As credit card annual fees keep rising, it is important to take a closer look at your wallet to ensure you get the full value from the settings.
this Chase SapphireReserve® (See rates and fees) A charge of $795 per year. While this is the highest annual fee in the current premium travel reward credit card market, its cost is offset by multiple privileges and stated credits.
Is it worth it? Let’s review the benefits of sapphire reserves to see if they provide enough value.
Welcome bonus
New applicants Chatong Sapphire Reserve You can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months of opening an account, plus $500 in Chase Travel promo Credit*.
*Promotional credit is only valid for one-time use. If you apply promotional credit to transactions less than $500, you will lose your remaining balance.
This bonus can be worth up to $2,550 on Chase Ultimate Rewards points for August 2025. That’s more than three times the $795 annual fee.
However, you can only get a bonus once in your life, so you need to make the most of the other benefits on the card to make it worth mentioning in your wallet.
Related: How to redeem the biggest reward point for chasing the greatest value
Lounge entry
For those who hold it Sapphire Conservation Area It is the airport lounge for yourself and up to two guests.
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This access includes eight Chase Lounges currently open and includes priority membership. Priority Pass has gained more than 1,700 lounge opportunities worldwide. Plus, you will get access to over 20 Air Canada maple leaf lounges when flying with Star Alliance Airlines.
Sapphire Reserve Authorized Users receive the same airport lounge access each year for a fee of $195.
If you are a frequent traveler and like to park in the lounge before flying, this card offers access to high-quality chase lounges and over 1,700 priority pass locations.
However, if you don’t travel frequently or rarely go to the lounge while flying Chase Sapphire Priority® Card (See rates and fees) is a better option. You will still earn the Chase Ultimate Reward Points, but you only have to pay $95 annual fee.
Related: Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve: Which card is right for you?
Flexible travel credit
this Sapphire Conservation Area Offers one of the easiest travel points to use on the market. This is $300 annual travel credit, widely available for automatic purchases.
This credit is automatically triggered by qualified purchases, including bus tickets, campgrounds, ferries, flights, hotels and parking lots.
Travel credit alone cuts the $795 annual fee for sapphire reserves, effectively reducing it to $495 per year.
If you are eligible for a business card, Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business- (See rates and fees) may also be a reliable choice for you. The card has the same annual travel credit and other benefits that are useful to business owners.
Related: The Easiest 5 Travel Credits to Redeemed
Useful travel benefits
Frequent travelers are Sapphire Conservation AreaThe target audience of the card provides them with multiple allowances to offset the annual fee.
Edit Credit
Sapphire Reserve Cardholders will gain access to Chase’s luxury hotel reservation platform.
Editing the reservation allows access to Elitelike allowances for a variety of properties, including daily complimentary breakfast, breakfast, early checkout and evening party checkout (if available) and room upgrades to available space (if available).
Cardholders will also receive two $250 biennial credits that can be used for editing (up to $500 per year). This applies when you book qualified attributes through Chase Travel. You must book at least two nights for a prepaid fee.
If you fully maximize statements for general travel ($300) and editing ($500) each year, the total is $800 to more than the annual fee of $795.
However, if you don’t think you’ve maximized one or two editing credits, or don’t mind staying in a mid-range property, a hotel shared card or mid-term general travel reward card would be a more affordable option. this Citi Layer Premier® Card (See rates and fees), with its $95 annual fee, it may be a good choice.
Free elite identity
This card provides Perks with Hertz’s five-star identity when booking rents, such as 25% bonus points on all Hertz rents and free first-level upgrades (such as availability).
Cardholders also receive free IHG Platinum Elite status (until December 31, 2027). This mid-term status level includes bonus points, free upgrades and delayed checkout (if any).
If you spend $75,000 or more on your sapphire reserve in one calendar year, you will receive top-notch IHG rewards Diamond Elite Status and Southwest A-list Status.
Other travel reward cards offer elite status with lower annual fees, e.g. American Express Platinum Card®it offers free golden status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (required enrollment) at $695 annual fee (see interest rates and fees) at Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (required enrollment).
Related: Comparison of credit card issuers’ luxury hotel plans
Dining allowance
this Sapphire Conservation Area Provide solid allowances for foodies. The card covers everything from food delivery to hard-to-get bookings. If you want to spend it on food, this card may be worth the annual fee if you have the biggest chemistry score.
Biennial Meal Credit
Cardholders receive two $150 biennial credits (up to $300 per year) for bookings via Opentable via Sapphire Reserve exclusive table.
Sapphire Reserve exclusive dining tables provide access to special dining activities and hard-to-get reservations at specific restaurants across the United States, with over 25 cities including New York City, Philadelphia and Miami. There is no need to go through a mortgaged advance or payment.
The benefits of Doordash
Sapphire Reserve also offers two non-royal promotions for $10 and a restaurant promotion for $5 per month (total of $300 per year).
Cardholders also receive free DashPass membership for at least one year, worth $120. ( Must be activated by December 31, 2027.)
Sapphire prefers Cardholders also receive free Dashpass and $10 non-royal promotions each month. The card charges a lower annual fee than the sapphire reserve, so it is worth considering if you want to pay less for similar benefits.
Related: Which purchase is considered a meal with Chase Sapphire Preference and Sapphire Reserve?
Lifestyle credits
this Sapphire Conservation Area Valuable lifestyle credits are also provided to deduct stings from the annual fee, including:
- apple: Up to $250 per year on free Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions until June 22, 2027 (requires one activation via the Chase.com or the Chase Mobile app.)
- Global Entry, TSA Precheck or Nexus: A maximum application fee of $120 per four years.
- Lyft: App In-App Lyft Points per Month (up to $120 per year; as of September 30, 2027; this credit does not apply to Wait & Save, Bicycle or Scooter Riding).
- Peloton: Peloton members are $10 per month (up to $120 per year; until December 31, 2027; activation is required).
- Stubhub and Viagogo: $150 every two years (up to $300 per year) and available through Stubhub or Viagogo by December 31, 2027.
When combined, these points offer up to $910, offsetting the $795 annual fee on sapphire reserves. However, some may find these lifestyle credits challenging to maximize. Many people are divided into monthly or yearly increments, which requires a high level of organization.
If you don’t want to spend more time incorporating these credits into your lifestyle, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice. It offers lounge access and luxury, including an annual Capital One Travel Credit for $300. However, it does not bring a long list of statement points to offset its $395 annual fee.
Related: How to make the most of your lifestyle credits in sapphire reserves
First-class travel and purchase protection
As a visa unlimited card, Sapphire Conservation Area Provide cardholders with travel and purchase protection benefits, including:
Even if you pay a small portion of your travel expenses with your sapphire reserve, you can get these benefits, such as taxes and fees for redemption points.
While you want to avoid traveling to ic, they do happen. The strong protection of the sapphire reserves can make it worth the peace of mind they provide.
Sapphire Reserve provides travel insurance and purchase protection levels Chase Sapphire’s first choiceits low-priced competitor. However, the protections are still very similar, so if you don’t need the strongest coverage, it may be worth considering a $95 fee card.
Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?
Bottom line
this Chatong Sapphire Reserve Hold an annual fee of $795.
However, the card offers a long list of benefits including lounge access, travel points, luxury benefits, lifestyle credit, dining allowances and travel protection – to help offset that.
If you maximize privileges, math can solve it. If you can’t keep up, a simpler option, like the $95 year fee Chase Sapphire’s first choiceprobably better.
And, if you are eligible for a business card, consider comparable ones Chase Sapphire Reserve Or $95 years of fee Ink Business First Choice® Credit Card (See rates and fees) as they also earn valuable Chase Ultimate Reward Points.
To learn more, check out our full review of Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chatong Sapphire Reserve
For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click here.
