Chase is teasing changes to the Sapphire Reserve card with Claudia Schiffer. And they’ve also revealed that a business version of the card will launch, too.
We can see a new card design in the German supermodel’s hands, “Introducing Sapphire Reserve, Summer 2025.”
This isn’t just a new card design. Product changes are being teased as well – “rewards are about to get more rewarding.”
It’s been 9 years since Sapphire Reserve first launched. It was a revolutionary product at the time, though one whose economics were reportedly challenging for Chase. With a big acquisition bonus at launch, it was tough to make back the marketing costs – when consumers taking the card tended to be affluent and not heavy revolvers; when the card heavily bonused travel and dining spend and may not have attracted a strong enough mix of unbonused spend; and when the cost of benefits like Priority Pass (which initially offered unlimited guests and later covered airport restaurants) ate up a good bit of ongoing margin.
Nonetheless, it really launched an arms race in premium cards, was very popular with consumers, and earned a top place in cardmember wallets. Now, after nearly a decade, it appears that the card is getting a refresh. A number of rumors have been reported on what those changes will look like, but since Chase is now teasing them it shouldn’t be long until we learn what updates are real.
Meanwhile, Chase is sharing that there’s a Sapphire business card coming this summer as well. American Express has Business Platinum, Capital One has Venture X Business – both cards using the name moniker as the consumer card. It’s been curious that Chase hasn’t yet ventured into this market, although updating the card economics may have been necessary prior to launching on the small business side. We’ll know soon enough what this looks like.
I’d expect a Sapphire Business card to be largely similar to the consumer card, but with partner benefits tailored more towards small businesses. That’s what American Express does. And the small businesses they acquire as customers will be highly attractive to potential partners. However, I have not seen product specifics leaked at this point. The good news is that this is a new product, and small business cards do not generally count towards 5/24.
Ah, yes, a model, and no details… the definition of ‘hype.’ All this, so we can pay several hundred dollars extra on the annual fee, likely removal of the straightforward $300 travel credit, and an Amex-style coupon-book instead. Can’t wait! Oh, and the ‘model’ looks like Chelsea Handler…
Looks like I’ll need a bigger wallet to carry that card.
Rumor is Chase is dropping 3x on all travel, and at new higher levels for airlines and hotels. If the case I’ll really miss the 3x travel. Great for tours, cruises and travel packages,
I read some unsubstantiated rumors, but in general the way things are going it’s only gonna get worse not better. Too bad.
@1990 — I thought Chelsea Handler at first too! I had to reread the headline I don’t know who Claudia Schiffer us.
Note to Chase – Maybe ‘re-engineer’ that [ literally } BIG reveal !
(and I’m not referring to Claudia … lol )
@L737 — Yeah, so I guess… compliments to Chelsea, and sorry to Claudia!
@Jimmy Gottfredson — Yup, 3x Travel makes the CSR special; that, and the transfer partners (Hyatt and United, specifically). If Chase goes down to just 2x Travel, then it’s really not much better than the no-fee BILT Mastercard. I suppose, if you have $100K+ at Merrill, BofA’s cards with the 2x Travel becomes 3.5x with the 75% bonus, but no transfer partners, just cash-out (not bad 3.5 cents per point, but sometimes United and Hyatt can get you 2-3x that, so it’s often subjective, case-by-case, for what’s ‘best.’)
If they remove 3x on all travel, there really is no point to this card. Lots of other cards provide 3x on restaurants and why would I use this card for 1x on everyday purchases when the Unlimited offers 1.5x.
this is to sift out the people spending 20k on cruises and Airbnbs, getting $300 credit and sock drawering card for the rest of the year. By making coupon book, having some expensive credits (fancy hotels, dining) and pumping AF, they’ll remove the optimizers. The card wont make sense anymore without organic spend at these places.
Is there any indication that Chase is loosening their notoriously tight acceptance policies that they’ve instituted on business cards of late?