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If you are a cardholder of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), but you're interested in the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), keep an eye on your email. According to several reports, select Sapphire Preferred cardholders are finding upgrade offers in their inbox.
Here's what you need to know about the offer, and how to evaluate if it's worth it.
Chase is Offering Upgrades to the Sapphire Reserve
When you receive a card upgrade offer, you are essentially being offered a product change. This means that instead of submitting a new application that results in a hard pull on your credit report, you can switch from one credit card to a different card from the same issuer.
It also means that you aren't eligible to earn a traditional welcome bonus. However, these offers typically come with an opportunity to earn some bonus points after meeting a spending requirement.
One new offer from Chase allows you to upgrade from the Sapphire Reserve to the Sapphire Reserve by January 31, 2026, and spend $3,000 before February 14, 2026, to earn 25,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Unfortunately, I haven't been targeted for this offer, but maybe that means there's a more lucrative offer down the line.
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
There are plenty of reasons to become a cardholder of one of the best travel credit cards on the market. The newly-revamped Sapphire Reserve offers a variety of perks, including:
- $300 annual travel credit
- $500 annual credit for stays with The Edit ($250 semi-annually)
- $300 annual dining credit ($150 semi-annually)
- $300 annual StubHub credit ($150 semi-annually)
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
- The best travel insurance available
- and more
Plus, you'll earn 8x total points on purchases through Chase Travel℠, 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly, 3x on dining, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. If you spend heavily on flights and hotels, the Sapphire Reserve will net you many more points than the Sapphire Preferred. However, the difference in annual fees is $700 per year, so don't take the upgrade offer lightly.
Related: Should You Get the Sapphire Preferred or the Sapphire Reserve?
When to Consider a Card Upgrade
More often than not, an upgrade isn't the best option. Although this upgrade allows you to earn 25,000 bonus points, consider how many points you'll earn if you apply for the Sapphire Reserve outright.
Right now, you can earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's five times the amount you'll earn through an upgrade.
However, an upgrade can occasionally make sense in a few scenarios:
- You don't want a hard pull on your credit report: An upgrade will likely result in a soft pull, rather than a hard pull, on your credit report. If you are in a situation where you need your credit score as high as possible, a product change won't have an impact.
- You want to get rid of your existing card: If you were already planning to cancel or downgrade your existing card, it may be worthwhile to accept an upgrade offer. This keeps your credit history intact and allows you to have a card you'll use more frequently.
- An upgrade might not include “once per lifetime” language: In some situations, you could receive bonus points for an upgrade and still be eligible to earn a welcome bonus on that card in the future. Be sure to read the terms and conditions to verify.
- You're otherwise ineligible to get approved for a new card: There are several reasons why you might be ineligible to be approved for a credit card. If you have exceeded Chase's 5/24 rule, but you were targeted for the upgrade, and you really want the Sapphire Reserve, this could be an option.
Related: How to Plan a Long-Term Credit Card Strategy
Final Thoughts
We haven't seen upgrade offers from these two popular travel credit cards before, so it's an interesting proposition to say the least. However, with a sky-high welcome bonus from the Sapphire Reserve, it might make more sense for most people to apply outright.
That said, if you are in a situation where you can't get approved for a new card or don't want to submit an application, an upgrade gives you access to a fantastic credit card and a few thousand bonus points.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
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