Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Receive a $300 travel statement credit reimbursement each anniversary year
• Complimentary membership to Priority Pass lounges
• Access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club and Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in the U.S., Canada and Europe with an eligible Star Alliance boarding pass.
• NEW Points Boost: Redeem Ultimate Rewards Points at up to 2x when booking select airline tickets and hotel accommodations through Chase Travel
• Up to $300 Annual Dining Credit (up to $150 in statement credits biannually) for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables. No activation or reservation is required.
• Up to $500 Credit for stays with The Edit, a handpicked collection of 1,000+ hotels and resorts (up to $250 in statement credits biannually)
• Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through December 31, 2027 (activation required)
• $300 StubHub and viagogo credit (up to $150 in statement credits biannually)
• $120 in annual Lyft in-app credits, up to $10 monthly, and the ability to earn 5x total points on eligible Lyft rides through 9/30/2027
• Up to $120 Peloton in annual statement credits towards Peloton memberships and 10x points on all equipment purchases
• Complimentary access to Reserve Travel Designers with end-to-end travel planning from custom itinerary to trip support
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
• $300 DoorDash value and $120 DashPass membership (up to $25 in monthly promos) for 12 months if activated by 12/31/2027.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.

Premium Benefits Unlocked with $75,000 Spend Per Calendar Year

• IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
• $500 Southwest Airlines travel credit and up to $500 in statement credits when booking Southwest flights through Chase Travel
• Southwest Airline A-List Status
• Up to $250 credit for The Shops at Chase

When it comes to Chase Ultimate Rewards, the best way to maximize your points is to redeem them with travel.

[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Turning your points into cash back [.dontreco]

While you can redeem your points for cash back or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point, or use Chase's Pay Yourself Back option, it simply doesn’t provide the best value.

[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Using the Chase Travel Portal [.sometimesreco]

Redeem your points via Points Boost in the Chase Travel portal. Maximize the value of your points on premium air cabin tickets and hotels worth up to 2x points each. You can still redeem for one cent each for Chase Travel purchases not eligible for Points Boost — so, not the greatest, but better than nothing.

[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio to stretch your points as far as humanly possible. [.alwaysreco]

The bottom line is — if a flight or hotel room can be bought with cash, you can use your points to book it. Transferring your Chase points can bring you much more value from one of Chase's amazing transfer partners. Top picks include Hyatt, United, British Airways, IHG One Rewards, and so many more. Taking advantage of these transfer partners is one of the best ways to justify your Sapphire Reserve. Chase often runs bonus promotions, giving you up to 30% more points or miles when you transfer to a partner.

Transferring your Chase points is a super simple process. Simply log in to your Chase account and click on “points” in the top right corner. Then, you’ll see three dots on the top of the screen. Click those and select “transfer points to partners.” From there, you’ll be able to view any bonuses and available transfer options.

And you’re on your way! ✈️

Chase Freedom Unlimited® — Annual Fee: $0

Why? The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a well-known “starter” card. And while you might be wary of “backtracking” to a starter, when paired with the Sapphire Reserve, your point-earning potential skyrockets. First of all, earning an extra 1.5% on EVERYTHING you buy (up to $20,000 in the first year) is a great deal, potentially giving you $300 cash-back. If you also have a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points (like the Sapphire Reserve), you can convert your cash-back into valuable Chase points, transferable to airline and hotel partners.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card — Annual Fee: $99

Why? Ok, hear me out. If you’re already working with a premium card, then it might be time to pair that with a hotel card. This would massively increase your travel game, and here’s how: IHG Premier cardholders can earn tons of points at IHG properties and enjoy exclusive perks. With IHG's extensive global presence and the new IHG One Rewards program, this card has become much more appealing. Plus, the generous welcome offer on a $99 card is hard to resist (especially when you’re already paying a steeper annual fee with the Sapphire Reserve).

With this card, you’re looking at 26X total points per $1 at IHG hotels and resorts (🤯), 3X per $1 on everyday purchases, automatic Platinum Elite Status, an anniversary free night, and so much more. With the Sapphire Reserve, you’re being granted some sweet travel perks, like lounge access and elevated earnings through the Chase Portal. And with the IHG Premier, you’re earning similar rewards, but through hotels this time. In short, when these two cards combine, they can really round out your travel game.

1. The Luxurious Traveler

Let’s be clear. The Sapphire Reserve is boujee. In case you need convincing of that, just check out the annual fee. But let’s be clear about another thing. You shouldn’t let that annual fee scare you. This card’s perks and statement credits are here to save the day. And speaking of perks, the Reserve has proven to be for the luxurious traveler. We’re talking about a complimentary membership to Priority Pass lounges and access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club, both of which add a little sparkle to any travel day. Plus, you’ll receive up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. Needless to say, with the Sapphire Reserve, you’re definitely traveling in style.

1. The Everyday Traveler

Ok, every day is a stretch, but you get the point. The Sapphire Reserve is a perfect choice for those frequenting the airport. In case you’re in need of some convincing, here are some examples of ways Mike has used his card recently:

• Hotel in Myanmar: There are no chain hotels in that area, so he used the Sapphire Reserve to book a place for 1.5 cents per point value then (now up to 2x with the new Points Boost feature).
• At a Hyatt: He booked a 5-night stay for 15k points transferred from the Sapphire Reserve. While this wasn’t a massive cents-per-point value, it was still super nice to get a long stay for basically no points (with free breakfast and free dinner every night).
• Flight from Chongqing, China to Hong Kong: He booked said flight with 12,500 United miles transferred from the Sapphire Reserve. The flight was priced at $500 so it was about 4 CPP value!
• Qsuites flight: Mike booked a Qsuites flight from Pakistan to Doha for 26,000 JetBlue miles…which is nuts!

Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is low, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.

We’ve said it before — but the Sapphire Reserve is not a beginner card. If you’re at the beginning of your miles and points journey, there are a few starter cards we would suggest checking out first. For example, the Sapphire Preferred is an excellent stepping stone on the way to the Reserve. You’ve still got access to Chase’s Travel Portal and transfer partners, but you’re paying a significantly lower annual fee (and working on building up that credit score in the meantime).

Here are a few cards we suggest you check out first:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — $95 Annual Fee
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®— $0 Annual Fee
• Chase Freedom Flex®— $0 Annual Fee

An excellent credit score is recommended for Chase Sapphire Reserve®. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying.

We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line, and be granted the Sapphire Reserve. While it’s not necessarily a beginner card, the worst they can say is “no.”