Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: Premium Perks and Travel Benefits with 60,000 Bonus Points

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR21.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$550
• 60,000 60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 60,000 bonus points after using your card to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * .022 base)

This card features an annual credit for travel purchases, which can offset the annual fee, plus bonus points when you sign up. You'll also get free access to tons of Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options around the world, along with access to the upcoming Chase Sapphire Lounge network.

A Luxury Travel Credit Card with Premium Rewards

Back in 2017, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offered a sky-high 100,000-point bonus. While that offer has come and (long) gone, you can now take advantage of a pretty great deal in its own right: 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for new cardholders.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is among the best travel credit cards available. Not only does it offer one of the best credit card sign-up bonuses, but the card also comes packed with a number of valuable benefits that warrant its premium price tag.

However, many people aren’t using all of the amazing Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits. Read on to discover how you can improve your travel experience and save money when you use it to its full potential.

Overview

If you’re looking to elevate your travel experience, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. When you first get approved, you’ll earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months — that’s worth $900 in travel-related spending booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and potentially more if you transfer your rewards to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners.

Right off the bat, Chase Sapphire Reserve card features a $300 annual credit for travel purchases. That means the annual fee is effectively just $250 per year for frequent travelers. You also get free access to more than 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options around the world. Those lounges usually give you free food and drinks, cleaner bathrooms, fast internet and a comfortable place to sit outside of the ruckus of an airport terminal.

Sign-Up Bonus

The Chase Sapphire Reserve sign-up bonus rewards new cardholders with 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after they spend $4,000 during the first three months of account opening. This limited-time bonus is worth $900 in travel redemptions when booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

Rewards Rate

• 10x on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase
• 5x on air travel booked through Chase
• 3x on all other travel
• 3x on dining
• Through March 2025: 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar spent on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar spent on travel)

The Sapphire Reserve rewards rate is 3x points per dollar spent on travel and dining worldwide, plus 1x point per dollar on all other purchases.

Cardholders can also earn bonus points by using the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. Hotel stays and car rentals earn 10x points when purchased through Ultimate Rewards, and air travel booked through Ultimate Rewards is worth 5x points per dollar spent. Note that this bonus rate is offered immediately after the cardholder spends $300 on travel purchases annually.

On top of that, points are worth 50% more when booking travel through Ultimate Rewards. Or you can transfer points on a 1:1 basis to 14 Chase airline and hotel transfer partners.

Additionally, cardmembers earn 3x points on worldwide travel purchases and dining, which includes takeout, dining out and select delivery services.

Related Article

Chase Travel Rewards: Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards

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Annual Fee and APR

This credit card has an annual fee of $550 each cardholder anniversary. However, if you take full advantage of travel credits, it’s like a $300 discount on the annual fee.

An annual fee is a set charge that occurs yearly. For credit cards with annual fees, the charge is applied to your account as soon as you are approved. You will see that same charge on your card anniversary. If you do not pay the annual fee in the billing statement you receive it, you will start to pay interest on it.

Additionally, the credit card issuer charges a 21.74% - 28.74% (Variable) APR based on your creditworthiness. Also known as average percentage rate, a regular APR is the interest rate you will pay on your credit card balance expressed as a yearly rate. It's important to understand that APR can fluctuate throughout the calendar year.

Benefits

If you're excited about elevating your travel experience, then the Chase Sapphire Reserve may be the premium travel card that you've been looking for. Although it charges a hefty annual fee, this credit card offers a host of travel benefits that are designed to get you through the airport as quickly and luxuriously as possible.

Annual Travel Credit

The Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit reimburses cardholders up to $300 worth of travel-related purchases. You can use this credit to book travel, pay fees and even pay taxes on award reservations. Eligible purchases are automatically wiped off of your balance through statement credits.

Global Entry, NEXUS and TSA Pre✓® Credits

The Sapphire Reserve card offers a Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® credit to cardholders of up to $100 reimbursement to cover the cost of services every four years.

Priority Pass

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a Priority Pass benefit, which allows account holders to enjoy airport lounge access with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.

Foreign Transaction Fee

What about Sapphire Reserve foreign transaction fees? Well, there are none. So make as many international purchases as you like on your next holiday.

Rental Car Insurance

Chase Sapphire Reserve carries car rental insurance, which allows you to decline the rental company’s collision insurance. As long as the rental car is paid for with the card, you can enjoy up to $75,000 in theft and collision damage for car rentals worldwide.

Pay Yourself Back

With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are travel rewards points from the card issuer Chase. They are best redeemed for travel either through the Ultimate Rewards website or transferring to travel partners. According to our points and miles valuation guide, Chase points are worth 2.2 cents each. That’s in the top tier of rewards points.

Do Chase Points Expire?

Ultimate Rewards points never expire as long as your account remains active and in good standing. When redeemed through the Chase website, you can use them for virtually any flight, hotel, rental car and other travel.

Can You Transfer Chase Points?

Chase travel rewards have their own portal so you can book just about anything directly with your Chase points. You can also transfer points to an airline or hotel partner at a 1:1 ratio. That means one Chase point is worth one United mile, one Marriott point or one point in any of the participating programs.

Chase Ecosystem

Another benefit to consider is that the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a vital part of what many people think of as the "Chase Ecosystem." This refers to a number of credit cards offered by Chase that feature reward points that can be combined.

For example, when you have the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you can earn 5x points per dollar for purchases from select retailers and merchant categories. By itself, the rewards that you earn from the Chase Freedom are worth just 1 cent each. But when you also have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, then you can combine those rewards and redeem them for 1.5 cents each for travel reservations.

Related Article

Review of the Chase Freedom Flex: 5% Back on Rotating Categories and a $200 Bonus

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Redeeming and Transferring Sapphire Reserve Points

Points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel center. There, points are worth 50% more than their cash value. But they can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. When you're able to redeem these rewards for premium class international flights or hotel reservations during peak season, then it's often possible to realize several cents in value per point redeemed.

For example, it's not uncommon to redeem 15,000 points for a free night in a Hyatt hotel that costs several hundred dollars a night. Or, you can transfer 150,000 points to frequent flyer miles, which you can redeem for a round-trip business class ticket to Europe that would have cost over $5,000.

How To Transfer Chase Sapphire Points to Chase Travel Partners

The very best value and use for points usually comes from moving your Chase points to a transfer partner. Don’t move a point until you have a plan to use the resulting miles or points. Keeping them in the bank at Chase is the best strategy until you’re ready to book.

Chase Ultimate Rewards gives you access to all of the three big airline alliances. For example, you could use British Airways points to book flights on American Airlines. Thankfully, all points transfer to partners in a 1:1 ratio, and most transfers are instantaneous once confirmed. However, Singapore Airlines tend to take up to a day, and Marriott Bonvoy can take up to two days.

Airline partners include

Hotel partners include

World of Hyatt
IHG Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy

Hotel partners include mega-brands Hyatt, IHG and Marriott. Marriott has the biggest list of properties of any hotel chain in the world. The Hyatt program has gained popularity since Marriott launched its new Bonvoy program, however. IHG also offers a large list of popular and luxury brands. In fact, Chase offers a fee-free IHG co-branded card that offers great value and a big signup bonus for a no-annual-fee credit car.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great card for those who are just getting started earning travel rewards, and the Sapphire Preferred continues to be a solid choice for all but the most frequent travelers and hardcore award travel enthusiasts.

Even though the Chase Sapphire Preferred has some similar benefits, there are some important differences between these two credit cards. The Sapphire Preferred has a more affordable annual fee, but because of the cheaper price tag, it does not offer as many travel benefits that the Reserve does.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns fewer points per dollar spent on purchases, and it also does not offer TSA or Global Entry credits or travel reimbursement credits. Similarly, Chase Sapphire Preferred does not provide cardholders the coveted Priority Pass membership. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Bottom Line

Even with an annual fee of $550, the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve justify the cost. Not only are you earning 3x points per dollar on travel and dining, but the points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel. Plus, the annual $300 annual travel credit reduces the net cost of the card to $250.

A Top Card for Travel

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Rates & Fees

First Things to Do With Your Chase Sapphire Reserve

Although there are automatic benefits from the Chase Sapphire Reserve, some require activation before they start working. And there are several other perks that you should be aware of so you can really maximize your rewards credit card.

1. Activate Priority Pass Select Membership

Airport lounge access provides a way to get away from the terminal and enjoy complimentary drinks, snacks, WiFi, and more. A Priority Pass Select membership allows you to visit over 1,000 airport lounges for free with two guests. Additional guests are $27 each. But, before you can enjoy the Sapphire Reserve lounge access, you need to call Chase customer service to activate your membership.

2. Apply for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓®

Global Entry, NEXUS and TSA Pre✓® are government programs that speed you through customs and airport security, respectively. When you charge your application fees to your credit card, you are automatically reimbursed with a statement credit up to $100. This benefit can be used once every four years. If you already have an active membership, you can pay for a friend or family member's application fee instead.

The Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® credit is essentially a $25 annual credit, since it's awarded every four years.

3. Use Your $300 Annual Travel Credit

Each calendar year, your annual travel credit resets. Eligible purchases include flights, hotel reservations, taxis and rideshare, transit and subways and other purchases coded as travel. Taxes and fees on award reservations also count as travel purchases.

If you haven't used your Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit by the end of December, book prepaid travel into the next year. This credit needs to be spent each calendar year, but your travel can be in the future.

Keep in mind that you will not earn bonus points on the first $300 in travel-related expenses covered by this credit. Once the annual travel credit is used up, all additional travel purchases earn 3x points per dollar.

4. Book Hotels with The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection

The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection offers exclusive benefits at participating hotels around the world. There are over 1,000 luxury hotels, resorts, lodges, and spas to choose from. You'll receive daily breakfast for two, a unique amenity, Wi-Fi and a room upgrade, if available. Plus, early check-in and check-out are also complimentary if your room is available.

6. Make Chase Sapphire Reserve Primary Payment Method

To ensure that you maximize your rewards and receive statement credits, ensure that your Sapphire Reserve is set as the default payment wherever you plan to use it.

7. Sign Up for Rental Car Insurance Elite Status

Not only will you earn 10x points on rental car reservations with the Sapphire Reserve when booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, but you can save money and receive elite status as well.

National Car Rental provides complimentary Emerald Club Executive Level status. With this status, you can choose any car from the Emerald or Executive aisles. Plus, you will save up to 25% on qualifying rentals with code 5030849.

Avis gives Preferred status to cardholders, which allows you to earn 75% more points on each reservation. When you use your card and AWD code S107100 to book your car, you'll receive a 30% discount.

Cardmembers save 30% off Silvercar rentals as part of the Visa Infinite benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

8. Link Your Card for Extra Rewards

Several third-party apps allow you to stack the rewards earned with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

The Dosh cash-back app earns cash back at participating dining and retail locations. Plus, you can save up to 40% hotel reservations booked through its app. With Rewards Network, you can choose to earn cash back with iDine or airline miles from seven different airlines.

You can stack these programs to triple-dip and earn points, miles and cash back on your purchases. You'll earn points from your card, cash back from Dosh and cash back or airline miles from Rewards Dining.

9. Shop Online With the Chase Rewards Portal

Shopping through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal is a way to earn points from your credit card and additional points from the shopping portal. Many of your favorite online stores are available, including Nike, Sephora, Macy's and The Home Depot.

10. Transfer Points for Extra Value

If you have other credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, transfer those points to the Chase Sapphire Reserve. There are no fees to transfer points between accounts and points transfer immediately.

11. Add Authorized Users

Spending by authorized users helps you accumulate Ultimate Rewards points faster. Sapphire Reserve authorized users earn points at the same rate as the primary cardholder and are $75 per person each year. Authorized users receive their own Priority Pass Select membership, primary rental car insurance and all other travel protections afforded to the primary cardmember.

12. Use the Travel Insurance Benefits

When booking travel with your credit card, you're automatically covered with certain travel insurance protections. Trip interruption and cancellation insurance covers up to $20,000 in prepaid travel expenses in case of illness, severe weather and other covered situations. If your flight is delayed more than six hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses up to $500.

The primary auto rental collision damage waiver covers the rental car in case of theft or collision damage to the car. Lost luggage reimbursement covers you for up to $3,000 per passenger for luggage that is lost or damaged by the carrier.

By paying the taxes and fees on award reservations, you'll receive the same travel benefits as if you paid the full transaction on the card.

13. Enjoy Purchase Protection Benefits

You can shop with confidence knowing that the Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits have you covered. Purchase protection covers new purchases against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year for 120 days from the date of purchase.

With return protection, the purchase protection benefit reimburses you for eligible items the store won't take back within 90 days of purchase. This benefit is good up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year. Your item's manufacturer's warranty is extended up to an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.