Chase Adds 48 Month Restriction for Sapphire Bonuses & A Way to Get It Under the “Old” 24 Months Language

Chase has dramatically increased the waiting period for Chase Sapphire bonuses for customers. Instead of the old 24 months between bonuses, customers will now have to wait 48 months to be eligible! But, there is a workaround available, maybe not for long, though.

Wait, What?!

Chase has gone full-on restrictive in a way that doesn’t even target churners – it targeted pretty much anyone ever interested in growing Chase points over time! A couple of years ago, Chase put the “24 month” language on cards that prevented people from getting the bonus on that same card again in less than 24 months from the previous bonus.

Chase Adds 48 Month Restriction for Sapphire Bonuses

From 24 Months to 48 Months – Brutal

This year, they grouped it all into families, so if you had received a Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus 18 months ago, you would not be able to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve bonus now. The 24 months applied to all cards in that same family.

Now, Chase is going to the tough extreme of restrictive language (though still not as bad as Amex’s once-per-lifetime) with new language that limits you to such a bonus only once ever 48 months! But, for now, there is still a way to get in under the 24 month language if you are interested.

The new 48 month restrictive language that is in effect for Chase Sapphire cards

What Does This Mean?

If you have received any Sapphire (Sapphire, Sapphire Preferred, or Sapphire Reserve) bonus in the last 48 months (that is 4 years!), you will not be approved for a new card and bonus from within that Sapphire family. Not only that, you must first cancel a Sapphire product you do hold before you apply.

This means that anyone that has ever applied for a Chase Sapphire Reserve card (which is a lot of us!) will not be able to get a new Sapphire Preferred or new Sapphire Reserve for at least another 2 years! That is just brutal!

There Is a Temporary Workaround

Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred with old 24 Month Language | Chase Sapphire Reserve with old 24 Month Language

The 24 month language currently still lives on for referral offers. These are the offers that current cardmembers can generate for friends/families/strangers on the internet. It allows those cardholders to receive a bonus if they can convince someone to sign up through their link.

The 24 month language for those links is still there. It also exists on some affiliate offers I looked at as well. The important thing is this – if you want a new Chase Sapphire product and are over 24 months since your last bonus from that card family, it may be time to think about applying! If you do apply, make sure you check the “Offer Details” to see if the 24 month or 48 month language is present!

Not Just a Hassle for Churners Anymore…

This is certainly going to frustrate many people – not just card churners. There are many people who have stepped into the waters of travel rewards with the best travel card out there for all-around use – the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Now that they have had it for a couple of years and are used to dealing with a credit card rewards program, they are thinking about getting another card. Unfortunately, the door to the Chase Sapphire Reserve would be closed to them through public links.

While Chase may think this is good business practices, it is actually something that will send many of these valuable, new-ish customers over to Chase competitors like Amex and Citi to get their cards.

Hey, at least it is not the once-per-lifetime language like Amex loves to put out there! But, there is no question that we are getting closer to that with Chase.

HT: Uscreditcardguide via Doctor of Credit