Welcome bonuses can be a great way to quickly earn lots of points, but opening a card when it is near its highest level is important. Below is a history of the welcome bonus for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, including when we recommend applying for the card.
Full Review: Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Current Welcome Bonus
The Chase Sapphire Reserve currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Best Ever Welcome Bonus for the Sapphire Reserve
The best-ever bonus for the Chase Sapphire Reserve was when it launched in 2016 with a huge offer of 100,000 bonus points.
Welcome Bonus History
Below is the history of the welcome bonus for the Sapphire Reserve before the current welcome bonus.
| Approximate Date | Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|
| May 2024 to June 2024 | Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. |
| January 2024 to May 2024 | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. |
| October 2022 to December 2023 | Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. |
| June 2022 to October 2022 | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. |
| October 2021 to June 2022 | Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. |
| June 2021 to October 2021 | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. |
| March 2017 to June 2021 | Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. |
| August 2016 to March 2017 | Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. |
When to Apply for the Sapphire Reserve?
You should apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve when the welcome offer is at least 75,000 points.
The all-time high launch bonus of 100,000 points hasn’t returned since 2017, and it is unlikely to return unless Chase re-launches a revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Earning Points with Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a powerhouse when it comes to earning rewards points, particularly in the travel and dining categories. Here’s a breakdown of the bonus points you can earn:
Card Benefits of Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers the following benefits: Annual Credits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers up to $300 in automatic statement credits for travel purchases each year. This credit applies to a wide range of travel expenses including flights, hotels, rideshares, parking, and more, making it incredibly easy to use without any registration required. Hotel Credits: You can earn up to $500 annually in hotel booking credits when you book through The Edit by Chase Travel. These credits are distributed as $250 every six months and require minimum two-night stays with pay-now bookings at luxury properties. Dining Credits: The card provides up to $300 yearly in dining statement credits at select restaurants in major cities. You receive $150 credits twice per year, though the participating restaurant list is limited to specific establishments in key metropolitan areas. Entertainment Credits: You’ll get up to $300 in annual credits for concert and event tickets through StubHub and Viagogo. The credits are split into $150 amounts every six months, making it easy to cover entertainment expenses for shows and sporting events. DoorDash Benefits: Cardholders receive up to $300 in annual DoorDash credits plus a complimentary DashPass membership worth up to $120 per year. The monthly credits include $5 for restaurant orders and two $10 credits for groceries and retail purchases. Apple Services: You can get complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions valued at up to $250 annually. This benefit covers both streaming services and remains active through June 2027 with proper activation. Lyft Credits: The card offers up to $120 in annual Lyft credits distributed as $10 monthly credits. These credits apply to various ride types, including Standard, Extra Comfort, XL, Black, and Black SUV options. Lounge Access: Cardholders enjoy Priority Pass membership with access to over 1,700 lounges worldwide, plus two complimentary guests per visit. You’ll also get unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges and select Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges when flying Star Alliance airlines. IHG Status: You automatically receive IHG One Rewards Platinum elite status through December 2027. This status includes 60% bonus points on stays, complimentary room upgrades when available, early check-in, and late checkout privileges. Enhanced Benefits: After spending $75,000 annually, you unlock additional perks including IHG Diamond status, Southwest A-List status, a $500 Southwest flight credit, and $250 in credits for The Shops at Chase marketplace. Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / Nexus Credit: Receive an application fee credit of up to $120 every four years for either TSA PreCheck (expedited airport security), Global Entry (expedited airport security and customs), or NEXUS (expedited crossing between the US and Canada)for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®. These trusted traveler programs can save you time and hassle at the airport. No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose. Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first. Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation. Primary Rental Car Insurance: When you rent a car and pay with this card, you’ll receive comprehensive coverage including damage and theft protection. Simply decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver and charge the entire rental to your card to activate coverage. This insurance covers damage, theft, and valid loss-of-use charges worldwide. Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card. Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive. Roadside Dispatch: Get access to 24/7 emergency roadside assistance for situations like dead batteries, flat tires, fuel delivery, and mechanical breakdowns. While you’ll need to pay for the actual service provided, having access to reliable help when stranded can be invaluable. 120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card. Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans. Return Protection allows cardholders to receive a refund for purchased items within a certain timeframe for items that merchants may not accept for return.
Travel Benefits
Purchase Benefits
Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
When you’re looking to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards points from the Sapphire Reserve, your best strategy is transferring points to Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. This approach consistently delivers the highest value, especially for international flights and premium bookings. The airline partners span multiple alliances, giving you extensive routing options. You can transfer to British Airways Executive Club for short-haul regional flights, Air Canada Aeroplan for excellent North American and international availability, or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer for premium Asian routes. Other valuable partners include Air France-KLM Flying Blue, United MileagePlus for domestic travel, Southwest Rapid Rewards for no-blackout flights, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for competitive transatlantic business class, and Emirates Skywards for their premium Middle East network. For hotels, you have three solid options. World of Hyatt consistently offers excellent redemption values, especially at luxury properties where cash rates exceed $400-500 per night. IHG One Rewards covers a massive global network with reasonable rates, while Marriott Bonvoy provides the largest hotel portfolio worldwide. Chase’s travel portal has become less attractive since recent changes. While Chase markets redemptions “up to 2 cents per point,” this enhanced rate only applies to premium airfare and luxury hotels through The Edit collection. For everyday economy flights and standard hotels, you’ll get just 1 cent per point after October 2027 – a significant decrease from the previous consistent 1.5 cents per point. The enhanced portal rates primarily benefit high-spending travelers booking expensive premium cabins and luxury properties, making partner transfers the smarter choice for most people.
Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
Aer Lingus
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air France/KLM
British Airways
Emirates
Hyatt Hotels
Iberia
IHG Hotels
JetBlue
Marriott
Singapore
Southwest
United
Virgin Atlantic
