Greetings from Austin! Mrs. ATX and I are spending a couple of well deserved weekends at home before we depart for our first major trip without ATX Jr. next month. We snuck away to the lake on Thursday but I’ll be glued to the couch for the rest of the weekend as my LSU Tigers take on Coastal Carolina in the College World Series final!
On the travel front, credit cards dominated the news cycle this week as Chase released the details for its redesigned Sapphire Reserve card and American Express teased major changes to the Platinum Card. We saw cost cutting moves from JetBlue and British Airways and I finally got back to work on the reviews from our Asia trip earlier this year. All of that and more in the ATX Jetsetter weekly recap for the week ended June 21, 2025.
Chase Unveils Major Changes to the Sapphire Reserve Card
The big news of the week was the major change to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. The annual fee will jump from $550 to a whopping $795 which will be a tough pill to swallow for some.
While I’d say the changes are a mixed bag, the sharp increase in the annual fee will likely stick out the most to customers. However, the company hopes that the fee increase can be offset by additional cardmember perks.
A Platinum Card Benefits Refresh is Coming
.Not to be outdone, on the same week Chase unveiled its changes, American Express announced that big changes are coming to its premium travel card, the American Express Platinum Card.
While we don’t have much information, a major refresh is expected before the end of the year. I’m hopeful that the card gets back to its roots as a premium travel card instead of the coupon book it has evolved into.
British Airways Removed Individual Water Bottles in Economy
British Airways is currently in the middle of a trial in which it has removed individual water bottles for Economy passengers on its flights between London-Heathrow and Boston, Los Angeles, and Miami. Hopefully these changes don’t become permanent as it seems like more work for the crew and a worse onboard experience for passengers.
JetBlue Cuts Routes, Reduces Staff Amid Financial Struggles
JetBlue is making some significant changes as economic headwinds have slowed the companies plan to return to profitability. Hopefully the situation at the company improves and they are able to emerge from this with as little impact as possible.
Review: The Ritz-Carlton Almaty
We had an amazing stay at The Ritz-Carlton Almaty. While the property is beginning to show its age, it is extremely well maintained. Also, the staff were fantastic during our visit and, with the one snafu regarding the beer aside, this is an amazing property for those looking to make a visit to the area.
After such an amazing experience in Almaty and my (sometimes blind) loyalty to Marriott, I’m sure that Mrs. ATX and I will return to this property in the future.
Summary
Credit card changes dominated the news cycle this week with major updates announced for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The American Express Platinum Card will also get an upgrade later this year. This is causing a major shakeup for the premium travel cards in the market.
As always, thanks for reading the June 21, 2025 weekly recap and Geaux Tigers!