moderate2026-12-01Chase · Aeroplan (Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card)High Riskfee increase $95 → $195
On September 10, 2026, Chase relaunched the card as the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card and doubled the annual fee. New applicants pay $195 immediately; existing cardholders pay it at renewals on or after December 1, 2026. The refresh adds automatic Aeroplan 25K status, a 15% discount on eligible Air Canada award itineraries, up to $100 a year in Air Canada credits (two $50 halves), and 3x on broad travel — while grocery and dining drop from 3x to 2x and the monthly spend bonus ends. Aeroplan receives 1:1 transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards.
What to do: Use both $50 Air Canada credits (award taxes qualify) to offset the increase, or product-change to a Sapphire Preferred before a December-or-later renewal if you never fly Air Canada.
$49 → $95
Navy Federal Credit Union emailed existing Visa Signature Flagship Rewards cardholders on September 9, 2026 that the card's annual fee rises from $49 to $95 under revised terms effective November 2, 2026. Cardholders may reject the change by calling before 11:59 p.m. ET on November 1, 2026, but rejection closes the account to new transactions while the balance is paid down. The notice did not describe any change to earning rates or benefits for existing cardholders; a separate refresh reported by Doctor of Credit on September 1 (4x travel, 3x dining, 1x elsewhere, a $100 airline credit replacing the Amazon Prime credit) remains unconfirmed by Navy Federal. Navy Federal does not refund the annual fee once it posts.
What to do: If the Amazon Prime credit was the reason you held the card, decide before the fee posts after November 2; rejecting the terms closes the account.
moderate2026-09-28PenFed · Pathfinder Rewards Visa SignatureStablefee increase $0 (waived for Honors Advantage members) → $95
Effective September 28, 2026, PenFed eliminated the annual-fee waiver on the Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature card — Honors Advantage members (military affiliation or qualifying PenFed checking) previously paid no annual fee while keeping the card's $100 airline incidental credit, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and Priority Pass membership. The $95 fee now applies to all cardholders, and late fees rise to up to $30 for a first occurrence and $35 thereafter. The change was communicated by paper letter; earning rates and credits were unchanged in the notice.
What to do: If you reliably use the $100 airline credit, the card can still break even; if the zero fee was the point, decide before the first fee posts.
moderate2026-08-23Citi · AAdvantage (Executive card)Stablefee increase $595 → $695
Effective August 23, 2026, the annual fee on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card increases by $100. New and enhanced benefits are added at the same time, including up to $500 in AA Vacations credits, up to $100 in inflight/Admirals Club credits, higher earning on AA hotel and car bookings, additional Loyalty Point thresholds, Omni Champion status, and Avis President’s Club status. Existing cardholders are notified on a rolling basis tied to their anniversary date.
What to do: Apply before August 23 if you want the lower first-year fee and to lock in current benefits longer.
$850 → $1,400
Effective August 23, 2026, the traditional Admirals Club membership (with guest privileges and partner lounge access) rises to a maximum of $1,400 (or equivalent miles), up from a prior maximum of roughly $850. A new lower-priced single membership ($750) is introduced that excludes guests and partner lounges. Household memberships are being phased out. The Citi AAdvantage Executive card continues to include full membership.
What to do: Consider the Executive card if you need regular lounge access with guests; evaluate the new single tier if you travel alone.
$12.50/person each way → $20/person each way
Fee for partner award tickets increased for tickets issued on or after July 1, 2026.
£399 (LHR–JFK Club World round trip, off-peak, cash component) → £499
On May 22, 2026, British Airways emailed members that the cash element of Reward Flights would increase for bookings made on or after May 27, 2026, with Avios prices unchanged. Published examples put an off-peak Club World round trip London–New York at 176,000 Avios plus £499, World Traveller London–Cape Town at 66,000 Avios plus £190, Club Europe London–Rome one-way at 22,000 Avios plus £20, and Euro Traveller London–Amsterdam at 10,000 Avios plus £2.50; Doctor of Credit estimated the increases at 10–30% and Head for Points/InsideFlyer reported the New York business figure rose by £100. Bookings made before May 27 keep the old cash price, but changes to existing awards after that date reprice. This is the second increase in under six months, following the December 15, 2025 Avios and surcharge rise, and affects 1:1 transfers from Chase, American Express, Capital One, Bilt and Wells Fargo.
What to do: Price BA-operated awards through partner programs or on Aer Lingus/Iberia metal, and avoid modifying pre-May 27 bookings, which now reprice.
$695 → $895
Effective immediately for new cardmembers and at the next renewal on or after January 2, 2026 for existing consumer Platinum cardholders (December 2, 2025 for Business Platinum), the annual fee increases by $200. New and enhanced statement credits and benefits were added at the same time. Existing core benefits such as lounge access remained.
What to do: Existing cardholders can use the new credits immediately while still paying the old fee until their next renewal.
major2025-06-23Chase · Ultimate Rewards (Sapphire Reserve card)High Riskfee increase $550 → $795
Effective June 23, 2025 for new applicants (announced June 17, 2025), the Sapphire Reserve annual fee increased by $245 to $795, and the authorized-user fee rose from $75 to $195. Existing cardholders were charged the new fee at their first renewal on or after October 26, 2025. The increase accompanied a broad card refresh that added statement credits (The Edit hotel credit, dining, StubHub) and changed earning rates, alongside the separate replacement of fixed portal redemption values with Points Boost.
moderate2025-03-24Chase · MileagePlus (United co-branded cards)High Riskfee increase $525 (United Club card) → $695
Effective March 24, 2025 for new applicants (existing cardholders at renewals on or after August 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026 for the Explorer card), Chase raised annual fees across the United co-branded lineup: Explorer from $95 to $150, Quest from $250 to $350, and Club from $525 to $695, with similar increases on the business cards. New statement credits and benefits were added at the same time, including rideshare credits, United TravelBank cash, and annual award-flight discounts. Separately, the Premier upgrades-on-award-tickets benefit ended August 1, 2025, and the Explorer card's two annual United Club one-time passes now require the primary cardholder or an authorized user to be present. The no-fee Gateway card was unchanged.
What to do: Weigh the new credits against the higher fee at renewal; the no-fee Gateway card is the escape hatch.
$650 (guests and Star Alliance lounges included) → $750 (individual, no guests); $1,400 All Access
Effective March 24, 2025, and announced the same day, United restructured United Club membership into two tiers. The Individual membership costs $750 or 94,000 miles, up from $650 or 85,000 miles, and no longer includes guest privileges or access to Star Alliance partner lounges. Those benefits now require the new All Access membership at $1,400 or 175,000 miles. Elite discounts on membership ($50 for Platinum, $100 for 1K) were eliminated. Existing members keep their prior benefits until their membership expires. The change was announced alongside the United co-branded card annual fee increases and, from May 1, 2025, a three-hour pre-departure limit for one-time pass holders.
What to do: The United Club card at $695 now costs less than a standalone Individual membership and includes guest access; compare before renewing a membership.
major2023-06-15Finnair · Finnair PlusStableaward price increase / fee increase Northern Europe economy 7,500; long-haul business 80,000 → Northern Europe economy 10,000; long-haul business 95,000 + new fees
Finnair Plus (Capital One transfers 1:1 directly; also reachable via Avios from Chase/Amex/Citi/Bilt/Wells Fargo through BA/Iberia/etc.) raised most award rates 8–33% (long-haul economy unchanged) and introduced new per-segment carrier fees (€10–€120 depending on zone/cabin). Combined effect was a substantial effective devaluation for US transferable holders.
