PointBagel Blog

Point valuation updates, strategy insights, and credit card news.

All 2026 amex amex-gold amex-platinum annual-fee annual-fees annual-review audit beginners bilt

June 12, 2026 · 9 min read

The Sapphire Preferred Is Changing June 15: What Matters, What It Costs You, and the One Deadline to Know

Chase announced a Sapphire Preferred refresh on June 10, 2026, and the changes land June 15: new 3x categories, a doubled hotel credit, and a quiet 25% cut to Hyatt transfers. Here is every change with exact dates, what our algorithm says the card is worth, and what we built so your numbers stay right the moment it goes live.

chase · sapphire-preferred · ultimate-rewards

April 29, 2026 · 11 min read

Credit Card Annual Fees: When to Pay and When to Cancel

Most people either keep cards they should cancel or cancel cards they should keep. Here's the four-step framework for making the right call every time.

annual-fees · strategy · retention-offers

April 6, 2026 · 11 min read

The Chase Trifecta vs the Amex Trifecta: Which Ecosystem Wins?

The Chase Trifecta costs $95/year. The Amex Trifecta costs $1,220 before credits. Both are elite setups - but they serve fundamentally different types of spenders.

chase · amex · trifecta

April 2, 2026 · 11 min read

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold: The Ultimate Showdown

Both cards are the most popular mid-tier travel cards on the market, but they're built for different spenders. Here's the math at three different spending profiles.

chase · amex · sapphire-preferred

March 20, 2026 · 9 min read

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It in 2026?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $495 after credits but beats the Preferred only if you spend at least $2,400 in portal travel paid with points annually. Here's who should actually get it.

chase · sapphire-reserve · sapphire-preferred