Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of the Miles and Points Daily Podcast. I'm Lucas, and if you're like me, you probably woke up this morning wondering if your credit card was still the same card you went to sleep with. Well, spoiler alert - if you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, the answer might be no! We've got some absolutely massive news from Chase today that's going to shake up the premium credit card landscape in a big way. But before we dive into all that excitement, let me tell you about a tool that'll help you maximize your hotel stays. Introducing hotelredemptions.com, a tool that monitors your hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook for less points. It's like having a personal assistant watching your reservations twenty-four seven, making sure you're always getting the best deal possible. Now, let's get into today's news because oh boy, do we have some stories for you. Chase has just dropped what might be the biggest credit card news of the year. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, that beloved premium card that launched back in two thousand and sixteen, is getting a complete makeover. And when I say complete, I mean they're changing pretty much everything - the annual fee, the benefits, the earning structure, and even launching a business version for the first time ever. Let's start with the personal Chase Sapphire Reserve changes. The annual fee is jumping from five hundred and fifty dollars to seven hundred and ninety-five dollars. Now, before you start panicking, hear me out - Chase has packed this card with so many new benefits that it might actually be a better deal than before. We're talking about a complete reimagining of what a premium credit card can offer. The new benefits include expanded credits for dining, travel, and even streaming services. They've essentially turned this into a Swiss Army knife of credit card perks. Here's my recommendation - if you're an existing Sapphire Reserve holder, Chase is giving you some time to decide whether you want to stick with the old version or upgrade to the new one. Take a close look at your spending patterns and see which version would work better for you. If you maximize credits and use premium benefits regularly, the new version could actually save you money despite the higher fee. Now, here's where it gets really interesting. Chase is also launching their first-ever Sapphire Reserve Business card with that same seven hundred and ninety-five dollar annual fee. This fills a huge gap in their lineup - they've had business versions of their other cards, but never the premium Sapphire Reserve. The business version comes with similar premium perks but tailored for business needs. If you're a business owner, this could be a game-changer, especially if you can write off that annual fee as a business expense. But wait, there's more Chase news. They're also changing their Ultimate Rewards redemption system. The old one point two five to one point five cents per point redemption through Chase Travel is being replaced with something called Points Boost. This could potentially offer better value for your points, but it'll depend on how you typically redeem. Speaking of redemptions, there's a great transfer bonus happening right now. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are transferring to Marriott Bonvoy with a sixty-five percent bonus through June thirtieth. That means every hundred Chase points becomes one hundred and sixty-five Marriott points. If you've got some Marriott stays planned, this could be worth considering, but remember that hotel points typically aren't as valuable as airline miles, so do the math first. Now, let's talk about some other premium card news. There are rumors swirling about Delta and American Express working on an ultra-premium card that would sit above the current Delta Reserve. We're talking about potentially the first four-figure annual fee card in the mainstream market. While nothing's confirmed yet, it shows just how hot the premium card space is right now. For those of you with American Express cards, there's some good news too. The Platinum Card is offering welcome bonuses as high as one hundred and seventy-five thousand points for new cardholders. That's a massive sign-up bonus that could be worth over two thousand dollars in travel value. If you've been considering the Amex Platinum and you're eligible, this might be the time to jump. You can find the link in our show notes. We're also seeing some interesting developments in the hotel booking space. A new AI-powered platform called Gondola is helping travelers compare cash and points rates across different hotel programs. They even offer cash back when you book directly through hotel websites, which is pretty innovative. It's worth checking out if you're someone who books a lot of hotel stays and wants to optimize between cash and points. Looking at award travel opportunities, there's a solid deal right now with United Airlines offering round-trip premium economy flights to Italy for just one hundred thousand United miles. That's excellent value for premium economy to Europe, especially during peak summer travel season. If you've got United miles burning a hole in your account and Italy's on your list, this could be worth booking. Now, here's my overall take on all these changes, especially the Chase Sapphire Reserve overhaul. The credit card industry is clearly in an arms race for high-spending customers. These ultra-premium cards with seven hundred plus dollar annual fees are targeting people who spend significant money and want premium experiences. If you're someone who travels frequently, dines out regularly, and can maximize credits and benefits, these cards can actually save you money. But if you're a more casual traveler, you might want to stick with mid-tier cards. The key is being honest about your spending patterns and actually using the benefits you're paying for. One thing I want to emphasize - with all these new premium cards and elevated annual fees, it's more important than ever to really understand what you're getting for your money. Don't get swayed by flashy perks you'll never use. Look at the math, consider your actual spending and travel patterns, and choose accordingly. For our Chase Sapphire Reserve holders listening, take advantage of that window to choose between the old and new versions. This is a rare opportunity to essentially A-B test two different card products and see which works better for your lifestyle. That's all for today's episode. The credit card landscape is evolving rapidly, and staying informed is more important than ever. Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss any of these important updates. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the show notes. Thanks for tuning in to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast. I'm Lucas, and I'll see you tomorrow with more miles and points news. Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until next time, happy travels and happy earning!