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 Travel℠
- Points transfer to valuable airline and hotel partners
Cons
- High annual fee
- Additional fee for each authorized user
- 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.
- $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 $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Table of Contents
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: What We Love About the Card
- What Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Best For?
- Alternatives to the Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Rates and Fees
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Rewards
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Benefits
- Complementary Cards for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
- How the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Stacks Up
- Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It?
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Review Methodology
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: What We Love About the Card
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.
I’ve owned the Chase Sapphire Reserve® since its launch in 2016, back when the bonus offer was 100,000 points after meeting minimum spending within the allotted amount of time. At the time, I wasn’t eligible to apply online, so instead, I drove the six hours from my Georgia home down to Florida to score an approval. Yes, I wanted it that badly—and it’s spent the last eight years being my go-to credit card.
There are a few reasons for this, including its easy-to-use travel credit, its excellent lineup of transfer partners, its simplified bonus categories and its industry-leading travel insurance.
Although the card has aged since it was first launched, it remains incredibly valuable to me. That being said, Chase has made a few changes that I don’t love. This pertains mostly to the elimination of restaurant credits from the card’s Priority Pass Select membership, which I used nearly every time I flew.
While I’ll still hold onto the card thanks to its benefits, I’ve since added other cards to make up for the loss. I don’t love paying more annual fees, but for now, the card remains valuable enough to stay in my wallet.
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.
| List | Best For |
|---|---|
| Best travel credit card for international travel | |
| Best premium card earning chase ultimate rewards | |
| Best chase premium credit card | |
| Best credit card for vacation rental credits | |
| Best premium rewards card for travel insurance | |
| Best metal card for priority pass membership | |
| Best for travel insurance benefits | |
| Best for delivery memberships and statement credits | |
| Best premium card for transfer partners |
Alternatives to the Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve Rates and Fees
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card 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
- Authorized user fee: $75 per authorized user card
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. Here are a few of the additional protections it offers.
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 U.S. manufacturer’s warranty period by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.
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
Chase Sapphire Lounges are already open or are opening soon in:
- Boston (BOS)
- New York (JFK and LGA)
- Phoenix (PHX)
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Philadelphia (PHL)
- San Diego (SAN).
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
Chase cardholders also have access to over 1,300 lounges via a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required).
Trusted Traveler Credits
Cardholders are eligible for one statement credit every four years to use toward the application fee to TSA PreCheck®, NEXUS or Global Entry charged to your card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Travel Benefits
In addition to the Sapphire Reserve’s many perks, it offers access to Chase Ultimate Rewards and grants 50% more value to points redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel 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 also offers something for those who would rather stay in.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Hotel Benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also unlocks access to The Edit by Chase Travel, which offers premium benefits including a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two, room upgrades (subject to availability) and more. These mirror many of the perks that are granted through achieving elite status with a hotel loyalty program. Still, a co-branded hotel card may make more sense for those who spend significantly within a specific hotel chain’s family of properties. Also, note that The Edit properties are excluded from the Sapphire Reserve’s 10 points per dollar earnings rate for hotels booked through Chase.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Car Rental Benefits
In addition to earning 10 points per dollar spent on rental cars booked through the Chase Travel portal, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers primary auto rental coverage 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.
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:
Airline Partners
- Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1)
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
- British Airways Executive Club (1:1)
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Iberia Plus (1:1)
- JetBlue TrueBlue (1:1)
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1)
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards (1:1)
- United MileagePlus (1:1)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1)
Hotel Partners
- IHG One Rewards (1:1)
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
- World of Hyatt (1:1)
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 through Chase Travel.
How the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Stacks Up
Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A less expensive version of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 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 and plenty of bonus points while only charging a $95 annual fee. The redemption options for rewards earned with the Sapphire Preferred are similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, but you only get 25% more value if you redeem points through Chase Travel. To learn more about the differences between these two cards, read our indepth comparison of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
If the annual fee to own the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is off-putting, the $95 annual fee Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) could be a more appealing choice.
The card earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, 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. It also includes an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to see if this card might be a better fit for your needs.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Comparing the Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve, both premium cards offer high-end benefits, including airport lounge access and statement credits. However, The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) offers a long list of potential credits for its hefty $695 annual fee. The right one for you will partially depend on your willingness to maximize the Amex Platinum’s credits and your preference of travel transfer partners.
Evaluate Credit Cards Side By Side
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It?
Toni Perkins-Southam
Credit Cards Lead Editor
Jerod Morales
Credit Cards Editor
Becky Pokora
Credit Cards Writer
For certain travelers, the Sapphire Reserve is the perfect card. You’ll enjoy elite perks and benefits like lounge access, richer points redemptions through Chase Travel and more. If the hefty annual fee has you second-guessing the card, remember that it comes with a $300 travel credit. I used my credit to pay for flights to transit around Peru.
Credit Cards Lead Editor
The travel benefits make the Sapphire Reserve a keeper for me. Delays and cancellations are not uncommon, and with best-in-class trip protections on the Sapphire Reserve, I know I have some coverage just by making travel purchases with my card. That and the many credits the card offers make it easy to justify the annual fee.
Credit Cards Editor
Though I’ve had this card in the past, I prefer travel credit cards with lower annual fees. I don’t personally need or value the airport lounge access, so to me the Sapphire Reserve isn’t worth it compared to lower-priced options.
Credit Cards Writer
Chase Sapphire Reserve Review Methodology
The Chase Sapphire Reserve was graded according to Forbes Advisor’s ranking methodology for flexible rewards cards which evaluates several factors including:
- Annual fee
- Credits that can offset the annual fee
- Welcome bonus offer
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of Ultimate Rewards as compared to competing premium cards
- Travel benefits like airport access and insurance
- Other consumer protections like purchase protection and extended warranty
We weighted commonly used features, such as the rewards and annual travel credit, more heavily in our rating than oft-used perks that may go unused. Together, these factors provided 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.
Forbes Advisor Credit Card Rewards Expert Becky Pokora contributed to this article.
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’s no exact formula that guarantees approval for the 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. 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.
How do I 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. With this card, booking travel through Chase Travel or transferring rewards travel transfer partners, particularly airlines, is likely to give you a greater value then the 1 cent per point you’d get by redeeming for cash back.
