"Comprehensive Instructions on Improving a Chase Credit Card [2025]"
If you're considering upgrading your Chase credit card to a more premium option, here's what you need to know.
Criteria for Upgrading Chase Credit Cards
To qualify for a Chase premium card upgrade, you generally need a good to excellent credit score (typically 670 or higher), a solid income and credit history, and a current credit limit that meets the requirements of the target card. Additionally, Chase reviews its internal rules like the 5/24 rule, denying applications if you have opened 5 or more credit cards in the past 24 months.
The Process for Upgrading
- Contact Chase Customer Service: Use the number on the back of your card to reach an agent and express your interest in upgrading your card.
- Credit Assessment: The agent will check your eligibility based on your credit score, credit limit, and income.
- Possible Credit Limit Increase: If required (such as for the Sapphire Reserve), Chase may request a credit limit increase, potentially performing a hard credit inquiry.
- Approval Timeframe: It may take up to 4 business days for the upgrade to be processed and for new benefits to take effect.
- Receive New Card: Your account number remains the same, but you will receive a new card with a new expiration date and CVV usually within 7 to 12 business days. Authorized users will receive updated cards as well.
- Points Transfer: Any rewards points you have will transfer automatically to your new card after the upgrade, so you don’t lose points.
Additional Notes
- Some premium card upgrades may carry a higher annual fee, which Chase will communicate to you before completing the upgrade. You have the option to reject the product change if you do not agree with the new fee.
- If you want to upgrade other cards (like a Southwest card), the upgrade process is similar—contact Chase customer service and request the upgrade.
- Chase premium cards offer significant benefits and rewards enhancements, so ensure the upgrade matches your spending habits and needs.
Popular Chase Credit Card Upgrades
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on all other dining, and 2x points on all other travel, among other benefits.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card offers 2x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, 2x points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming services, 2x points on local transit and commuting purchases, 1x points on other purchases, and 3,000-anniversary points after your cardmember anniversary upon renewal.
- The New United ClubSM Card offers 5x miles on stays purchased through Renowned Hotels and Resorts, 4x miles on United purchases, 2x miles on other travel purchases, 2x miles on dining, and 1x miles on other purchases.
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers 8x points on Chase Travel, 5x points on Lyft, 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, and 3x points on all other dining, among other benefits.
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card offers 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, 2x points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming services, 2x points on local transit and commuting purchases, 1x points on other purchases, and 6,000-anniversary points after your cardmember anniversary upon renewal.
- The New United QuestSM Business Card does not have an upgrade option due to being the sole business card in the United family.
- The New United QuestSM Card offers 5x miles on stays purchased through Renowned Hotels and Resorts, 3x miles on United purchases, 2x miles on other travel purchases, 2x miles on dining, 2x miles on select streaming services, and 1x miles on other purchases.
- Upgrading a personal card to a business card and vice versa is not possible.
- The New UnitedSM Explorer Card offers 5x miles on hotel stays purchased through United Hotels, 2x miles on United purchases, 2x miles on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel, 2x miles on dining, and 1x miles on other purchases.
- Upgrading to a Chase Sapphire Reserve card requires a minimum credit limit of $10,000.
- The new card will be sent via mail.
- The Chase Slate EdgeSM card can potentially be upgraded to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers 4x points on Southwest Airlines eligible purchases, 2x points at gas stations and restaurants, 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare purchases, 2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases, 2x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards Hotels and Car Rental Partners, 1x point per $1 on all other purchases, and 7,500-anniversary points after your cardmember anniversary upon renewal.
- The New United GatewaySM Card offers 2x miles on United purchases, 2x miles at gas stations, 2x miles on local transit and commuting, and 1x miles on other purchases.
- Reasons to upgrade a Chase card include access to improved benefits and capturing additional rewards if spending habits change.
- Upgrading a Chase credit card is easy and can be done by calling the number on the back of the card.
- The credit card number may stay the same if the card type (Visa versus Mastercard) does not change.
- The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers 5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash-back on dining, and 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases, among other benefits.
- The New United ClubSM Business Card can be upgraded from The New UnitedSM Business Card if the card has been open for at least 12 months and has a credit limit of $10,000 or more.
- The process for upgrading a Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card involves contacting Chase customer service and expressing interest in the upgrade, followed by a credit assessment and possible credit limit increase, which might necessitate a hard credit inquiry.
- In the business sector, one can consider upgrading a Chase Slate Edge SM card to a more premium option like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card, subject to meeting the requirements and internal rules of Chase.
- For those with modifications in spending habits or aiming to reap more rewards, upgrading to a premium card like The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card with increased benefits can be a wise decision, such as 4x points on Southwest Airlines eligible purchases and 2x points at gas stations and restaurants.