While much of today’s conversation has focused on Chase reducing Hyatt transfer ratios for certain cardholders, there was also some good news.
Chase has officially refreshed the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, adding several new benefits and credits while keeping the annual fee at just $95 per year.
For travelers who don’t primarily use Hyatt transfers, these changes may actually make the Sapphire Preferred an even stronger value than before. Between a larger hotel credit, a new Global Entry benefit, expanded bonus categories, and enhanced travel protections, Chase is adding meaningful value without asking cardholders to pay more.
Let’s break down exactly what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and whether the Sapphire Preferred is actually better than before.
What’s New With the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Beginning June 15, 2026, Chase is introducing several new benefits and enhancements to the Sapphire Preferred.
Here’s a quick look at the biggest updates:
New Benefits
- Annual Chase Travel hotel credit increases from $50 to $100
- Up to $120 every four years for Global Entry®, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS
- 3X points at gas stations
- 3X points on EV charging
- 3X points on eligible vacation rental purchases
- Enhanced emergency evacuation and transportation coverage
- Complimentary Apple TV+ subscription offer
Benefits Being Removed
- 10% anniversary points bonus
- 1:1 Hyatt transfer ratio (for Sapphire Preferred cardholders)*
| Benefit | Before June 15, 2026 | After June 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | $95 |
| Chase Travel Hotel Credit | Up to $50 annually | Up to $100 annually |
| Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS Credit | Not Included | Up to $120 every 4 years |
| Gas Stations | 1X | 3X |
| EV Charging | 1X | 3X |
| Eligible Vacation Rentals | 1X | 3X |
| Apple TV+ | Not Included | Included for 1 Year |
| Emergency Evacuation Coverage | Not Included | Included |
| 10% Anniversary Bonus | Included | Being Discontinued |
| Hyatt Transfers | 1:1 | 4:3 |
The good news? The annual fee remains unchanged at $95.
The Hotel Credit Just Became Much More Valuable
One of the biggest upgrades is the increase in the annual Chase Travel hotel credit.
Beginning June 15, the credit doubles from $50 to $100 annually. What I like most about this benefit is how easy it is to use. Unlike many hotel credits offered by premium travel cards, this one has no minimum stay or spend requirement.
If you find a hotel through Chase Travel that costs $110, you’ll effectively pay just $10 after the credit. Find a hotel for $100, and the credit can cover the entire stay.
That’s a level of flexibility we don’t always see with travel credits, especially on a card with a $95 annual fee.
Existing cardholders receive an additional benefit during the transition. If you’ve already used your annual $50 hotel credit this year, Chase will provide an additional $50 beginning June 15. If you haven’t used your hotel credit yet, you’ll have access to the full $100 benefit once the changes take effect.
When you consider that the card’s annual fee remains $95, this benefit alone can effectively offset the cost of carrying the card each year.
One of the Cheapest Ways to Get Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Sapphire Preferred cardholders will now receive up to $120 every four years toward:
- Global Entry (best value; includes Pre-Check)
- TSA PreCheck
- NEXUS
Historically, benefits like these have been reserved for premium travel cards with annual fees ranging from $395 to nearly $800.
At just $95 per year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred instantly becomes one of the most affordable travel rewards cards offering reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
If you don’t currently have either program, this benefit alone can make your airport experience significantly smoother. And if you already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can use the credit to cover the application fee for a family member or travel companion.
New Bonus Categories Reward More Everyday Spending
Chase is also expanding the Sapphire Preferred’s earning potential.
Beginning June 15, cardholders will earn 3X points on:
- Gas station purchases
- EV charging purchases
- Eligible vacation rental bookings through platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Vacasa, Plum Guide, HomeAway, and Homestay.com
For many travelers, this is one of the most underrated additions in the entire refresh.
Not everyone stays in traditional hotels every trip, and vacation rentals continue to grow in popularity for family travel, group trips, and longer stays. Being able to earn bonus points on those purchases gives the Sapphire Preferred even more everyday value.
These categories are in addition to existing bonus categories, including dining, streaming services, online grocery purchases, travel purchases, and Chase Travel bookings.
Better Travel Protections for the Same Annual Fee
One of the reasons I’ve consistently recommended the Sapphire Preferred over the years is because of its travel protections.
The card already offered strong coverage, including trip cancellation insurance, trip interruption coverage, trip delay reimbursement, primary rental car coverage, and baggage protections.
With this refresh, Chase is adding emergency evacuation and transportation coverage as well.
Travel insurance isn’t always the most exciting benefit to talk about, but it can easily become one of the most valuable benefits on your card when something doesn’t go according to plan.
What Chase Is Taking Away
While there are plenty of positive changes, not everything being announced today is an upgrade.
Chase is removing two existing benefits:
The 10% Anniversary Points Bonus
Current cardholders will continue earning the anniversary bonus on eligible purchases through October 1, 2026, with the final bonus deposited by January 31, 2027.
New applicants approved on or after June 15, 2026, will not receive this benefit.
The Hyatt Transfer Devaluation
The bigger headline for many travelers is Chase’s decision to reduce transfers to World of Hyatt from 1:1 to 4:3 for Sapphire Preferred cardholders.
If Hyatt is one of your favorite ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you’ll definitely want to read my full breakdown of that change here:
As a Hyatt loyalist myself, this is easily the most disappointing part of today’s announcement.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Better or Worse After These Changes?
The answer depends on how you use the card.
If your primary goal is transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt, today’s changes are clearly a negative.
However, if you’re looking for a well-rounded travel rewards card with strong earning categories, valuable travel protections, useful credits, and a manageable annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred may actually be stronger than ever.
The increased hotel credit, Global Entry reimbursement, additional earning categories, and enhanced protections easily add more than $95 in potential value for many travelers.
My Take
Would I rather keep the 1:1 Hyatt transfer ratio and get all of these new benefits? Absolutely.
As someone who regularly transfers Chase points to Hyatt, that part of the announcement definitely stings.
That said, when I look at the card as a whole, I think Chase has done enough to keep the Sapphire Preferred one of the best travel rewards cards available under $100 per year.
The increased hotel credit is also useful. The Global Entry benefit is one of the best additions we’ve seen on a card at this price point. And the new bonus categories make the card even easier to use for everyday spending.
Bottom Line
Chase has added meaningful value to the Sapphire Preferred without increasing its $95 annual fee.
Between the larger hotel credit, Global Entry reimbursement, expanded bonus categories, enhanced travel protections, and additional perks, many cardholders will likely get more value from the card than ever before.
While the Hyatt transfer devaluation will be disappointing for some travelers, there’s no denying that the Sapphire Preferred remains one of the strongest travel rewards cards available for under $100 per year.
Read my full Chase Sapphire Preferred review and current welcome offer here:
Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Still the Best Starter Travel Card?
