This one Chase card helped me save thousands on a ...

I nearly closed the browser tab.

Not as a result of I did not need to go to Paris, however as a result of I had simply priced flights for 2 adults and an toddler throughout Roland-Garros (the French Open), and the overall was approaching $7,000 — for economic system.

Planning my son’s first worldwide journey throughout the pond wasn’t precisely shaping as much as be a budget-friendly getaway. Thankfully, I had different instruments at my disposal to carry the fee down.

I not too long ago added the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) to my pockets, thanks partly to its highest-ever public welcome offer: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

As I regarded again on the flights, lodge and card advantages I used for the journey, I noticed the cardboard’s full welcome bonus and assertion credit have been sufficient to cowl practically the complete trip, from peak-season flights to a luxurious lodge keep in Paris. All instructed, I saved over $8,000.

Here is how.

Why this 150,000-point supply caught my consideration

I’ve traditionally carried the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and by no means felt notably compelled to improve.

Nonetheless, after Chase up to date its Sapphire eligibility rules, I turned eligible for the Sapphire Reserve simply in time for the cardboard’s best-ever public welcome bonus.

150,000 Chase Final Rewards factors are value $3,075 in keeping with our June 2026 valuations. However I knew I may make it stretch even additional due to the magic of switch companions.

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Associated: Who are the Chase Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners?

How I diminished practically $7,000 in airfare to lower than $1,000

We had a brief window to work with. My husband solely had a couple of days off, and his brother was already planning to be in Europe across the identical time, giving us a uncommon alternative to overlap our journeys.

The problem? Our dates coincided with Roland-Garros, so airfare was already elevated.

Once I began pricing money flights from Miami to Paris for 2 adults and an toddler, I skilled a little bit of sticker shock.

Thankfully, Chase Ultimate Rewards factors switch to 10 airline companions at a 1:1 ratio, giving me some choices for award house.

After spending a while on Seats.aero, I discovered round-trip flights from Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) that labored for our schedule.

My itinerary would have value $6,968 if I had booked it in money.

As a substitute, I paid $974.18 in taxes and costs.

Miami to Paris on Air France

For the outbound flight, I booked Air France-operated flights by means of Flying Blue.

The itinerary value:

• 51,000 Flying Blue miles for 2 adults in Financial system Consolation
• $278.60 in taxes and costs
• $78 for my lap toddler

As a result of Chase was providing a 20% transfer bonus to Flying Blue on the time, I solely wanted to switch 43,000 Final Rewards factors. The switch bonus provided the remaining 8,600 miles.

The identical itinerary would have value 105,000 miles by means of Delta SkyMiles, making Flying Blue (and having transferable rewards) the clear winner.

The money worth for these flights was $3,145, so I redeemed my factors at a worth of 5.5 cents.

Paris to Miami on Air France, booked by means of Virgin Atlantic

The return flight turned out to be an excellent higher deal.

As a substitute of reserving instantly by means of Flying Blue, I booked Air France-operated flights by means of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

The redemption value:

• 24,000 Virgin Atlantic factors for 2 adults in Financial system Consolation
• 1,000 Virgin Atlantic factors for one lap toddler
• $617.58 in taxes and costs

Had I booked the very same flights by means of Flying Blue, the value would have been 113,000 miles (thanks, Seats.aero!).

In different phrases, reserving the very same Air France flight by means of a unique companion saved me roughly 88,000 factors. That is the type of distinction that may make or break a redemption, and one of many causes I by no means switch factors till I’ve checked a number of applications.

Associated: The same flight, half the miles: Making this award booking mistake could cost you

The money worth for these flights was $3,823.29, so I redeemed my factors at a whopping 12.8 cents.

By the point my spherical journey was booked, I had spent:

• 68,000 whole Chase factors
• $974.18 in taxes and costs (and the infant)

These flights in any other case would’ve value practically $7,000.

My first luxurious lodge stick with The Edit

I am crew finances journey about 95% of the time.

However from time to time, the numbers line up in a method that makes a luxurious keep laborious to go up. And for Paris, the maths was positively mathing.

Utilizing Factors Enhance and assertion credit

By means of Chase Travel℠, I discovered the Kimpton St Honoré Paris, which was a part of each The Edit and IHG One Rewards, thus making it eligible for 3 totally different assertion credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve

*Eligible on pay as you go bookings by means of Chase Journey of two nights or extra

As well as, this property additionally has Points Boost.

Here is how the maths broke down:

Not unhealthy for a luxurious lodge in Paris throughout one of many metropolis’s busiest weeks.

Associated: Updated Sapphire Reserve hotel benefits live: New $250 credit and more flexible The Edit credits

The lodge perks added much more worth

Reserving by means of The Edit additionally unlocked a number of extra advantages, together with:

• Each day breakfast for 2
• As much as $100 on-property credit score
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Potential room improve
• Early check-in and late checkout when obtainable

Breakfast alone turned out to be one in all my favourite perks.

The unfold included pastries, breads, sliced and cooked meats, eggs made to order, and limitless specialty coffees and sizzling chocolate. Had we paid out of pocket, breakfast would have value 84 euros per day for 2 folks.

We have been upgraded to a king mattress with a balcony, which was about $200 extra an evening than our unique booked room, and we used our $100 on-property credit score on room service and drinks on the lodge.

In whole, this was nearly $700 value of extra worth.

The Sapphire Reserve perks I used alongside the best way

I used to be additionally capable of reap the benefits of a number of Sapphire Reserve advantages exterior of my lodge assertion credit, together with:

• Precedence Cross lounge entry at Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
• Trusted traveler advantages (as much as $120 in credit each 4 years for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus)
• Lyft credit score for my journey to the airport (as much as $10 every month by means of Sept. 30, 2027; doesn’t apply to Wait & Save, bike or scooter rides)
• Elevated incomes charges on my bookings and eating
• No overseas transaction charges

Whereas welcome bonuses are inclined to get a lot of the consideration, these ongoing advantages can add significant worth all year long.

Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the annual fee?

The massive image: What can 150,000 Chase factors get you?

In my case, 150,000 factors acquired our household of three from Miami to Paris and again in Financial system Consolation and helped offset a luxurious two-night keep in Paris that will have in any other case value 1000’s of {dollars}.

It may additionally get you:

Associated: 10 best ways to redeem 150,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Backside line

What initially regarded like a visit I could not justify reserving turned a reminder of how priceless transferable factors will be when paired with the fitting switch companions and card advantages.

Certainly one of my favourite points of this redemption was that it mixed each sensible and aspirational journey.

Many vacationers see a six-figure welcome bonus and instantly take into consideration first-class flights or overwater villas.

I needed to see what that bonus may do for a real-world household journey.

Final probability Sapphire Reserve: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

By leveraging switch companions, benefiting from a switch bonus and stacking Chase Sapphire Reserve advantages, I used to be capable of dramatically scale back the price of what would have in any other case been a really costly journey to Paris throughout one of many metropolis’s busiest journey intervals.

With the present 150,000-point supply scheduled to finish June 15 at 9 a.m. ET, vacationers nonetheless have a restricted window to earn the very best public welcome bonus we have seen on the Sapphire Reserve.

To study extra, learn our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.