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.
Almost a decade later, the Chase Sapphire Reserve nonetheless holds a particular place in my pockets, because it was my first transferable forex 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 individuals cancel or downgrade their Sapphire Reserve, the concept of eliminating mine has by no means crossed my thoughts. Even after the cardboard’s huge refresh with an elevated annual price, new advantages and modifications 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 here are all of the explanation why I will by no means cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve.
The annual price is justified
Once I initially utilized for the cardboard in 2016, the Sapphire Reserve had a $450 annual price. On the time, different top-tier playing cards like The Platinum Card® from American Specific and the Citi Status® Card (now not obtainable for brand new candidates) had comparable annual charges, however of all of them, I discovered the Reserve’s annual price 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 price of $795, as an present cardholder, I’ve till my renewal date in December earlier than I pay the brand new price. Plus, I get entry to the cardboard’s new perks beginning Oct. 26. The brand new price might shock most because it surpasses the Amex Platinum’s $695 annual price (see charges and costs).
I worth a bank card’s annual price 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 price price it.
The $395 annual price hooked up 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 could be a turnoff when you worth flexibility; that is one more reason the Sapphire Reserve is a winner in my ebook.
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Associated: Are premium bank cards definitely worth the annual price?
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 packages like Southwest Fast Rewards.
The latter has been notably worthwhile when touring within the U.S., saving me 1000’s of {dollars} on last-minute bookings. I have been in a position to 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 well-liked — one other Chase Final Rewards-earning card — and has the identical switch companions.
In consequence, in 2024 alone, I redeemed over 300,000 Chase Final Rewards factors, because of the convenience of incomes them and the flexibility to switch them to top-notch companions.
Definitely, 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 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 less than 75,000 Avios, which might ordinarily price between $4,000 and $9,000.
On the lodge facet, World of Hyatt has arguably a few of the greatest 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 part to know
It affords advantages which can be straightforward to take pleasure in
Earlier than the cardboard’s refresh, and even now, I discover the Chase Sapphire Reserve to be one of the crucial easy 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 ebook than these of the Amex Platinum for a number of causes. First, the Amex Platinum affords a variety of assertion credit, from way of life to journey, whereas the Sapphire Reserve’s new advantages revolve round journey and leisure.
For instance, the Amex Platinum affords 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 the vast majority 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 basically utilized by cardmembers just because they’re provided and never as a result of the common individual wants that particular profit.
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Versatile journey assertion credit score
One of many Sapphire Reserve’s most respected perks is its $300 assertion credit score for journey purchases, which is simple to make use of and basically covers something that codes as journey. This credit score is a high cause I’d by no means cancel my card. I used to be excited to study that the refresh saved 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 robotically 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 prices to coach tickets, parking meters and even tolls.
Associated: The way to 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 break 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 inside the Tremendous Resorts + 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 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 price 12 months after 12 months.
Worthwhile way of life 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 presently affords and ought 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 way 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 way of OpenTable (break up into two $150 biannual credit robotically 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 way of June 22, 2027 (one-time activation per service is required by way of chase.com or the Chase Cell app).
Having complimentary entry to lounges streamlines my journey
For me, the flexibility to entry lounges is a good way to move the time at airports all over the world, because it lets me replenish in a snug setting for no further price. That is very true once I journey with my household as a result of ordering meals for a number of individuals from an airport restaurant could be a gradual, cumbersome course of.
Whereas most premium bank cards these days embody a Precedence Move membership, which is nice to have, the most recent development is for card issuers to supply entry to their very own lounges. Chase has not solely joined this development however has shortly change into a powerful competitor on this space.
As of March 2025, Chase has eight Sapphire lounges globally, together with the 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 friends in tow — on future journeys.
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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 price enhance. The versatile annual journey assertion credit score, new easy-to-redeem assertion credit, spectacular roster of switch companions and rising Sapphire lounge community preserve the cardboard vital for my pockets, even with its $795 annual price.
For extra info, 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.
