Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
Ad Disclosure: This article contains references to products from our partners. We receive compensation if you apply or shop through links in our content. You help support CreditDonkey by using our links.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® has benefits you may not know. Don't waste these valuable perks. Read this guide to maximize Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits.
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
Sapphire Reserve is the luxury big sister of the Sapphire Preferred. This travel rewards card has been popular since its release in August 2016. It competes with the American Express Platinum (a CreditDonkey partner).
Chase Sapphire Reserve recently increased its annual fee to $550 (up from $450). It offers a long roster of useful perks and benefits that help to justify its high annual fee. Here's a quick overview of some of the card's most appealing perks.
- Rewards
- Premium Travel Perks
- Car & Car Rental Benefits
- Travel & Purchase Protections
- Other Benefits
- How to Make the Most Out of the Card
- How to Redeem Points
- Is Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth Annual Fee?
Is this top-tier travel credit card right for you? Read on for an in-depth breakdown of its benefits.
Earning & Redeeming Points
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
1. Large Sign-Up Bonus
You earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening.
This is worth $900 when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠.
If you transfer points to airline partners, 60,000 points can be worth even more.
2. 3x Points on Travel & Dining
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
- Airlines
- Hotels, motels, and homestays (like Airbnb)
- Timeshares
- Campgrounds
- Car rentals and rideshares (like Uber and Lyft)
- Cruise lines
- Travel agencies and discount travel sites
- Trains, buses, limos, and ferries
- Tolls, bridges, and highways
- Parking lots and garages
3. 50% More Value on Chase Travel℠ Portal
You get a discount when you book travel on the Chase Travel℠ portal using your points. Your points are worth 50% more value. This means that 10,000 points are worth $150 (instead of the normal $100).
You can book travel on Chase Travel℠ with any airline, for any dates. You don't have to worry about seat restrictions or blackout dates.
You can even use a combination of cash and points if you don't have enough for a trip, or just want to save some points.
- Go to Chase's main page: chase.com. Once you've logged in, click on "Redeem Rewards" on the right.
- Directly log in to your Ultimate Rewards page through ultimaterewardspoints.chase.com
4. 1:1 Transfer to Airline and Hotel partners
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
Points can be transferred to partner airline and hotel programs at a full 1:1 value and with no fees. This will often earn the best value and reward redemption rate.
For example, 60,000 points = $900 on the Chase Travel℠ portal. OR they can be traded in for flights from Los Angeles to Hawaii (which can be worth more).
Airline transfer partners include:
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- JetBlue
- British Airways
- Air France
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- Aer Lingus
- Iberia Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
Hotel partners include:
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
- IHG Rewards Club
Premium Travel Perks
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
5. $300 Annual Travel Credit
Every year, you get a $300 credit to be used for any travel purchases. Whenever you book a travel purchase, it will be automatically credited to your statement, up to $300. Credit renews each cardmember year.
This yearly $300 travel credit goes a long way to balance out the annual fee.
The best part is that you're not limited to a specific airline. You can use this credit for any travel purchase including airlines, hotels (including Airbnb), car rentals, Uber, tolls and parking lots.
Estimate Value: $300 per year
6. Airport Lounge Access (Priority Pass)
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
You get complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. This gives you access into over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. You can even bring in 2 guests at no extra charge.
Generally, Priority Pass lounges provide complimentary food, beverages, Wi-Fi, and workspaces.
Enrollment isn't automatic - you'll have to activate membership once you open your account. Learn more about how Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access works here.
Estimate Value: $400. But depends on how often you fly per year, and if your airports have Priority Pass lounges.
- Log into your account at ultimaterewardspoints.chase.com.
- Go to "Card Benefits" in the left-hand menu.
- Click "Activate" under Airport Lounge Access.
- Receive your membership card in the mail in 1-2 weeks.
7. Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Fee Credit
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
Every 4 years, you'll receive $100 application fee credit towards Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck gives you expedited security screening, while Global Entry grants you expedited customs. Between the two, we recommend Global Entry as it includes TSA PreCheck. Both are 5-year memberships.
You're automatically credited for one application when you pay for it using the Reserve card. So if you don't plan to apply, you can "gift" it to a friend. It doesn't matter whose name is on the application.
Estimate Value: $100/every 4 years = $25 per year
Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Benefits
Steven Kreimendahl, Travel to Bank
8. No Foreign Transaction Fee
Chase Sapphire Reserve has no foreign transaction fee. You can make charges abroad without worrying about incurring extra fees.
Remember that you get 3x points per dollar spent on dining worldwide. So this is an ideal card to bring when traveling to rack up some points.
9-11. Luxury Hotel Benefits
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
The Reserve's hotel perks won't be useful for everyone. But it's a nice bonus if you enjoy splurging on luxury hotels.
- The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection:
Get perks when you book an eligible stay with the Chase's Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. Enjoy perks like complimentary breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades, discounts, and extra gifts and amenities. Varies by property. - Relais & Châteaux benefits:
You get accelerated access to elite status. When you book 2 nights (over the course of 12 months) with Relais & Châteaux, you'll be eligible for Club 5C status. This gives you perks like room upgrades, VIP welcomes, special events, and exclusive offers.Relais & Châteaux offers luxury properties throughout the U.S., South America, Europe, and Africa. You'll need to book your stay with your Reserve card through Visa Infinite Concierge.
- sbe Benefits:
When you book at select sbe properties, enjoy perks like complimentary upgrades (if available), breakfast, late check out, $30 credit per room towards food and beverages, and 4th night free.
Estimate Value: $100-$500, depending on if you can score a room upgrade.
12-14. Concierge Services
- 24/7 Customer Service. You'll have 24/7 access to customer service. Just call the number on the back of your card.
- Visa Infinite Concierge. This can help with requests like making reservations, buying event tickets, or travel planning.
Remember to take advantage of the concierge services. This is actually quite valuable, though maybe not in the monetary sense.
- Worldwide Travel Assistance. If you need to book or modify travel plans through Chase Travel℠, the Chase Travel℠ Team is there to help you through that process.
Estimate Value: How much do you value your time?
Chase Sapphire Reserve Concierge Benefits
Car and Car Rental Benefits
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
17. Primary Car Rental Insurance
The Reserve offers primary - not secondary - collision and damage insurance when you pay the entire eligible car rental fee in full. This means you don't have to file a claim with your own car insurance company.
You must decline the rental company's collision and damage insurance (which will save you some money as well).
You're covered up to $75,000 for theft and collision in the U.S. and abroad. Exceptions include vintage or luxury rentals and motorcycles. Rental must not exceed 31 days.
Read more in detail about the Reserve's rental car insurance coverage.
Chris Luth, Director of Operations, AutoSlash.com
18-20. Car Rental Privileges
You get special discounts with National Car Rental, Avis, and Silvercar. Enroll through your account to receive promotions, discounts, and upgrades on car rentals.
- National: Get complimentary Emerald Club membership. This allows you to choose any rental car and only pay the midsize rate. Plus, save up to 25% on qualifying car rentals.
- Avis: Get complimentary Avis Preferred Plus Status. Save up to 30% on Avis base rates. And get complimentary two-day weekend rental for qualifying rentals.
- Silvercar: Save up to 30% on qualifying car rentals.
21. Roadside Assistance
You can get emergency roadside assistance up to $50 per incident, 4 times per year when traveling in the U.S. and Canada. Services include:
- Towing to nearest repair facility
- Jumpstarting
- Tire change (provided you have a spare)
- Locksmith services
- Gas fill-ups up to 2 gallons
Travel & Purchase Protections
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
22-24. Trip Cancellation & Delay
When you use your Reserve card to book travel with common carriers (like airlines, buses, cruises, and trains), you're automatically offered many travel protections if your trip goes wrong.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance. You and your immediate family members can be reimbursed up to $10,000 if your trip is cancelled or interrupted by sickness, extreme weather, or other eligible covered circumstances. This applies for pre-paid and non-refundable travel expenses, like airfare, hotels, and tours.
The trip cannot be longer than 60 days. And it must be pre-paid - meaning that you booked the arrangements before leaving on the trip.
Tip: If the airline cancels your flight, you shouldn't have any problem getting them to refund your ticket. But if your flight is delayed and you end up having to cancel prepaid plans, you're likely on your own. Booking on your Reserve card will cover that scenario. - Trip Delay Reimbursement. If your common carrier is delayed for more than 6 hours or overnight, you can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for your added expenses, such as lodging, meals, and toiletries.
24-25. Lost & Delayed Baggage
- Baggage Delay Insurance. If your baggage is delayed for over 6 hours after you arrive, you can be reimbursed up to $100/day for 5 days for essentials, such as toiletries and clothes.
You and your immediate family members are all covered.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement. You can be reimbursed for carry-on or checked luggage that is damaged or lost by your carrier. You can get up to $3,000 per person (up to $500 per person for jewelry, watches, and electronics). This applies to stolen luggage as well as to your family's luggage, even if you aren't traveling with them.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Benefits
26-27. Travel Medical Benefits
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
- Emergency Medical and Dental. If you're over 100 miles from home and become sick or injured, you can be reimbursed up to $2,500 for medical expenses. This also applies for your immediate family members.
- Emergency Evacuation and Transportation. If you or an immediate family member get injured on a trip, you're covered up to $100,000 for emergency evacuation.
- Travel Accident Insurance. For worst case scenarios: you'll receive coverage for up to $1,000,000 in the case of accidental death or dismemberment when riding in a common carrier.
29. Travel and Emergency Assistance
Your Reserve card gives you access to a Benefit Administrator. If you ever need emergency help on a trip, Chase will provide assistance for free. The services include:
- Referring you to English-speaking doctors or hospitals
- Referring you to English-speaking attorneys or U.S. embassies
- Arranging for emergency transportation
- Transporting vital documents you may have left at home
- Arranging for delivery of a replacement ticket
You will have to pay for the cost of any services. But the assistance and referrals are free of charge.
30-32. Purchase Protections
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
- Purchase Protection. Eligible new purchases are covered against damage and theft for the first 120 days after purchase. You are covered up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.
If the item was stolen, you must file a police report within 48 hours of the theft. If the item is damaged, the Benefit Administrator will decide if it will be repaired, replaced, or reimbursed.
- Extended Warranty Protection. For eligible purchases with a U.S. warranty of 3 years or less, this protection will extend that warranty by 1 year. You get coverage of up to $10,000 per claim, with a maximum $50,000 per account.
- Return Protection. If a store won't accept your return, your Reserve will have you covered. You can be reimbursed up to $500 for each eligible item, for a maximum of $1,000 per year. The item must have been purchased within 90 days and be in like-new/good working condition.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Purchase Protection Benefits
Other Benefits
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
33. Authorized User Benefits
Each Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized user costs $75. The practical benefits of adding authorized users include:
- Their own complimentary Priority Pass membership (including the ability to bring in 2 guests at no extra cost). As this membership is worth roughly $400, getting it for just $75 is a great deal.
- You can transfer points to your authorized user's hotel or airline loyalty programs.
34. VIP Access to Events
Get exclusive access to special VIP events such as private dinners with famous chefs, sporting tickets, and musical performances.
Some past events included VIP tickets to the PGA golf tournament, special experiences at the Sundance Festival, and pre-show reception for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Experiences can be booked with cash or using your points.
How to Make the Most of the Card
Here are ways to maximize your rewards on your Reserve:
- Pair with another Chase Ultimate Rewards card.
Chase Freedom offers 5% bonus categories that change every quarter. So you can use it on 5% category purchases, and the Reserve for travel and dining. Or you can pair with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which gives you 1.5% back on all purchases.These strategies will allow you to get the most points possible. You can then combine your points unto your Reserve card, and use them for higher value.
- Shop through Chase for bonus points.
Chase has a great online shopping portal where you can earn bonus points at over 200 partner merchants. This will allow you to earn extra points on your shopping. - Use the Chase Travel℠ portal for cheap flights.
Your points are worth 50% more on the Chase Travel℠ portal. Sometimes, this is even better than transferring points to an airline, especially if it's a low-priced economy flight. Plus, there are no award fees.For example, let's say there's a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to London during low season for just $500. With the Sapphire Reserve points discount, this would only cost 33,334 points. That is way better than transferring to United, where a round-trip to Europe would cost 60,000 miles. - Add an authorized user.
If you have a loved one who travels often, adding him/her as an authorized user for $75/year is very well worth it.Authorized users get their own Priority Pass Select membership. This benefit is worth over $400, and to get it for only $75 is amazing.
How to Redeem Ultimate Rewards Points
One of the best features is that Chase Sapphire Reserve allows you to redeem points for travel for higher value. Here are the redemption options:
- Book travel through Chase Travel℠. When you book travel with points through the Chase Travel℠ portal, you receive a 33% discount. Each point is worth 1.50 cents (10,000 points = $150).
- Transfer to travel partners. You can transfer your points 1:1 to a number of airline and hotel partners, including United, Southwest, JetBlue, and Hyatt. This often gets you maximum value.
- Cash back. You can redeem points for statement credit or direct deposit into your bank account, but only at the rate of 1 cent = 1 point (10,000 points = $100).
- Gift cards. For a 1:1 exchange, you can get a gift card from your favorite retailer.
- Amazon checkout. You get easy checkout, but the points are only valued at 0.80 cents each (instead of 1:1).
- Unique experiences. You can also trade in points for an experience at a 1:1 exchange with Chase's Exclusive Events, including fine dining, entertainment, and sports. The value depends on how much you value the experience.
Learn the best ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards points.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, this depends on how you redeem it:
- If you redeem for cashback, it's worth $600
- If you redeem on the Chase Travel℠ portal, it's worth $900
- If you transfer to airlines, redemption value varies. It can also be worth a round-trip flight to Europe (though some airlines charge fuel surcharge, so you'd need to account for that).
Is Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth the Fee?
In our opinion, yes the Reserve is very well worth it if you travel a few times a year. It's worth it if you:
- Can spend $4,000 in the first 3 months to earn the huge bonus offer.
- Use up the $300 annual travel credit per year. This effectively brings down the $550 annual fee to just $250.
- Spend at least another $8,000 on travel and dining each year. This will earn you more rewards compared to the Sapphire Preferred. That'll also help make up the remaining annual fee (when you use your points on the Chase Travel℠ portal)
- Visit a few Priority Pass lounges per year.
- There is no longer price protection.
- Priority Pass membership only allows you to bring in 2 guests (used to be unlimited guests).
- The travel purchases that qualify for the $300 travel credit will not earn 3x points.
Despite these slight devaluations, we still think the Reserve is worth applying to if you travel often.
Difference between Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred
The Preferred is the lighter version of the Reserved. It has a way smaller annual fee, but also smaller rewards.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® points are worth 1.25x more value when used to book travel through Chase Travel℠ (as opposed to the Reserve's 1.5x value). They can also be transferred 1:1 to partner travel programs. Unlike the Reserve, the Preferred does not offer any ultra-premium perks such as lounge access, annual travel credit, or TSA Pre/Global Entry credit.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the Sapphire Reserve and Preferred:
|  | |
| Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | |
|---|---|---|
Interest Rates and Fees | ||
| Purchase APR | 22.49% to 29.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors | 21.49% to 28.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors |
| Balance Transfers APR | 22.49% to 29.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors | 21.49% to 28.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors |
| Annual Fee | ||
Benefits and Features | ||
| Introductory 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 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℠. |
| Point Rewards | 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 | 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. |
| Airline Status | $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide. One-time enrollment required for Priority Pass Select | |
| Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee for Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The annual fee is $550 and it is NOT waived for the first year.
Chase waives the annual fee for active-duty military servicemen on their personal cards. Even the $75 fee for authorized users are waived. For new accounts, the annual fee is automatically waived when Chase compares your SSN to the DOD databases. If your account is not new, you can submit materials through Chase's secure messaging.
What credit score do you need for Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Chase Sapphire Reserve usually requires an Excellent credit score. This usually means a score of 720 or better. But Chase will also consider other things besides credit score, such as your total open cards and recent hard inquiries. Find out more about what kind of credit is required and how to improve your odds.
What's the highest credit limit for Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The lowest credit limit offered by Chase Sapphire Reserve is $10,000. Theoretically, the limit can go all the way up to $500,000. Chase will consider factors like your length of credit history, payment history, and income to determine your credit line. Learn more about it and how to get a credit limit increase.
What is the 5/24 rule?
Chase's unofficial 5/24 policy states that if you have opened 5 or more credit cards in the past 24 months, you will not be approved for certain Chase cards (including the Sapphire Reserve). This goes for credit cards with any bank, not just Chase. So if you want this credit card, prioritize the application over any others.
Can you redeem Chase Sapphire points for cash?
Yes. You can redeem for statement credit or direct deposit into your bank account at 1 point = 1 cent. You need at least 2,000 points ($20) to start redeeming for cashback.
How do I refer friends for Chase Sapphire Reserve?
If you already have the Reserve card, you can refer your friends and family through the Chase Refer-A-Friend program. You can earn up to 5 referral bonuses per year. Read our detailed guide to learn how it works.
Bottom Line
 |
| © CreditDonkey |
In our opinion, the Reserve's flexible annual travel credits and long list of perks and beneficial benefits make it competitive with other premium travel credit cards. For very frequent travelers, the Reserve offers great value - especially for Sapphire Preferred users.
For more info on how the Reserve justifies that $550 annual fee, head over to our full review. Or, if you've already applied, start looking into your next steps for taking full advantage of the card's perks and benefits.
Next Step: View the issuer's official application, terms, and details
Write to Dylan York at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum card, please click here.
Disclaimer: The information for the Chase Freedom has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Read Next:
