My good friend 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 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 popular® Card (see charges and costs). Whereas there are legitimate 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 huge refresh with an elevated annual payment, new advantages and adjustments to the incomes charges, this card remains to be my go-to journey card.
This card has offered me with immense worth all through my factors and miles journey. Listed here are all of the explanation why I am going to 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 Categorical and the Citi Status® Card (now not obtainable for brand spanking 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 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 offered 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 charges and costs).
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 Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card makes the cardboard a extra reasonably priced different 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 guide.
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Associated: Are premium bank cards definitely worth the annual payment?
The switch companions are extraordinarily helpful
The Sapphire Reserve has a number of airline and lodge companions, together with many throughout the three airline alliances (Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance), plus home applications like Southwest Fast Rewards.
The latter has been notably precious 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 quicker than the Sapphire Most popular — 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 flexibility to switch them to top-notch companions.
Surely, my most utilized switch companion is Air Canada Aeroplan. The breadth of airways inside Star Alliance — together with Turkish Airways, which was the service I flew for one in all 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 benefit from my linked accounts to switch Avios. This helps me fly Qatar Airways’ spectacular Qsuite between the U.S. and the Center East for less than 75,000 Avios, which might ordinarily price between $4,000 and $9,000.
On the lodge facet, World of Hyatt has arguably among 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 thing to know
It gives advantages which might be straightforward to take pleasure in
Earlier than the cardboard’s refresh, and even now, I discover the Chase Sapphire Reserve to be probably the most 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 life-style 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 score per calendar 12 months for Equinox and one other $300 SoulCycle at-home bike credit score (on eligible U.S. memberships and purchases). For my part, 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 provided 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 precious perks is its $300 assertion credit score for journey purchases, which is simple 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 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 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 all the pieces from airfare and lodge costs to coach tickets, parking meters and even tolls.
Associated: use the Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 annual journey credit score to avoid wasting on journey
Hefty lodge 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 by way of The Edit by Chase Journey℠.
This credit score is cut 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 lodge credit score (on pay as you go bookings solely throughout the Nice 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 resorts than Amex Platinum. Coupled with the versatile $300 assertion credit score, when you maximize these perks, you may recoup your whole annual payment 12 months after 12 months.
Helpful life-style and eating credit
The next assertion credit are modern, difficult the Sapphire Reserve’s largest rival, the Amex Platinum. These really feel extra tailor-made than what the Amex Platinum at the moment gives 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 by way 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 way of OpenTable (cut up into two $150 biannual credit routinely 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 way of June 22, 2027 (one-time activation per service is required by way 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 all over the world, because it lets me replenish in a cushty setting for no extra price. 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 embrace a Precedence Move membership, which is nice to have, the newest development is for card issuers to supply entry to their very 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 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 based mostly on the West Coast. However with a brand new opening at San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN) and one other deliberate for Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), I am trying ahead to maximizing this profit extra — with two complimentary visitors in tow — on future journeys.
Associated: How to decide on a bank card for airport lounge entry
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 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 vital for my pockets, even with its $795 annual payment.
For extra info, see our full evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
