Travelers with excellent credit may find the compelling due to its numerous premium travel perks, including high earning and redemption rates, lounge access, concierge services and an annual travel credit.
MoneyGeek’s Take
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review
Updated: July 19, 2024
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WHY WE GEEK OUT
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® shines in the travel and dining rewards department, offering exceptional point rewards through Chase Travel℠ and increased redemption value for travel. The substantial sign-up bonus, exclusive luxury travel perks, protections for travel and purchases, and an annual travel credit add to its appeal for frequent travelers. However, it comes with a notably high annual fee, which may be a deal-breaker if you know you won't get the full value out of the card's many premium benefits.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Overview
The Chase Sapphire Reserve delivers a ton of value for its high annual fee of $550. It offers frequent travelers and spenders an attractive rewards rate on dining, travel, and general purchases, with an especially lucrative welcome offer and luxury travel perks. Here are the key details:
Rewards rate: 10X points on hotels and rental cars purchased through Chase Travel℠. 5X points on flights through Chase Travel℠. 3X points on general travel and restaurants. All travel rewards rates apply only after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. 1X points on general purchases
Welcome bonus offer: 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℠.
Regular APR: 22.49% - 29.49% (variable)
Annual fee: $550
Intro APR offer: None
Flexible redemption: Redeem points for travel, cash back, gift cards or merchandise. No expiration dates, points limits or blackout dates
Bonus redemption: 50% bonus on travel rewards redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Annual travel credit: $300
Additional travel perks: Up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee, airport lounge access through Priority Pass Select membership, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage and primary rental car insurance
Additional memberships: Complimentary Lyft Pink membership (if activated using your card by Dec 31, 2024), Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (if activated using your card by March 2025)
Key Takeaways
Exceptional point rewards for dining and travel through Chase Travel℠
Boosted redemption value for travel
Substantial signup bonus
Exclusive luxury perks for travelers
Travel and purchase protection
Annual travel credit
Cons
High annual fee
No introductory APR period
High variable APR
Important Card Details
When evaluating this card, it's crucial to weight the substantial rewards rate and premium travel benefits against the hefty annual fee and the likelihood that you'll actually reap all the benefits.
Lucrative Rewards
This card's rewards structure is highly advantageous for frequent travelers and those who dine out often, offering an impressive 10X points on Chase Dining, hotels, and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠. Additional rewards such as 5X points on air travel through Chase Travel℠ (after a $300 travel credit), 3X points on general travel and restaurant purchases, and 1X points on all other spending further enhance its appeal, providing broad opportunities to accumulate points across a range of spending categories. All travel rewards rates apply only after earning the $300 travel credit each year.
High Annual Fee
The substantial $550 annual fee and an extra $75 for each additional user are significant considerations with this card, marking it as a premium offering in the credit card market. These fees underscore the importance of fully utilizing the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s high-end rewards and benefits to ensure they outweigh the costs and offer meaningful value to the cardholder.
Solid Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠ is a competitive proposition within the premium travel credit card sector, providing a substantial head-start for new cardholders to accrue points. Given that these points could potentially translate to high-value travel rewards or statement credits, this welcome offer adds significant upfront value to the card.
Premium Travel Benefits
This card's suite of premium travel benefits positions it as a standout option for frequent travelers, offering notable features such as statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership granting access to VIP airport lounges worldwide, and unique amenities via the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection. Enhancing its value, the card includes comprehensive travel insurances, and also offers exclusive dining experiences with Reserved by Sapphire, which helps cardholders secure reservations at some of the nation's top-rated restaurants.
How the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Compares
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers travelers some of the best perks and rewards in exchange for its sizable annual fee. Travelers with excellent credit can use the card to maximize their points and ensure maximum comfort during their trips. However, comparing it with another card can help you determine if it’s the best card for your wallet.
How This Card Compares
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
- Rewards rate: 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠, 5X points on air travel through Chase Travel℠ (after earning your $300 travel credit), 3X points on general travel and restaurant purchases, 1X points on all other spending
- Welcome offer: 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℠.
- Regular APR: 22.49% to 29.49% (variable)
- Annual fee: $550
- Intro APR offer: None
- Best for: frequent travelers seeking luxury
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Rewards rate: 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines and flights or prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 in spending per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through Amex Travel and 1X points on all eligible purchases.
- Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months
- Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR See Rates and Fees
- Annual fee: $695 See Rates and Fees
- Intro APR offer: None
- Terms Apply
- See Rates and Fees
- Best for: big spenders on travel
About Grace Pilling
Grace Pilling was the Senior Content Manager for Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. She previously led personal finance teams at Bankrate, CreditCards.com and MoneyUnder30.
Pilling has a bachelor's degree in English from Western Sydney University and a diploma in book editing, proofreading and publishing. She is focused on empowering readers to make informed financial choices that support their best lives, not a company’s bottom line.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.