Chase Sapphire Benefits: What You Need to Know
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How do the benefits compare between the Chase Sapphire cards? We break them down one by one.
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Chase has two cards in the Sapphire family - Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Both are highly popular travel reward cards. Both allow you to use points to purchase travel on the Ultimate Rewards travel portal at a discount or transfer them to airline and hotel partners.
Both also have premium travel and purchase protections that can come in handy.
We'll go over all the benefits of the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve. See how they compare.
Chase Sapphire Reserve | |
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Interest Rates and Fees | |
Purchase APR | 16.99% to 23.99% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors |
Balance Transfers APR | 16.99% to 23.99% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors |
Annual Fee | |
Benefits and Features | |
Bonus Deal | Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® |
Travel | 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs |
Airline | 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs |
Hotel | 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs |
Points | 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
Airline Status | $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. From 6/1/20 through 6/30/21, gas station & grocery store purchases will also count towards earning your Travel Credit. Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide. One-time enrollment required for Priority Pass Select |
Restaurant | 3X points on dining at restaurants |
Airline Transfer Partners | Chase airline transfer partners include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, British Airways, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Iberia, Emirates, and Aer Lingus. |
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Sign-up Bonus
Both the Preferred and Reserve are offering bonus points when you spend $4,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
- Preferred: 60,000 bonus points are worth $750 towards travel on the Ultimate Rewards portal
- Reserve: 50,000 bonus points are worth $750 towards travel on the Ultimate Rewards portal
Rewards
Both cards only give you bonus points on travel and dining, while all other purchases earn 1x points.
- Preferred: 2x on travel and dining
- Reserve: 3x on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3x on dining
Redeem for Travel Benefits
Purchasing Travel on Chase Travel Portal
Both cards allow you to use your points to redeem for travel on the Ultimate Rewards travel portal at higher value. Your points will be worth more than just 1 cent apiece. You can use your points to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities.
- Preferred: points are worth 25% more (10,000 points = $125) toward travel on Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Reserve: points are worth 50% more (10,000 points = $150) toward travel on Chase Ultimate Rewards
Transferring to Travel Partners
Both cards allow you to transfer points 1:1 to Chase's airline and hotel partners. This can potentially make each point worth even more.
Airport Lounge Access
Only the Reserve has this benefit. You get complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which allows you access into 1,000+ airport lounges around the world. Normally, this membership costs $399/year.
- Preferred: None
- Reserve: complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
Chase Sapphire Reserve Extra Benefits
The Sapphire Reserve has benefits that the Preferred doesn't have. These help make up the hefty $550 annual fee.
- $300 annual travel credit. This travel credit can be used toward any travel purchase charged to the card.
- Priority Pass Select Membership. This complimentary membership allows you access into 1,000+ airport lounges around the world. You can even bring 2 guests into the lounges at no extra cost (though individual lounges may have their own rules).
- $100 TSA Pre or Global Entry. Every 4 years, you get a $100 application fee credit for either TSA Pre (expedite security screening) or Global Entry (expedite customs).
Car Rental Benefits
Car Rental Insurance
Both cards offer primary, not secondary, collision and damage insurance for most rental cars when you pay the entire car rental fee in full and decline the rental company's collision and damage insurance. This can help save a lot of money each time you rent a car.
- Preferred: up to the actual cash value of the car for theft and collision in the U.S. and abroad
- Reserve: up to $75,000 reimbursement for theft and collision in the U.S. and abroad
Car Rental Discounts
Only the Reserve offers discounts at National, Avis, and Silvercar. You get complimentary status (with National and Avis) plus a discount when you rent a car.
- Preferred: None
- Reserve: 25%-30% discounts at National, Avis, and Silvercar
Travel Protections
Trip Cancelation/Interruption
If you've paid for your trip with the card, you can get reimbursed if your trip is interrupted by weather, illness, or other covered circumstances. This applies for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses, including airfare, hotels, and tours.
- Preferred: up to $10,000
- Reserve: up to $10,000
Trip delay reimbursement
Be reimbursed for qualified expenses such as lodging and meals if your flight is delayed.
- Preferred: up to $500 each person (if delayed more than 12 hours or overnight)
- Reserve: up to $500 each person (if delayed more than 6 hours or overnight)
Lost baggage reimbursement
You and your immediate family members can be reimbursed for check-in or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier.
- Preferred: up to $3,000 per passenger (up to $500 per person for jewelry, watches, and electronics)
- Reserve: up to $3,000 per passenger (up to $500 per person for jewelry, watches, and electronics)
Baggage delay reimbursement
If your baggage is delayed for over 6 hours after you arrive, you can be reimbursed for essentials, such as toiletries and clothes.
- Preferred: up to $100/day for 5 days
- Reserve: up to $100/day for 5 days
Travel Accident Insurance
When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive accidental death or dismemberment insurance coverage.
- Preferred: up to $500,000
- Reserve: up to $1,000,000
Emergency Medical Care
Sick on a trip? If you are at least 100 miles from home, you can get reimbursed for qualified emergency medical care for you or immediate family members.
- Preferred: None
- Reserve: up to $2,500; also includes coverage for emergency evacuation up to $100,000
Emergency Assistance Referral
If you ever need any emergency help while away from home, Chase will provide referrals and assistance for free. The services include:
- Referring you to English-speaking doctors or hospital
- Referring you to English-speaking attorneys or U.S. embassies or consulates
- Arranging for emergency transportation home or to a hospital
- 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.
Roadside Assistance
Available services include towing, jumpstarting, tire changes, locksmith services, or gas fill-ups.
- Preferred: cost of service
- Reserve: covers up to $50 per incident, up to 4 times a year
Purchase Protections
Purchase Protection
On most purchases, you can be reimbursed if the eligible item is damaged or stolen within 120 days from purchase.
- Preferred: up to $500
- Reserve: up to $1,000
Bottom Line
At-a-glance, these are the differences in benefits between the Chase Sapphire cards. Overall, Chase Sapphire Reserve has the edge when it comes to benefit coverage. However, Chase Sapphire Preferred still has superior benefits compared to other travel cards.
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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.
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.
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