If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — or you've been thinking about getting it — some big news just dropped that you actually need to pay attention to.

Chase just announced a refresh of the Sapphire Preferred, effective June 15, 2026. Most of the changes are great, but there's one change that Hyatt lovers are not going to love — and there's a short window to do something about it.

Let me break it all down, then tell you exactly what to do.

What Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred (And Why Does It Matter)?

Quick refresher if you're newer to points and miles: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is usually my number one recommendation for beginners, and for good reason. It earns Chase points — one of the most flexible point currencies out there — all for a $95 annual fee.

Here's why that flexibility matters: you don't have to use your Chase points through Chase. You can transfer them directly into airline and hotel loyalty programs — so your Chase points become United miles, Hyatt points, Southwest points, and more. And here's the thing: those transferred points are often worth significantly more than if you just redeemed them for cash or travel through Chase directly. That's how families stretch a stash of points into flights and hotel stays that would have cost hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars out of pocket.

This card is what got my own family started, and it's still the one I recommend most. So when Chase makes changes to it, I pay close attention — and I want you to, too!

The Good News: Here's What's Getting Better

There's a lot to like in this update. Here's what's new starting on June 15, 2026.

New ways to earn points:

3x points on gas and EV charging (new!)
3x points on vacation home rentals at Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com, and Vacasa (new!)

Existing strong categories staying put:

5x on Chase Travel purchases
3x on dining, streaming, and online groceries
2x on all other travel

New and updated credits:

$100 hotel credit through Chase Travel each anniversary year (up from $50 — doubled!)
$120 credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every four years (new!)
One year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 (new!)

Upgraded travel protections:

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage added — up to $100,000 if you're injured or become ill 100+ miles from home during a trip

Honestly? The gas and EV charging category alone is going to be a game-changer for a lot of families. Road trips, daily commutes, school pickup — you're now earning 3x on all of it.

The doubled hotel credit is also a big deal. A $100 annual credit on a $95 annual fee card? That's the card essentially paying for itself before you even factor in the points.

The Not-So-Good News: The Hyatt Transfer Ratio Change

Chase is changing how many Hyatt points you receive when you transfer your points.

Right now, the transfer ratio is 1:1. That means if you transfer 10,000 Chase points to Hyatt, you get 10,000 Hyatt points. Simple, and one of the best deals in travel rewards.

Starting June 15, 2026, that changes to a 4:3 ratio for new cardmembers. That means if you transfer 10,000 Chase points, you only get 7,500 Hyatt points. You're essentially losing 25% of your value every time you transfer.

Real life example: if you've been saving up points for a Hyatt redemption — say a Category 4 property that costs 15,000 Hyatt points per night — you used to need 15,000 Chase points. Now, new cardmembers will need 20,000 Chase points to get the same thing.

For families who've built their whole hotel strategy around Hyatt (it's one of the best hotel programs for families, in my opinion), this stings a lot!

The Timeline: When Does This Actually Hit?

This is where timing really matters:

If you apply for the Sapphire Preferred on or after June 15, 2026: The 4:3 Hyatt ratio applies to you immediately.
If you already have the Sapphire Preferred (or apply before June 15): You keep the 1:1 ratio until October 1, 2026.
Ink Business Preferred cardholders: The change hits October 1, 2026, regardless of when you applied.

So existing cardholders have a small window — until October 1 — to transfer points to Hyatt at the better 1:1 rate.

Tip: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ are not affected by this change and will continue transferring to Hyatt at 1:1. And because Chase points pool across cards, if you hold either Reserve alongside a Preferred or Ink card, you can move your points into the Reserve account first and transfer to Hyatt at the 1:1 ratio from there.

What's Being Removed: The 10% Anniversary Bonus

One more change to note: the 10% anniversary points bonus is going away.

If you applied for the Sapphire Preferred before June 15, 2026, you'll continue to earn the bonus on purchases made through October 1, 2026, and Chase will award those bonus points by January 31, 2027. But going forward for new cardmembers, it's gone.

So What Should You Actually Do?

Here's where I want to be really practical with you, because there are a few different situations you might be in.

If you're a Hyatt fan and you want to protect your 1:1 ratio long-term:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® still transfers to Hyatt at 1:1 — and there's currently an elevated welcome bonus that ends this Monday, June 15th at 9 am EST. If you've been on the fence about applying for the Reserve, this is the best time to do it!

The Reserve has a higher annual fee than the Preferred, but it also comes with more premium benefits — including travel credits and benefits that more than offsets the annual fee each year if you take advantage of all of them!

If the Reserve is on your radar, I'd look at it now — both to lock in the 1:1 Hyatt ratio going forward and to take advantage of the current elevated bonus offer before it changes this Monday, June 15, 2026 at 9 am EST.

I put together a full breakdown of the Chase Sapphire Reserve and it’s benefits to help you decide if it makes sense for your family → HERE

Do I think Chase made this Hyatt change to the Sapphire Preferred to motivate people to open and keep a Sapphire Reserve long term? Yes. Did it work on me? Also, yes. 🙃

If you already have Chase points:

If you were already planning to move points to Hyatt, now is a good time to do it — especially if you're an existing Sapphire Preferred cardholder and still have the 1:1 ratio locked in until October 1. Don't transfer unless you have a specific redemption in mind, though.

If you don't have either card yet and Hyatt isn't really your thing:

Honestly, this change matters a lot less for you. The new Sapphire Preferred is still one of the best beginner travel cards out there. I LOVE the new earning categories, doubled hotel credit, and added protections with the same annual fee of $95!

The Bottom Line on Chase Sapphire Preferred Changes 2026

Most of this refresh is great news. New earning categories. Better credits. Stronger travel protections.

But if you've built your points strategy around transferring to Hyatt, you need to pay attention to that 4:3 change and decide if you want to do something before October 1.

My honest take: if you've been considering the Chase Sapphire Reserve® anyway, this is the time to apply. The 1:1 Hyatt transfer ratio is worth protecting and the limited time welcome bonus won’t be around forever.

FAQ: Chase Sapphire Preferred Changes 2026

What is changing about the Chase Sapphire Preferred in 2026? Effective June 15, 2026, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is adding new bonus categories including 3x points on gas and EV charging and 3x points on vacation home rentals. The hotel credit doubles to $100 per year, a new $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit is being added, and Emergency Evacuation coverage is now included. The 10% anniversary points bonus is being discontinued for new cardmembers.

How does the Hyatt transfer ratio change affect me? Starting June 15, 2026, new Chase Sapphire Preferred cardmembers will transfer Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a rate of 4:3 instead of 1:1. This means for every 4,000 Chase points transferred, you'll receive 3,000 Hyatt points. Existing cardmembers keep the 1:1 ratio until October 1, 2026.

Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve still transfer to Hyatt at 1:1? Yes. As of this writing, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® still transfers Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. This is one of the key reasons Hyatt enthusiasts are looking at the Reserve right now.

Should I transfer my Chase points to Hyatt before October 1, 2026? Only if you have a specific Hyatt redemption planned. Transferring points "just in case" isn't a strategy — you want to have a booking in mind before you move points. But if you do have a Hyatt stay on the horizon, yes, existing Preferred cardholders should consider doing it while the 1:1 rate still applies.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred still worth it after these changes? Yes, for most beginners the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains one of the best starter travel cards available. The new earning categories and credits improve the card's everyday value. The Hyatt ratio change is a downgrade for Hyatt-focused travelers, but for everyone else the card gets better, not worse.

Did the annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred change? No. The annual fee remains $95 — unchanged despite all the new benefits added.