Chase Sapphire Benefits: What You Need to Know

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 Preferred	Chase Sapphire Reserve
	Interest Rates and Fees
Purchase APR	17.49% to 24.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors	17.49% to 24.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors
Balance Transfers APR	17.49% to 24.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors	17.49% to 24.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors
Annual Fee	$0 Intro Annual Fee for the First Year, then $95	$450 annual fee
	Benefits and Features
Points Deal	Introductory Bonus Reward Points: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®	Introductory Bonus Reward Points: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Travel	Travel Rewards: 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide. 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs	Travel Rewards: 3X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Points	Point Rewards: 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide	Point Rewards: 3X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Airline Status		Airline Status: $300 Annual Travel Credit (as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card). Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide. Enrollment required for Priority Pass Select
Restaurant	Dining Rewards: 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide	Dining Rewards: 3X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Sign-up Bonus

Both the Preferred and Reserve are offering 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. HOWEVER, those 50,000 points are worth different amounts on each card.

• Preferred: worth $625 towards travel on the Ultimate Rewards portal
  
• Reserve: 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 and 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 $450 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 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

Price Protection
If you buy an item and less than 90 days after the purchase, find it advertised for a lower price, you can be reimbursed the difference. This is only for eligible items purchased in the U.S.

• Preferred: up to $500 dollars per eligible purchase with a maximum of $2,500 per year
  
• Reserve: up to $500 dollars per eligible purchase with a maximum of $2,500 per year

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.

At Chase's Secure Site Chase Sapphire Reserve® Earn 50K 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® $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year Named a 'Best Travel Credit Card for 2017' by MONEY® Magazine 3X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Plus, no foreign transaction fees Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Intro APR for Purchases Intro APR for Balance Transfer Regular APR Annual Fee N/A N/A 17.49% - 24.49% Variable $450

At Chase's Secure Site Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® Chase Sapphire Preferred® named a 'Best Travel Credit Card' by MONEY® Magazine, 2016-2017 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening No foreign transaction fees 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel. No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards Intro APR for Purchases Intro APR for Balance Transfer Regular APR Annual Fee N/A N/A 17.49% - 24.49% Variable $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95