Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, *chase sapphire reserve* cardholders: One of your valuable (and unique) benefits is about to bite the dust.
As first reported by Danny Deal Guru, the Sapphire Reserve Card will no longer receive credits at select airport restaurants via Priority Pass as of July 1, nor for cafes and markets that are part of Priority Pass. Chase began sending word of that change in recent monthly statements to current cardholders.
A Chase spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that benefit will end effective July 1 for several top Chase cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve as well as The Ritz-Carlton Card – a card that's no longer open for application. That means getting $28 to dine at a few dozen airports in the U.S. (and even more abroad) – plus another $28 for a companion – will soon be a thing of the past.
Priority Pass airport lounge access, however, isn't changing. Reserve cardholders can still get into 1,300 lounges across the globe, including a growing network of Chase's own Sapphire Lounges. And they can still bring two guests each time.
Priority Pass spa locations and Minute Suites are still in for Chase cardholders. But a free(ish) meal at select participating airports is out.
Losing any benefits is always painful on a premium travel card that costs $550 a year. But it stings even more because Chase's flagship card was one of the few that still offered dining credits at Priority Pass restaurants.
*amex platinum* was among the first to let it go, axing that benefit way back in 2019. And just over a year after launching their first-ever premium travel card, Capital One chopped it on the *venture x* to kick off 2023.
One saving grace for travelers flying in and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)? None of these cuts affect access to or dining at the PGA MSP Lounge, the airport's only current Priority Pass option. Even though you can receive dining credits once you get inside, it's still technically a lounge – not a Priority Pass restaurant.
Still, this cut leaves precious few options for travelers to cover a meal at Priority Pass restaurants.
Read more: Which Credit Cards Still Include Priority Pass Restaurant Access?
The *venture x business* still offers that benefit … though with the personal version ditching it more than a year ago, it may only be a matter of time before that ends, too. Citi's top Citi Prestige Credit Card does too, but that's also no longer open for applications. And so do the little-known Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, and the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card, but that might be the only reason travelers even glance at those cards – if they've even heard of them.
Scan that list, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve was clearly the most popular of any cards still offering this benefit by a long shot. Just a few weeks ago, we wondered aloud: Is Chase's top card overdue for a refresh?
This isn't the kind of answer we were hoping for.
This is quite a downer not only for CSR cardholders, but also for airport restaurants. A significant chunk of the business of the two “Priority” restaurants in BOS comes from Priority Card holders with the CSR owning a good share. Not a refresh that entices me to hold on to the card with its high annual fee.
Denver has always been problematic. finding an PP food or lounge.
I guess it’s lost what few places it had.
This stinks, no lounge in Tampa so we use this all the time on the Ritz card. Most of the PP lounges we have been in recently have been junk so I’m considering whether the Ritz card is worth keeping or moving to a different Bonvoy card.
I just go to the Centurion Lounge at DEN. That is a benefit of having the Amex Platinum and CSR as it opens up a lot more lounge options. BTW, I get value from both on a bottom line basis in addition to the lounges, insurance, IAP, etc that are included with the cards.
I had just heard the rumor yesterday, and you have confirmed it.
I was going to look for another card to replace my CSR, but after reading your article, I might just look for a better value than the CSR. At least I have a few more trips, before July 1st, and more time to look for a replacement card. Thanks!!
Ugh, this really stinks. We don’t have a lounge in Denver on the program, and they finally added an awesome restaurant to the PP program that we use every time we go to the airport!