What changed

Card issuers refresh benefits, add credits, and devalue transfer partners constantly - usually announced before they take effect. This is the neutral, dated record: what changed, when it kicks in, and whether it helps or hurts. Live figures on each card always reflect what's true today; announced changes are flagged, never silently pre-applied.

• Sapphire ReserveChase

  ▲ Better: The $5 monthly DoorDash restaurant credit becomes a $15 monthly credit usable on any DoorDash order, including grocery and retail. The two $10 monthly non-restaurant promos and the complimentary DashPass membership are unchanged, taking the monthly DoorDash package from $25 to $35 ($300 to $420 a year). Reported to apply to Sapphire Reserve for Business as well, though Chase has not confirmed how it works for employee cards.

  Takes effect Oct 1, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Freedom FlexChase

  ◆ Mixed: Foreign transaction fee drops from 3% to none — rare for a no-annual-fee card — but Cell Phone Protection is discontinued the same day (covers losses incurred through Sep 19 2026).

  Takes effect Sep 20, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Ink Business PreferredChase

  ▼ Worse: World of Hyatt transfer ratio cut from 1:1 to 4:3, a 25% devaluation of the single best Ultimate Rewards redemption. Effective for Ink Business Preferred cardmembers on Oct 1, 2026. Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan cards keep 1:1.

  Takes effect Oct 1, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Citi AAdvantage ExecutiveCiti

  ◆ Mixed: Annual fee rises from $595 to $695 for new cardmembers, and the card is renamed the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard. In exchange it gains up to $500 a year in American Airlines Vacations statement credits, up to $100 a year on inflight and Admirals Club purchases, Lyft credits raised from $120 to $180 a year ($15 after three eligible rides in a calendar month, up from $10), 12x AAdvantage miles on AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars bookings (up from 10x), two new Loyalty Point milestones at 165,000 and 240,000 that lift the maximum bonus from 20,000 to 40,000 Loyalty Points a year, Omni Hotels Champion Status with one free night a year, and Avis President’s Club status (enrollment open through Aug 31, 2028). Authorized users stay $175. American is separately raising Admirals Club membership rates from the same date. Existing cardmembers are billed the higher fee at their card anniversary following a notice sent in Aug or Sep 2026. Applied 2026-08-23. Verifying against citi.com on the day also found an undisclosed REMOVAL: the $120 a year Grubhub credit is gone, absent from the page entirely, and was mentioned in neither the press release nor any coverage. The welcome offer also changed to a limited-time 125,000 miles after $15,000 in 5 months.

  Announced Aug 3, 2026 ✓Verified by source

• Sapphire ReserveChase

  ▲ Better: Chase Sapphire Lounges left the Priority Pass and LoungeKey networks. Non-Chase Priority Pass and LoungeKey members lost all access, the annual free visit and the $75 entry rate; Chase cardholders keep unlimited access via their Chase-issued Priority Pass Select membership. A 5-hour connecting-flight entry window was widely reported but does not appear on Chase’s lounge page as of Aug 22, 2026, which still states three hours before departure.

  Announced Jul 31, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Sapphire Reserve BusinessChase

  ▲ Better: Chase Sapphire Lounges left the Priority Pass and LoungeKey networks. Non-Chase Priority Pass and LoungeKey members lost all access, the annual free visit and the $75 entry rate; Chase cardholders keep unlimited access via their Chase-issued Priority Pass Select membership. A 5-hour connecting-flight entry window was widely reported but does not appear on Chase’s lounge page as of Aug 22, 2026, which still states three hours before departure.

  Announced Jul 31, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Amex GreenAmerican Express

  ▼ Worse: Amex closed the Green Card to new applications on Jul 23, 2026 (application and referral links error out), then renamed it the American Express Classic Green Card on Aug 20, 2026. Existing cardholders keep the $150 annual fee, 3x travel/dining/transit and the CLEAR+ credit unchanged; the card remains reachable only as a downgrade from Platinum or Gold. No replacement has been announced.

  Announced Jul 23, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Samsung GalaxyBarclays

  ▲ Better: Card launched — Samsung’s first US credit card, issued by Barclays on Visa.

  Announced Jul 21, 2026 ✓Verified by source

• Sapphire PreferredChase

  ▼ Worse: World of Hyatt transfer ratio cut 1:1 → 4:3 (25% devaluation), and the 10% anniversary points bonus discontinued. New applicants 2026-06-15; existing cardholders 2026-10-01.

  Announced Jun 9, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Sapphire PreferredChase

  ▲ Better: Refresh enhancements: annual Chase Travel hotel credit raised $50 → $100, added Apple TV+ and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits, new 3x earn on gas & EV charging and vacation rentals, added emergency evacuation coverage — same $95 fee.

  Announced Jun 9, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Citi Strata PremierCiti

  ▼ Worse: ThankYou point sharing between Citi accounts discontinued.

  Announced May 17, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Amex Business PlatAmerican Express

  ▲ Better: Added a $300 ChatGPT Business statement credit (Business Platinum & Business Gold).

  Announced May 12, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Citi Strata PremierCiti

  ▼ Worse: Transfer ratios devalued: Choice Privileges 1,000:2,000 → 1,000:1,500; Preferred Hotels iPrefer 1,000:4,000 → 1,000:2,000.

  Announced Apr 19, 2026 ≈Inferred by source

• Amex PlatinumAmerican Express

  ▼ Worse: Centurion Lounge entry rules tightened: guests must be traveling on the same flight as the cardholder (previously any same-day flight), and layover arrivals are capped at 5 hours before the connecting flight (standard entry stays within 3 hours of departure). Applies to US, London, Hong Kong and Tokyo lounges.

  Announced Feb 1, 2026 ✓Verified by source

• Amex Business PlatAmerican Express

  ▼ Worse: Centurion Lounge entry rules tightened: guests must be traveling on the same flight as the cardholder (previously any same-day flight), and layover arrivals are capped at 5 hours before the connecting flight.

  Announced Feb 1, 2026 ✓Verified by source

• Delta ReserveAmerican Express

  ▼ Worse: Centurion Lounge entry rules tightened: guests (max 2, $50/$30) must be traveling on the same flight as the cardholder, and layover arrivals are capped at 5 hours before the connecting flight.

  Announced Feb 1, 2026 ✓Verified by source

• Venture XCapital One

  ▼ Worse: Lounge access tightened: authorized users no longer get free lounge access ($125/yr each), complimentary guest access removed unless $75k annual spend, and Priority Pass guest access ended.

  Announced Jan 15, 2026 ≈Inferred by source