My buddy flashed me a brand new bank card and mentioned, “That is the newest 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.
Almost 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 the explanation why some folks cancel or downgrade their Sapphire Reserve, the thought of eliminating mine has by no means crossed my thoughts. Even after the cardboard’s massive refresh with an elevated annual payment, new advantages and modifications to the incomes charges, this card remains to be my go-to journey card.
This card has supplied me with immense worth all through my factors and miles journey. Listed here are all of the the explanation why I will by no means cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve.
The annual payment is justified
After I initially utilized for the cardboard in 2016, the Sapphire Reserve had a $450 annual payment. On the time, different top-tier playing cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Citi Prestige® Card (now not accessible for brand new candidates) had comparable annual charges, however of all of them, I discovered the Reserve’s annual payment to be the best to justify given its advantages.
The knowledge for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Regardless of the Sapphire Reserve’s new annual payment of $795, as an current cardholder, I’ve till my renewal date in December earlier than I pay the brand new payment. Plus, I get entry to the cardboard’s new perks beginning Oct. 26. The brand new payment might shock most because it surpasses the Amex Platinum’s $695 annual payment (see rates and fees).
I worth a bank card’s annual payment 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 current 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 payment price it.
The $395 annual payment connected to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card makes the cardboard a extra reasonably priced different to the Sapphire Reserve, however the restriction on its travel credit and lack of different assertion credit is usually a turnoff in case you worth flexibility; that is one more reason the Sapphire Reserve is a winner in my guide.
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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 resort 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 useful when touring within the U.S., saving me 1000’s 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).
Primarily based on my spending habits, the Sapphire Reserve helps me accrue factors sooner than the Sapphire Preferred — one other Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card — and has the identical switch companions.
Consequently, in 2024 alone, I redeemed over 300,000 Chase Final Rewards factors, because of the benefit of incomes them and the flexibility to switch them to top-notch companions.
Undoubtedly, 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 benefit from 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 resort aspect, World of Hyatt has arguably among the greatest 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 1000’s 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 can be simple to take pleasure in
Earlier than the cardboard’s refresh, and even now, I discover the Chase Sapphire Reserve to be one of the 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 guide 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). In my view, 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 basically utilized by cardmembers just because they’re provided and never as a result of the common individual wants that particular profit.
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Versatile journey assertion credit score
One of many Sapphire Reserve’s most beneficial perks is its $300 statement credit for travel purchases, which is straightforward to make use of and basically covers something that codes as journey. This credit score is a high cause I’d by no means cancel my card. I used to be excited to be taught that the refresh stored this useful 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 types of journey purchases. For instance, I’ve used my $300 assertion credit score to cowl every little thing from airfare and resort fees 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 resort 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 through The Edit by Chase Journey℠.
This credit score is cut up into two $250 biannual assertion credit for pay as you go bookings of a minimum of two nights. In comparison with Amex Platinum’s $200 annual hotel credit (on pay as you go bookings solely throughout the Superb Accommodations + 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 provides cardholders $300 extra towards motels than Amex Platinum. Coupled with the versatile $300 assertion credit score, in case you maximize these perks, you may recoup your complete annual payment yr after yr.
Priceless way of life and eating credit
The next assertion credit are progressive, difficult the Sapphire Reserve’s largest rival, the Amex Platinum. These really feel extra tailor-made than what the Amex Platinum presently gives and must be pretty easy to redeem.
These advantages embrace:
- 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 (cut 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 (cut up into two $150 biannual credit robotically utilized throughout 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 flexibility to entry lounges is a good way to cross the time at airports world wide, because it lets me replenish in a snug setting for no extra price. That is very true after I journey with my household as a result of ordering meals for a number of folks from an airport restaurant is usually a gradual, cumbersome course of.
Whereas most premium bank cards these days embrace a Priority Pass membership, which is nice to have, the newest development is for card issuers to offer access to their own lounges. Chase has not solely joined this development however has rapidly grow to be a powerful competitor on this space.
As of March 2025, Chase has eight Sapphire lounges globally, together with the just lately 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 one more reason to maintain the cardboard open.
Traditionally, I’ve had restricted probabilities to expertise Chase’s Sapphire lounges exterior of a current journey to Hong Kong since I am based mostly 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 wanting 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 payment 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 a must have for my pockets, even with its $795 annual payment.
For extra info, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on here.
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