Chase just improved the Sapphire Preferred card without increasing its $95 annual fee. The updates, rolling out in June and October 2026 depending on the change, add useful benefits for everyday spending and travel while trimming a couple perks that matter most to points enthusiasts.
Key new benefits
– $100 annual hotel credit: The card now offers a $100 credit toward hotels booked through Chase (up from $50). That alone more than covers the $95 annual fee for most cardholders. If you already used your 2026 credit, Chase will add an extra $50 to use before your next anniversary.
– Enhanced bonus categories: Starting June 15, 2026, Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on gas, EV charging, and vacation home rentals (including Airbnb and Vrbo). This boosts everyday earning on transportation and makes non-hotel rentals earn at a stronger rate.
– Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit: Statement credits worth up to $120 every four years to cover enrollment in expedited screening programs.
– Travel protections and streaming: Cardholders get complimentary emergency evacuation and transportation coverage on eligible claims, and a one-year Apple TV+ subscription if activated by December 31, 2026.
Existing benefits that remain
– 5x points on travel purchased through Chase
– 3x points on dining and online groceries
– No foreign transaction fees
– Travel insurance protections for flights, hotels, and rental cars when paid with the card
Who benefits most
These changes make the Sapphire Preferred especially appealing to families and casual travelers who want a versatile, mid-fee travel card. The hotel credit plus stronger rewards on gas, EV charging, and short-term rental bookings helps cardholders accumulate points faster from everyday and travel-related spending without needing a premium card with a much higher fee.
What changed for points-and-miles fans
There are two notable downsides for people who focus on maximizing transfer value:
– Hyatt transfer ratio: Beginning June 15, 2026 for new Sapphire Preferred accounts (October 1, 2026 for existing accounts), Ultimate Rewards transfers to World of Hyatt will drop from 1:1 to 4:3. In practical terms, 10,000 Chase points will convert to 7,500 Hyatt points. This change also applies to certain Ink business cards starting October 1. Chase Sapphire Reserve will retain the 1:1 Hyatt transfer ratio; if you have both Reserve and Preferred, you can move points into Reserve first to preserve the 1:1 transfer.
– Anniversary bonus removed: The card’s 10% annual points bonus on total annual spending is being eliminated—effective immediately for new cardholders and on October 1, 2026 for current cardholders.
Bottom line
For most everyday travelers and families, the updates represent a net positive: more practical value from the $100 hotel credit and elevated points on common spending categories without an increase in the annual fee. Serious points collectors will note the Hyatt transfer downgrade and loss of the anniversary bonus, which reduce award flexibility for high-value redemptions. Overall, the refreshed Sapphire Preferred is a stronger mid-tier travel card for those who use both hotels and common travel-related everyday purchases.
