Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Review and Comparison

If you're considering the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you'll want to know the benefits and drawbacks to make an informed decision.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has an annual fee of $550, which is a significant cost. However, it offers a $300 travel credit that can help offset this expense.

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you'll earn 3X points on travel and dining purchases, which can be redeemed for valuable rewards. This is a great opportunity to earn points on everyday expenses.

The card also offers a 50% points bonus when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, making your points even more valuable.

If this caught your attention, see: Chase Sapphire International Travel

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is packed with benefits that can make your travel experiences smoother and more enjoyable. You'll get access to lounges like the Priority Pass Select Lounge, where you can bring up to two guests for free.

One of the perks of having the Sapphire Reserve is that you can use your card to access Sapphire Lounges for free, and bring up to two guests per visit for a fee of $27. You'll also get access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges, but only if you have a same-day boarding pass or ticket for a Star Alliance carrier.

Check this out: Chase Sapphire Lounge Guest

If you're a frequent traveler, you'll appreciate the Global Entry or TSA Pre✔ fee credit, which can reimburse you up to $120 every 4 years for the application fee. Additionally, you'll get National Car Rental Executive status, which comes with its own set of perks.

You'll also enjoy elite hotel benefits at Relais & Châteaux, where you'll receive a VIP welcome and complimentary breakfast daily at select properties. And if you book a stay at select sbe hotels, you'll get the 4th night free, free breakfast, a $30 hotel credit, and more.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also comes with a Visa Infinite Concierge Service, which can help you with requests like dinner reservations or Broadway, music, and sporting event tickets. And, as a bonus, you won't have to worry about foreign transaction fees.

Here's a breakdown of the travel benefits you can expect with the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers top-notch security and protection features to give you peace of mind while traveling or making purchases.

You're protected from unauthorized charges with Zero Liability Protection, so if you spot a suspicious charge, simply call the number on the back of your card and it's taken care of.

The card also offers sophisticated fraud monitoring, which keeps a close eye on your purchases 24/7 and can alert you via text, email, or call if anything unusual pops up.

Here are some key security and protection features of the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

Having a secure account is essential for protecting your financial information and preventing unauthorized transactions. Your Sapphire Reserve card offers robust account security features.

Zero Liability Protection is in place, which means you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information. If you notice an unauthorized charge, simply call the number on the back of your card to report it.

Sapphire Reserve also employs sophisticated fraud monitoring to safeguard your credit card purchases. This system is constantly on the lookout for suspicious activity 24/7.

If the system detects unusual purchases on your credit card, you'll receive a text, email, or phone call to alert you to the potential issue.

A different take: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Worth It

If you're planning a trip, you want to know that you're protected in case something goes wrong. The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers primary collision damage and theft protection up to $75,000 for rental cars.

This coverage is especially important if you're traveling abroad, as it provides reimbursement for theft and collision damage in the U.S. and abroad. You can decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card.

In addition to rental car protection, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers trip delay/cancellation insurance, which can reimburse you up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses. This includes passenger fares, tours, and hotels.

If your flight is delayed, you can be covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket. This can be a big help if you're stuck at the airport or in a hotel room.

Recommended read: Chase Sapphire Reserve Rental Car Status

Here are some of the key travel protections offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

These protections can give you peace of mind when you're traveling, and can help you cover unexpected expenses if something goes wrong.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an ultra-premium card that offers a variety of high-rate categories and exceptional rewards redemption values.

You can earn 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases, which is one of the highest dining rewards rates available. This is a great option if you frequently dine out at participating restaurants.

The card also offers 10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase, as well as 5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased through Chase. These high rewards rates make it a lucrative option for those who spend heavily in these categories.

In addition to these high-rate categories, the card also offers 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase, making it a versatile option for everyday spending.

For more insights, see: Federal Reserve Mortgage Rates Today

Here are the earning rates for the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers a 50-percent value boost when redeeming points for travel through the Chase Travel portal, making your points worth 1.5 cents each. This is a significant advantage over other credit cards that offer lower redemption values.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a significant annual fee of $550, which is one of the highest among premium travel cards.

This fee may seem daunting, but consider the valuable travel benefits that come with it. The card offers a comprehensive roster of travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage, and more.

The Sapphire Reserve also has a range of fees to be aware of, including a $75 fee for each authorized user added to the account. This can add up quickly, especially if you have family members who use the card frequently.

Here's a breakdown of the card's fees:

Overall, the fees associated with the Chase Sapphire Reserve are significant, but the card's valuable benefits and rewards may make it worth the cost for frequent travelers.

The rates and fees of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card are quite high, with an annual fee of $550, which is one of the highest you'll find among premium travel rewards cards.

This fee is actually in the middle of the top three luxury-level cards, between the Amex Platinum Card ($695 annual fee) and the Capital One Venture X ($395 annual fee).

The ongoing APR on the Sapphire Reserve card is on par with the current average interest rate, and you won't find any intro APRs or foreign transaction fees, which is a plus.

You'll also need to pay a $75 fee each time you add an authorized user to your account, which can add up quickly if you have family members who use the card often.

Explore further: Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card's APR is variable, ranging from 21.74% to 28.74%, and you'll be charged either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, for balance transfers.

Here's a breakdown of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card's rates and fees:

The $300 Annual Travel Credit is a valuable perk of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. It's automatically applied to eligible travel purchases, making it effortless to take advantage of.

You can use this credit on a wide range of travel expenses, including taxi rides, campground fees, and train fares. The credit even covers parking fees.

One great example of how this credit works is paying for a $20 Uber ride with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. The travel credit will be applied to your credit card statement right away.

This credit can be used on a variety of travel-related expenses, such as hotels, airfare, and cruises.

To get the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you'll need excellent credit, which generally means a score of 720 or better. However, credit scores alone don't guarantee approval, as income and other factors are also considered.

The credit card offers a statement credit of up to $120 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS enrollment, available once every four years. This means you'll always have a credit available when you need to renew your membership if you keep the card open.

You can use this benefit to get both TSA Precheck and Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck enrollment, saving you time and hassle at the airport.

Additional reading: Chase Sapphire Global Entry Renewal

Authorized users can be added to the account, but it's not always worth it. The annual fee for each authorized user is $75.

If you do decide to add authorized users, they'll get Priority Pass Select membership, just like the primary cardholder. This can be a great perk for travel.

However, authorized users don't get their own travel credits. Instead, travel purchases made on their cards will be reimbursed from the same $300 per year bucket as the primary card.

Authorized users also don't get their own Global Entry or TSA Pre reimbursements. Enrollment fees charged to their cards will be reimbursed, but it comes out of the same single reimbursement every 4 years as the primary card.

Some users may find that adding authorized users isn't worth the cost. But, it can be worth it to earn 3X points for travel and dining on authorized user spend.

You might like: Chase Credit Cards Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a powerful card, but it's not for everyone. If you spend a lot on travel and/or dining, it's a great choice.

To determine if it's right for you, consider your spending habits. If you're a frequent traveler, you'll appreciate the card's many perks, including the complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership and application fee credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS.

The card also offers high rewards rates and redemption values, making it a great fit for travelers. In fact, the Sapphire Reserve focuses more on providing high rewards rates and redemption values than many competing cards.

Here are some key features to consider:

If you're not a frequent traveler, you might do better with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which often has a better signup bonus. The Sapphire Preferred's annual fee is also significantly lower, at $95.

Ultimately, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth every penny if you fly often and can take advantage of its many perks. However, if you're not a frequent traveler, it might not be the best choice for you.

A unique perspective: Chase Sapphire Preferred 5x Travel

Restricting rewards can be a challenge with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The card offers competitive earn rates for dining and travel spending, but you'll only get the highest rewards rate if you make purchases through the Chase portal.

Readers also liked: Chase Sapphire Reserve Earn Points

This can significantly limit your options, as the restaurants available to you through the Chase Dining portal will depend on your location. For example, cardholders based in larger cities like New York will have more options available to them than those based in smaller areas.

To earn the card's 10x and 5x rate for travel-related spending, you'll have to book through the Chase portal, which can prove limiting compared with buying flights or renting cars directly.

If you're not an avid spender in either of the card's bonus categories, travel and dining, you won't get much use out of the card. A cash-back credit card that offers more diverse and flexible rewards options would be a better fit.

Some examples of partners you can transfer points to include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, and Southwest, but others like Aer Lingus and Iberia may not be as useful.

Consider reading: Booking Travel with Chase Sapphire Reserve

To get approved for a credit card, your credit score is a major factor. You'll need excellent credit to qualify for some cards, which generally means a score of 720 or better.

Your income and other factors will also be considered, so having a good income can help make up for a slightly lower credit score.

Additional reading: Chase Sapphire Card Credit Score

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a top-of-the-line credit card that offers excellent rewards value and luxury travel perks.

Its annual fee is $550, but it comes with a $300 travel credit and bonus rewards that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to several loyalty programs.

To earn the card's highest rewards rate, you need to make travel purchases through the Chase portal, which can be limiting.

The card's benefits, especially related to travel and upscale perks, are at least equal to or better than similar cards.

For frequent travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a good deal, even with its high annual fee.

The card offers excellent overall value for those who spend heavily on travel and dining, but if you can't take advantage of its more niche benefits, a different travel card could be a better fit.

Here are some key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a luxury card that offers a balance between rewards value and enough travel perks to make your trip smoother.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium travel card that offers a range of benefits to help you make the most of your travels. You can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The card's annual fee is $550, but it comes with a $300 annual travel credit that can be used to reimburse you for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. This credit can be a huge help in offsetting the cost of the card.

Here are some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

The card also offers a range of other benefits, including a complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, access to Chase's Sapphire Lounges in select airports, and multiple hotel and airline transfer partners.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers access to over 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide, plus every Sapphire Lounge by The Club, after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select.

You can bring up to two guests with you to any lounge, a fringe benefit that's fantastic for families or couples.

Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations include Boston, New York (LaGuardia and JFK), and Hong Kong, plus a Sapphire Terrace location in Austin.

With the card's TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS reimbursement, you can speed through security and get to those swanky lounges a little sooner.

The reimbursement is available once every four years, and membership in any of these programs is valid for up to five years.

You can also get a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee charged to your card.

The card offers a 50% bonus on points when booking travel through the Chase Travel portal, making each point worth 1.5 cents.

You can also transfer your points to Chase travel partners to boost the value of your points to about 2.0 cents per point on average.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a lot to offer, including a proprietary portfolio of Chase Sapphire Lounges in airports worldwide.

Take a look at this: Chase Sapphire Reserve Air Canada Lounges

You can earn 10X points on Chase Dining purchases and Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, and 3X points on dining and general travel.

The card also offers a variety of other benefits, including National Car Rental Executive status, discounts with Avis and Silvercar, and Elite Hotel Benefits at Relais & Châteaux.

Here are some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve's car rental insurance is a valuable benefit that can save you money and hassle. Primary rental car insurance is included, which means you don't need to file claims through your personal auto insurance policy.

This benefit is available when you use the card to pay for a rental car, and it covers up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage. Liability insurance isn't included, so you may still want to purchase liability coverage through the rental car company.

New York state residents with auto insurance policies are no longer eligible for primary coverage on rental cars, although you'll still have secondary coverage. If you live in New York but don't have a car insurance policy, you still qualify for primary rental car protection.

Here are some key details about the car rental insurance benefit:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a generous sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This bonus is worth $1,080 in travel when you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, according to Business Insider's valuations.

The card's benefits are numerous, including Priority Pass Select Lounge Membership, which grants free access to lounges for yourself and up to two guests, as well as Sapphire Lounge by The Club access. You can also use your card to access select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve include:

With your Sapphire Reserve card, you'll enjoy exclusive access to events and experiences that will make your life more exciting. You'll get priority ticketing and the best seats in the house for a wide range of events.

You can explore one-of-a-kind experiences, such as private dinners hosted by award-winning chefs or VIP access at the most sought-after events. These experiences will give you memories that will last a lifetime.

Here are some benefits you can look forward to:

You'll also enjoy comfortable seating at Chase Sapphire events in prime locations, with complimentary food and drinks, plus a range of amenities like a dining concierge, charging stations, Wi-Fi, and more.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a generous sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is a great opportunity to jump-start your points stash.

This bonus is worth $1,080 in travel when you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, according to Business Insider's valuations. However, I personally think this bonus is just average in the world of credit card welcome offers.

To be eligible for this bonus, you'll need to meet the spending requirement within the first 3 months from account opening. It's also worth noting that you won't be eligible for a new welcome bonus if you got your last Sapphire card within the past 48 months (four years).

Check this out: Reserve Accounting

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a wide range of insurance and benefits that can help protect you from unexpected expenses and inconveniences while traveling.

One of the most comprehensive credit card travel insurance plans is offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve, covering 95% of your needs, as one user has reported.

Trip Interruption/Cancellation Insurance is also available, with eligibility and benefit level varying by card. However, the exact details can be found on the American Express website.

Primary Car Rental Insurance is a valuable benefit, providing primary coverage for damage, loss, or collisions, as long as you've paid for the rental car with your Chase Sapphire Reserve.

This means you don't need to file claims through your personal auto insurance policy, saving you time and hassle.

If you're a New York state resident with an auto insurance policy, you'll no longer be eligible for primary coverage on rental cars, but you'll still have secondary coverage.

If this caught your attention, see: Chase Trip Cancellation Insurance

Lost Luggage Reimbursement is also available, covering up to $3,000 per passenger for damaged or lost bags, as long as you've paid for your tickets with the card.

This benefit has helped one user replace two separate suitcases at different times, once for a cracked shell and once for a broken telescoping handle.

Trip Delay Insurance can reimburse you up to $500 per ticket for hotel rooms, food, toiletries, clothes, or other reasonable expenses when your flight is delayed overnight or by six hours or more.

Here's a summary of the insurance and benefits offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

These benefits can help make your travels more enjoyable and less stressful, and are just one of the many reasons why the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a popular choice among travelers.

We use a comprehensive methodology to review credit cards, considering both quantitative and qualitative features. Quantitative features include fees, interest rates, rewards, and the cash value of benefits and perks.

Our team carefully evaluates the ease of application and the simplicity of the rewards structure. We also consider the likelihood of using certain features, such as travel benefits or purchase protections.

We award star ratings to each card as a general gauge of how it compares to others in its class. However, these ratings are just one consideration when choosing a credit card.

Our methodology is designed to provide a clear understanding of the value each card offers. By considering both quantitative and qualitative factors, we can help you make an informed decision about which credit card is right for you.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a top choice for frequent travelers, with a big sign-up bonus and elevated rewards on travel and dining.

With a $300 annual travel credit and lounge access, you can save hundreds of dollars on travel expenses.

This card is a good value if you'll use the travel perks and maximize the way you earn and redeem points, but if you don't travel much, you're better off with a different card.

The $550 annual fee can be steep, but if you max out the card's perks, it might be worth the cost.

This card is a good choice for frequent travelers who can recoup the annual fee through rewards and travel credits.

Worth a look: Chase Sapphire Reserve Cost