Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Chase’s announcement of huge changes to the rewards structure and annual fee of the coveted Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, effective as of June 23, 2025, may change its viability in the eyes of frequent travelers. Along with a steep annual fee hike from $550 to $795 and a new points system that deviates from a reliance on the Chase portal, cardholders must hit a yearly spend of $75,000 to unlock specialized perks, which include:
- IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
- $500 Southwest Airlines Chase Travel℠ credit
- Southwest Airlines A-List Status
- $250 Credit for Chase’s shopping platform, The Shops
Breaking Down the Perks
IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
The Diamond Elite status is the highest tier available at IHG Hotels & Resorts. It includes resorts under the IHG banner, such as Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, and Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts.
To earn Diamond Elite, one normally needs to book 70 qualifying nights at IHG hotels or rack up 120,000 qualifying points per calendar year.
Members earn all benefits available to Platinum Elite members, along with a few add-ons, which include:
- Free internet access
- Early check-in, upon request, and subject to availability
- 100% bonus earnings on top of base points
- Dedicated support phone line for Diamond Elite members
- Welcome amenity (free breakfast, per night for up to two people), points (per stay), or a drink and a snack per stay— at check-in
- Points don’t expire while you have elite status
Southwest A-List and $500 Credit
Southwest A-list nets members an array of perks that can save them time and money. A member would normally have to book 20 qualifying one-way flights through the airline directly or rack up 35,000 points per calendar year to qualify for the tier.
Benefits include:
- Priority boarding: Everyone on your reservation gets to board earlier
- First checked bag is free, second checked bag is $35
- Same-day stand-by, even with basic fares
- Priority lane and express lane
- Dedicated A-list member phone line
- 25% earning bonus: Earn bonus points on every qualifying flight
Southwest baggage and seating benefits have a value of $100 around per flight if you’re someone who opts in to board early, with checked luggage normally $45 for the first bag.
The $500 Southwest credit automatically applies when booked through the Chase portal.
The Reality
While it’s a given that $75,000 is a huge spend that most Americans can’t afford, with 47% of American households making under that much per year, the Sapphire Reserve card targets a high-earning demographic. Still, a study by CreditKarma revealed that the average annual income of people who matched with the card came out to be $107,499, and after taxes, the $75,000 spend seems unachievable for a large portion of the cardholder base.
Even for those who’d have no trouble meeting the spend, the rewards may seem trivial and restrictive for the scale. Standout perks with the IHG Diamond Elite status include free breakfast and the option of a free drink or snack, but those who spent $75,000 for the perk might feel a little insulted.