PSA: CSR & Ritz Cards to Lose PP Restaurant Access 7/1

[CalGalTraveler]

This may be the nail in the coffin to downgrade CSR to Freedom Free and apply for Sapphire $95 preferred.

Chase Sapphire Reserve & Chase Ritz-Carlton Lose Priority Pass Restaurant Access - Doctor Of Credit

Chase has announced a negative change to priority pass access for the Chase Sapphire Reserve & Chase Ritz-Carlton cards. Starting July 1 these

www.doctorofcredit.com

P.S. I am finding little value in the Instacart $15 monthly benefit which basically pays for added IC and driver fees (plus expires 7/31)

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Yes, definite bummer. I used this benefit a lot more than actual Priority Pass lounges... I need to take a look at all my rewards cards and make sure they make sense. This is probably too soon to be related to the recent settlement on interchange fees, but i am guessing we see a pull back on some of the perks as they limit some of the merchant fees.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I agree. I find more value in the restaurants than in the PP lounges with Chex mix coffee and soup. We are 2 player. We had been thinking of downsizing to 1 card and add the spouse for the $175 Authorized user to get the PP for times when one of us is traveling alone and cannot use the 2 passes. Now may go to 1 and pass on the AU.

Wondering if the Chase Preferred has travel and primary auto coverage if we downsize.

 

[bnoble]

With the $300 travel credit, the effective fee on the CSR is only $250---which means this isn't really a top-tier card, but a mid-tier one. And, even as a mid-tier, the benefits are only so-so. I've got a pile of CUR points laying around, and am planning to spend those down using the travel portal. Once I manage that, I will swap this out for something else.

On the other hand, I plan to keep my AmEx Platinum. It carries a wider set of perks, and even though it is more expensive, between the airline credit and the streaming media credit, it's still reasonable.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Yes, I believe you get PP with the AMEX plat but I don't like the coupons. I find it a hassle to meet the spend every month just to get MY money back. Better to keep the money without the hassle.

At least the CSR $300 is still easy with MF payments. At $150 AF CSR was a no brainer. At $250 not so much. In our case it is $500 this year (2 x $250). Time to drop one when the AF are due unless you can prorate the AF if you downgrade.

 

[bnoble]

I'm not sure what you mean by coupons. If you charge one of the covered media services to the card, you get a credit. Since they are recurring charges, there's nothing to do once you set it up.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

It sounds like streaming is not so bad. You have to make separate Instacart and Doordash orders every month with CSR. Aren't there other perks on the Plat that require regular purchases such as the Saks Fifth benefit?

 

[bnoble]

Yeah but I don’t shop at Saks so I don’t consider it in my valuation. There is a monthly ride share credit but that just shows up on the account.