My good friend flashed me a brand new bank card and mentioned, “That is the most recent one; it is a should.” It was September 2016 and my first encounter with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). On the time, I solely held a cash-back credit card and a cobranded airline credit card, however I took his phrases to coronary heart.
Practically a decade later, the Chase Sapphire Reserve nonetheless holds a particular place in my pockets, because it was my first transferable currency credit card.
A number of staffers at TPG have the Sapphire Reserve, however many even have the ever-popular Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees). Whereas there are legitimate explanation why some individuals cancel or downgrade their Sapphire Reserve, the concept of eliminating mine has by no means crossed my thoughts. Even after the cardboard’s massive refresh with an elevated annual charge, new advantages and adjustments to the incomes charges, this card remains to be my go-to journey card.
This card has offered me with immense worth all through my factors and miles journey. Listed below are all of the explanation why I will by no means cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve.
The annual charge is justified
After I initially utilized for the cardboard in 2016, the Sapphire Reserve had a $450 annual charge. On the time, different top-tier playing cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Citi Prestige® Card (not out there for brand new candidates) had comparable annual charges, however of all of them, I discovered the Reserve’s annual charge to be the simplest to justify given its advantages.
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Regardless of the Sapphire Reserve’s new annual charge of $795, as an present cardholder, I’ve till my renewal date in December earlier than I pay the brand new charge. Plus, I get entry to the cardboard’s new perks beginning Oct. 26. The brand new charge might shock most because it surpasses the Amex Platinum’s $695 annual charge (see rates and fees).
I worth a bank card’s annual charge in relation to its advantages, and fortunately, the Sapphire Reserve’s new assertion credit really feel much less like coupon-book-style assertion credit. For present and new cardholders, each the present and up to date credit do not require an excessive amount of effort. For me, this makes the funding of the annual charge value it.
The $395 annual charge hooked up to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card makes the cardboard a extra inexpensive different to the Sapphire Reserve, however the restriction on its travel credit and lack of different assertion credit could be a turnoff should you worth flexibility; that is another excuse the Sapphire Reserve is a winner in my e-book.
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Associated: Are premium credit cards worth the annual fee?
The switch companions are extraordinarily helpful
The Sapphire Reserve has a number of airline and lodge companions, together with many throughout the three airline alliances (Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance), plus home applications like Southwest Rapid Rewards.
The latter has been notably helpful when touring within the U.S., saving me hundreds of {dollars} on last-minute bookings. I have been capable of safe one-way airfare utilizing my Southwest factors for as little as 6,000 factors between John Wayne Airport (SNA) and Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN).
Based mostly on my spending habits, the Sapphire Reserve helps me accrue factors quicker than the Sapphire Preferred — one other Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card — and has the identical switch companions.
In consequence, in 2024 alone, I redeemed over 300,000 Chase Final Rewards factors, because of the benefit of incomes them and the power to switch them to top-notch companions.
No doubt, my most utilized switch associate is Air Canada Aeroplan. The breadth of airways inside Star Alliance — together with Turkish Airlines, which was the service I flew for certainly one of my favourite redemptions (a visit from the U.S. to Istanbul for 70,000 miles one-way in enterprise class) — coupled with an award chart with a number of sweet spots makes this system a no brainer.
I additionally love the number of Avios switch companions with the Sapphire Reserve. Because of British Airways and Qatar Airways each utilizing Avios, I make the most of my linked accounts to transfer Avios. This helps me fly Qatar Airways’ impressive Qsuite between the U.S. and the Center East for under 75,000 Avios, which might ordinarily price between $4,000 and $9,000.
On the lodge facet, World of Hyatt has arguably a number of the finest redemption rates, which sweetens the deal on Chase’s nice vary of switch companions. With some nightly charges in Europe for Park Hyatt properties costing as a lot as $1,100, I’ve saved hundreds of {dollars} by reserving award nights for 50,000 factors an evening.
Associated: Who are the Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners? Everything to know
It gives advantages which might be straightforward to get pleasure from
Earlier than the cardboard’s refresh, and even now, I discover the Chase Sapphire Reserve to be one of the vital simple bank cards for utilizing advantages. The overwhelming majority of the advantages don’t require enrollment, a ache level for Amex cardmembers, and there aren’t a ton of restrictions to fret about.
As talked about earlier, the cardboard’s new assertion credit really feel much less like a coupon e-book than these of the Amex Platinum for a number of causes. First, the Amex Platinum gives a variety of assertion credit, from way of life to journey, whereas the Sapphire Reserve’s new advantages revolve round journey and leisure.
For instance, the Amex Platinum gives as much as $300 credit per calendar year for Equinox and another $300 SoulCycle at-home bike credit (on eligible U.S. memberships and purchases). For my part, these assertion credit do not apply to nearly all of cardmembers, together with myself, as I’ve by no means had a necessity for the SoulCycle credit score as a cardmember. Enrollment is required for choose Amex Platinum advantages.
Different perks on the cardboard are primarily utilized by cardmembers just because they’re supplied and never as a result of the common particular person wants that particular profit.
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Versatile journey assertion credit score
One of many Sapphire Reserve’s most dear perks is its $300 statement credit for travel purchases, which is simple to make use of and primarily covers something that codes as journey. This credit score is a high purpose I’d by no means cancel my card. I used to be excited to study that the refresh stored this helpful assertion credit score.
As a result of Chase has a broad view of what qualifies as a travel expense, the Sapphire Reserve’s annual assertion credit score robotically will get utilized to your account for all kinds of journey purchases. For instance, I’ve used my $300 assertion credit score to cowl all the things from airfare and lodge prices to coach tickets, parking meters and even tolls.
Associated: How to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 annual travel credit to save on travel
Hefty lodge assertion credit score
Along with the cardboard’s beneficiant $300 journey credit score, the Sapphire Reserve now comes with an as much as $500 annual assertion credit score for reservations made by way of The Edit by Chase Journey℠.
This credit score is break up into two $250 biannual assertion credit for pay as you go bookings of at the least two nights. In comparison with Amex Platinum’s $200 annual hotel credit (on pay as you go bookings solely inside the Superb Lodges + Resorts and The Lodge Assortment properties; two-night minimal reserving required for The Lodge Assortment), this assertion credit score on the Sapphire Reserve is the clear winner.
Regardless of the credit score being biannual and requiring a minimal two-night keep, it nonetheless offers cardholders $300 extra towards motels than Amex Platinum. Coupled with the versatile $300 assertion credit score, should you maximize these perks, you may recoup your complete annual charge yr after yr.
Beneficial way of life and eating credit
The next assertion credit are revolutionary, difficult the Sapphire Reserve’s largest rival, the Amex Platinum. These really feel extra tailor-made than what the Amex Platinum at the moment gives and must be pretty easy to redeem.
These advantages embody:
- StubHub or Viagogo credit score: An as much as $300 annual assertion credit score for live performance and occasion tickets by means of Dec. 2027 (break up into two $150 biannual credit; activation required).
- Eating credit score: As much as $300 annual eating credit score and primetime reservations at Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables by means of OpenTable (break up into two $150 biannual credit robotically utilized inside the Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables program).
- Apple TV+ and Apple Music profit: Valued as much as $250, an Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscription by means of June 22, 2027 (one-time activation per service is required by means of chase.com or the Chase Cellular app).
Having complimentary entry to lounges streamlines my journey
For me, the power to entry lounges is an effective way to cross the time at airports all over the world, because it lets me refill in a cushty setting for no further price. That is very true once I journey with my household as a result of ordering meals for a number of individuals from an airport restaurant could be a sluggish, cumbersome course of.
Whereas most premium bank cards these days embody a Priority Pass membership, which is nice to have, the most recent development is for card issuers to offer access to their own lounges. Chase has not solely joined this development however has rapidly develop into a robust competitor on this space.
As of March 2025, Chase has eight Sapphire lounges globally, together with the not too long ago opened Sapphire Lounge by The Club at PHL in Philadelphia. With two extra openings already within the pipeline, Chase’s quickly rising lounge presence is another excuse to maintain the cardboard open.
Traditionally, I’ve had restricted probabilities to expertise Chase’s Sapphire lounges outdoors of a latest journey to Hong Kong since I am primarily based on the West Coast. However with a new opening at San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN) and another planned for Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), I am trying ahead to maximizing this profit extra — with two complimentary visitors in tow — on future journeys.
Associated: How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access
Backside line
As a contented Sapphire Reserve cardholder for almost a decade, I do not see myself downgrading or canceling my card anytime quickly, even after the refresh and annual charge improve. The versatile annual journey assertion credit score, new easy-to-redeem assertion credit, spectacular roster of switch companions and rising Sapphire lounge community hold the cardboard vital for my pockets, even with its $795 annual charge.
For extra data, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on here.