The Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) are two of our all-time favourite journey rewards bank cards.
Each playing cards are nice for these trying to earn invaluable Chase Final Rewards factors, however that is the place the overlap ends. The Sapphire Most popular is a well-liked mid-tier journey card however lacks lots of the premium perks supplied by its huge sibling, the Sapphire Reserve.
The Sapphire Reserve has a $795 annual payment, $700 greater than the $95 annual payment of the Sapphire Most popular. With the latest Sapphire Reserve refresh, now you can maintain each playing cards without delay, however simply because you possibly can doesn’t suggest it is best to.
Listed below are six compelling causes to think about upgrading your Sapphire Most popular to the Sapphire Reserve.
Airport lounge entry
Lounge entry is a pleasant strategy to escape the hustle and bustle of the terminal. Lounges present complimentary meals and drinks, cozy seating, workspaces, and the occasional bathe.
Whereas the Sapphire Most popular does not provide any lounge entry, you may get into the next lounges with the Sapphire Reserve:
- Chase Sapphire lounges: Cardholders obtain entry for themselves and two complimentary friends into Chase Sapphire lounges. These lounges are wonderful and rival American Specific’ Centurion Lounges in high quality. There are at present eight lounges open, with confirmed plans for 3 extra on the best way.
- Precedence Cross lounges: Cardholders can enter over 1,700 Precedence Cross lounges worldwide and convey two complimentary friends ($27 per particular person for extra friends after the primary two).
- Choose Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges: When flying on a Star Alliance service, cardholders can enter over 20 Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges and usher in one complimentary visitor.
Plus, licensed customers on Chase Sapphire Reserve accounts (every costing $195 per yr) can enter Sapphire lounges and obtain a full Precedence Cross membership.
Associated: Your information to Chase’s journey insurance coverage protection
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Improved journey delay insurance coverage
From firsthand expertise, this insurance coverage actually issues, particularly when your journey is delayed.
The Sapphire Most popular gives as much as $500 per ticket for delays of at the very least 12 hours or these requiring an in a single day keep. The Sapphire Reserve gives the identical $500 protection quantity, however it kicks in after simply six hours.
After a delay of six hours, you might be reimbursed for important gadgets like meals, transportation, a lodge keep and toiletries it’s possible you’ll want due to your delay.
Associated: Must you get journey insurance coverage when you’ve got bank card safety?
Higher redemptions with Factors Enhance
One strategy to redeem your factors is for journey booked by means of Chase Journey℠. You’ll be able to redeem factors at a set worth with Chase Journey or use the brand new Factors Enhance redemption choice.
With Factors Enhance, you possibly can rise up to 1.75 cents per level with the Sapphire Most popular however as much as 2 cents per level with the Sapphire Reserve when redeeming factors on choose Chase Journey bookings. Whereas the distinction could seem minor, it rapidly provides up when redeeming massive quantities of factors by means of Chase Journey.
Be aware that TPG bank cards author Danyal Ahmed discovered that to obtain these elevated redemption charges, you must guide premium cabins on choose airways corresponding to Air Canada and United Airways or guide inns through The Edit.
Associated: What is the distinction between Chase’s The Edit properties and Factors Enhance?
Increased incomes charges
The Sapphire Reserve earns:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by means of Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of fifty,000 factors
- 8 factors per greenback spent on purchases made by means of Chase Journey, together with The Edit
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (by means of Sept. 30, 2027)
- 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and inns booked instantly
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating worldwide
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
In the meantime, the Sapphire Most popular earns:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by means of Chase Journey
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton purchases of $150 or extra (by means of Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of 25,000 factors
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft (by means of Sept. 30, 2027)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating
- 3 factors per greenback spent on choose streaming companies
- 3 factors greenback spent on on-line groceries (excludes Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Regardless of the Sapphire Most popular incomes 2 factors per greenback spent on all journey, which Chase broadly defines, the Sapphire Reserve is best suited for many who guide extra flights and inns instantly. It earns 4 factors per greenback spent in these classes, an 8.2% return based mostly on TPG’s August 2025 valuations, making it the most effective playing cards to make use of for these purchases.
Lastly, in case you guide journey continuously by means of Chase Journey, the Sapphire Reserve earns 8 factors per greenback spent, whereas the Sapphire Most popular solely earns 5 factors per greenback spent. Should you’re continuously reserving journey this fashion, it will probably make the Sapphire Reserve a extra rewarding choice.
Associated: Chase Final Rewards candy spots: From worldwide enterprise class to home journey
Complimentary elite standing
Should you’ve been trying to purchase lodge elite standing, you are in luck because the Sapphire Reserve affords computerized IHG One Platinum Elite standing (by means of Dec. 31, 2027).
This standing gives advantages like incomes 60% bonus factors on stays, complimentary upgrades, early check-in and a pair of p.m. late checkout (when accessible).
Associated: IHG One Rewards: Tips on how to earn and redeem factors, elite standing and extra
Plentiful assertion credit
The Chase Sapphire Reserve affords an spectacular set of assertion credit, totaling over $2,000 in annual worth when totally utilized. Most of those credit are simple for the common cardholder to make the most of, particularly the Apple, eating, StubHub and journey credit.
In the meantime, the Sapphire Most popular affords a $50 annual lodge assertion credit score every cardmember anniversary yr for lodge bookings made by means of Chase Journey (the primary $50 in Final Rewards lodge purchases won’t earn rewards factors). Should you’re ready to make use of this credit score, it brings the Sapphire Most popular’s efficient annual payment down to only $45.
If you should utilize even half of the credit supplied on the Sapphire Reserve, that can greater than cowl the annual payment, making the improve simply justified.
Associated: Why I will by no means cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve
Tips on how to improve to the Chase Sapphire Reserve
There are two methods to “improve” to the Sapphire Reserve, with the primary one being my advice.
Downgrade your Sapphire Most popular first
Chase has new guidelines concerning welcome bonus eligibility on its Sapphire playing cards, and never everybody will probably be eligible for a bonus.
It’s possible you’ll qualify for the Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus in case you’ve by no means acquired a Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus earlier than, and you are not an energetic Sapphire cardholder (together with the Sapphire Most popular).
Here is the way to do it: First, downgrade your Sapphire Most popular to both the Chase Freedom Flex® (see charges and costs) or the Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and costs). Then, wait at the very least every week and apply for the Sapphire Reserve.
To study extra, take a look at our information on the Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus eligibility.
Associated: Am I eligible for the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s bonus?
Product change
The best strategy to improve to the Sapphire Reserve is to product change. This implies changing your Sapphire Most popular to a Sapphire Reserve. If authorized, you may preserve your identical account and card quantity — however you will not earn the Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus.
To downgrade or improve your card, name the quantity on the again of your card or log in to the Chase app and ship a safe message. Say that you simply’d wish to product change your card, and observe the consultant’s directions.
It is essential to notice that, because the Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card, you may want at the very least a $10,000 credit score restrict. In case your Sapphire Most popular does not have that prime of a credit score restrict, you may must first request a credit score restrict enhance. A Chase consultant confirmed this with me once I was trying into upgrading my Sapphire Most popular.
Associated: Your largest Chase Sapphire Reserve questions answered: From bonus eligibility to incomes charges
Maintain each Sapphire playing cards
Because you’re allowed to carry each Sapphire playing cards, you possibly can apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve whereas preserving your Sapphire Most popular. If authorized, you’d pay a mixed $890 in annual charges, however this pairing can provide wonderful worth with robust points-earning potential.
To additional increase your rewards, contemplate including the Chase Freedom Limitless to finish the Chase Trifecta. With this setup, you’d earn at the very least 1.5 factors per greenback spent on all purchases, maximizing your return throughout spending classes.
Simply keep in mind, you may be topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule when making use of for the Sapphire Reserve — and you will not earn the Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus.
Associated: When must you ignore Chase’s 5/24 rule?
Backside line
For frequent vacationers, the Sapphire Reserve is price it over the Sapphire Most popular. Perks like lounge entry, assertion credit and better Factors Enhance redemption charges by means of Chase Journey are key causes to improve.
The Sapphire Most popular remains to be a wonderful journey rewards card for informal vacationers who do not want lounge entry or premium perks. However in case you fly even a number of instances a yr and do not have already got a journey rewards card with comparable perks, the Sapphire Reserve is a greater choose.
For extra particulars, learn our full evaluation of the Sapphire Most popular and Sapphire Reserve playing cards.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
