The card_name is one of the top premium travel cards offering up to 10 points per dollar on travel and dining through the Chase portal, a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and a ton of other travel and purchase protections.
This card earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to hotel and airline partners or redeemed directly for flights at a rate of 1.5 cents per point.
We have a lot to cover with this card, so let’s dive right in.
card_name
- bonus_miles_full
- $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 10x Points on Hotels and Rental Cars and 5x Points on Flights Booked Through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3x Points on Dining, Takeout, & Eligible Food Delivery
- 50% More Redemption Value
- Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $550 Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
Earning Points
The card_name offers bonus points in the following categories:
- 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel;
- 10 points per dollar on dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards;
- 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025);
- 10 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases (through March 2025) of $250 or more, with a maximum of 50,000 points;
- 5 points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Travel;
- 3 points per dollar on all other travel (excluding the $300 travel credit);
- 3 points per dollar on dining purchases worldwide; and
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible spending.
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Sapphire Reserve Benefits
The card_name offers the following card benefits:
$300 Travel Credit
This travel credit is super easy to use and covers anything travel-related including airfare, hotels, Airbnbs, ride-sharing, etc.
Priority Pass Membership
Priority Pass is an airport lounge membership with 1,400+ locations all around the world. The Sapphire Reserve’s version of Priority Pass, unlike the American Express version, also gets you access to Priority Pass Restaurants, which can be a great deal considering you typically get a $28 credit plus $28 for each guest (up to 2 guests).
Trip Delay Insurance
This card offers trip delay insurance when you purchase your flight with this card.
This reimburses you for reasonable expenses things like hotels, food, transportation, and other necessary items.
Flights are increasingly delayed or canceled, and it is too risky to not use a card that offers free trip delay insurance.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance reimburses you for non-refundable expenses if your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason such as illness, severe weather, or an accidental injury when you pay for your travel expenses with this card.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Credit
This card offers a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit of up to $100 every four years.
TSA PreCheck is a membership program offering dedicated airport security lines and faster security screening (typically 5 minutes or less) at more than 200 airports across the United States and includes over 81 airlines.
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and expedited immigration upon arrival from an international trip back to the United States.
The NEXUS program is designed to facilitate expedited travel between the United States and Canada by providing pre-approved individuals with streamlined border clearance and enhanced security measures.
Roadside Assistance
If you have a roadside emergency, you can call for a tow, jumpstart, tire change, locksmith or gas. You’re covered up to $50 per incident 4 times a year. AAA charges between $50-90 annually for a similar service.
Primary Rental Car Insuance
Primary rental car insurance covers any damage to a rental car when you pay for the rental using this card.
But you still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Baggage insurance covers the cost to repair or replace your luggage and the contents inside if your bag is lost or damaged during a covered trip.
You must purchase the trip with this card, and it will also cover immediate family members traveling with you.
Baggage Delay Insurance
Baggage delay insurance can reimburse you for the cost of necessary personal and business items if (1) you purchased your trip with this card and (2) your bag is delayed by a common carrier like an airline, train, ferry, or cruise ship, etc.
Common reimbursable items include clothing, toiletries, and phone chargers, which can be a life-saver when you are without your bag.
Return Protection
You can be reimbursed for eligible items that the store won’t take back within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item, $1,000 per year.
Extended Warranty
Credit card extended warranty protection adds up to an additional year of coverage for eligible purchases on manufacturer’s warranties up to 3 years.
Coverage matches the protection provided by the original warranty so that damage or defect would have to be covered by the original warranty for extended warranty coverage.
Purchase Protection
Purchase protection can save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 120-days.
For example, if accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if it was purchased within the last 120 days.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the U.S., which is helpful if you travel internationally to help you avoid paying a 3% fee on those international purchases.
Medical Evacuation Insurance
If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.
Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
You can get free room upgrades, meals, early/late check-in, and extra amenities by booking via Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.
Benefits at Relias & Chateaux Hotels
Cardholders get a room upgrade, VIP welcome, and free breakfast at the 500+ Relias & Chateaux Hotels worldwide.
Emergency Medical and Dental Coverage
If you’re 100 miles or more from home on a trip, you can be reimbursed up to $2,500 for medical expenses if you or your immediate family member become sick or injured.
Pros and Cons of the Sapphire Reserve
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
- Very easy to use $300 travel credit
- Ability to cash out Ultimate Rewards at 1.5 cents per point
- Priority Pass airport lounge access
- Great trip and purchase protections
Cons
- Effectively a $250 annual fee after $300 travel credit
- Lack of additional credits like the Platinum Card from American Express
Alternatives to the Sapphire Reserve
Now that you know about the pros and cons of this card and its benefits, it’s time to review the alternatives.
Or, if you are like me, who loves to maximize my rewards, here are other cards you should add to your wallet in addition to this card:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) is a premium travel rewards card that’s perfect for travelers who want outstanding travel perks like annual travel credits, worldwide airport lounge access, and travel and purchase protections.
The Venture X earns 2x miles on all purchases helping you maximize every dollar of your spending. Plus, you can earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, and 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One.
The card has a $395 annual fee, completely offset by a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, and 10,000 points (worth at least $100) for each account anniversary.
Plus, you get airport lounge access via Priority Pass, Capital One, and Plaza Premium Lounges, Hertz President’s Circle elite status, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, rental car insurance, trip and luggage insurance, cell phone insurance, and purchase protection.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- bonus_miles_full
- 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
- 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
- 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
- 10% Anniversary Points Boost
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $95 Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses.
For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases.
Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit.
Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans.
The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express (review) is a great premium travel rewards card for travelers who want airport lounge access, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Escape Lounges, Priority Pass lounges.
The American Express Platinum has a $695 annual fee, but you receive many annual statement credits when you enroll your card to offset the fee, including:
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $200 Uber Cash Credit: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Benefit renews annually.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®.
You also earn 5x Membership Rewards points when booking flights directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year) and 5x Membership Rewards points when booking prepaid hotels with American Express Travel.
On top of that, you automatically earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold statuses, which offer points bonuses, room upgrades, late check-out, and other premier benefits.
Is the Sapphire Reserve Worth It?
Yes, the card_name is worth it if take advantage of the Priority Pass membership, 3x points on dining and travel, travel protections, and the ability to cash out points at 1.5 cents per point.
card_name
- bonus_miles_full
- $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 10x Points on Hotels and Rental Cars and 5x Points on Flights Booked Through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3x Points on Dining, Takeout, & Eligible Food Delivery
- 50% More Redemption Value
- Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $550 Annual Fee
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You will be auto denied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards in the past 24 months due to Chase's 5/24 Rule.
The following purchases generally qualify as dining:
- Bars
- Cafes
- Coffee shops
- Fast food restaurants
- Restaurant delivery services (e.g. UberEats or DoorDash)
- Restaurants
- Vending machines.
However, the following purchases do not generally qualify as dining: Amazon Restaurants, Bakeries, Grocery stores, and Meal kit subscriptions.
Authorized users of the Sapphire Reserve get all of the benefits with the exception of the $300 travel credit and Global Entry credit.
The annual fee for authorized users is $75.
Yes. Chase will generally let you upgrade a Sapphire Preferred to a Sapphire Reserve after 12 months. Other Ultimate Rewards cards may be able to be upgraded after 12 months by calling Chase.
The $300 annual travel credit for the Sapphire Reserve resets every account anniversary rather than per calendar year. So if you were approved on May 15th, your travel credit will reset on or around May 15th.
When you login to the Ultimate Rewards website, you should see the travel credit.
Yes. If you have another Ultimate Rewards card such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited, you can pool the points. This can be a valuable perk because the Freedom Unlimited can only redeem via the Chase Travel Portal for 1.0 cent per point, whereas the Sapphire Reserve can redeem at 1.5 cents per point.
The Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Freedom Unlimited are a good combo since the Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, whereas the Sapphire Reserve only earns 1 point per dollar on non-travel or restaurant purchases. (So you would use the Reserve on travel and dining purchases and Freedom Unlimited on your other spending).
