Our Verdict
If the Olympics had a travel card category, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® would be standing on the podium. The card comes with an astounding number of perks and highly flexible rewards. Since there’s a high annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve is best for travelers who expect to make heavy use of the card’s benefits and bonus categories.
Pros
- $300 annual travel credit is incredibly flexible
- Generous welcome bonus
- Get 50% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase
- Points transfer to valuable airline and hotel partners
Cons
- High annual fee
- High variable APR on purchases
- Excellent credit recommended
Chase Sapphire Reserve Current Offers
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Alternatives to the Chase Sapphire Reserve
Table of Contents
- Introducing Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Fine Print
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Quick Facts
- What Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Best For?
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Rewards
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Fees
- How To Maximize Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Rewards
- Complementary Cards for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
- How the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Stacks Up
- Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It?
- Methodology
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Introducing Chase Sapphire Reserve
For travel enthusiasts, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® packs a lot of power into a compact metal frame. The card offers numerous premium benefits and equally premium rewards. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which are flexible and can be used for a variety of redemptions.
The Sapphire Reserve comes with a full lineup of perks, as well. Anyone who travels at least once a year is likely to find a way to max out this card’s value.
Read more. Best Travel Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Fees
- Annual fee: $550
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: $0
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Quick Facts
- $550 annual fee
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
- Receive a $300 annual travel statement credit toward any travel expenses charged to your card
- Earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
- Get 25 to 50% more value on selected categories when you redeem points on eligible Pay Yourself Back purchases
- Get 50% more value on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal
- No foreign transaction fees
- Transfer points 1:1 to partner airline and hotel programs
- Priority Pass Select membership and access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations
- Up to $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, lost and delayed baggage insurance
- Primary car rental insurance coverage
What Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Best For?
As one of the best credit cards available, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is often seen on our lists of the best credit cards.
- The Best Credit Cards
- The Best Travel Credit Cards
- The Best Ultimate Rewards-Earning Credit Cards
- The Best Chase Credit Cards
- The Best Credit Cards for Vacation Rentals
- The Best Airline Credit Cards
- The Best Metal Credit Cards
- The Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
- The Best Credit Cards for Food Delivery Services
- The Best Hotel Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
Cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. There’s also a first-year welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
In addition to the rewards you can earn on the card, the Sapphire Reserve comes with a $300 annual travel credit, applicable to any eligible travel purchases charged to your credit card.
Redeeming Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards can be redeemed for statement credits, cash back or gift cards at 1 cent per point. You can also use your points to shop with brands like Amazon.com and Apple, although these redemptions are typically worth less than a penny a point.
If you redeem your rewards through the Chase Travel portal, they’ll be worth 50% more. For example, redeeming 10,000 points is worth $150 toward travel when used this way.
Additionally, you can transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, which include programs like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and World of Hyatt. Be aware that once you transfer to a travel partner, you cannot transfer the rewards back to your Ultimate Rewards account.
Rewards Potential
To determine the rewards potential of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, we reviewed the elevated rewards categories and calculated what the average household might spend in those areas. Forbes Advisor uses data from multiple government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $118,438 annually and has $39,337 in expenses that can reasonably be charged to credit cards.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Rewards Potential
Category | Earning Rate | Estimated Annual Spend | Estimated Annual Earnings |
---|---|---|---|
Flights Purchased Through Chase Travel | 5X | $1,540 | 7,700 points |
Hotels Purchased Through Chase Travel | 10X | $5,716 | 57,160 points |
All Other Travel | 3X | $4,945 | 14,835 points |
Dining | 3X | $4,622 | 13,866 points |
All Other Purchases | 1X | $22,514 | 22,514 points |
Total: 116,075 Ultimate Rewards Points |
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Benefits
The benefits included with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can make or break a decision to pay the card’s $550 annual fee. Fortunately, there’s a cache of additional protections that can help ensure you receive enough value to make the card worth paying for.
Purchase Protection
Get coverage for new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.
Extended Warranty
This Sapphire Reserve benefit extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
You won’t pay extra fees for purchases you make outside the U.S.
Travel Insurance
Qualify for travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary rental car coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay coverage, emergency evacuation and transportation insurance when booking eligible trips with your card.
Airport Lounge Access
Currently, Chase Sapphire Lounges can be found in Boston (BOS), New York (JFK and LGA) and Hong Kong (HKG). Additional locations are planned for Las Vegas (LAS), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX) and San Diego (SAN). Card members can also access The Sapphire Terrace in Austin (AUS) and The Etihad Lounge at Washington Dulles (IAD) in addition to over 1,300 lounges via a Priority Pass membership.
Trusted Traveler Credits
Cardholders are eligible for one statement credit of up to $100 every four years for an application fee to TSA PreCheck, NEXUS or Global Entry charged to your card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Travel Benefits
In addition to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®’s many perks, it offers access to Chase Ultimate Rewards and grants 50% more value to points redeemed for travel through the portal.
Foodies can enjoy more value with Reserved by Sapphire, which allows exclusive reservations and booking opportunities. With a year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass, the card offers something for those who would rather stay in, too.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Hotel Benefits
If 10 points per dollar in rewards on hotel bookings made through Chase Travel isn’t enough, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® also unlocks access to The Edit by Chase Travel (formerly The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection). The rewards may make up the difference for many, but for those who spend significantly on hotels every year—especially within a brand or family of properties—a co-branded hotel card may make more sense for those purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Car Rental Benefits
In addition to a reward of 10 points per dollar spent on rental car booking through the Chase Travel portal, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a primary auto rental collision damage waiver when you charge the entire cost to your card and waive coverage at the check-in desk. This benefit provides reimbursement of up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars both in the U.S. and abroad.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Fees
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has several fees in addition to its $550 annual fee. The card has late payment and return payment fees and a balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. It also carries a cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Foreign Transaction Fee
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® does not have a foreign transaction fee, which means you save the typical 3% fee charged by other cards on transactions you make abroad.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Authorized User Fee
Along with its high annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® includes a $75 annual fee per authorized user.
How To Maximize Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Rewards
Maximizing the reward value of any card typically involves several factors:
- Ensure the rewards structure matches your spending habits.
- Meet the spending requirements to earn the card’s welcome bonus.
- Maximize redemptions for high-value rewards.
Complementary Cards for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
Several Chase rewards cards can complement the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The points you earn with these credit cards can be combined with your Sapphire Reserve and maximized for travel for 50% more value through Chase.
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Transfer Partners
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® allows cardholders to transfer points 1:1 to a number of loyalty program partners. These include:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Iberia Plus
- IHG Rewards Club
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- World of Hyatt
Chase business credit cards earning Ultimate Rewards can yield especially excellent reward rates on business purchases. These points can then be transferred to a personal Sapphire Reserve card account and redeemed for 50% more value on travel through Chase Travel.
How the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Stacks Up
Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If the Sapphire Reserve is a gold medalist, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card deserves a close silver in the travel rewards card competition. It carries only a $95 annual fee, yet has an elite earnings structure that bests more expensive travel cards. You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Rewards on the Sapphire Preferred are redeemed the same way as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, but you only get 25% more value if you redeem points through Chase Travel.
It also comes with some nice travel protections but not quite as many perks as the Reserve. It does include a $50 travel statement credit for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel. These benefits make the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card a better option if you don’t think you’d get enough mileage out of the Reserve’s benefits in relation to its annual fee.
Read more. Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
If you’re uncomfortable with the annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or you simply don’t want to be bothered with trying to squeeze the most value out of your rewards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card could be an appealing choice. For an annual fee of $95 (rates & fees), you’ll earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on other purchases. The card also comes with an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership.
You can redeem your earnings to book travel through the Capital One Travel center, use them to cover an eligible travel purchase you made on the card or transfer to one of Capital One’s travel transfer partners.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express
If you want the most luxurious air travel benefits and don’t mind paying a hefty annual fee, The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) might be right for you. Like Chase’s Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards® are highly flexible and can be redeemed as a statement credit, to book travel through American Express Travel or transferred to one of several American Express airline and hotel partners.
The card earns 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Plush perks include widespread airport lounge access–including Priority Pass with enrollment, American Express Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when you fly same day with Delta (effective 2/1/25, American Express Platinum card members will receive 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter). Cardholders also get up to $200 in airline incidental fee statement credits annually on an eligible airline you select each year (enrollment required), up to $200 in Uber Cash credits good for U.S. rides or Uber Eats each year when you link your Platinum card to your Uber account, Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors with enrollment, an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, digital entertainment statement credits with enrollment and more.
Choosing between the Amex Platinum and the Sapphire Reserve will depend on your spending patterns, the available transfer partners and the card perks you find most valuable.
Evaluate Credit Cards Side By Side
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It?
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria to rate a credit card. The Sapphire Reserve was graded based on factors including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual rewards
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Travel benefits like airport access and insurance
- Other consumer protections
We weighted commonly used features, such as the annual travel credit, more heavily in our rating than oft-used perks that may go unused. Altogether, these factors came together to provide a strong star rating for the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, read how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it possible to upgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
If you own the Chase Sapphire Preferred but think the rewards and benefits of the Reserve card would be a better fit, you can request an upgrade online through your Chase account or call Chase card member services at 800-432-3117. Be aware that there is no guarantee that you’ll be automatically approved for the Reserve. For example, if you’ve had a significant change in your credit standing or have high card utilization, you may not be approved for the upgrade. You should also know that when you upgrade your card, you will not be eligible for a welcome bonus since you aren’t actively opening a new separate account.
How do I qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Qualifying for the Chase Sapphire Reserve generally requires at least a good credit rating. In addition to a solid credit score, it may help to have low credit utilization on all your other loan products, as well as a steady income and no history of late or delinquent payments on your other financial accounts. There is no exact formula that guarantees approval for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
How do I activate the Priority Pass lounge benefit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
To activate the Priority Pass Select membership benefit that comes with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card, log in to your Chase account online and navigate to your Ultimate Rewards account. From there, find the benefit that says “Complimentary Airport Lounge Access” and click on activate. You will receive a physical Priority Pass card for the primary cardholder and any authorized users and you can also create a digital membership card at www.PriorityPass.com/ChaseDMC. Your Sapphire Reserve card will not be sufficient to get into Priority Pass lounges.