There is New Travel Card on the Block with the same $95 Annual Fee but more Rewards
A popular travel card is getting a notable refresh without costing cardholders more. Chase said June 10 that its Sapphire Preferred card will add new rewards, credits and travel protections while keeping its annual fee at $95.
The update matters because the Sapphire Preferred has long been one of the best-known starter travel cards in the U.S. credit card market. By adding more ways to earn points on common spending categories, Chase is trying to make the card more competitive for travelers who also spend heavily on daily essentials.
What Chase is changing on June 15
According to Chase, the new Sapphire Preferred benefits become available to both new and existing cardmembers on June 15, 2026. The biggest additions are 3x points on gas and EV charging, along with 3x points on vacation home bookings made directly through brands such as Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa.
The card will also continue to offer 5x points on purchases made through Chase Travel, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours. Other standing categories include 2x points on other travel worldwide, 3x on dining, 3x on select streaming services and 3x on online grocery purchases, excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs.
Chase is also increasing its Chase Travel hotel credit to $100 each account anniversary year, up from $50. Cardholders will also get up to $120 in statement credits every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fees.
Why the card may look stronger now
For many consumers, the appeal is simple math. A $95 annual fee that now comes with a $100 Chase Travel hotel credit can potentially offset the cost of holding the card, assuming the user books an eligible hotel through Chase Travel each year.
The card is also adding Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage, which Chase said gives Sapphire Preferred the most comprehensive suite of built-in travel protections in its class. Chase’s benefits guide says that coverage includes up to $100,000 for eligible emergency evacuation and transportation costs, a feature more commonly associated with pricier premium cards.
Laura Picciano, general manager of Chase Sapphire, said in the announcement that the company aimed to improve a card already popular with travelers. She said the refresh is meant to help cardmembers earn valuable points faster while keeping the experience simple and reliable.
What cardholders should watch closely
Not every change is an upgrade. Chase said the Sapphire Preferred’s 10% Anniversary Bonus Benefit is being discontinued immediately for cardmembers who apply on or after June 15, 2026.
For customers who applied before June 15, eligible purchases made through October 1, 2026, will still earn that 10% bonus, with the final bonus to be awarded by January 31, 2027. That means longtime cardholders may want to compare the value of the new earning categories and credits against the loss of that older benefit.
Another important shift affects point transfers to World of Hyatt. Chase said Sapphire Preferred points will transfer to Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio instead of the previous 1:1 structure for new applicants starting June 15, with the same change reaching earlier cardholders on October 1, 2026.
What it means for travelers and everyday spenders
The overall redesign suggests Chase is leaning into a broader idea of travel spending. Gas, EV charging and vacation rental bookings are categories that fit how many Americans actually travel now, especially for road trips, family stays and shorter getaways rather than only traditional hotel-and-flight itineraries.
The card is also keeping several lifestyle perks that may matter outside vacation season. Those include complimentary DashPass membership, up to $10 off a month on groceries and other items through DoorDash, and a one-year Apple TV subscription for cardmembers who activate it by December 31, 2026.
For consumers comparing mid-tier travel cards, the new Sapphire Preferred is likely to draw attention because it expands rewards without raising the fee. Still, the details matter: the full value depends on whether cardholders use Chase Travel, care about airport security credits, and can absorb the weaker Hyatt transfer rate.
