Travel

Who should (or should) get a chasing sapphire reserve?

this Chase SapphireReserve® (See Rates and Fees) Charge a high annual fee of $795 – So is it worth adding a wallet? It’s likely worth it for travelers who value luxury allowances.

Sapphire reserves offer extraordinary value to those who are ready to maximize their interests. However, travelers on a budget may not like what the card has to offer.

Currently, new applicants can earn a welcome bonus of 100,000 plus $500 in ChaseTravel℠Promotion Credit*, which started with $5,000 from account opening in the previous three months.

This bonus is worth $2,550 per ton of PG’s July 2025 Chase Points, which is a great way to collect a large amount of points upfront.

This may be who (or may not) want to add Chase Sapphire reserves to their wallet.

*Promotional credit is valid only for one-time use; if you apply promotional credit to transactions less than $500, you will lose your remaining balance.

Who should get Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Let’s explore why you might want to add Chatong Sapphire Reserve Go to your wallet.

You spend a lot on travel

Sapphire Reserve offers an annual travel credit of $300. The credit is very flexible and automatically applies to the first $300 spent on travel with the card.

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Travel is a broadly defined category on sapphire reserves, so it is easy to use travelers.

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You attach great importance to the visit to the lounge

The Sapphire Reserve grants Chase Sapphire lounge and over 1,700 Priority Pass Lounges for cardholders and up to two guests free of charge. Cardholders also have access to over 20 Air Canada maple lounges when traveling with Star Alliance Airlines.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Philadelphia
Zach Griff/The Points Guy

If you often fly in or out of the airport with a Chase Lounge or Value Priority Pass membership, this card is the ticket.

You want the privilege of a luxury hotel

Sapphire cardholders also have editorial access to Chase’s luxury hotel series Chase Travel. This program is only available to those holding sapphire reserves or JP Morgan Reserve® cards.

Information on the JP Morgan reserve card has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you don’t have elite identities in popular programs like Bonvoy or Hilton Honors, or if you want to stay in a boutique outside of those programs and still get stipends, the editorial property offers comparable benefits such as free breakfast, breakfast, evening checkout and free upgrades (when available). Additionally, Sapphire Reserves offer up to $500 per year in editing credits.

If you prefer to live in IHG Properties, this card also offers automatic IHG Platinum Elite status (until December 31, 2027).

You want to redeem your opinion to the greatest extent

Sapphire Reserve Cardholders are eligible to redeem Chase Points through the Chase Travel portal with Points Boost Accelerator. As points increase, you can redeemed for a flight that chooses hotel booking and through chase travel at a value of up to 2 cents per point. (It depends on the redemption you choose; see your Rewards Program Agreement for details.)

Nobu Hotel Hilton
Charly Simon/The World’s Small Luxury Hotel

As the points improve, we see only 17,000 chase scores in hotels near Disneyland every night, rather than the 570 million island Bonvoy points.

You are willing to book through the portal to earn twice your points

If you are willing to book with Sapphire Reserve through Chase Travel Portal, you will earn 8 points per dollar. This is twice the rate of return you receive on your flight card, or hotel reservations made directly with the airline or property (spending 4 points per dollar).

If you have an elite identity or loyalty to a particular airline or hotel, booking with this portal can help you earn more on your booking.

You have a cash-earning chase card

Pairing sapphire reserves with Chase Rash-back cards is a wise way to improve your rewards.

That’s because when you also have Sapphire Reserve, you’ll be able to transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 loyalty program partners. Transferring to a partner allows you to unlock the value of the Chase point at a valuation of 2.05 cents per point, based on TPG’s July 2025 valuation.

If you have a chase cash card – but none of them allow you to transfer the chase point to transfer a partner (for example) Chase Sapphire Priority® Card (See rates and fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business- (See rates and fees) or Ink Business First Choice® Credit Card (See rates and fees) – Adding sapphire reserves can be a good choice.

Woman using smartphone
Alexandr Dubynin/Getty Images

Some cards paired with the Sapphire Reserve are:

Chase Freedom Flex information has been collected independently by Goint Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You value strong travel protection

The Sapphire Reserve is an excellent card for travel and shopping protection. The card provides travel cancellation and interruption insurance, luggage delay insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty coverage.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Credit Card Combinations

Who shouldn’t get Chase Sapphire Reserve?

this Chatong Sapphire Reserve This is a good choice for many travelers, but it is not for everyone. Here are some reasons why this card may not be ideal for you.

You rarely travel

The Sapphire Reserve is designed for frequent travelers. Its flexible annual travel credit and multiple statement credits for travel-related purchases are suitable for them. Also, if you don’t need an airport lounge because you’re not flying too much, the sapphire reserve may not be your card.

You prefer cash back

Sapphire Reserves earn the ultimate reward points for the expenses. If you prefer a cash reward, please apply for a card that will return the cash.

You won’t maximize most statement credits

Sapphire Reserve provides a long list of declared points for multiple types of spending. This includes business and viagogo points for the year up to December 31, 2027 ($150 per year), with an annual meal credit of up to $300 for the Sapphire Reserve exclusive table and a Doordash annual promotion from December 31 to December 31, 2027 up to $300.

Woman treats high angle of food tray as friends in outdoor restaurant during brunch
D3Sign/Getty Images

Maximizing these points is the only way to get all the value from the card in exchange for its high $795 annual fee. However, if you are not interested in tracking statement points or wanting simpler cards, the sapphire reserve may not be for you.

Your current first choice for sapphire

this Chase Sapphire’s preferred card Since the cards are very different, the sapphire reserve will not be cancelled in any way. Sapphire Preferred does not offer lounge access, and Sapphire Reserve no longer has a general travel bonus category, so it makes sense to hold these two cards in some cases.

If you already have a preferred choice for sapphire, the reason you may not want sapphire reserves is the popular bonus. Due to Chase update’s welcome bonus eligibility requirements, it is unlikely that you will receive a Sapphire Reserve bonus if you currently hold Sapphire Preferred.

This could mean missing out on a large portion of the overall value of Sapphire Reserve, so if you’re happy with your preferred sapphire, you might want to skip the premium card.

If you are considering upgrading from sapphire’s preferred choice to sapphire reserves, you will get more from points boost redemption – but you will lose in the general travel bonus category. Think about what you will gain and what you will lose before making a decision.

You have applied for 5 or more cards in the past 24 months

Chase’s famous 5/24 rule limits those who have opened five or more cards in the past 24 months and are not approved for one of their cards.

Woman sitting on floor with laptop
Rockaa/Getty Images

If you’re over 5/24, you might want to consider another premium card until you get back below the threshold. American Express Platinum Card® Or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may be a great choice for its location – or you can wait to submit a sapphire reserve application.

Like most premium cards, you may also have a hard time qualifying if you stand out completely.

Bottom line

Despite the high annual fee of $795, Chatong Sapphire Reserve Can be added in the Luxury Traveler’s wallet. This is especially true if you are a traveler who is often worth the lounge entry and want to maximize your points redemption and book frequently through the Chase Travel Portal.

There are occasional travelers, budget-conscious consumers and those who prefer cashback rewards, and another option would be better.

To learn more, read our full review of Chase Sapphire Reserve.


Apply here: Chatong Sapphire Reserve


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