The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) are two of our all-time favourite journey rewards bank cards.
Each playing cards are nice for these seeking to earn invaluable Chase Final Rewards factors, however that is the place the overlap ends. The Sapphire Most well-liked is a well-liked mid-tier journey card however lacks most of the premium perks provided 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 well-liked. With the latest Sapphire Reserve refresh, now you can maintain each playing cards directly, however simply because you’ll be able to does not imply it is best to.
Listed here are six compelling causes to think about upgrading your Sapphire Most well-liked to the Sapphire Reserve.
Airport lounge entry
Lounge entry is a pleasant approach 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 well-liked 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 company into Chase Sapphire lounges. These lounges are wonderful and rival American Specific’ Centurion Lounges in high quality. There are at the moment eight lounges open, with confirmed plans for 3 extra on the way in which.
- Precedence Move lounges: Cardholders can enter over 1,700 Precedence Move lounges worldwide and produce two complimentary company ($27 per individual for extra company 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 Move 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 well-liked offers as much as $500 per ticket for delays of a minimum of 12 hours or these requiring an in a single day keep. The Sapphire Reserve offers the identical $500 protection quantity, however it kicks in after simply six hours.
After a delay of six hours, you could be reimbursed for important objects like meals, transportation, a lodge keep and toiletries you could want due to your delay.
Associated: Must you get journey insurance coverage in case you have bank card safety?
Higher redemptions with Factors Increase
One approach to redeem your factors is for journey booked by Chase Journey℠. You may redeem factors at a set worth with Chase Journey or use the brand new Factors Increase redemption choice.
With Factors Increase, you’ll be able to rise up to 1.75 cents per level with the Sapphire Most well-liked however as much as 2 cents per level with the Sapphire Reserve when redeeming factors on choose Chase Journey bookings. Whereas the distinction might seem minor, it rapidly provides up when redeeming massive quantities of factors by Chase Journey.
Word that TPG bank cards author Danyal Ahmed discovered that to obtain these elevated redemption charges, you need to e book premium cabins on choose airways similar to Air Canada and United Airways or e book motels by way of The Edit.
Associated: What is the distinction between Chase’s The Edit properties and Factors Increase?
Larger incomes charges
The Sapphire Reserve earns:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of fifty,000 factors
- 8 factors per greenback spent on purchases made by Chase Journey, together with The Edit
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (by Sept. 30, 2027)
- 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and motels booked immediately
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating worldwide
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
In the meantime, the Sapphire Most well-liked earns:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by Chase Journey
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton purchases of $150 or extra (by Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of 25,000 factors
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft (by Sept. 30, 2027)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating
- 3 factors per greenback spent on choose streaming providers
- 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 well-liked incomes 2 factors per greenback spent on all journey, which Chase broadly defines, the Sapphire Reserve is best suited for individuals who e book extra flights and motels immediately. It earns 4 factors per greenback spent in these classes, an 8.2% return primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations, making it the most effective playing cards to make use of for these purchases.
Lastly, for those who e book journey regularly by Chase Journey, the Sapphire Reserve earns 8 factors per greenback spent, whereas the Sapphire Most well-liked solely earns 5 factors per greenback spent. When you’re regularly reserving journey this manner, 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
When you’ve been seeking to purchase lodge elite standing, you are in luck because the Sapphire Reserve provides computerized IHG One Platinum Elite standing (by Dec. 31, 2027).
This standing offers advantages like incomes 60% bonus factors on stays, complimentary upgrades, early check-in and a pair of p.m. late checkout (when obtainable).
Associated: IHG One Rewards: Find out how to earn and redeem factors, elite standing and extra
Plentiful assertion credit
The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides a powerful 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 well-liked provides a $50 annual lodge assertion credit score every cardmember anniversary yr for lodge bookings made by Chase Journey (the primary $50 in Final Rewards lodge purchases is not going to earn rewards factors). When you’re ready to make use of this credit score, it brings the Sapphire Most well-liked’s efficient annual payment down to only $45.
If you should utilize even half of the credit provided 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
Find out how to improve to the Chase Sapphire Reserve
There are two methods to “improve” to the Sapphire Reserve, with the primary one being my suggestion.
Downgrade your Sapphire Most well-liked first
Chase has new guidelines relating to welcome bonus eligibility on its Sapphire playing cards, and never everybody can be eligible for a bonus.
You could qualify for the Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus for those who’ve by no means acquired a Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus earlier than, and you are not an lively Sapphire cardholder (together with the Sapphire Most well-liked).
This is learn how to do it: First, downgrade your Sapphire Most well-liked to both the Chase Freedom Flex® (see charges and charges) or the Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and charges). Then, wait a minimum of per 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 simplest approach to improve to the Sapphire Reserve is to product change. This implies changing your Sapphire Most well-liked to a Sapphire Reserve. If authorized, you may maintain 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 prefer to product change your card, and comply with the consultant’s directions.
It is essential to notice that, for the reason that Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card, you may want a minimum of a $10,000 credit score restrict. In case your Sapphire Most well-liked does not have that top of a credit score restrict, you may have to first request a credit score restrict enhance. A Chase consultant confirmed this with me once I was trying into upgrading my Sapphire Most well-liked.
Associated: Your greatest 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’ll be able to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve whereas preserving your Sapphire Most well-liked. If authorized, you’d pay a mixed $890 in annual charges, however this pairing can provide wonderful worth with sturdy points-earning potential.
To additional enhance your rewards, think about including the Chase Freedom Limitless to finish the Chase Trifecta. With this setup, you’d earn a minimum of 1.5 factors per greenback spent on all purchases, maximizing your return throughout spending classes.
Simply bear 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 do you have to ignore Chase’s 5/24 rule?
Backside line
For frequent vacationers, the Sapphire Reserve is value it over the Sapphire Most well-liked. Perks like lounge entry, assertion credit and better Factors Increase redemption charges by Chase Journey are key causes to improve.
The Sapphire Most well-liked remains to be a wonderful journey rewards card for informal vacationers who do not want lounge entry or premium perks. However for those who fly even a couple 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 assessment of the Sapphire Most well-liked and Sapphire Reserve playing cards.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
