Time is fleeting to transfer Chase points to World of Hyatt at 1:1 with some Ultimate Rewards cards.
Starting October 1, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred will transfer points to Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio. For every 1,000 Chase points transferred, that means 750 Hyatt points instead of 1,000.
Some Sapphire Preferred cardholders are already living with the new ratio. Anyone who opened the card on or after June 15 got the 4:3 ratio from the start.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business, meanwhile, are keeping 1:1 transfers.
That’s a pretty meaningful divide for people who regularly use Chase points to book Hyatt hotels.
A Hyatt stay costing 20,000 points currently takes 20,000 Chase points with a 1:1 transfer. At 4:3, it takes 27,000 Chase points, since Chase processes transfers in 1,000-point increments.
Three nights at that price goes from 60,000 Chase points to 80,000.
What to Do Before October 1
If there’s a Hyatt stay somewhere in the plans, now is a good time to price it out.
That doesn’t have to mean booking a hotel today. Check trips already planned for next year, weekends under consideration, or anywhere Hyatt was already a possibility.
If a hotel is available with points and the trip is likely to happen, waiting until after October 1 to transfer could mean spending considerably more Chase points for exactly the same stay.
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That doesn’t mean emptying an Ultimate Rewards account into Hyatt. Transfers are final, and keeping points with Chase leaves more options if plans change.
There is another way to keep the 1:1 ratio.
Chase is effectively making it a perk of its more expensive Sapphire Reserve cards. Someone who uses Hyatt regularly now has another reason to compare the Sapphire Preferred with the Sapphire Reserve, or the Ink Business Preferred with the Sapphire Reserve for Business.
That’s a bigger decision than what to do before October 1. For now, if a Hyatt stay is somewhere on the horizon, it’s worth seeing what it costs before the transfer rate changes.
Southwest Airlines has changed considerably over the past year and a half, from assigned seating and extra-legroom seats to bag fees. But the airline isn’t finished reshaping the guest experience.
Starlink Is Coming to Hundreds of Southwest Planes
Southwest recently began installing Starlink, and the rollout is moving quickly.
Doxey said the airline expects around 300 aircraft to have Starlink installed by the end of this year, with installations continuing into 2027.
That means the faster Wi-Fi should become much easier to find on Southwest flights over the next few months. There will still be some luck involved, though, as plenty of planes will continue offering Southwest’s existing Wi-Fi until they get Starlink.
The airline has already said it plans to start with 11 lounges, and Doxey indicated there could eventually be more. But perhaps more interesting is how far along some of those first locations already are.
Construction has started at some locations, Doxey said, while designs and mock-ups are already taking shape. He suggested that early construction work contributed to the lounge plans becoming something of a “worst-kept secret” before Southwest announced them.
He also hinted that the finished product may not look quite like what some people expect from Southwest.
“I think some people are going to be a little surprised, actually, when they say, ‘Oh, this is the Southwest lounge,’” he said.
Southwest still hasn’t revealed all 11 locations. Doxey didn’t name any additional airports, but said the choices should look “very logical” when looking at a map of Southwest’s network.
A More Premium Southwest Credit Card Is Coming
The lounges also give Southwest something new to offer current and future credit card holders.
Doxey was unusually direct about why Southwest wants one. He called the absence of a top-tier premium card a “hole” in the airline’s current credit card lineup.
For now, details such as the annual fee, other benefits, and launch date are still up in the air. But with lounge construction already underway, both pieces are getting closer.
The Boeing 737 MAX 7 Could Finally Arrive Next Year
Southwest also expects another long-awaited change to its fleet.
The FAA certified the Boeing 737 MAX 7 in August after years of delays. This finally cleared the smaller MAX variant for commercial service.
Southwest already has 27 MAX 7s that were built before certification and have been sitting in storage. Doxey said Boeing is now working to bring those aircraft up to the final approved specifications.
Southwest expects some of those planes to begin arriving around the end of this year before entering passenger service in early 2027.
International Long-Haul Flying Is Still on the Table
One much bigger potential change is less certain.
Southwest executives have repeatedly floated the possibility of eventually flying farther internationally. Doxey confirmed that the airline is still considering it, although no decision has been made.
“We haven’t decided what we’re doing with that particular item,” Doxey said. “But what we have said is that we’re absolutely considering whether that should be part of the offering that we have.”
There are still some big questions to answer, including where Southwest might fly and what aircraft it would use. For now, long-haul flying is something Southwest is considering rather than a firm plan.
But it’s another example of just how different Southwest could look a few years from now. Assigned seating and bag fees are already changing the airline people know today. Add lounges, a higher-end credit card, better Wi-Fi, and perhaps longer international flights, and Southwest starts to look different in ways that go well beyond how boarding works.
Chase is making two changes to the Sapphire Reserve for Business, and one is considerably easier to call an upgrade than the other.
The card’s annual statement credit for hotel stays through The Edit by Chase Travel will double from $500 to $1,000 beginning January 1, 2027. Meanwhile, Chase is adding a $1 million annual spending cap to the card’s 3-points-per-dollar earning rate on eligible social media and search engine advertising purchases beginning November 15, 2026.
Here’s what’s changing.
The Edit Credit Doubles, but Takes More Stays to Use
Beginning January 1, the Sapphire Reserve for Business will offer up to $1,000 in annual statement credits for stays booked through The Edit by Chase Travel, up from the current $500.
That’s a meaningful increase, but Chase isn’t handing cardmembers a single $1,000 hotel credit.
Instead, the benefit will be divided into a minimum of four statement credits worth up to $250 per stay. Using the full $1,000 will therefore require at least four qualifying stays during the year.
The Edit is Chase’s collection of higher-end hotels and resorts. Eligible stays also include benefits such as daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, and a room upgrade when available.
For businesses already booking several stays through The Edit each year, the additional $500 could be valuable. Those making only one or two eligible stays will have a harder time using the full benefit.
Advertising Spend Gets a $1 Million Cap
The other change goes in the opposite direction.
Beginning November 15, cardmembers will earn 3 points per dollar on the first $1 million spent on eligible social media and search engine advertising each account anniversary year. Spending beyond that threshold will earn the card’s standard 1 point per dollar.
A $1 million annual cap won’t affect most small businesses. But it is still a restriction on one of the card’s business-focused bonus categories, and it could matter for companies with particularly large advertising budgets.
The unusual timing is worth noting, too. For this benefit, Chase defines the first account anniversary year as beginning November 15, 2026, and running through the monthly statement on which the next annual fee appears. Subsequent periods will run for 12 months.
Neither change alters the Sapphire Reserve for Business’s other benefits. But together they make for a mixed update. There’s potentially another $500 a year available through The Edit, provided there are enough qualifying stays to use it, while the advertising category becomes less rewarding after $1 million in annual spending.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is turning 10, and Chase is marking the occasion with several limited-time travel offers and an upgrade to one of the card’s existing benefits.
The most lasting change is coming to its DoorDash perk. Beginning October 1, 2026, the current $5 monthly restaurant credit will increase to $15 and become usable on all eligible DoorDash orders.
Chase is also rolling out limited-time statement credit offers with IHG, Hyatt, JSX, Wander, and SIXT.
Here’s what’s new and what’s on offer.
The DoorDash Credit Is Getting More Useful
Beginning October 1, Sapphire Reserve cardmembers with an eligible DashPass membership will receive a $15 monthly DoorDash credit that can be used on eligible DoorDash orders.
That’s an increase from the current $5 monthly restaurant credit, and the restriction to restaurant orders is going away.
The card’s two existing $10 monthly non-restaurant DoorDash promotions aren’t changing. Combined, that means eligible cardmembers can receive up to $35 in DoorDash value each month.
Chase says the updated benefits will be available through December 31, 2029.
Getting the full $35 in value still means using DoorDash multiple times each month. But the larger and more flexible $15 credit should be easier to use than the benefit it replaces.
Sapphire Reserve Adds Limited-Time Travel Credits
The anniversary also brings several travel offers for existing Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. Activation is required, and each comes with its own spending requirement.
$125 back at IHG Hotels & Resorts after spending at least $500 on an eligible U.S. stay. Payment must be completed by October 16, 2026.
$250 back at Miraval and Alila after spending $1,000 at participating U.S. properties that are part of World of Hyatt. Payment must be completed by December 14, 2026.
$200 back with JSX after spending $200 on a semi-private flight by December 14, 2026.
$350 back with Wander after spending $1,500 on a vacation home by December 14, 2026.
$125 back with SIXT after spending $500 on a premium car rental by December 14, 2026. Chase says this offer is available to eligible cardmembers as of August 25, 2026.
There’s one additional detail to know before booking. These anniversary offers apply when booking or paying directly with the participating partner, not through Chase Travel.
And some of the discounts are sizable if an eligible purchase was already in the plans. The JSX offer covers a $200 purchase entirely, while the IHG and SIXT offers amount to 25% back when spending exactly the required amount.
Chase Is Also Giving Away Ultimate Rewards Points
Chase is also running an anniversary contest from September 16 through November 6.
Cardmembers can share a favorite trip taken since 2016 for a chance to be one of 10 finalists. The grand-prize winner will receive 5.5 million Ultimate Rewards points, while the other nine finalists will each receive 500,000 points.
The contest comes with the biggest number, but the DoorDash change and anniversary travel offers are likely to matter more for most existing cardmembers. The travel offers are temporary and require activation, while the expanded DoorDash benefit begins October 1 and is slated to stick around through the end of 2029.
The Aeroplan Credit Card is getting an overhaul, and it’s going to cost quite a bit more.
Chase and Air Canada announced the changes on September 10. The newly renamed Air Canada Aeroplan Card will carry a $195 annual fee, up from $95, while adding automatic Aeroplan 25K status, a 15% discount on eligible Air Canada flights booked with points, up to $100 back on Air Canada purchases each year, and 3X points on travel.
There are some tradeoffs. Grocery store and restaurant purchases will earn fewer points, and a standing 10% bonus on large transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Aeroplan is going away at the end of the year.
It’s a fairly substantial rethink of a card that has been around since 2021. And the new name offers a pretty good clue about where Chase and Air Canada are taking it.
The Air Canada Aeroplan Card Will Cost $195
The annual fee is jumping from $95 to $195.
To help make up the difference, Chase is adding up to $100 in Air Canada statement credits each year. The benefit is split into two $50 credits, one every six months, so getting the full $100 back requires making at least two eligible Air Canada purchases during the year.
There are more reasons to use the card when flying Air Canada, too.
Cardmembers will automatically receive Aeroplan 25K status without a spending requirement. That comes with perks including priority check-in, Zone 2 boarding, and five eUpgrade credits each year.
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Perhaps more interesting is a new 15% discount on eligible Air Canada flights booked with Aeroplan points. A flight that would otherwise require 50,000 points, for example, would drop to 42,500 points if eligible for the discount.
That’s potentially useful even without much interest in elite status. The catch is that the discount is limited to eligible Air Canada flights. Aeroplan points can be used with more than 45 partner airlines, and those flights aren’t included.
Everyday Spending Is Changing, Too
The card isn’t just getting new benefits.
Grocery stores and restaurants currently earn 3 Aeroplan points per dollar. That’s dropping to 2X.
Travel, meanwhile, becomes a new 3X category, and gas purchases will earn 2X. Air Canada purchases continue to earn 3X.
Chase is also advertising up to 5X points on eligible Air Canada flights. The card itself isn’t earning all five, though. Three points per dollar come from paying with the card, while another two come from Air Canada on eligible flights as part of the Aeroplan 25K status that now comes with it.
For anyone who has been using the Aeroplan Credit Card heavily at grocery stores or restaurants, the math gets worse. Spending on travel gets more rewarding instead.
Two Existing Benefits Are Disappearing
As the new benefits arrive, two existing ones are heading for the exit.
Through December 31, 2026, cardmembers can still receive a 10% bonus when transferring at least 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan. The benefit can provide up to 25,000 bonus points per calendar year, but it disappears after that.
The monthly spending bonus is going away at the same time. It currently awards 500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent on the card during a calendar month, up to 1,500 bonus points per month.
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One more benefit arrives in January. Cardmembers will get a fourth day free on eligible four-day rental car reservations booked with Aeroplan points, joining an existing fourth-night-free benefit for eligible hotel bookings.
There’s also a new welcome offer. New cardmembers can earn 75,000 Aeroplan points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, plus another 40,000 points after spending $20,000 in the first 12 months, for up to 115,000 points in total.
Aeroplan Is Still Bigger Than Air Canada
The name change is easy to overlook among everything else, but it fits neatly with what’s happening to the card.
Aeroplan points aren’t just for Air Canada. They can be used to book flights with dozens of other airlines, which has long made the program useful even without much reason to fly Air Canada itself. The old $95 Aeroplan Credit Card fit comfortably into that world, too.
That’s not changing. The Air Canada Aeroplan Card still earns Aeroplan points, and those points still work with the program’s airline partners.
But the card itself is becoming more closely tied to Air Canada. The fee is higher, grocery and dining earning is lower, and the Chase transfer bonus is disappearing. In their place are a $100 Air Canada credit, automatic status, and a 15% discount that specifically rewards booking Air Canada flights with points.
Even the name now says Air Canada.
For someone who regularly flies the airline, there’s considerably more here than before. For someone who liked the old Aeroplan Credit Card mostly because Aeroplan points are useful elsewhere, the overhaul isn’t nearly as straightforward.
Chase has a handful of offers available on its business credit cards right now.
Depending on the card, new cardholders can earn as many as 200,000 Ultimate Rewards points or $750 cash back after meeting a spending requirement.
There are several offers to sort through, but the good news is that the distinction between points and cash back isn’t quite as important as it might seem. And qualifying for a business card can be more straightforward than the name suggests.
Here’s what’s available now.
Elevated Chase Business Card Welcome Offers Are Available
Several Chase business cards are currently offering elevated welcome bonuses.
The offers, spending requirements, annual fees, and other benefits vary by card. Click “Learn More” on any card for a closer look.
Ultimate Rewards cards
The Chase business credit cards below earn Ultimate Rewards points. Those points can be transferred to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, redeemed for travel through Chase Travel, and used in several other ways.
Each card varies in its earning rates, benefits, annual fee, and current welcome offer.
Chase also offers a couple of business cards that are marketed as cash-back cards. Both have no annual fee and identical bonuses, but they differ in how they earn rewards.
Anyone interested in traveling with points and miles might be inclined to ignore a cash-back card. But there’s a useful trick for anyone who also has a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points.
That cash back doesn’t necessarily have to stay cash back.
Points or Cash Back? They Can Be Combined
Chase markets some cards as earning cash back. But behind the scenes, those rewards can function a lot like Ultimate Rewards points.
Every $1 in cash back is equivalent to 100 points. Rewards from an eligible cash-back card can then be combined with an Ultimate Rewards account from a points-earning Chase card.
For example, someone with a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card who earns $750 cash back from a cash-back Ink Business card could combine those rewards and end up with 75,000 additional Ultimate Rewards points. The same idea works with an eligible business card that earns points, such as the Ink Business Preferred.
That matters because Ultimate Rewards points are incredibly versatile. They can be transferred to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, redeemed for travel through Chase, used for statement credits, and more.
A business credit card does require a business. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a company with employees, an office, or a huge amount of revenue.
Traditional businesses can qualify, but so can many sole proprietors, freelancers, independent contractors, and people earning money from a side business.
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There are also some important restrictions to know about these welcome offers.
For the Ink Business Preferred and Sapphire Reserve for Business, Chase says the new-cardmember bonus may not be available to anyone who has ever had that particular card. Chase also says it may consider factors related to the business when determining bonus eligibility.
The language is broader for the no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited. Chase says the bonus may not be available to anyone who has ever had that card or any other Chase for Business card without an annual fee.
That means previous Chase business cards can matter even when applying for a different card, particularly with the no-annual-fee Ink cards.
For the full eligibility requirements, spending requirements, offer terms, and explainers on each card’s benefits, click “Learn More” on the individual card above.
The airline says at least seven additional lounges are planned over the following several years. This will put its initial network at 11 or more locations.
It goes without saying that these developments are another massive shift for Southwest, which has changed a lot about its experience in recent years. The airline has introduced assigned seating and extra-legroom seats, ended its long-standing two-free-checked-bags policy for most customers, and increasingly added products aimed at customers willing to pay more for their trip.
Now, that experience will extend into the airport.
Southwest’s First Lounges Are Coming to 4 Airports
Construction is already underway on Southwest’s first four lounges at:
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Southwest expects to begin welcoming guests in late 2027, though it hasn’t provided opening dates for the individual locations.
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The airline is working with Chase on the lounges and plans to draw on the bank’s existing Chase Sapphire Lounge network. Southwest says the spaces will combine its own approach to hospitality with locally inspired dining, more sophisticated design, and amenities and travel benefits already found in Chase’s lounges.
For now, that’s about as specific as Southwest is getting.
The airline hasn’t revealed the size or exact location of the first lounges, what amenities each will offer, or where the next seven or more locations will be. We don’t have renderings yet, either.
The initial airport choices do offer a sense of where Southwest is starting. Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville are all significant Southwest markets.
And with at least 11 lounges now in the pipeline, this is intended to become a network rather than a handful of experiments.
A New Premium Southwest Credit Card Is Coming, Too
Southwest will also introduce a new premium Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase in 2027. The card is slated to provide access to the new lounges.
That’s just about all we know about the card for now.
Southwest hasn’t announced its annual fee, welcome offer, other benefits, or exactly how lounge access will work. We also don’t yet know whether there will be other ways to enter the lounges, including for customers with certain Southwest tickets or elite status.
There are also some interesting questions about how the Southwest and Chase lounge networks will overlap.
Southwest hasn’t said whether Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders will receive access to Southwest lounges or whether holders of the new Southwest card will have any access to Chase Sapphire Lounges.
Those details will come later. But the new card and lounge network indicate that Southwest is continuing its push to offer more to customers willing to pay for a premium experience.
