The New Chase Sapphire Reserve: Is It Still Worth It for Hawaii Travelers?

Credit CardsTravelAirport Lounges
Written By Scott Kobayashi

The New Chase Sapphire Reserve: Is It Still Worth It for Hawaii Travelers?

Updated June 17, 2025

Big news from Chase: the Sapphire Reserve just got a major overhaul, and it’s now the most expensive travel card on the market. With new perks, new earning structures, and a major shift in how points are redeemed, there’s a lot to unpack, especially for those of us living and flying out of Hawaii.

Let’s break it down.

💸 Annual Fee Hike: $550 → $795

That’s a $245 increase. 😳 yikes….
And yes, even current cardholders will pay it when their renewal hits. So, the big question is… what do we get in return?

🆕 New Perks You’ll Get (If You Use Them Right)

If you’re the kind of traveler who can keep track of semi-annual and monthly credits, these new perks could add up fast:

  • $500 hotel credit at Chase Luxury Hotel Collection (split into $250 every 6 months)

  • $300 dining credit at select top-rated restaurants via Chase Dining (split into $150 every 6 months)

  • $300 StubHub credit ($150 twice a year)

  • Free Apple TV+ & Apple Music ($250/year Apple One credit in $25 monthly chunks)

  • Discounted Peloton membership

  • $120 DoorDash credit ($10/month + DashPass membership)

  • $120 Lyft credit ($10/month or 5% back)

  • $250 shopping credit at The Shops at Columbus Circle (in NYC… if you're ever out there 😅)

🛫 Bonus Perks for Big Spenders ($75K+/Year)

If you spend $75,000+ in a calendar year, you’ll unlock:

Diamond Status Perks / IHG

👉 If you're a heavy card user or business owner who charges a lot — this might push you over the edge in value.

🔁 What’s Staying the Same

Not everything is changing. A few core benefits are sticking around:

  • $300 annual travel credit (same as before)

  • 3x points on dining (still solid)

  • TSA PreCheck / Global Entry / NEXUS credit

  • Priority Pass lounge access (including 2 free guests for you and authorized users)

  • Strong travel protections for delays, cancellations, and lost luggage

✈️ New “Points Boost” Feature Is Coming (Starting June 23, 2025)

One of the most exciting changes, and also the most confusing is the new Points Boost program launching Monday, June 23. If you have a Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, Ink Preferred, or Ink Plus, you’ll soon get access to special flight and hotel redemptions where you can get better-than-usual value for your Chase points.

But (and there’s always a but)… the value varies by card:

Card Max Value per Point
Sapphire Reserve / Reserve for Business Up to 2 cents/point
Sapphire Preferred, Ink Preferred, Ink Plus Up to 1.5c on most flights/hotels, 1.75c on premium cabin flights

🔑 The keyword here is “up to.” That means not every redemption will hit the max. Some offers may only get you 1.2c or 1.4c — so you’ll want to double check before you redeem.

What’s the Best Value?

If you’re a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, hotel bookings at The Edit Collection (Chase’s version of Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts) will always give you a fixed 2 cents per point. That’s a solid redemption, especially if you’re booking a high-end stay.

LA SAMANNA HÔTEL / The Edit Collection Chase

On the flight side, premium cabins (like biz or first class on select airlines) will likely offer higher value. Economy flights will probably sit on the lower end of the Boost range.

👉 So if you're saving up Chase points for Japan in JAL Business or want to book a luxury hotel on the mainland, Points Boost might be your new best friend.

📉 Some Earning Rates Are Taking a Hit

Purchase Category Old Rate New Rate
Flights & Hotels (booked directly) 3x 4x
Flights & Hotels (via Chase Travel) 5–10x 8x
Car Rentals, Cruises, Parking (direct) 3x 1x
Dining 3x 3x (unchanged)

If you book through Chase Travel, you still do pretty well. But if you book direct (say with Marriott, Hawaiian, etc.) you’re gonna feel the burn, especially on cruises and parking.

🤙 My Take (for Hawaii Travelers)

I’ll keep it real with you — this card is no longer the simple powerhouse it used to be.

If you:

  • Fly a few times a year (to Japan, mainland, etc.)

  • Stay organized with monthly/biannual perks

  • Book flights through Chase Travel to earn 8x points

  • Value things like DoorDash, Apple One, and StubHub

Then yeah, the card still works if you maximize what’s there.

But if you:

  • Only fly interisland or go Vegas once a year

  • Hate keeping track of 5–7 credits across different platforms

  • Already have a card like Venture X or Amex Platinum

  • Just want simple and flexible points

Then it may be time to downgrade, cancel, or switch.

My Recommendation:

If you already have the Reserve:
☑️ Evaluate the new perks and see which ones you’ll actually use.

If you’re thinking of applying:
☑️ Ask yourself if you’ll use at least $400–500 of the credits each year.

If not? Consider Sapphire Preferred, Venture X, or even BILT (especially with that Alaska transfer option).

Want help figuring out if the Chase Sapphire Reserve still makes sense for you?

📲 Book a free card consult with me or DM me on IG. I’ll help you build a Hawaii-based credit card plan that gets you flying faster, without wasting points or money.

Mahalo,

Scott Kobayashi | Hawaii Reward Travel

Scott Kobayashi https://www.yumisocial.com
Next

Hawaiian Airlines Eyeing DEN → HNL. Is this Hawaii’s Next Big Route?