While not the end of the world, this is still an unfortunate development, as flagged by AwardWallet.
Chase Sapphire Reserve losing some Priority Pass perks
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review) is one of the most popular premium travel credit cards. The card offers a variety of great benefits, from valuable bonus categories, to a $300 annual travel credit, to a Priority Pass membership, to Chase Sapphire Lounge access.
One thing that has set the Chase Sapphire Reserve apart from other premium cards is that up until now, the card has offered credits at Priority Pass restaurants. Unfortunately that will be changing. As of July 1, 2024, the the Chase Sapphire Reserve will no longer offer credits or experiences at Priority Pass’ non-lounge airport products, including Priority Pass restaurants.
Per the latest cardmember statement:
“As of July 1, 2024, you will no longer have access to restaurants, cafes, and markets participating in the Priority Pass Select network as part of the Priority Pass Select Benefit associated with your card. Access to Priority Pass Select’s network of lounges and other select airport experiences is not impacted by this update.”
Of the “big three” premium personal credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve was the last one to still offer this. With this change, Chase will align with the policies of The Platinum Card® from American Express (review) and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review). Meanwhile the Citi Prestige Card (which is no longer open to new applicants) continues to offer credits at Priority Pass restaurants… for now.
The jury is still out as to whether or not these changes also apply to Chase’s other premium cards offering a Priority Pass membership (like the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card), and I’ll update this post once I know for sure.
This is a sad development, but not surprising
I can’t say I’m surprised to see Chase make this change. Competitors have been heading in that direction as well in the past couple of years, so this seems like an easy place for Chase to cut costs.
Meanwhile this also comes as Chase is investing in its exceptional lounge network, with lounges now open in Boston (BOS), Hong Kong (HKG), New York (JFK), and New York (LGA). I imagine before, Chase kept Priority Pass restaurant credits around as a competitive advantage, as it didn’t have a lounge network, while its two biggest competitors did, with Amex Centurion Lounges and Capital One Lounges.
Once Chase cuts its Priority Pass restaurant perks, I also can’t help but wonder how much quieter so many airport restaurants are going to be. For some time, many restaurants participating in Priority Pass got a majority of their business that way, so this will probably come as quite a shock.
Bottom line
As of July 1, 2024, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is changing its Priority Pass benefit. Priority Pass memberships issued through the card will no longer offer credits at restaurants. Amex and Capital One have similarly changed their policies in recent years, so I guess this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, especially with Chase now operating its own lounge network.
What do you make of this Chase Sapphire Reserve benefit change?
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