Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card Benefits & Review for 2024

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Despite its $550 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is among the most popular travel-focused credit cards. The card features a multitude of benefits, including up to a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, up to $100 application fee credit every four years (Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®), 10x points on Lyft rides, and primary rental car insurance.

It earns a minimum of 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel (after spending $300 on travel annually) and dining with most other purchases earning 1x points. Each point is worth 1.5 cents per point when booking travel through the Chase portal. Points are worth as much as 2 cents per point when transferred to partner hotels and airlines.

While there is a lot to like about the Chase Sapphire Reserve, it is not the right credit card for everyone. The card originally came with a 100,000-point new account bonus, which has been decreased to a still-solid 60,000 points (minimum $600 value). You must spend $4,000 within the first three months of being approved for the card to earn the bonus.

Regardless of the annual fee increase and a smaller bonus, the Sapphire Reserve may be the perfect card for you.

Benefits at a Glance

– Annual Fee: $550 – Current Bonus: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 Ultimate Rewards® – 10x Points on Hotels/Car Rentals booked through Ultimate Rewards (after spending $300 on travel annually) – 5x Points on Flights booked through Ultimate Rewards (after spending $300 on travel annually) – 3x Points on All Other Travel (after spending $300 on travel annually) – 10x Points on Chase Dining purchased through Ultimate Rewards – 3x Points on All Other Dining – 10x Points on Lyft (through March 2025) – Up to $300 Annual Travel Credit – Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Reimbursement (every four years) – $5 Monthly DoorDash Credit (while enrolled in DashPass through 12/31/2024) – Free DashPass Membership for One Year: Activate by 12/31/2024 – 1 Year complimentary Instacart+ Membership (enroll by 7/31/2024) – Free Two-Year Lyft Pink Membership (activate by 12/20/2024) – Primary Rental Car Insurance – Variety of Travel Insurance Options – Authorized User Fee: $75 Per Year

Who is the Chase Sapphire Reserve For?

The ideal Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder is someone who travels and eats out enough to justify the annual fee. As discussed above, cardholders earn a minimum of 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining, which can be redeemed for as much as 2 cents per point or more. Additionally, the card includes a variety of travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay insurance.

While the $550 annual fee may seem steep, it is offset by a few credits. The first is the $300 annual travel credit. This credit is easy to use and usually appears instantly in your account. Using this credit essentially drops the annual fee down to $250 ($550 – $300 = $250).

If you are eligible for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS reimbursement (once every four years), that reduces the annual fee further in a given year. The 60,000 point bonus is also worth a minimum of $600 in cash ($900 when redeeming travel via Chase), which wipes out the annual fee entirely for the first year when using the other credits.

Featured Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve includes a ton of benefits, here are our top picks.

$300 Annual Travel Credit

The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s most important benefit is its $300 annual travel credit. The credit reimburses cardholders for the first $300 spent on travel every single year. You do not have to opt-in to receive the credit, and it usually appears on your online statement after a travel transaction posts. Please note, the first $300 spent on travel in a year will not earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. After the first $300 is spent, cardholders will then earn a minimum of 3x points per dollar spent on travel.

See our full tutorial: How to Use The Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 Annual Travel Credit.

Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS – Up to $100 Application Fee Reimbursement

One of our favorite features of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. The credit can be used once every four years, and it instantly appears in your online account after paying the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. Those applying for Global Entry will receive a $100 credit. Those applying for TSA PreCheck will receive an $85 credit. Finally, those applying for NEXUS will receive a $50 credit.

We value this benefit at $25 per year since it can only be used once every four years. See our article on the best credit cards offering Global Entry and TSA PreCheck reimbursement.

Free Airport Lounge Access via Priority Pass

All Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive a free Priority Pass membership. Upon activation, members and up to two guests (this is the advertised number of allowed guests, but we have seen higher numbers) have access to over 1,300 airport lounges around the world, including Chase Sapphire Lounges.

Lounges vary by location, with some looking like traditional lounges while others are restaurants or bars. Amenities may include free Wi-Fi, daybed sofas with pillows, televisions, air conditioning, food, and drinks. Additional guests ($27 per guest) and additional time in the lounge will be billed to your Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Some lounges provide free food and drink credits for you and your guests.

If you want to take advantage of Priority Pass and its many lounges, you must enroll within your Chase account. Enrollment is simple and you will receive your physical Priority Pass card within a few weeks. We recommend downloading the Priority Pass app so you can search for lounges and benefits as well as gain access to a digital membership card.

For the average traveler, we value this benefit at $200 per year, but it can be worth much more for the frequent traveler.

Further Reading: Best Credit Cards Offering Airport Lounge Access

Primary Rental Car Insurance

One of the most underrated benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the free Primary Rental Car Insurance. Also known as Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), this insurance protects you for up to $75,000 if your rental car is damaged or stolen. To activate coverage, simply pay for your rental car with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver.

Unlike many other credit cards, which simply offer secondary coverage, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s primary coverage can save you thousands of dollars in the event of theft or damage to your rental car. With primary coverage, you file a claim with Chase before your own insurance company. With secondary coverage, you still always have to file a claim with your own insurance company. Coverage is valid for car rentals 31 days or shorter.

While this coverage will cover your rental car, you still have to use your personal liability insurance in the event you get into an accident with another driver. Coverage is valid for the cardholder and any additional drivers on the rental agreement.

Many car rental companies charge up to $40 per day for Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). The fact that Chase provides this for free to Sapphire Reserve cardholders is a huge benefit for those who frequently rent cars. We value this benefit at $250 per year for the average traveler. Those traveling more can potentially save thousands if they would otherwise buy CDW from the car rental company.

Further Reading: Best Credit Cards for Car Rentals

60,000 Point New Account Bonus

The Sapphire Reserve’s current welcome bonus is a solid 60,000 points. You can earn this bonus by spending $4,000 in the first three months after your approval date. You can keep track of how close you are to reaching the bonus in the Rewards Activity section within your Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Here is how much this bonus may be worth depending on how you redeem it.

• Cash – $600
• Pay Your Self Back Program – Up to $900
• Travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal – $900
• Transfer to a Chase Partner Hotel or Airline – $1,200 or more depending on the redemption

As you can see, we never recommend taking the cash redemption. You should aim to redeem for at least a $900 value. The Pay Yourself Back Program and booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal both offer 1.5 cents per point (50% more value). To earn a $1,200 value, you will likely have to transfer to one of Chase’s top partners, such as Hyatt.

To be eligible for the bonus, you must meet the following requirements.

• You must not currently have a Sapphire card
• You must not have received a Sapphire bonus in the previous 48 months.
• You cannot receive the bonus if you do a product change from another Sapphire card.

Pay Yourself Back Program (Points Are Worth Up to 50% More)

The Pay Yourself Back program allows cardholders to redeem Ultimate Rewards Points for 1.5 cents per point for purchases at select charities in the past 90 days. For example, a $40 purchase would only require 2,666 points instead of 4,000 points. Select charities are the only category eligible for the 50% extra redemption rate. Select charity purchases are eligible through December 31, 2023.

Chase recently changed this feature for other categories. Gas station purchases, grocery store purchases, and the annual membership fee paid for in the past 90 days can now be paid back at 25% more value. After redeeming, you will receive a statement credit within a few business days for the full amount. Gas station purchases, grocery store purchases, and the annual membership fee are eligible through June 30, 2023.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Benefits

In addition to the benefits discussed above, here are more Chase Sapphire Reserve travel benefits

3X Points on Travel Purchases

Cardholders earn 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on all purchases that code as travel. As previously mentioned, you will not earn 3x rewards points on your first $300 spent on travel. This is because the first $300 goes directly toward your annual travel credit.

After spending $300 on travel annually, you can expect to earn 3x points on the following purchases.

• Hotels & Motels
• Airbnb
• Airlines (tickets, seat upgrades, bags)
• Car Rental Agencies
• Travel Agencies & Discount Travel Sites
• Cruises
• Campgrounds
• Timeshares
• Parking Lots & Parking Garages
• Toll Bridges, Highways, & Tunnels
• Car Services (including Buses, Taxis, Lyft, and Uber)
• Trains

The good news is Chase has a very broad definition of what counts as travel. The bad news is sometimes merchants do not code purchases correctly. For example, Vrbo generally codes its transactions as Real Estate or Professional Services. If this happens to you, you will not receive a travel credit or 3x rewards points. We recommend contacting Chase for a points adjustment, but they will not always agree to it.

The 3x points per dollar spent on travel can be worth anywhere from 3 cents to 6 cents depending on how you redeem. For example, booking travel through Chase makes the redemption of 3x points worth 4.5 cents (or 1.5 cents per point).

Earn up to 10x Points Booking Travel Through Ultimate Rewards

Cardholders now earn 10x points per dollar spent (after spending $300 on travel annually) when booking hotel stays and car rentals through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal. While 10x points per dollar spent is very generous, there is a drawback. Since you are not booking directly with the hotel or rental car agency, you may not be eligible for elite status benefits.

Cardholders also earn 5x points per dollar spent (after spending $300 on travel annually) when booking flights via the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal. While that is an improvement from 3x points, there are drawbacks to booking flights through Ultimate Rewards as opposed to directly with the airline. One such drawback is you do not get to deal directly with the airline’s customer service in the event you need to change or cancel your flight.

Points Are Worth 50% More (or 1.5 cents per point) When Redeeming Through Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal

One of the best things about the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the ability to redeem travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Points are worth 50% more (or 1.5 cents) when booking flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises directly with Chase. For example, if you have 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you will have $1,500 in value when booking travel. There are no blackout dates or restrictions.

That means 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent earned on travel and dining are worth 4.5 cents (1.5 cents per point) if you decide to redeem them via the portal. Compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, where points are worth 25% more, or 1.25 cents per point, the Sapphire Reserve provides the highest value out of all of the Chase personal credit cards.

1:1 Point Transfer to 10 Airlines and 3 Hotels

Chase allows you to potentially get even more out of your points by offering a 1:1 point transfer to 11 airlines and 3 hotels. Depending on the transfer partner, this may be a better option than booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. For example, Hyatt points may be worth as much as 2 cents per point depending on the time of year, the location, and the room.

Transferring directly to airlines and hotels also allows you to gain status for even more benefits. Please note, you must have a minimum of 1,000 points to transfer. Here are Chase’s current transfer partners

Airlines	Hotels
AerClub (Aer Lingus)	IHG® One Rewards
Air Canada Aeroplan	Marriott Bonvoy™
British Airways Executive Club	World of Hyatt®
Emirates Skywards®
Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
Iberia Plus
JetBlue TrueBlue
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
United MileagePlus®
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

To transfer points to a Chase partner, you must register for the airline or hotel’s loyalty or rewards program. Remember, transferring to a partner allows you to gain status and special benefits at the airline or hotel in question. If you book through the Chase portal, you will not receive the same benefits.

Further reading: Best Hotel Credit Cards and Best Airline Credit Cards

Special Hotel Benefits

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders enjoy special benefits at a variety of different hotels. To receive the benefits, you must book with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

sbe Hotels

Since it is a luxury brand, you will only find sbe hotels in a few cities. Regardless, here are the benefits you will receive as a Sapphire Reserve cardholder.

• Free Upgrades – One level room upgrade
• Food Voucher – $30 credit per room
• Free Breakfast – Two people per room
• Free Room – 4th night is free when booking at least four nights
• Late Check-out – When available

See the sbe hotels portal to find eligible locations. Brands include SLS, Delano, Mondrian, The House of Originals, Hyde, and The Redbury.

Relais & Châteaux Hotels

As another luxury brand, you will not find Relais & Châteaux hotels everywhere. While it is a smaller chain, there are locations in over 60 countries. Here are a few benefits Sapphire Reserve cardholders enjoy.

• VIP Welcome
• Complimentary Breakfast

For details on locations, see the official website.

The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection

Sapphire Reserve cardholders can enjoy special benefits at over 1,000 luxury hotels as a part of the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. All of the properties are reservation-only, and you must use your Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card as payment upon check-out. Points are not accepted as payment. Here are some of the benefits for cardholders only.

• Free Room Upgrade – When available
• Free Breakfast – Two people per room
• Complimentary WiFi
• Early Check-In and Late Check-Out – When available
• Special Unique Benefit – Different for each property

Examples of special unique benefits include spa treatment credits, resort credits, and free bottles of wine.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Dining Benefits

In addition to the benefits discussed above, here are more Chase Sapphire Reserve dining benefits

3X Points on Dining Purchases

Cardholders earn 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on all purchases that code as Food & Drink. Chase has a very broad definition of dining, so anything from fine dining establishments to fast-food restaurants usually counts.

Some restaurants do not properly code their transactions, so you should regularly check your statement. Moe’s Southwest Grill, for example, recently coded as “Caterers” for me. While Moe’s does catering, it is also a fast-casual restaurant. After contacting Chase, I was awarded the full 3x rewards points.

The 3x points per dollar spent on dining can be worth anywhere from 3 cents to 6 cents depending on how you redeem. If you redeem the 3 points for cash, each point is only worth 1 cent. The 3x points earned per dollar spent on dining is equal to what the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, and the Chase Freedom Flex℠ earn.

Further Reading: Chase Freedom Unlimited Benefits and Chase Freedom Flex Benefits.

Free DoorDash DashPass Subscription + $5 Monthly DoorDash Credit

Cardholders are eligible for a free one-year DashPass subscription (activate by December 31, 2024). This provides free delivery (for orders of $12 or more) when using DoorDash or Caviar, and it is valued at over $100 per year. The subscription period begins the day you activate the membership, and it is valid for you and any authorized users. To activate, simply add your Chase Sapphire Reserve card information in the app for either DoorDash or Caviar. You will then be prompted to begin your free subscription.

Cardholders are now eligible for a $5 per month DoorDash credit. See our guide on How to Use the Chase Sapphire Reserve DoorDash Credit. The credit comes at the beginning of each month and expires after three months.

Earn 10x Points on Chase Dining Purchases

Earn 10x Ultimate Rewards Points when using Chase dining. This is excellent value, and it is not easy to earn this many points on dining with a credit card. Valid for takeout and prepaid reservations.

Instacart+ Free Membership for 1 Year and $15 Monthly Statement Credit

Cardholders are entitled to one year of free Instacart+. Enroll by 7/31/2024 to enjoy membership benefits such as free delivery and discounted service fees for orders over $35.

Additionally, cardholders can earn up to $15 per month in Instacart statement credits after signing up for the complimentary Instacart+ membership. This benefit is available through July 2024.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Rideshare & Car Rental Benefits

Car rentals and rideshare services are an essential part of travel these days. The Chase Sapphire Reserve shines in this area and offers an assortment of benefits and ways to save.

10X Points on Lyft Rides + Free Lyft Pink Membership

With the 10x Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft rides through March of 2025, Chase is making it difficult for Sapphire Reserve cardholders to use Uber. Usually, cardholders earn 3x points on Lyft rides since it codes as travel. Cardholders continue to earn 3x points on Uber and other rideshare services, but Lyft is the clear winner here.

The value of this benefit is going to depend on how often you use rideshare services. Those living in urban areas should see a much greater benefit than those living in more rural areas.

Additionally, cardholders are eligible for two years of Lyft Pink when activated by Dec 31, 2024.

Car Rental Discounts and Status

In addition to primary rental car insurance, the Sapphire Reserve provides discounts and status for a few major car rental companies.

National Car Rental

Cardholders enjoy savings of 25% on qualifying rentals with code 5030849. Additionally, you can enroll in a complimentary Emerald Club Executive Level membership to enjoy free upgrades and other perks.

While the status and discounts are great, we find National usually still has higher prices than competitors. Regardless, National is a reliable rental car company, so we recommend enrolling in the Emerald Club Executive Level membership and checking the rates before each rental.

Avis Car Rental

Cardholders enjoy savings of 30% on qualifying rentals with Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) Number S107100. Additionally, cardholders can enroll in a complimentary Avis Preferred membership for special benefits and upgrades. Qualifying vehicles are also eligible for a complimentary two-day weekend rental.

Compared to National, Avis usually has lower prices on similar vehicles.

Silvercar by Audi

Silvercar is a car rental service featuring premium Audi vehicles. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive up to 30% off on select rentals. This is a great deal if you are in the market for a premium rental. Otherwise, stick with Avis or National for the best possible deal.

Further reading: Best Websites to Book Cheap Car Rentals

Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance Benefits

Traveling is financially risky, and there is always a chance your flight is canceled or your airline loses a bag. Additionally, accidents happen, and it is always better to be covered before departing for your trip. One of the best features of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the assortment of travel insurance benefits and other protections.

The following is just an outline of all of the various trip protections and insurance options. You should read Chase’s Guide to Benefits for complete information before filing any claim. In many cases, these benefits will only kick in after any travel insurance that you have purchased provides payment. We recommend charging your entire trip to your Sapphire Reserve card so you can take advantage of the following benefits.

Further reading: Best Credit Cards Offering Travel Insurance

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

Cardholders can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person or up to $20,000 for the entire trip in the event it is canceled or interrupted for covered reasons. The maximum benefit amount for 12 months is $40,000. A few covered reasons include illness, terrorism, jury duty, and a natural disaster, such as a hurricane.

As the name implies, trip cancellation insurance comes into play when a covered event prevents the trip from happening. Trip interruption insurance comes into play when a covered event happens on the way to departure or after departure has taken place. It may also cover fees incurred if a trip is postponed.

Benefits are paid for non-refundable and pre-paid travel expenses, and only the cardholder and immediate family members are covered. Benefits are in excess of any travel insurance purchased. Since you are unlikely to use this benefit often, we value it between $0 and $1,000.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

Trip delay reimbursement kicks in for essential costs like meals, clothing, lodging, toiletries, and medicine in the event travel is delayed longer than six hours or requires an overnight stay. The cardholder, the cardholder’s spouse, and dependent children under 22 are covered for $500 per ticket.

Publicly known delays and prepaid expenses are not covered. Eligible carriers include airlines, trains, buses, and cruise ships. Coverage kicks in after any purchased travel insurance has paid benefits.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

While it is fairly rare, airlines and other carriers sometimes lose luggage. Lost luggage reimbursement provides cardholders and immediate family members up to $3,000 per person in coverage. This includes checked and/or carry-on baggage as well as up to $500 for electronics, jewelry, and watches inside the bags.

To be eligible, you must use your Sapphire Reserve card when paying for the transportation carrier. Additionally, reimbursement comes after any travel insurance payments that you may receive.

Baggage Delay Insurance

Baggage delay insurance kicks in for clothing, toiletries, cell phone charging cables, and other essential items purchased when luggage is delayed for longer than six hours. This insurance covers the cardholder, the cardholder’s spouse, and immediate family.

Your ticket for the transportation must be purchased with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card, and $100 in coverage is available for up to five days. Eligible carriers include airlines, trains, buses, and cruise ships.

Travel and Emergency Assistance

This offers cardholders free referrals in the event they require travel and/or emergency assistance. To receive the advice and referral, you must call the number provided in your Guide to Benefits. While the referral is free, you are responsible for any medical costs and transportation. The cardholder, the cardholder’s spouse, and dependent children under 22 are covered for the following services.

• Medical Referral Assistance
• Legal Referral Assistance
• Pre-Trip Assistance
• Emergency Message Service
• Emergency Transportation Assistance
• Emergency Ticket Replacement
• Lost Luggage Locator Service
• Emergency Translation Service
• Prescription Assistance and Valuable Document Delivery Arrangements

This service is available 24/7, so do not hesitate to call in the event of an emergency.

Travel Accident Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers the following two types of travel accident insurance for cardholders and immediate family members of the cardholders. Please note, only one of them can be used for the same accident.

• 24-Hour Travel Accident Insurance – This provides a maximum of $100,000 payout beginning on the departure date on the ticket and ending on the return date on the ticket.
• Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance – This provides a maximum of $1,000,000 payout when entering, riding on, or exiting airplanes, trains, buses, and cruise ships.

Both coverages provide for accidental death or dismemberment as well as the loss of hearing, sight, and speech. While you are unlikely and hopefully never need to use this coverage, it is available if you use your Chase Sapphire Reserve card to pay for your trip.

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation

While rare, there is a chance you or a family member may need to be evacuated on a trip because of illness or injury. This benefit provides the cardholder, the cardholder’s spouse, and children under 18 (or 25 if a full-time student) $100,000 in coverage for an emergency evacuation.

Emergency Medical and Dental Benefits

Falling sick on a vacation is no fun, but it does happen. This benefit provides the cardholder, the cardholder’s spouse, and children under 18 (or 25 if a full-time student) a $2,500 reimbursement ($50 deductible) for medical expenses.

To qualify, the cardholder and family members must be at least 100 miles away from home, and only expenses not covered by medical insurance will be reimbursed. Additionally, it provides $75 per day for a hotel if a physician says you should not travel.

Other Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits

While most of the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s benefits are related to travel and dining, it does offer a few other things that further enhance the card’s value.

Exclusive Events & Experiences

Cardholders can take advantage of a variety of exclusive events and experiences. This includes sporting events, concerts, festivals, and dining. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, experiences have been limited, but we have seen a few virtual ones. As the pandemic eventually wanes, expect Chase to add more experiences and events.

Emergency Roadside Assistance

Whether you are driving your own car or a lease, your Chase Sapphire Card offers complimentary emergency roadside assistance. Available 24 hours per day and 365 days per year, this benefit provides up to $50 in reimbursement per incident four times per year. Here is what is covered.

• Towing
• Flat Tire Service
• Battery Boost
• Delivery
• Lockout Assistance

All additional fees will be charged to your Sapphire Reserve card.

Purchase Protection

For cardholders and recipients of gifts purchased by cardholders, the Sapphire Reserve offers purchase protection of up to $10,000 per claim for 120 days against damage or theft. This coverage is in excess of any homeowner’s insurance, and the maximum is $50,000 per account. For stolen items, you must report them to the police within 48 hours to be eligible for a claim.

Return Protection

For cardholders only, the Sapphire Reserve provides reimbursement for up to $500 for items a store will not take back within 90 days of purchase. The item must still be in good condition, and various items are not covered. Here are a few examples.

• Motorized Vehicles
• Living Plants
• Animals
• Jewelry
• Tickets

Extended Warranty Protection

For cardholders and recipients of gifts purchased by cardholders, the Sapphire Reserve provides a one-year extension for manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less. As usual, the purchase must be made with your Sapphire Reserve card, and a maximum of $10,000 per claim is available.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Compared to Other Similar Cards

Despite being a great travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve does fall short in a few areas compared to competing cards. Ultimately, it is going to depend on how much you travel and go out to eat, the annual fee you feel comfortable spending, and how much the other benefits are worth to you.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The biggest difference is the Chase Sapphire Preferred only has a $95 annual fee compared to the Reserve’s $550 annual fee. For the additional annual fee, the Reserve earns a minimum of 3x on travel (after the first $300) compared to only a minimum of 2x for the Preferred. Both cards now earn a minimum of 3x points on dining.

The Reserve also offers a $300 travel credit and a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursement credit. Both cards offer primary rental car insurance, which is a huge benefit for the Preferred. Finally, the Reserve offers lounge access, better roadside assistance, and 1.5 cents per point when redeeming through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal compared to 1.25 points for the Preferred.

See our complete Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comparison article for more details.

Further Reading: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Benefits

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express’s annual fee of $695 is high, but the card offers numerous benefits. Here are the best ones compared to the Sapphire Reserve.

	Amex Platinum	Sapphire Reserve
Flight Earnings Rate	5x points on flights booked directly with airlines and with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year).	5x points for flights booked through Ultimate Rewards and 3x points for flights booked directly with the airline.
Hotels Earnings Rate	Prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel earn 5x points per dollar spent and 1x points for other hotel bookings.	10x points per dollar spent for hotels booked via Ultimate Rewards and 3x points for other hotel bookings.
Restaurants / Dining	1x points per dollar spent	3x points per dollar spent.

Here are other key benefits the Amex Platinum offers.

• Up to a yearly $200 airline credit (via statement credits) for airline incidentals only. You must select one airline per calendar year. This credit is much more restrictive than the Sapphire Reserve’s general $300 travel credit.
• Both cards offer up $100 reimbursement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Specifically, Amex Platinum cardholders receive a $100 statement credit every four years for Global Entry (includes TSA PreCheck) application fees or an $85 statement credit every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck application fees.
• Up to a $189 annual CLEAR® Plus credit (subject to auto-renewal)
• Up to a yearly $200 hotel credit back in statement credits (minimum two-night stay at Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection)
• Up to $200 per year in Uber Cash (paid monthly)
• Centurion Lounge access

Finally, here are the current welcome bonus offers compared.

• Amex Platinum: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: 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 Ultimate Rewards®

See our complete Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Platinum Card comparison article for more details.

Further Reading: The Platinum Card from American Express Benefits

American Express is a TheVacationer.com advertiser.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is Capital One’s premium travel credit card ($395 annual fee). It is viewed by many as a cheaper alternative to the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum Card with similar benefits. Here are a few of the best ones.

• Earn $300 annually via credits when booking travel through Capital One.
• Earn 10x miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One.
• Earn 5x miles per dollar spent on flights booked via Capital One.
• Earn 2x miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
• 10,000 bonus miles per year (starting on your card’s first anniversary)
• Current Early Spend Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

See our complete Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Card comparison article for more details.

Further Reading: Capital One Venture X Card Benefits

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a great credit card for those who like a lot of benefits and are willing to pay for them. Despite the pandemic slowing travel, Chase has added a ton of benefits to make the $550 annual fee worth it. Taking advantage of the $300 travel credit, $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursement, and $5 monthly DoorDash credit brings the annual fee down to only $90 in 2023 and 2024. Add in the 60,000-point bonus, and you are easily coming out ahead in the first year.

The Vacationer’s Phil Dengler and Eric Jones both regularly use the Sapphire Reserve.

Further Reading:

• Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. American Express Platinum Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Sapphire Preferred Card
• How To Use The Chase Sapphire Reserve $5 Monthly DoorDash Statement Credit
• How To Use The Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual $300 Travel Credit

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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