It’s no surprise that the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the most popular travel credit cards on the market. Packed with high-value benefits, including travel credits, complimentary memberships and up to 10x rewards on eligible travel purchases, this card is ideal if you travel on a regular basis.
When compared to other travel rewards cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® also offers some of the most generous travel and purchase protections available. Cardholders get trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, return protection and much more. In fact, it’s our pick for the best credit card for travel insurance in 2024.
Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a $550 annual fee, you can easily make up for it by taking advantage of the full range of benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides a variety of valuable benefits — ranging from complimentary airport lounge access to free Lyft membership — that can help offset the cost of travel. Travel credits and memberships include:
Each account anniversary year, you’ll automatically receive statement credits up to the annual maximum as reimbursement for eligible travel purchases charged to your card.
How much is this benefit worth?Up to $300 each year to cover purchases made with airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.
Note, the following types of travel purchases are not eligible for this credit: Purchases from some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services, such as real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, inflight goods and services, onboard cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent hauling vehicles. Additionally, purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles do not qualify.
Every four years, get one statement credit as reimbursement for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee charged to your card.
How much is this benefit worth?Up to $100 every four years, depending on the type of program you apply for. At the time of this article’s publication, a Global Entry application costs $100, a TSA PreCheck application costs $78 and a NEXUS application costs $50.
If you value airport lounge access, this could very well be the most valuable benefit offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Priority Pass™ Select membership includes free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges in more than 500 cities around the world for you and two accompanying guests ($27 for each additional guest per visit). Amenities include free refreshments, Wi-Fi and more. Note, a one time activation is required.
How much is this benefit worth?That depends on if you travel with guests, but at least $469 annually.
Priority Pass membership with unlimited free lounge visits normally costs $469 a year, and members must pay a $35 fee for each guest. So let’s say, for example, you visit eligible airport lounges with two family members four times per year — this benefit can easily be worth nearly $750 annually.
You won’t be charged additional fees when you use your Chase Sapphire Reserve® to make purchases outside of the U.S.
How much is this benefit worth?That depends on the amount you charge while traveling abroad. For example, some cards charge foreign exchange fees of 3% of the amount of each transaction. And if you charge $3,000 on one of those cards while vacationing outside of the U.S. — that could amount to an additional $90 in fees.
Get exclusive benefits at a variety of hand-selected hotels and resorts worldwide through the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.
How much is this benefit worth?The value of this benefit varies depending on which perks you take advantage of. For example, you can receive a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two, room upgrades if available, early check-in and late check-out if available, complimentary Wi-Fi and more.
Get a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership when you activate on or before Dec. 31, 2024. Membership gives you all the benefits of Lyft Pink, including free priority pickup upgrades, exclusive pricing, three relaxed cancellations per month, free Grubhub+ for a year and 12 free bike or scooter unlocks per year. Plus, get unlimited 45-minute classic bike rides, unlimited e-bike and scooter discounts and access to Bike Angels rewards.
How much is this benefit worth?The Lyft Pink All Access plan costs $199 per year – valuing this benefit at $398 for two years. Plus, once your free two-year period ends, you’ll automatically be enrolled in an annual membership at 50% of the then-current annual Lyft Pink All Access rate for one year.
Along with earning points on restaurant purchases, delivery services and takeout, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives you access to the following dining benefits:
Receive a complimentary DashPass membership for both DoorDash and Caviar for a minimum of one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2024. This benefit provides $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders through DoorDash and Caviar.
Also get $5 in DoorDash credits each month (which can roll over up to $15) through Dec. 31, 2024, redeemed at checkout.
How much is this benefit worth?A DashPass membership costs $9.99 per month or $96 annually. Once you add the $5 monthly credit, the value of this benefit can potentially jump to $156 annually.
Get a complimentary 12-month membership to Instacart+ when you activate by July 31, 2024. Membership benefits include unlimited $0 delivery fees on orders over $35 and reduced service fees. Instacart+ members also earn up to $15 in statement credits each month through July 2024. Note, your membership will auto-renew.
How much is this benefit worth?An Instacart+ membership runs $9.99 per month or $99 annually. Once you add in the $15 monthly statement credit, the value of this benefit can potentially jump to $279 annually.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also provides the following coverage when you use your card to make purchases:
This benefit protects new retail purchases against theft, damage or loss that occurs within 120 days of purchase.
Note, the following purchases are not covered: Animals and living plants, antiquest or collectible items, motorized vehicles, computer software, items purchased for resale or commercial use, medical equipment, perishable or consumable items, travelers’ checks, pre-owned items and more.
If you’re not satisfied with an item within 90 days of purchasing it and the retailer won’t allow you to return the item for a refund, exchange or credit, Chase may reimburse you for the purchase price.
Note, the following purchases are not covered: Animals and living plants, motorized vehicles, tickets, computer software, damaged or non-working items, formal attire, items purchased for resale or commercial use, items purchased outside the U.S., altered items, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, medical equipment, perishables and consumables, seasonal items and more.
Chase will extend the time period of any eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less by one additional year.
Note, the following purchases aren’t covered: motorized vehicles, items purchased for resale or commercial use, rented or leased items, computer software, medical equipment, pre-owned items and more.
From complimentary trip interruption insurance to reimbursement for trip delays, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides one of the most extensive lists of travel protections available from any credit card. This includes:
Receive primary coverage against damages caused by theft or collision damage when you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
We should note, the following types of cars are not covered: Antique cars, cargo vans, vehicles with open cargo beds, trucks (other than pick-up trucks), motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, limousines and passenger vans that seat more than nine people. Additionally, rental periods that exceed 31 days are not eligible.
You can receive reimbursement for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses that have to be canceled or cut short because of unforeseen circumstances like illness, severe weather and other qualifying situations.
Note, cancellations caused by the following scenarios will not be covered: Changes in plans, financial circumstances or business obligations, pre-existing conditions, travel scheduled after the 26th week of pregnancy, failure to obtain required travel documents and more.
If you experience a travel delay from a common carrier, like an airline, train or bus, that lasts more than six hours or requires an overnight stay, you can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred during the delay.
Note, this benefit does not apply to a delay caused by a covered hazard that was made public or made known to you prior to your departure. It also doesn’t cover prepaid expenses related to your covered trip, such as activity fees associated with your trip.
Chase offers accidental death or dismemberment coverage for you or your beneficiaries when you purchase your air, bus, train or cruise transportation using your card.
Note, accidents, injuries or losses resulting from the following are not covered: Emotional trauma, mental or physical illness, disease, pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, bodily malfunctions, surgical treatments and more.
If your bag is delayed for more than six hours Chase will reimburse you for essential items like toiletries and clothing.
Note, the following items are not covered: Hearing aids, artificial teeth, money, checks, tickets, business samples, jewelry and watches, cameras, recreational equipment and more.
This benefit provides roadside assistance — including towing, tire changing, jump starts, lockout service, fuel delivery and standard winching — 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the U.S. and Canada.
Note, commercial vehicles are not covered. Also, emergency road service isn’t available in areas not regularly traveled or accessible by regular towing vehicles.
If you become sick or injured while traveling, you may receive reimbursement for your medical treatment.
Note, the following are not covered: Travel for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment, non-emergency services, care not provided by a hospital, physician or dentist, experimental care, care provided as a result of self-inflicted harm and more.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also provides the following coverage when you use your card to make purchases:
This benefit protects new retail purchases against theft, damage or loss that occurs within 120 days of purchase.
Note, the following purchases are not covered: Animals and living plants, antiques or collectible items, motorized vehicles, computer software, items purchased for resale or commercial use, medical equipment, perishable or consumable items, travelers’ checks, pre-owned items and more.
If you’re not satisfied with an item within 90 days of purchasing it and the retailer won’t allow you to return the item for a refund, exchange or credit, Chase may reimburse you for the purchase price.
Note, the following purchases are not covered: Animals and living plants, motorized vehicles, tickets, computer software, damaged or non-working items, formal attire, items purchased for resale or commercial use, items purchased outside the U.S., altered items, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, medical equipment, perishables and consumables, seasonal items and more.
Chase will extend the time period of any eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less by one additional year.
Note, the following purchases aren’t covered: motorized vehicles, items purchased for resale or commercial use, rented or leased items, computer software, medical equipment, pre-owned items and more.
Along with extremely valuable travel and retail credits and protections, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a very lucrative rewards program:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
You’ll earn 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
Additionally, earn 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
Earn 10x points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 when you use your Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Earn 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 up to 50,000 points. This offer ends March 31, 2025.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a variety of ways to redeem your rewards. But you can squeeze the most value out of your rewards by redeeming them for travel through Chase’s travel portal or by transferring them to an airline or hotel loyalty partner.
If you redeem your points for airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, activities or cruises through Chase TravelSM, they’ll be worth 50% more. This means, instead of generally being valued at 1 cent each, a point will be worth 1.5 cents. For example, 50,000 points would be worth $750 if redeemed for cash but $900 if redeemed for travel via Chase’s travel portal.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to a number of airline and hotel loyalty partners at a rate of 1 to 1.
Travel partners include Air Canada Aeroplan, Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, Flying Blue Air France KLM, Iberia Plus, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.
TIP: Keep an eye out for bonus points sometimes offered by Chase for transferring your points to a specific travel partner. For example, Chase has offered a 30% bonus for transferring to Virgin Atlantic in the past.You can also redeem your points for statement credits, gift cards or products and services.
Despite its hefty annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers generous rewards and benefits to both frequent and occasional travelers that can far outweigh the cost. From travel protections that could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unplanned expenses to generous travel credits, cardholders stand to get a lot of value from the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
That said, if you’re looking for a travel credit card with similar benefits and a much lower annual fee of $95, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great alternative.
Check out our full benefits guide for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a broad range of travel insurances, including an auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, travel accident insurance, travel and emergency assistance, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation, roadside assistance and emergency medical and dental coverage.
If you’re currently a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholder, you can request an upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® by calling the number on the back of your card or logging in to your online account.
Chase points do not expire as long as your credit card account remains open and in good standing.
The information related to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and American Express® Gold Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
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