Updated
Fact Checked
Eric McWhinnie
There are a lot of great credit cards out there, so it's essential to look at the benefits of each card carefully. If you're considering a travel rewards card, the many Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits make it a popular choice for frequent travelers.
This premium card comes with an annual fee of $550. That means it only makes sense if you're a regular traveler who will make the most of all the Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits. Some of the most notable perks include a significant welcome bonus, a generous annual travel credit, and high earning potential. We've outlined the benefits below to help you decide if the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the right credit card for you.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits
This may be a travel credit card but it has plenty of non-travel perks. Here are a few of them:
Impressive sign-up bonus
One of the most notable Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits is its impressive sign-up bonus offer. 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℠..
Earn 10 points per $1 on Ultimate Rewards Chase Dining purchases
When using your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card to make dining purchases through the Chase Travel portal, you'll earn 10 points per $1 on your spending.
Earn 3 points per $1 on other dining purchases
It doesn't matter whether you're at home or traveling, dining out, or ordering takeout. If you're a Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholder, you'll earn 3 points per $1 on dining purchases, including delivery and takeout services. This earning rate is for dining purchases made outside of Chase's portal.
Access to Reserved by Sapphire reservation opportunities
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers get access to exclusive "Reserved by Sapphire" reservation opportunities. Cardholders can make reservations at some of the most sought-after restaurants nationwide and get early access to VIP dining and entertainment experiences.
Purchase and return protection
Purchase protection is another top Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefit. Purchases made with the card are covered for up to 120 days against theft and damage. You're entitled to up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 annually.
Sick of retailers not taking back your returns? You'll get return protection when you shop with this card. That means you can be reimbursed for up to $1,000 annually, even if the store won't take back your shopping. You can claim up to $500 per item within 90 days of purchase.
Extended warranty protection
There's nothing worse than the warranty running out on an expensive item. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card's extended warranty protection extends U.S. manufacturers' warranties by an extra year. This is available for eligible warranties of three years or less.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® travel benefits
This travel rewards credit card is often rated as one of the best travel credit cards we've seen. Here's why.
$300 annual travel credit
This Chase card offers an annual $300 travel credit as a statement credit for qualifying travel purchases. If you plan to use your card for regular travel purchases, this credit is easy to earn and helps offset the annual fee.
$100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
If you plan to apply for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you'll want to be sure to use your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. Every four years, this card offers up to $100 reimbursement for either a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application fee. Using this credit for Global Entry is the smartest bet because it also includes TSA PreCheck.
Earn 10 points per $1 on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through the Chase Travel portal
When you book hotel stays and car rentals through the Chase Travel portal, you'll earn 10 points per $1. This earning is available after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
Earn 5 points per $1 on air travel booked through the Chase Travel portal
You'll earn 5 points per $1 when you book air travel through the Chase Travel portal. This earning is available after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
Earn 3 points per $1 on other travel spending
You'll still earn rewards when you book travel outside the portal.You'll earn 3 points per $1 on qualifying travel purchases. With so much earning potential, you can reach your reward points goals faster.
Complimentary airport lounge access
Spending time at the airport is more enjoyable with a Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. This credit card includes a Priority Pass Select membership. This gets you and up to two guests into over 1,300 airport lounges free of charge. When comparing credit cards, this is a significant benefit if you spend a lot of time in airports.
No foreign transaction fees
Traveling abroad with this travel rewards card is no worry because there are no foreign transaction fees. Many non-travel credit cards charge a fee for foreign transactions. This is often around 3% for foreign purchases, which can add up fast. That's why carrying one of the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards in your wallet (like this one) when traveling abroad is best.
Luxury hotel perks
Chase partners with the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection to offer extra benefits at more than 1,000 properties. This includes luxury hotel perks like resort credits, room upgrades, late check-out, and daily breakfast for two.
Points are worth more when redeemed for travel
Another reason this is considered among the best credit cards is it provides more value when redeeming points for travel. Cardholders get 50% more value on travel purchases through the Chase Travel portal. That means your points go further.
The valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the best Chase card benefits. Chase has a variety of airline and hotel transfer partners, meaning points can be redeemed in many ways.
Read more: How to Use the Chase Travel Portal
Trip protection
When you plan a trip, you'll want to be protected if something unexpected happens. Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits include trip protection.
This Chase card includes trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. You'll be covered if a trip is canceled or cut short due to sickness, bad weather, or other covered situations. You'll be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip in pre-paid non-refundable travel expenses.
You can also get your money back if your trip is delayed. If your flight is delayed over six hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family can claim up to $500 per ticket toward expenses such as meals and lodging.
Plus, if the carrier damages or loses your luggage, you're covered up to $3,000 per person. This Chase Sapphire Reserve® perk is available to you and your immediate family members.
This travel card includes emergency evacuation and transportation coverage in case of a serious emergency. If you or an immediate family member become injured or sick during a trip, you can claim up to $100,000 in medical services and transportation.
Car rental insurance
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also includes a collision damage waiver on your car rental. To use this perk, you'll need to decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. You'll be covered for up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage. This is available to rental cars within the United States and abroad.
Read more: A Guide to Chase Sapphire Reserve's Travel Insurance Benefits
Other considerations
You may wonder whether to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a good fit for regular travelers. But if you're not a frequent traveler or want a great card with a lower or no annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card may be a better fit.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of these two popular Chase credit cards:
As of Apr. 16, 2024
|
|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
|
Welcome Offer: 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℠. 60,000 bonus points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 60,000 bonus points |
|
Rewards Program: 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. 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠. |
Rewards Program: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases |
|
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
|
Regular APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable |
Regular APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
|
Annual Fee: N/A $550 |
Annual Fee: N/A $95 |
|
Highlights:
|
Highlights:
|
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Show More
Show Less
|
|
It's easy to see why so many people consider this to be one of the best Chase credit cards. You'll need a good or excellent credit score to qualify, though. You can get prequalified for a Chase card if you're ready to apply.
Not sure where to start? Get started with our list of favorite Chase credit cards here:
Still have questions?
Some other questions we've answered:
FAQs
-
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $550 annual fee.
-
As a Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholder, you'll get an annual $300 travel credit, a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you access to over 1,3000 airport lounges, and the ability to earn significant rewards in various spending categories, including dining and travel. These are just a few of the best perks included with this premium travel rewards credit card.
-
If you don't mind paying the annual fee, travel often, and will put the premium perks to use, this may be a worthwhile card. However, if you don't travel often, or aren't looking for premium travel benefits, this card may not be ideal for you.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Natasha has been a freelance writer since 2015. She specializes in credit card and credit card rewards content. When not busy writing, she's either dreaming up her next credit card rewards redemption or traveling the globe. Her goal is to encourage more people to experience the world around them while making smart financial choices.
Fact Checked
Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
Share This Page
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.