The 2023 Guide To Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits

Key points

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel rewards credit card that charges a  $550 annual fee.
• The card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points which can be redeemed for travel including high-value options like business class airfare and five-star hotel stays.
• You’ll receive top-tier travel insurances and hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits that can offset travel expenses.

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Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1x points on all other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is widely considered to be one of the best credit cards on the market for travelers for good reason. Although it carries a $550 annual fee, that isn’t difficult to justify thanks to its ongoing partner benefits worth potentially more than $1,200 in statement credits each year. 

In addition to the perks you’d expect from a premium travel rewards credit card, such as travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees, the card also offers a complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership upon enrollment and statement credits for valuable programs including TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and Lyft Pink All Access.

Just note that you won’t be eligible for this card if you’ve:

• Already have a Sapphire credit card.
• Received a Sapphire credit card welcome bonus within the past 48 months.
• Opened five or more credit cards from any bank — not including some small business cards — in the past 24 months (known as the Chase 5/24 rule).

Chase Sapphire Reserve basics

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has gained a reputation among travel rewards experts for its high-octane return rate, strong travel benefits and the ability to transfer rewards to multiple travel loyalty partners.

But the card isn’t just for rewards pros. The rewards system is also beginner-friendly as well as generous. Plus, the card’s travel benefits can outweigh the annual fee during just a single trip each year. 

The card touts a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

With a little know-how, it’s not difficult to achieve a high value in travel from this bonus alone. More on that below.

The Sapphire Reserve card earns:

• 5 points per $1 on flights.
• 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining.
• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

If any of these bonus categories make up a meaningful part of your monthly expenses, you’ll find yourself sitting atop a mountain of rewards before you know it.

Travel benefits

Rewards

One of the best features of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is its rewards program. The card earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points which can be redeemed in a variety of ways, such as:

• Airfare, hotel stays, rental cars and other eligible types of travel via the Chase Travel Portal can be redeemed at a rate of 1.5 cents each.
• Use Chase Pay Yourself Back® to offset your annual fee and other eligible categories. Current categories include eligible gas station purchases and eligible grocery store purchases at a rate of 1.25 cents each (through Sept. 30, 2023).
• Turn your points into cash and gift cards at a rate of 1 cent each.
• Use points to pay for purchases on Amazon at a rate of 0.8 cents each.

But the hands-down best way to redeem Chase points is to convert them into airline miles and hotel points with Chase’s loyalty travel partners such as United Airlines, British Airways and Hyatt. Doing so can often yield outsized value that exceeds what you’d get booking through the Chase travel system.

Below are a few quick examples of what you can potentially book with the current Chase Sapphire Reserve’s welcome bonus:

• Transfer 66,000 points to Flying Blue (the loyalty program of Air France and KLM) for two round-trip economy flights between Dallas (DFW) and Tel Aviv (TLV) in February 2024. You’ll pay a couple hundred dollars in taxes for each seat, but you’ll save thousands.
• Transfer 54,000 points to Hyatt for a three-night stay at the Hyatt Place Park City in January 2024 — which would otherwise cost more than $1,500.
• Transfer 66,000 points to British Airways for three round-trip economy flights between Charlotte (CLT) and St. Croix (STX) in December 2023.

If you’re willing to learn the complexities of airline partners and award charts, you’ll be rewarded handsomely. If not, you can still get solid value by redeeming your rewards through the Chase Travel Portal for travel at a rate of 1.5 cents per point.

Travel-enhancing perks

The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s lifeblood is in its ongoing travel-elevating benefits. Long after you’ve redeemed the card’s massive welcome bonus, these benefits are the reason you’ll continue to pay the card’s eye-watering $550 annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with up to $300 in statement credit reimbursements each anniversary year toward eligible travel purchases. Nearly any travel expense will trigger this automatic statement credit — including airfare, hotel stays, rental cars, rideshares, tolls and more. Put simply, Chase will reimburse you up to $300 in statement credits for travel purchases made on your card each anniversary year.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide thanks to:

• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership: This allows you to visit participating airport lounges as often as you please ​​— and bring along two guests for free. This membership requires enrollment and would otherwise cost over $450 per year.
• Entry into Chase Sapphire Lounges: There are currently only two but at least five more slated to open in the next year.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides up to a $100 statement credit to reimburse the application fee of either TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS. Here’s how these trusted traveler programs can reduce the grueling airport security experience to mere moments.

• TSA PreCheck virtually eradicates the need for those nasty gray bins at domestic security checkpoints. You won’t have to remove your belt or shoes, and you can keep your laptop in your backpack.
• Global Entry gives you license to skip the serpentine immigration queue when returning to the U.S. from abroad. Answer a couple questions at a Global Entry kiosk, and you’re free to walk out the door. Global Entry also comes with TSA PreCheck perks.
• NEXUS expedites entry between the U.S. and Canada. It also comes with both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck perks.

You’ll receive this credit once every four years after the first program application fee is charged to your card. And because each membership lasts five years, you’ll always get it for free by paying with your card.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve grants special privileges (such as elite status and discounts) with three rental car agencies:

• Avis.
• National Car Rental.
• Audi on Demand.

Also worth mentioning is a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership, followed by a 50% discount for a third year. You must activate this benefit by Dec. 31, 2024. Lastly, you’ll receive a three-month trial of Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status when you register by Sept. 30, 2023. This comes with perks like room upgrades (when available), priority late checkout and 25% bonus points for Marriott purchases.

Tally up the above perks and they’re worth well over $1,000 to someone who will use them. 

Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Reserve confers some of the most generous coverages you’ll find on any credit card. Just note that you’ll have to pay for your travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card to be covered.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Primary car rental insurance: When you waive the rental agency’s in-house coverage, you’ll get primary rental car insurance that covers up to $75,000 against theft and damage.
• Trip delay insurance: When your flight is delayed by six hours or more (or requires an overnight stay), you’ll receive up to $500 for reasonable expenses such as meals, hotel, transportation etc.
• Baggage delay insurance: When your bag is delayed by six hours or more, you’ll receive up to $100 per day (up to five days) for reasonable expenses such as clothing, toiletries, a phone charger etc.
• Travel accident insurance: You’re insured up to $1,000,000 for accidental death or dismemberment.
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: If you have to cancel (or cut short) your trip for an eligible reason, you’re covered up to $10,000 per ticket (maximum $20,000 per trip) for prepaid nonrefundable travel expenses that go unused.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: If the common carrier loses or damages your baggage, you and immediate family are each covered up to $3,000.
• Emergency evacuation insurance: If your situation warrants emergency evacuation, you’re covered for up to $100,000 in expenses.
• Emergency medical and dental coverage: When traveling at least 100 miles from home, you’re covered for up to $2,500 in emergency medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible).

The card also offers roadside assistance. This isn’t categorized as insurance, but it can help to arrange towing, gas delivery, jumpstart etc. You’ll pay for most services, though you’re covered up to a maximum of $50 per service event, up to four events per year.

Service and protection benefits

Because the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite® credit card, you’ll have access to a Visa Infinite Concierge. This is useful when you’d like assistance booking restaurants, purchasing event tickets or planning travel.

If you encounter any issues with your credit card account, you’ll value card benefits including:

• 24/7 customer service: You can reach a human being at any time, which is not always a guarantee with many other credit card issuers.
• Zero liability protection: You’re not responsible for unauthorized charges on your card when you report them in a timely manner.
• Fraud protection and alerts: Chase will monitor your credit card activity and let you know when it detects something suspicious.

You’ll also receive travel and emergency assistance which can aid you with medical referrals, legal referrals, translation services, emergency travel bookings, etc. during your travels.

Shopping benefits

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a smart payment option when purchasing high-priced items thanks to its handful of purchase protections. 

First, you can receive up to $10,000 in coverage (maximum $50,000 per account) for items that are stolen or damaged within 120 days of the purchase date. Just note that things like animals, plants, antiques and computer software are ineligible. Be sure to read the Chase Sapphire Reserve guide to benefits for a full list of excluded items before filing a report.

This card also offers return protection. You can receive reimbursement of up to $500 per item (annual maximum of $1,000) when that item’s price drops within 90 days of the purchase date.

Finally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve will add a year to eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranties lasting three years or less. Each claim is covered up to $10,000 (maximum $50,000 per account).

Entertainment and dining

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get exclusive access to Reserved by Sapphire℠, a platform that allows you to book unique culinary, sports and other entertainment events curated by Chase. From meeting famous chefs to special experiences with musicians at Madison Square Garden, you can find things that non-cardholders won’t even know about.

You’ll also benefit from the ability to book some of the most difficult-to-reserve venues in the country, as some restaurants specially reserve tables for Chase Sapphire Reserve members.

Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a list of temporary benefits that revolve around food, such as:

• Complimentary 12-month membership to DashPass from DoorDash when you activate by Dec. 31, 2024.
• $5 monthly DoorDash credits (for in-app use) through December 2024.
• Up to $10 in monthly Gopuff statement credits through December 2023.
• Complimentary year of Instacart+ membership when you activate by July 31, 2024.
• Up to $15 in monthly Instacart statement credits through July 2024.

Some of these credits are fairly niche, but they can translate into hundreds of dollars in value if you’ll use them. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

How to maximize your Sapphire Reserve benefits

There are a few things you should do immediately after receiving your Chase Sapphire Reserve to ensure that you wring it for every last drop of value.

First, to ensure you’ll earn the card’s welcome bonus, pay your monthly bills with the card. Even after you meet the card’s spending requirement, keep using the card for any purchases that earn a bonus — such as dining, commute expenses etc.

You should also plan to reserve all travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Between the card’s stellar travel insurance, bonus points for travel purchases and up to $300 in annual travel statement credit reimbursements, this card should be your default travel payment method.

Lastly, you need to enroll in the card’s various complimentary programs. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is overflowing with statement credits and memberships that are only valuable if you take the time to register for them. This includes:

• Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/NEXUS.
• Lyft Pink All Access.
• National Emerald Club Executive Elite status.
• Three months of Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
• Complimentary 12-month DashPass membership.
• One year of complimentary Instacart+ membership.