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Chase Sapphire Reserve® (See rates and fees)
I remember getting my first Chase Sapphire card in 2011. It was pretty. It felt cool. And it earned points faster than I was useful – plus you could transfer them! I couldn’t wait to plunk that bad boy down at restaurants.
Then in 2016 they introduced Sapphire Reserve and that became the ‘it’ card far beyond the frequent flyer cognoscenti. Everyone had to have one. But it was a simple card, that earned points fast on travel and dining and offered a Priority Pass card for lounge access but really wasn’t that deep.
Now that Chase has refreshed the card, I’m really excited about the Chase Sapphire Reserve again. Here are my 18 favorite things about the product (although there are other benefits here I’m intentionally leaving off):
- Initial bonus offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s huge. With Points Boost redemptions those points are worth $2,500 in air or hotel bookings. Or you can transfer them to frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs.
- Actually great earning for your spending: 8x on all travel booked through Chase; 4x on flights and hotel stays booked directly; 3x on dining; 1x on other purchases.
Booking airfare through the Chase portal to earn 8 points per dollar becomes a really compelling play. And since Chase “The Edit” hotels and many others earn hotel points and stay credit and qualify for elite recognition, booking through there can make sense as well. There’s no question that this is my hotel spend card as well.
- Points Boost: When I first saw the promise of ‘up to 2 cents per point’ on some flights and hotel stays I was skeptical, but there are a ton of business class redemptions on Chase’s partners that qualify for 2 cent a point redemptions and plenty of hotels also. This isn’t a needle in a haystack, it’s a real option to consider instead of points transfers.
Park Hyatt Paris
Park Hyatt St. Kitts - Transfers to airline and hotel programs: This is how I’ve spent nearly all of my Chase points to date. Aeroplan for Star Alliance redemptions, Flying Blue for Air France business class to Europe, and Hyatt for hotel stays.
- Star Alliance: United MileagePlus, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Air Canada Aeroplan
Singapore Airlines Suites Class - oneworld: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus
British Airways Business Class - SkyTeam: Air France KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
KLM Business Class - Non-alliance: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Aer Lingus AerClub
Southwest Airlines - Hotels: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards
Suite Balcony, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
Park Hyatt St. Kitts
- Star Alliance: United MileagePlus, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Air Canada Aeroplan
- $300 annual travel credit: This is simple, automatic and easy to use – up to $300 in travel spend charged to the card gets credited back per cardmember year. So, sure, it’s a $795 card but this goes a long way to directly offset that.
- $300 dining credit: Up to $150 statement credits from January through June and $150 July through December at restaurants that are part of the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program. You can see eligible restaurants here but they include several of my staples in my home town.
- $300 Stubhub credit: up to $150 in statement credits from Jan. 1 through June 30 and the rest from July 1 through Dec. 31 for tickets purchased on StubHub.com and viagogo.com. Activation required.
- Subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music free subscription to Apple TV+ and Apple Music through June 22, 2027 (a value of $250 per year). Link your Apple ID and activate subscriptions to use this benefit.
- Bonus points-earning and monthly credits with Lyft I charge my Lyft spend to this card to earn 5x total points per dollar through September 30, 2027. Through that same date you also receive a $10 per month credit with Lyft to redeem through their app.
- Monthly DoorDash credit: You get free DoorDash DashPass membership for at least 12 months when you activate by December 31, 2027, along with $5 per month credit forn restaurant orders and $10 twice monthly for groceries and retail.
- Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges: Chase airport lounges in the United States are available to passengers with a same day boarding pass within 3 hours of scheduled departure as follows:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve, J.P. Morgan Reserve, and Ritz-Carlton Visa cardholders (including authorized users) plus two complimentary guests, with additional guests charged $27 each.
- Priority Pass cardholders from other sources, allowed 1 free visit per calendar year to a Chase lounge and with no free guests. Each additional visit or guest is $75. (The Hong Kong lounge is different. Access is available for Priority Pass customers without the once visit per year restriction.)
- $100 at the door without Priority Pass.
Bar at Chase Sapphire Lounge, PhiladelphiaSo far they have 8 Sapphire lounges, and 3 more have been announced publicly.
Airport Size (sq ft) Opened Key notes New York–LaGuardia (LGA) 21,800 Jan 2024 Two-story design; Reserve Suites; Face Haus spa; arcade; broad a-la-carte & buffet program Boston Logan (BOS) 11,500 May 2023 Tap-room with local beer; massage chairs; showers; kids’ playroom New York–JFK (JFK) 7,600 Jan 2024 Shared Etihad space; full cocktail & dining menu; showers Washington Dulles (IAD) 5,200 Mar 2024 Shared Etihad space; compact but full service offering Philadelphia (PHL) 20,000 Feb 2025 Beer-garden zone, shuffleboard, retro arcade, rest pods, Face Haus facials San Diego (SAN) 10,000 Dec 2024 Wellness area with private pods & meditation; full F&B Phoenix (PHX) 3,500 Nov 2024 Small and overrun, limited amenities Hong Kong (HKG) 12,000 Oct 2022 Extensive buffet + small menu 
Chase Sapphire Lounge, Washington DullesKnown lounge pipeline:
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): ~ 18,000 sq ft in terminal D
- Las Vegas (LAS): ~ 4,500 sq ft in terminal C
- Los Angeles (LAX): ~9,200 sq ft in the Tom Bradley International Terminal
- Priority Pass: Cardmembers can enroll in Priority Pass Select at no cost. This is available to additional cardmembers on an account as well. This provides access to more than 1,000 lounges worldwide. Of all the Priority Pass cards I have (Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citibank) I use the one from Chase.
Like the others, it no longer offers dining credits at Priority Pass-participating airport restaurants and markets, but it does include participating spa, gaming and other activities.
The Club, New Orleans
The Club, Charleston - $500 annual hotel credit: for prepaid bookings of 2 nights or more made with The Edit. These reservations also include a $100 property credit; daily breakfast for two; upgrade (subject to availability) and more. Currently you receive a statement credit up to $250 from January through June and then again July through December. In 2026 it shifts to simply two credits per calendar year.
I especially like that The Edit bookings still earn points and stay credit with hotel loyalty programs, and that elite status benefits apply. That’s great for me with status in Hyatt, Marriott, IHG and GHA Discovery.
NH Collection Palazzo Dei Dogi, Venice - IHG Rewards Platinum Status cardmembers receive IHG One Rewards Platinum through December 31, 2027. That’s good for upgrades and late checkout (subject to availability) once you link your IHG account with Chase.
Intercontinental Tahiti - Unlock more with $75,000 spend earn Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List Status, IHG One Rewards Diamond status, a $500 Southwest travel credit for use through Chase’s portal, and a $250 Shops at Chase credit to spend. I think of the Southwest and Shops at Chase credits as an additional 1% rebate on spend, and the status is great for me (1) living in a city where Southwest flies 41% of the seats, and (2) because IHG Diamond is their top elite tier, and adds in benefits like breakfast.
- Purchase and return protection, plus extended warranty: A lot of cards have cut back coverages, but here you get the full slate – from theft/damage protection on purchases (subject to conditions) for 120 days; reimbursement for 90 days, up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year, on items a retailer won’t take back (subject to conditions); and an additional year on certain manufacturer warranties of three years or less.
- Primary rental car collision coverage: When you decline a rental car company’s collision damage waiver, this card covers you on vehicles up to a specified value and limit against collision and theft. And what’s great is that the coverage is primary so your insurance may not have to get involved at all. That’s a great reason to pay for the rental car with this card.
- Trip delay, trip cancellatin, and baggage coverage: More great reasons to pay for travel with this card because it triggers additional coverages. If you have to cut short or cancel a trip for covered reasons like illness or weather, you can get reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses.
If you face a delay of six hours or more, or an overnight stay, you can be covered for unreimbursed expenses up to $500 per ticket. Your baggage has coverage up to $3,000 per passenger against damage and loss. Meanwhile, delayed bags (over six hours) can provide reimbursement up to $100 per day for up to 5 days to make needed purchases of toiletries and clothes.
In all cases there are terms to the coverage and a period of time in which to submit claims along with required documentation.
At the end of the day, the Sapphire Reserve isn’t perfect—but with these 18 benefits, it’s once again a card I’ll reach for over and over.
Gary… tone deaf… TPG-style headline… CSR update is bad news bears… restriction of travel category… coupon credits… ugh… new Amex Platinum updates were far better.
This isn’t another IQ test is it? Heh, just playing – thanks for the summary, Gary. Nice to see all the benefits listed out everyone once in a while. Personally think the new Amex refresh is still better, but everyone’s mileage will certainly vary depending on their situation.
Sorry Gary, this isn’t it. I’ve read your content for a solid decade at this point, in part because you’ve always given solid impartial analysis of between competitors and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
However, the most recent spate of (fairly obviously) sponsored posts by Citi and Chase (especially when the Amex Platinum refresh has blown the Reserve’s refresh out of the water) really compromise that, and with that goes a big reason for me to read this blog.
I think that items 11 and 16-18 are the primary benefits now (typo in “cancellatin”), although would note there’s no longer primary rental car coverage in NY if you already have car insurance.
You can get value out of this card. It’s $795 – $300 easy to use travel credit = $495. You may get some value out of the other credits, you may not, YMMV. But if you are a frequent traveler and travel to/from airports with Chase lounges (they are very good lounges, and you actually get to bring 2 guests without $75k in spend unlike Amex) and value comprehensive travel insurance, the $495 may be justifiable. If you would otherwise buy Apple TV/Apple Music for ~$250 and buy ~$300 in stubhub tickets… you could recapture most of the remaining $495 without much effort.
Bottom line – unlike in 2016 when this was a KISS (keep it simple stupid) card that had broader appeal, this really is only worth it either a) for the SUB or b) if you are a frequent traveler that values lounge access and travel insurance protections. Same with Amex Platinum, although to many the Platinum refresh is simply much more compelling. For many who got this card when it had broader appeal, the CSR has gone from being an obvious “keeper” card to being on the bubble at best, and the loss in perceived / actual value is not great from an overall Chase brand perspective.
As a final note, JPM now has more Texas employees than NY employees. I find that pretty amazing, actually. I do think that shifts mindsets in terms of what credits people may find valuable and where they may find them valuable.
This is how far bloggers will go to keep the money flowing and keep advertisers/sponsors happy.
Right now Amex Platinum blows this card away. Chase screwed up and they will be making changes at some point.
Mentioning the SUB is pointless since for most people they already had it. So Gary is scrambling for some referral fees.
Except for Ben, and the people at Frequent Miler, most of these bloggers aren’t very honest.
@rich
check out Doctor of Credit (although they are in kahoots with this blog, VFTW, evidenced by their comment censorship patterns)
Huge redemption point value downgrade in exchange for a bunch of credits that I need to work to use. Really disappointed with the refresh and are looking at other options.
Still no Sub if you gave CSP?
@Gary. Do you actually book flights through Chase portal yourself? I hear changes to bookings can be difficult. What is your experience?
@rich – your take isn’t very good. Amex did a great job layering on credits, and covering the cost of the card. But outside of airfare would you ever consider actually, you know, spending money on the card that isn’t rebated to you with a statement credit? Whereas 4x on air + hotel direct, 3x on dining and 8x on air through their portal actually makes this attractive for.. spending.
And just because you like Amex’s refresh better doesn’t mean this one isn’t worthwhile for many.
@Robert – I’m giving my honest take here, and folks are free to disagree – and share why here in the comments!
@Peter — Getting a little in the weeds here, but on your final paragraph: As to location strategy, JPM is nearly finished building their new headquarters (270 Park Ave) in Midtown. I wonder if they’ll further consolidate their big-time corporate offices (they basically gave up their old building Downtown, 28 Liberty.) At this point, none of these banks really need satellite offices in places like Jersey City, Brooklyn, etc., when their ‘tech,’ like many other corporations, is basically all done in India these days. I think if these folks want their stock to increase even further, they’ll just layoff a lot of US-based support staff, close unnecessary real estate, and blame ‘AI’ while they do it. I’d expect the same from Citi, BofA, Wells, Amex, CapOne, Barclays, Schwab, etc. Sure, they’ll have random secondary locations like Goldman did with Marcus and Salt Lake City, but it won’t be high-paid white collar corporate gigs. If find these changes and their implications very interesting. Not necessarily good for workers or consumers, but, probably great for the ‘top,’ as usual.
How do the travel protection benefits compare between the Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum? Are you required to pay for your entire trip door-to-door (flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, etc) with the same card? Or can you charge just the cruise, for example, and limit credit card coverage to that segment only?