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.
$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)Elevatedfee 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)Elevatedfee 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.
