My buddy flashed me a brand new bank card and stated, “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 individuals 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 charge, new advantages and adjustments to the incomes charges, this card continues to be my go-to journey card.
This card has supplied me with immense worth all through my factors and miles journey. Listed below are all of the the explanation why I am going to 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 spanking new candidates) had comparable annual charges, however of all of them, I discovered the Reserve’s annual charge to be the best to justify given its advantages.
The data 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 charge of $795, as an current 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 could 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 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 charge value it.
The $395 annual charge connected to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card makes the cardboard a extra reasonably priced various to the Sapphire Reserve, however the restriction on its travel credit and lack of different assertion credit generally is a turnoff for those who 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 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 precious 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, due to the benefit of incomes them and the flexibility to switch them to top-notch companions.
Certainly, my most utilized switch companion is Air Canada Aeroplan. The breadth of airways inside Star Alliance — together with Turkish Airlines, which was the provider I flew for one in every 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 reap the benefits 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 value between $4,000 and $9,000.
On the resort facet, World of Hyatt has arguably among 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 provides advantages which might be simple 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 provides a spread 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 provides 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 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 precious 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 prime purpose I’d by no means cancel my card. I used to be excited to be taught that the refresh stored this precious 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 routinely will get utilized to your account for all kinds of journey purchases. For instance, I’ve used my $300 assertion credit score to cowl every part from airfare and resort expenses 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 break up into two $250 biannual assertion credit for pay as you go bookings of at the very least two nights. In comparison with Amex Platinum’s $200 annual hotel credit (on pay as you go bookings solely inside the Tremendous Resorts + Resorts and The Resort Assortment properties; two-night minimal reserving required for The Resort 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 inns than Amex Platinum. Coupled with the versatile $300 assertion credit score, for those who maximize these perks, you will recoup your total annual charge yr after yr.
Precious way of life and eating credit
The next assertion credit are progressive, difficult the Sapphire Reserve’s greatest rival, the Amex Platinum. These really feel extra tailor-made than what the Amex Platinum at present provides and needs to 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 via 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 via OpenTable (break up into two $150 biannual credit routinely 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 via June 22, 2027 (one-time activation per service is required via chase.com or the Chase Cellular app).
Having complimentary entry to lounges streamlines my journey
For me, the flexibility to entry lounges is an effective way to go the time at airports all over the world, because it lets me replenish in a snug setting for no extra value. 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 generally is a sluggish, 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 shortly turn into a powerful 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 current 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 company in tow — on future journeys.
Associated: How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access
Backside line
As a cheerful Sapphire Reserve cardholder for practically a decade, I do not see myself downgrading or canceling my card anytime quickly, even after the refresh and annual charge enhance. The versatile annual journey assertion credit score, new easy-to-redeem assertion credit, spectacular roster of switch companions and rising Sapphire lounge community maintain the cardboard a must have 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.
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