| Last updated on August 6th, 2024
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- 21.74% to 28.74% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 21.74% to 28.74% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.49% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, luxury and travel rewards come together with this upper-tier card, which offers an attractive points system and includes a lengthy list of perks for any jet setter.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 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℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- Regular Purchase APR: 21.74% to 28.74% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 21.74% to 28.74% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 29.49% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee: $550, each authorized user: $75 per year
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- You travel often and want a card that provides worldwide value
- You eat at restaurants frequently
- You plan to use rewards for travel, which provides the best value for redemption
- You want a card with no foreign transaction fees
In-Depth Review: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the go-to travel card for points. The card’s popularity is due to its extraordinary redemption value – although the lounge access and travel credits don’t hurt either.
How to Get the Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card is designed for applicants with “good” or “excellent” credit scores. You should aim for a FICO Score of 670+, though an ideal credit score target is 700+.
Application
Applying for credit cards from Chase is similar across all cards, including the Sapphire Reserve. You’ll need the following information to apply:
- Aged 18 or older
- U.S. mailing address (no PO Boxes permitted)
- SSN or ITIN
- FICO Score above 670 (good)
- Proof of income
How to Earn Rewards
Welcome Offer
The Sapphire Reserve Card comes with a signup bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after making $4,000 in purchases in the first three months. That welcome offer has a cash value of $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
This $900 bonus is one of the most lucrative introductory offers in the travel credit card space and can quickly help you reclaim the card’s steep $550 annual fee (plus $75 for each authorized user).
Earn Triple Points on Travel and Dining
One of the major selling points of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the sheer number of points the card earns in key categories. Cardholders earn 3X points on travel and dining. Those points are earnable at any restaurant worldwide.
Even better, dining, plus hotel stays and car rentals booked through the Chase Travel portal, earn an impressive 10X points per dollar spent. Cardholders also enjoy 5x total points on air travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards. Keep in mind that all these huge point categories require booking through Ultimate Rewards – still, with that potential earning rate, it’s a tough offer to pass up.
Every other purchase with the card receives a single point, with no limit to the number of points a cardholder can amass.
As with any credit card, however, there are limitations to some points categories. The 3X travel rewards, for instance, only apply after the first $300 in spending in that category each year. This is because the card also comes with a $300 travel credit each year. Of course, this isn’t a drawback, as it is a free $300 for travel, but it does bear keeping in mind.
How to Redeem Points with the Sapphire Reserve
The ability to earn points with the Reserve is excellent. The real strength of the Reserve, however, lies in the points’ value. Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the best rewards programs out there. This is partly because Chase points are worth two cents per point ($0.02/pt.), among the highest valuations. The other reason is because of the ways to redeem points.
Chase Travel is the travel portal for Chase credit cardholders. The portal allows cardholders to redeem points for a variety of awards, including:
| Statement credits | Gift cards | Travel |
| Shopping | Charitable donations | Transfers with partners |
50% Additional Redemption Value with Ultimate Rewards
Reserve Cardholders get 50% more redemption value through the Ultimate Rewards program. This extra value makes redemptions for travel or points transfers with partners even more lucrative. While Sapphire Preferred Cardholders get a 25% increase in points value, the Reserve’s 50% additional redemption value means the Reserve earns 4.5X points on travel and dining worldwide.
Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners
As mentioned, Chase also allows 1:1 point transfers to specific partners. These transfer partners provide exceptional versatility to the Ultimate Rewards program. The following airline and hotel loyalty programs offer 1:1 point transfers with Chase:
| Aer Lingus (AerClub) | Air France/KLM (Flying Blue) | Emirates (Skywards) |
| Air Canada (Aeroplan) | British Airways (Executive Club) | Iberia Plus |
| JetBlue (TrueBlue) | Southwest (Rapid Rewards) | Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer) |
| Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club) | United Airlines (MileagePlus) | IHG Rewards |
| Marriott Bonvoy | World of Hyatt |
Sapphire Reserve Benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is less of a luxury credit card than the Platinum Card from American Express. However, that doesn’t mean that the Reserve lacks those perks.
- $300 Travel Credit: Get reimbursed for up to $300 in travel purchases made with your Sapphire Reserve card each year. The first $300 in travel purchases will not earn rewards points
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Fee Credit: Receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your Sapphire Reserve card for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
- DoorDash & Caviar Benefits: Receive a complimentary DashPass membership on both DoorDash and Caviar and get a $5 monthly DoorDash credit automatically applied at checkout
Priority Pass Select membership is one of the best features of the Sapphire Reserve. This feature, a $399 value each year, allows cardholders to visit over 1,200 airport lounges – including the new Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.
Cardholders also receive a couple of excellent statement credits. First, the $300 annual travel credit previously mentioned. That credit applies to reimbursement of the first $300 in travel purchases each year. The other credit is a once-every-four-year credit towards the TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee. These services provide expedited security when flying and fast-track customs checks at airports throughout the U.S.
Visa Infinite Benefits
| Zero Fraud Liability | Cardholder Inquiry Services | Emergency Card Replacement |
| Roadside Dispatch and Auto Collision Damage Waiver | Lost/Stolen Card Reporting | ID Navigator from Norton |
| Luxury Hotel Collection | Travel & Emergency Assistance | Extended Warranty Coverage |
| Travel Accident Insurance and Delay Reimbursement | Trip Cancellation /Interruption Insurance | Return Protection |
| Visa Infinite Concierge |
Comparisons
Chase Sapphire Comparison
| Sapphire Reserve | Sapphire Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | Earn 5X on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 10X on hotels and car rentals through Ultimate Rewards, 10X on Chase Dining, 3X on all other travel purchases, 3X on dining, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 5X on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 2X on all other travel purchases, 3X on dining, 3X on groceries and streaming services, and 1X on all other purchases |
| Statement credits | $300 travel | $50 hotel |
| Annual fee | $550 | $95 |
Amex Platinum Vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Platinum Card®
Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards rate
Earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines of Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels booked thorugh AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other purchases
Earn 5X on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 10X on hotels and car rentals through Ultimate Rewards, 10X on Chase Dining, 3X on all other travel purchases, 3X on dining, and 1X on all other purchases
TSA Precheck
Yes
Yes
Lounge access
Priority Pass Select, Centurion Lounge
Priority Pass Select
Travel credits
$400/year
$300/year
Annual fee
$695
$550
| The Platinum Card® | Sapphire Reserve® | |
| Rewards rate | Earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines of Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels booked thorugh AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 5X on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 10X on hotels and car rentals through Ultimate Rewards, 10X on Chase Dining, 3X on all other travel purchases, 3X on dining, and 1X on all other purchases |
| TSA Precheck | Yes | Yes |
| Lounge access | Priority Pass Select, Centurion Lounge | Priority Pass Select |
| Travel credits | $400/year | $300/year |
| Annual fee | $695 | $550 |
What We Like About the Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve stands out thanks to its impressive features tailored to frequent travelers and dining enthusiasts. Cardholders benefit from complimentary airport lounge access, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, and exclusive perks with Lyft, DoorDash, and Instacart. Additionally, the card provides robust travel and purchase protections, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a premium travel credit card with extensive benefits and rewards.
Things to Consider
If you frequently travel and dine out and can take full advantage of the rewards program and benefits, this card may be the perfect fit for you. But if you’re a more occasional traveler or prefer a lower annual fee, you may want to explore other credit card options.
The Sapphire Reserve has a lower annual fee than the Platinum Card from American Express, but not by a whole lot. Both cards are geared towards the luxury traveler, though the Reserve is more suited to everyday use versus the Amex card. Still, you must ensure you get all your money’s worth before renewing a card like the Sapphire Reserve.
FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa Infinite, along with the answers:
What credit score do you typically need to get approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
- Chase credit cards require a good or excellent credit score to qualify.
How much are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?
- Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth one cent per point ($0.01/point). That said, Chase Sapphire cardholders enjoy even more value thanks to enhanced redemption rates through Ultimate Rewards. The Sapphire Preferred Card earns 25% more on travel, for example, or 1.25 cents per points. The Sapphire Reserve enjoys 50% more value, or 1.5 cents per point when redeeming through Chase Ultimate Rewards for travel.
Do Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?
- Chase Ultimate Rewards points won’t expire as long as your credit card account stays open and in good standing.
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?
- Chase’s 5/24 rule means that you can’t be approved for most Chase cards if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.
Does Chase Sapphire automatically increase credit limit?
- Chase will often automatically increase your credit limit about every 12 months, but an increase is never guaranteed.
Are Chase Sapphire credit cards made of metal?
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are both made out of metal.
Are Chase credit cards available everywhere?
- Chase credit, debit, and banking products are available in all 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia.
Chase Rating
How does the Sapphire Reserve Visa Infinite Card stack up? Here are a selection of expert reviews for the card, as well as an overview of JP Morgan Chase as a bank:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
4.5/5 |
3.5/5 |
2/5 |
Should You Apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card?
Travel credit cards don’t get much more comprehensive than the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Up to 10X points on travel make it a great frequent-use option; conversely, annual incentives like credits for travel-related charges and enrollment in Global Entry or TSA Precheck ensure that you’re continually getting value for the hefty $550 annual fee. Also, the Sapphire Reserve card gives you two very appealing options for redeeming your points.
Other enticing features of the Chase Sapphire Reserve include trip cancellation insurance, and auto rental collision damage protection; and lost luggage and trip delay reimbursement. While avoiding inconveniences when on holiday is always preferable, the Chase Sapphire Reserve might be your best friend if misfortune strikes.
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