In a Major Change, Chase Now Allows You To Have Both Sapphire Cards

There has been a complete shake-up of the Chase Sapphire lineup. With the introduction of a new Sapphire business card and a refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve^® on June 23, the premium travel card space is buzzing with changes.

However, a key update might have slipped under the radar: Chase is overhauling its years-long Sapphire rule. Traditionally, cardholders could only hold 1 Sapphire card at a time — whether it was the $550-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Reserve card or the $95-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred^®.

Now that Chase allows cardholders to hold both Sapphire cards simultaneously, is it worth having both in your wallet? Let’s take a closer look at what this amended rule means for you.

Chase Abolishes the ‘1 Sapphire Card Rule’

Since 2018, Chase has only allowed you to have one Sapphire card at a time. For example, if you already had the Chase Sapphire Preferred card but wanted to get the more premium Chase Sapphire Reserve card for lounge perks and expanded benefits, you would have to request an upgrade to the card. Alternatively, if you wanted to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to earn a welcome bonus offer, you would need to close your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or convert it to some other, non-Sapphire card.

With the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Card officially launching on June 23, the Sapphire lineup will expand to 3 distinct cards, offering a variety of travel rewards cards for both personal and business cardholders. Along with the launch of a refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve card, it is now possible to hold multiple Sapphire cards at the same time.

For example, existing Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can now submit a brand-new application for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and be eligible for these respective welcome bonus offers.

The same logic applies in reverse. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders who aren’t thrilled with recent benefit changes (or the increased annual fee) can now apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card instead of downgrading. A new application makes them eligible for the welcome bonus offer, whereas downgrading would disqualify them from earning these extra points after meeting minimum spend requirements.

Should You Have Both Chase Sapphire Cards?

With this major application rule change, you may wonder if it’s worth holding both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card simultaneously. There are a few reasons why it makes sense to pay the $550 and the $95 annual fees, respectively.

You Want To Earn Both Welcome Bonus Offers

The main reason why it makes sense to submit a brand-new card application is to earn the welcome bonus offer. You’ll need to meet the minimum spend requirement during the introductory period, but applying for a new credit card is an excellent way to earn a ton of bonus points at once.

For example, a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder may want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card to earn the following welcome bonus offer:

• Earn 60,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Or a Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholder may want this offer from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card:

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

2. You Want Access to New Perks and Benefits

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a great starter card if you’re only thinking about the points you can earn — or thinking about keeping your annual fees low. For example, you can earn 5x points on Chase Travel purchases, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases, and online streaming services, and more. This card has a $95 annual fee.

However, for greater perks like Chase Sapphire lounge access and bigger travel statement credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is an excellent luxury travel card. While the announcement of a new $795 annual fee is steep, applying for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card unlocks all these premium benefits that don’t come with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Final Thoughts

While the launch of new and refreshed Chase Sapphire cards is generating buzz, one of the biggest wins for existing cardholders is the new ability to hold multiple Sapphire cards simultaneously. This change opens the door for travelers to earn a substantial number of points across different cards, maximizing their rewards potential while also enjoying unique perks from the cards.