If we get those five star reviews, we get to keep making this show and that's what we love doing most.

It is true.

And if you don't get every episode already, make sure to follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio to automatically download new episodes.

This episode was produced by Tess Viglund, Claire Soci, and Hilary Georgie Georgie helped with fact-checking, and Nick Carissimi mixed our audio.

And here's our brief disclaimer.

We are not financial or investment advisors.

This info is provided for general, educational, and entertainment purposes.

It may not apply to your specific circumstances.

We hope you're inspired to keep your passport full and your wallet even fuller.

Thanks, everyone.

We'll see you next week.

Points boost!

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