My pal flashed me a brand new bank card and mentioned, “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 charges). 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 forex 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 charges). 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.
The worth this card has offered me all through my factors and miles journey is immense. Listed below are all of the explanation why I am going to by no means cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve.
It has an affordable annual charge
Once 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 Categorical and the Citi Status® Card (not accessible for brand spanking new candidates) had comparable annual charges, however of all of them, I discovered the Reserve’s annual charge 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 present annual charge of $550, it’s nonetheless cheaper than the Amex Platinum’s hefty $695 annual charge (see charges and charges).
I worth a bank card’s annual charge in relation to its advantages, and, fortunately, the Sapphire Reserve avoids coupon-book-style assertion credit that require some effort to maximise, making you’re feeling as in case your annual charge funding is value it.
The $395 annual charge hooked up to the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card has made that card a real competitor of the Sapphire Reserve, however the restriction on its journey credit score could be a level of rivalry and another excuse the Sapphire Reserve is a winner for me.
Associated: Are premium bank cards well worth the annual charge?
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The switch companions are extraordinarily helpful
Based mostly on my spending habits, the Sapphire Reserve helps me accrue factors quicker than the Sapphire Most popular — one other Chase Final Rewards-earning choice — and has the identical switch companions. Because of this, 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.
Certainly, 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 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. Due to British Airways and Qatar Airways each utilizing Avios, I make the most 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 price someplace between $4,000-$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 thing to know
It gives advantages which might be straightforward to take pleasure in
Versatile journey assertion credit score
The Sapphire Reserve’s most dear perk is presumably its $300 assertion credit score for journey purchases, which is broadly and simply accessible, making it a high purpose I’d by no means cancel my card.
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 types of journey purchases. For instance, I’ve used my $300 assertion credit score to cowl every part from airfare and resort prices to coach tickets, parking meters and even tolls.
Associated: use the Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 annual journey credit score to avoid wasting on journey
DoorDash assertion credit
As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, I obtain a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership. Plus as much as $25 in month-to-month credit towards DoorDash orders by way of a mix of $5 credit score for restaurant orders and two, separate, as much as $10 reductions on non-restaurant orders.
Once I’m in search of a fast chew to eat on a busy day or want some last-minute grocery gadgets, the DoorDash credit have come in useful. They’re easy to make use of and solely require including the Sapphire Reserve as a cost choice in DoorDash’s cell app.
By charging not less than $25 of DoorDash orders I am already making to my Sapphire Reserve every month, I will save a minimal of $300 a 12 months in meals bills.
Having complimentary entry to lounges streamlines my journey
For me, the power to entry lounges is a good way to go the time at airports world wide, because it lets me refill in a snug 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 could be a gradual, cumbersome course of.
Whereas most premium bank cards these days embrace a Precedence Cross membership, which is nice to have, the newest pattern is for card issuers to supply entry to their very own lounges. Chase has not solely joined this pattern however has rapidly turn out to be 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 another excuse to maintain the cardboard open.
Traditionally, I’ve had restricted possibilities to expertise Chase’s Sapphire lounges exterior of a latest journey to Hong Kong since I am primarily based 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 wanting ahead to maximizing this profit extra — with two complimentary friends in tow — on future journeys.
Associated: How to decide on a bank card for airport lounge entry
Backside line
For extra data, see our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
