For nearly a decade, the *chase sapphire reserve* has held its own as one of the top premium travel cards on the market.
But what about now, after the bank rolled out big changes? The new-look Sapphire Reserve touts up to $2,700 in value with its laundry list of statement credits and travel benefits, but with an annual fee of $795, it's not for everyone.
That higher price tag unlocks a slew of premium travel benefits, starting with an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit that effectively cuts the annual fee down to $495. You also get access to Chase's growing list of Sapphire Lounges, an annual $500 hotel credit through Chase's “The Edit℠” portfolio of properties, an annual $300 Chase Dining credit, up to a $120 credit for NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck, top-notch travel insurance, and much more.
But best of all, the card now comes with a big welcome bonus: 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 in three months + a one-time statement credit of $500 to spend through Chase Travel℠.
Read on for everything you need to know about Chase's top travel credit card.
Learn more about the *chase sapphire reserve*.
Full Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
First launched in 2016, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is widely considered the superior sibling to the *chase sapphire preferred*, Chase's original foray into travel rewards credit cards. To this day, it's still one of the best travel rewards credit cards on the market – and a case could be made that the recent changes made it even better.
Here's a rundown of the full list of benefits.
Sign-Up Bonus
Here is what's currently at stake: bonus_miles_full
Complimentary Airport Lounge Access
For starters, the Sapphire Reserve is your ticket into the growing list of Chase Sapphire-branded lounges. Over the last couple of years, Chase has been playing catch-up with American Express and lapping Capital One with its network of lounges.
These aren't your average, run-of-the-mill airport lounges, either. Chase has upped the ante with each new lounge it debuts: The designs are all chic and spacious, the complimentary food and drinks are a big step above your typical airport club, and many feature upscale amenities like showers and wellness areas.
As of publication, Chase has 10 lounge locations already open or in the works:
- Boston (BOS) between Terminals B and C: Now open
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) in Terminal D by gate 35
- Hong Kong (HKG) in Terminal 1: Now open
- Las Vegas (LAS) in the C Concourse
- Los Angeles (LAX) in the Tom Bradley International Terminal
- New York City-LaGuardia (LGA) in Terminal B: Now open
- New York City (JFK) in Terminal 4: Now open
- Philadelphia (PHL) in Terminal D/E connector
- Phoenix (PHX) in Terminal 4: Now open
- San Diego (SAN) in Terminal 2: Now open
While it's not officially dubbed a Sapphire Lounge, Chase also shares a space with Etihad at Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD).
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get complimentary access for themselves and two guests at all these lounges.
The card also comes with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gives you free access to an additional 1,300-plus airport lounges around the world. You can also bring up to two guests into these lounges for free.
Priority Pass lounges can be a bit of a mixed bag: Some are great, while others are fairly lackluster. But no matter what, it's a better place to relax before your flight than the terminal, grabbing a quick snack or a drink for free.
Unfortunately, you can no longer access airport restaurants and dine for free with a Priority Pass membership through Chase.
Statement Credits
$300 Annual Travel Credit
The Reserve Card carries an incredibly lucrative benefit that easily cuts its annual fee in half – and then some.
Each year, Chase automatically reimburses you for up to $300 in purchases that code as travel. Whether that is a taxi, Uber, hotel, plane ticket, cruise, or any other travel expense, $300 is right back in your pocket, effectively reducing the annual fee to $495.
You don't book through Chase Travel or jump through any hoops like other cards. Just spend on travel, pay with your Sapphire Reserve, and the $300 credit kicks in automatically.
$500 “The Edit” Hotel Credit
Sapphire Reserve cardholders get up to $250 in statement credits for prepaid, “The Edit” hotel bookings to use from January to June, and again from July to December, up to $500 per year.
This new hotel collection from Chase offers a curated set of upscale properties, similar to Amex's Fine Hotels + Resorts®. In addition to the card's semi-annual credit, you'll also get added benefits like complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit, possible upgrades, and more. However, you must book at least a two-night stay for the credits to kick in.
Just keep in mind: This credit is only for the primary cardholder, requires a two-night minimum stay, and the credited amount won't earn any points. Still, it's a nice benefit with some really valuable perks. Being able to save up to $250, twice per year, at one of these properties will go a long way toward justifying the card's annual fee.
$300 Dining Credit
With the Sapphire Reserve, you'll get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and again from July through December, for a maximum of $300 annually, for dining at restaurants that are part of our “Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.”
You'll mostly find eligible restaurants in major cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, but even some mid-sized cities like Charleston, Minneapolis, Nashville, Denver, and more have a handful of restaurants where you can use this credit. Since these restaurants skew higher end, you should have no trouble using your semi-annual $150 credit up in one fell swoop … or over multiple visits.
$300 DoorDash Credit & Complimentary DashPass
Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a $5 per month discount on DoorDash restaurant orders and two monthly coupons of up to $10 off on grocery, convenience, and other non-restaurant orders through Dec. 31, 2027.
These promos must be applied at checkout when placing an order on DoorDash using the Sapphire Reserve card enrolled in DashPass. Unfortunately, if you don't get around to using one of your promos, it won't carry over to the next month.
You'll also get a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, providing free delivery access and lower platform fees. Just be sure to activate this benefit by Dec. 31, 2027, and it'll be good for a minimum of one year.
$300 StubHub Credit
You now get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and again from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually for StubHub and viagogo purchases through Dec. 31, 2027.
If you regularly attend live events like concerts, sports, or even theater and comedy shows, this credit should be pretty easy to use and help you get some value back out of your card's high annual fee.
$120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS Credit
With the Sapphire Reserve, you can receive up to $120 in credit once every four years to cover the cost of Global Entry, or $78 for TSA PreCheck. The Sapphire Reserve also offers an application credit for NEXUS.
Membership in these programs lasts for five years, so you're set with this credit. And since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, it's the obvious choice if you're planning any international travel.
Read our guide to enrolling in Global Entry!
$120 Lyft Credit
Sapphire Reserve cardholders get access to up to $10 in monthly Lyft credits (up to $120 per year) to use on rides – plus earn 5x total points on your purchase – through Sept. 30, 2027. Unfortunately, these credits are use-them-or-lose-them, so if you don't use rideshare services on a regular basis, you won't be able to stack the credits for a pricier ride later.
Complimentary Apple TV+ & Apple Music Subscription
You'll now get a complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscription for holding the Sapphire Reserve card (through June 22, 2027). If you're already paying for one (or both) of these services, that's an annual value of $250.
With tons of original content and access to music across all your devices, this will no doubt prove to be a valuable benefit for many.
One thing to note about this credit is that it's not valid for Apple One subscriptions or even family subscriptions of Apple Music or Apple TV+.
$120 Peloton Credit
Get $10 in statement credits per month on eligible Peloton memberships through Dec. 31, 2027, for a maximum of $120 per year (activation required). Plus, you'll earn 10x total points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through Dec. 31, 2027.
This is likely the least useful credit of all the new perks you get with the Sapphire Reserve, but if you're already paying for a Peloton membership, saving $10 per month isn't nothing.
Travel Protections
Primary Car Rental Insurance
When you charge your car rental to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can simply decline the insurance from the rental company and be covered up to $75,000 for theft and/or collision damage.
Just note that this is not liability insurance: It will not cover medical bills, damage to another vehicle, or damage to property.
Read more: All About the Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance Benefit
Roadside Assistance
Receive 24-hour towing assistance (up to $50), 24-hour lockout assistance (up to $50), up to two gallons of fuel delivery, and flat tire changing service, all included with your card membership.
Related reading: Car Broke Down? Your Travel Credit Card Might Have Roadside Assistance
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
If you check your bags and they’re delayed more than six hours, the card will reimburse you up to $100 per day for up to five days. This coverage is meant to provide reimbursement for essential items like toiletries, clothing, and cell phone charging cables, for example.
Trip Delay & Cancellation Coverage
The card will reimburse you for any delay lasting six or more hours. Cardholders will be covered along with their spouse or domestic partner and any dependent children under the age of 22 for up to $500 for each purchased ticket.
Read more: A Firsthand Experience With Chase's Trip Delay Insurance
Medical Evacuation & Travel Accident Coverage
The card provides coverage up to $1,000,000 for accidental death or dismemberment, or a combined loss of speech, sight, or hearing, experienced on a covered trip. Benefits are available when some portion of a trip has been purchased with the card or with Ultimate Rewards points earned on the card.
The card will also provide coverage for a medical evacuation. If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.
Earning Points
Earn 8x Points On Travel Booked Through Chase
When you book travel through Chase Travel, you'll earn 8x points per dollar spent on flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, excursions, and more.
Earn 4x Points On Flights and Hotels Booked Direct
If you prefer to book flights and hotels directly with the airline or hotel, you'll earn 4x points on those purchases.
Earn 3x Points at Restaurants Worldwide
You will earn 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining at restaurants worldwide – and you'll earn 1x point per dollar on all other spending.
Redeeming Ultimate Rewards Points
One of the best parts about the Chase Sapphire Reserve is that it gives you multiple ways to redeem your points for travel.
Using the Chase Travel Portal
The first option is perfect for beginners. With the Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth even more – up to 2 cents each – on rotating offers through Chase Travel. Cardmembers can use Points Boost to maximize the value of their points on premium air cabin tickets and select hotels, including The Edit by Chase Travel.
For example, if you're looking to book an extra-legroom Economy Plus ticket on United and see one of these offers available, you could redeem just 23,798 Chase Ultimate Rewards instead of paying the $417 cash rate the airline is charging, getting you 1.75 cents for each of your points.
Meanwhile, booking a first class ticket would get you an even better return on your points – just under 48,000 in total – at a rate of 2 cents each. Since your points are worth more for premium cabin bookings, it would actually cost you fewer points to book economy plus or first class with one of these offers, when all other redemptions are worth a flat 1 cent each.
Note: The screenshots above show a redemption rate of 1.5 cents each for “Economy” and “Economy Fully Refundable” because I have a legacy Sapphire Reserve card.
If you got your Sapphire Reserve before June 23, 2025, you can also redeem any points earned before Oct. 26, 2025, for 1.5 cents each on all travel through the portal. This option will be going away entirely come late October 2027.
Best of all, you still earn miles when booking flights this way. That makes it one of our favorite ways to book cheap flight deals, like the ones we send our Thrifty Traveler Premium members!
Transfer Points to Travel Partners
If you want to get even more value out of your points, look into transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to more than a dozen airlines and hotel chains. This is the key to booking amazing travel, including business and first-class flights.
Here's the full list of Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners:
| Program | Type | Transfer Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Air France/KLM | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| British Airways | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Emirates | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Iberia Plus | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| JetBlue | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Singapore Air | Airline | 1:1 | 12-24 hours |
| Southwest Airlines | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| United Airlines | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Virgin Atlantic | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| World of Hyatt | Hotel | 1:1 | Instant |
| IHG | Hotel | 1:1 | 1 day |
| Marriott Rewards | Hotel | 1:1 | 2 days |
There are plenty of ways to squeeze good value out of these points via transfer partners, including flying business and first-class or staying in all-inclusive resorts for free thanks to Chase's partnership with Hyatt.
See our top ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards Points.
Is the Sapphire Reserve Worth It?
While the card does have a $795 annual fee, it offers an easy-to-use $300 travel credit that should help most travelers recoup a big chunk of that. In that case, viewing this as a $495 annual fee travel card is more appropriate. If you wouldn't ordinarily spend $300 per year on travel, this card simply isn't for you.
For $495 each year, you'll get an annual $500 “The Edit” hotel credit, $300 Chase Dining credit, Chase Sapphire and Priority Pass lounge access, a credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS, and much more. Points can be redeemed for up to 2 cents each in value with Points Boost offers through Chase Travel, and you also get some of the best travel protections of any card on the market.
While carrying the card has a real cost, these benefits will far outweigh it for many travelers.
Still, if Chase Sapphire Lounge access isn't important to you, other cards like the *venture x*, offer a similar set of perks and benefits at a much lower price point.
Read more: Is the Sapphire Reserve Still Worth the Annual Fee?
Bottom Line
The *chase sapphire reserve* has long been one of the best premium travel credit cards on the market – and for many that still hasn't changed.
With great bonus categories to earn more points on travel and everyday expenses, and benefits like lounge access and an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit and so much more, this card can easily be worth its $795 annual fee.
Learn more about the *chase sapphire reserve*.
