My buddy 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 charges and costs). On the time, I solely held a cash-back bank card and a cobranded airline bank 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 foreign money bank card.
A number of staffers at TPG have the Sapphire Reserve, however many even have the ever-popular Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs). Whereas there are legitimate explanation why some folks cancel or downgrade their Sapphire Reserve, the concept of eliminating mine has by no means crossed my thoughts. Even after the cardboard’s large 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 offered me with immense worth all through my factors and miles journey. Listed below are all of 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 Specific and the Citi Status® Card (now 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 simplest 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
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 could shock most because it surpasses the Amex Platinum’s $695 annual charge (see charges and costs).
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 price it.
The $395 annual charge hooked up to the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card makes the cardboard a extra inexpensive various to the Sapphire Reserve, however the restriction on its journey credit score and lack of different assertion credit is usually a turnoff when you worth flexibility; that is one more reason the Sapphire Reserve is a winner in my e-book.
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Associated: Are premium bank cards well worth the annual charge?
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 packages like Southwest Speedy Rewards.
The latter has been significantly worthwhile 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 Most well-liked — one other Chase Final Rewards-earning card — and has the identical switch companions.
Consequently, in 2024 alone, I redeemed over 300,000 Chase Final Rewards factors, due to the convenience of incomes them and the power to switch them to top-notch companions.
For sure, my most utilized switch associate is Air Canada Aeroplan. The breadth of airways inside Star Alliance — together with Turkish Airways, which was the service I flew for one among 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 candy 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 switch Avios. This helps me fly Qatar Airways’ spectacular 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 a number of the finest redemption charges, 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’re the Chase Final Rewards switch companions? Every little thing to know
It provides advantages which are straightforward to take pleasure in
Earlier than the cardboard’s refresh, and even now, I discover the Chase Sapphire Reserve to be some 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 e-book than these of the Amex Platinum for a number of causes. First, the Amex Platinum provides a variety of assertion credit, from life-style 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 score per calendar yr for Equinox and one other $300 SoulCycle at-home bike credit score (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 primarily utilized by cardmembers just because they’re supplied and never as a result of the common individual wants that particular profit.
Associated: Some premium playing cards now require an ‘excessive couponing’ mindset
Versatile journey assertion credit score
One of many Sapphire Reserve’s most useful perks is its $300 assertion credit score for journey purchases, which is straightforward to make use of and primarily covers something that codes as journey. This credit score is a prime motive I might by no means cancel my card. I used to be excited to study that the refresh stored this worthwhile assertion credit score.
As a result of Chase has a broad view of what qualifies as a journey 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 little thing from airfare and resort expenses to coach tickets, parking meters and even tolls.
Associated: The right way to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 annual journey credit score to save lots of on journey
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 not less than two nights. In comparison with Amex Platinum’s $200 annual resort credit score (on pay as you go bookings solely inside the Effective Accommodations + 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 accommodations than Amex Platinum. Coupled with the versatile $300 assertion credit score, when you maximize these perks, you may recoup your complete annual charge yr after yr.
Helpful life-style 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 provides and needs to 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 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 by means of June 22, 2027 (one-time activation per service is required by means of chase.com or the Chase Cell app).
Having complimentary entry to lounges streamlines my journey
For me, the power to entry lounges is an effective way to move the time at airports around the globe, because it lets me replenish in a cushty 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 folks from an airport restaurant is usually a gradual, cumbersome course of.
Whereas most premium bank cards these days embody a Precedence Cross membership, which is nice to have, the most recent pattern is for card issuers to supply entry to their very own lounges. Chase has not solely joined this pattern however has shortly grow to be a robust competitor on this space.
As of March 2025, Chase has eight Sapphire lounges globally, together with the just lately opened Sapphire Lounge by The Membership 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 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 one other deliberate for Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), I am wanting ahead to maximizing this profit extra — with two complimentary company in tow — on future journeys.
Associated: How to decide on a bank card for airport lounge entry
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 enhance. 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 overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
