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Updated 5 min read
With its $795 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is pricey — but this card holds tremendous value for frequent travelers.
Its welcome bonus, travel credits, eye-popping earning rates, and luxury travel perks could easily help offset the card’s annual cost. Its travel protections and airport lounge access also provide peace of mind and added comfort when you travel.
That said, this card isn’t for everyone. Here’s what you need to know about the Chase Sapphire Reserve, its pros and cons, and who it’s best for.
Annual fee
$550
Welcome offer
Earn 100,000 bonus points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
Card type(s)
Travel
Ongoing Purchases APR
20.24% - 28.74% Variable
Recommended credit score
Excellent
Rewards rate
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
- *After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Benefits
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more
- Receive up to a $120 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
More details: $300 annual travel credit, complimentary airport lounge access, and 50% higher redemption value when you use your points to book travel through Chase.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you'll get a $300 annual travel credit, which offsets the card’s annual fee considerably. Cardmembers can also get up to $120 in statement credits every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fees.
That's only the beginning of this card's annual credits, which also include:
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Up to $500 annually for stays with The Edit℠ ($250 from January through June and $250 from July through December), which applies to prepaid bookings with a two-night minimum.
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Up to $300 in dining credits annually ($150 from January through June and $150 from July through December) for Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants.
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Up to $25 in monthly DoorDash promos ($5 for restaurant orders and two $10 promos for other orders) for DashPass members through 12/31/2027.
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Up to $300 annually ($150 from January through June and $150 from July through December) toward StubHub and viagogo purchases with activation through 12/31/2027.
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Up to $120 in annual Lyft credits ($10 per month) for rides through 9/30/2027.
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Up to $120 annually ($10 per month) for eligible Peloton memberships with activation through 12/31/2027.
You’ll also receive a free Priority Pass Select membership as a cardholder, giving you free access to over 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide. You can also bring along up to two guests, though additional charges may apply.
Additionally, your card gives you free access to Sapphire Lounges, though these relaxing spaces are only available at a few airports.
No premium travel card would be complete without sufficient protections and insurance coverage for your adventures. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can access several types of travel safeguards, including:
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Auto rental collision damage waiver
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Baggage delay insurance
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Lost luggage reimbursement
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Emergency evacuation and transportation
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Emergency medical and dental treatment
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Trip cancellation or interruption insurance
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Travel accident insurance
Cardholders get up to $75,000 of primary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance for a covered event. Credit cards offering this benefit typically have secondary coverage, meaning you need to file a claim with your car insurance company before the secondary coverage kicks in. Filing a claim with your insurer could increase your premiums, so primary coverage is valuable.
You can maximize your rewards with the Sapphire Reserve by making frequent rental car, hotel, or flight purchases through Chase Travel. Every Chase Travel purchase earns 8x points per dollar.
You'll also get a great 4x rewards on direct travel purchases with airlines and hotels. This gives you some flexibility if you find a better deal outside of the Chase portal.
Beyond travel, you'll earn 3x points on restaurant spending worldwide. While this isn’t the highest possible reward rate with this card, it’s still fairly generous.
All other eligible purchases with this card will net you 1x points. You won’t earn rewards on any credits, cash advances, or balance transfers.
With this card, you have several options for redeeming rewards. As mentioned, you can use your points to book travel through Chase or transfer them to an airline or hotel partner. Chase currently has over a dozen travel partners, including British Airways, JetBlue, Southwest, United Airlines, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hyatt.
Besides redeeming with partner transfers or through Chase Travel, you can also use your rewards for:
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General statement credits
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Credits for certain qualifying purchases
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Gift cards
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Amazon and Apple purchases
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Bookings through Chase Experiences or Chase Dining
The Sapphire Reserve could be an excellent option for frequent travelers. Because its annual fee is high, this card generally only makes sense for those who can take advantage of its travel credits, high earnings rates, and ample partner benefits.
To really maximize the benefits of the Sapphire Reserve, cardholders should be comfortable booking travel through the Chase portal. Not only can doing so net you 8x points on your purchases, but redeeming your existing points by booking with Chase Travel can maximize your redemption value, too.
If you’re an occasional traveler or will struggle to use the card’s many partner perks, a travel rewards card with a lower fee may be a better choice.
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Substantial annual travel credit
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Flexible rewards
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Multiple travel protections
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Complimentary lounge access
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No foreign transaction fees
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High annual fee
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Must use travel portal for best rewards
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Excellent credit may be required
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is part of the Visa credit card network, so you can use it worldwide wherever Visa cards are accepted.
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Online via the Chase website
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Through the Chase mobile app
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By phone: 1-800-436-7958
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By mail:
Cardmember Services
P.O. Box 6294
Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294 -
By Western Union (code city WALNUT)
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In-person at a Chase ATM or branch
You can reach Chase’s credit card customer service team by calling 1-800-432-3117 or messaging them through X, Instagram, or Facebook.
If the Chase Sapphire Reserve doesn’t sound like the best travel card for your wallet, the following lower-annual-fee alternatives could fit the bill.
Annual fee
$95
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
Card type(s)
Travel
Ongoing Purchases APR
19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Recommended credit score
Excellent/Good
Rewards rate
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
Benefits
- Complimentary DashPass with $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27, plus a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders
- Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
- On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year
Why we like it: Like its big sister, the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a host of perks, including a $50 annual hotel credit. With this card, you’ll also earn 5x points on qualifying purchases through Chase Travel; 3x points on dining out, at online grocery stores, and on select streaming services; 2x points on other travel purchases; and 1x points on everything else. Your points are worth 25% more when you use them to book trips in Chase Travel.
Learn more: Which is the best Chase credit card?
Annual fee
$395
Welcome offer
Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Card type(s)
Travel
Purchase APR
19.99% - 29.24% variable
Recommended credit score
Excellent
Rewards rate
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Benefits
- $300 annual credit for travel bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 annual bonus miles (worth $100 in travel spending; starts on your first account anniversary)
- Unlimited access for you and two guests to Capital One Lounges and 1,300+ more lounges through partner networks after enrollment
Why we like it: The Venture X Rewards Card from Capital One has a $395 annual fee, but cardmembers benefit from a $300 annual credit for travel booked through Capital One. Maxing out this credit will significantly offset your annual fee.
Besides that, this card comes with a generous welcome bonus. Cardmembers can also earn 10x miles on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One, 5x miles on flights purchased through Capital One, and 2x miles on everything else.
Capital One Venture X review: Credits and lounge access for frequent travelers
Annual fee
$325
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
Card type(s)
Travel, Rewards
Ongoing Purchases APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit score
Excellent/Good
Rewards rate
- 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
- 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
- 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
Benefits
- Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with your American Express Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com (enrollment required)
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com
- Up to $84 per year ($7/month) in statement credits after you enroll and pay with your American Express Gold Card at more than 9,000 U.S. Dunkin’® locations
Why we like it: The American Express Gold Card lets you earn big rewards in popular spending categories. You’ll get 4x points on restaurant and U.S. grocery store purchases, 3x points on flights booked through Amex Travel or with airlines, and 1x points on everything else. This card also offers a lucrative welcome bonus and multiple ways to earn statement credits.
American Express Gold Card review: Everyday rewards for travel savings
This article was edited by Alicia Hahn
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the author(s) and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
