Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee: $795
Current welcome offer
Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
My Take
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® was actually the first card my husband opened when we started getting into points and miles — and at the time it was already impressive. But the card that exists today is a completely different animal. Chase has loaded it with so many credits and benefits that it's genuinely one of the most feature-packed travel cards available anywhere.
Here's my honest take: this card is absolutely worth it in year one — that 150,000-point welcome offer alone is worth $3,000 in travel through Chase Travel℠, and potentially significantly more when transferred to partners like Hyatt. Beyond year one, it depends entirely on whether you'll use the credits.
The $300 annual travel credit is one of the easiest credits to use from any bank. It applies automatically to your first $300 in travel purchases each year — flights, hotels, Uber, parking — it just happens. No enrollment, no thinking. That alone brings the effective annual fee from $795 down to $495.
From there the credits keep coming: $500 in The Edit hotel credits, $300 in dining credits at Sapphire Exclusive Tables on OpenTable, $300 in StubHub credits, $288 in Apple TV and Apple Music, $300 in DoorDash promos, $120 in Lyft credits, $120 in Peloton credits. On paper the total annual value Chase advertises is over $3,000 — but realistically most people won't use every single credit.
The edit credit is worth highlighting specifically: it requires booking through The Edit, Chase's curated hotel collection, with a two-night minimum. It's not as frictionless as the $300 travel credit — but if you're planning a hotel stay anyway it can deliver exceptional value.
Where this card truly shines is for frequent travelers who live near an airport with a Sapphire Lounge. The Sapphire Lounge experience is exceptional — and having access every time you fly, plus two complimentary guests, is a benefit that adds up fast.
One important recent change: you can now hold both the Sapphire Reserve® and the Sapphire Preferred® at the same time. For a long time it was one or the other — now households can hold both, which opens up some interesting earning strategies.
This isn't the first card I'd recommend for most beginners — the Sapphire Preferred® delivers most of the core value at a fraction of the fee. But for frequent travelers who will actually use the credits, the Reserve can deliver extraordinary value.
How to Earn Rewards
Benefits
- $300 annual travel credit — automatically applies to first $300 in travel purchases each year
- $500 in annual The Edit hotel credits ($250 per stay, 2-night minimum, up to $500/year)
- $550+ in complimentary value per The Edit stay (property credit, daily breakfast for 2, room upgrade when available)
- $300 annual dining credit at Sapphire Exclusive Tables on OpenTable ($150 semi-annually)
- $300 annual StubHub and viagogo credits ($150 semi-annually, through 12/31/2027). Activation required.
- $288 in Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions (through 6/22/2027)
- $120 DashPass membership value + $300 in annual DoorDash promos (through 12/31/2027)
- $120 annual Lyft in-app credits ($10/month, through 9/30/2027)
- $120 annual Peloton membership credits ($10/month, through 12/31/2027). Activation required.
- Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club with up to 2 complimentary guests
- Access to 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide
- Access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit up to $120 every four years
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status (through 12/31/2027)
- Reserve Travel Designers — personalized itinerary service valued up to $300 per trip
- Primary rental car insurance up to $75,000
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $10,000 per traveler
- Trip delay reimbursement up to $500 per traveler
- Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000 per traveler
- Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage up to $100,000
- Emergency medical and dental coverage up to $2,500
- No foreign transaction fees
- Points transfer to 14 airline and hotel partners including World of Hyatt
- Can be held simultaneously with Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Is This Card Right For You?
✓ Best for
Frequent travelers who live near an airport with a Sapphire Lounge
Anyone who wants the largest Chase points welcome offer available
Those who can maximize multiple monthly and annual credits
Travelers who want the most comprehensive travel protections Chase offers
Anyone who dines out regularly and can use the OpenTable dining credit
Those who already hold the Sapphire Preferred® and want to add the Reserve
People who use DoorDash, Lyft, Apple TV, Apple Music, or Peloton regularly
✗ Not ideal for
Beginners — start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® instead
Anyone who won't actively track and use the many credits
Those who rarely travel and won't benefit from lounge access
Anyone who finds the $795 annual fee difficult to justify even after credits
Those who prefer a simpler card with fewer moving parts
Is This Card Worth It For You?
Enter how much of each benefit you'll realistically use to see your personal value.
Offer History
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has historically offered 50,000-60,000 points as its standard welcome offer. The current 150,000-point offer is the highest we've ever seen on this card and represents exceptional value — worth at least $1,500 in Chase Travel℠ or potentially $3,000-$4,500+ when transferred to airline and hotel partners.
If you're considering this card, the current offer is significantly elevated above historical offers. Don't wait on it if you're ready to apply.
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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
