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When a new credit card becomes available boasting loads of great new benefits and offers, it is naturally going to attract a lot of attention. Banks know they need great perks to draw customers away from their current card provider and will go all out on signing up bonuses and partner perks to try and catch a customer's attention.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has quickly become one of the most popular choices. These premium travel cards have generated huge levels of online chatter due to the perks, benefits, and rewards travelers can enjoy.
But before you apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you need to make sure this really is the best card for you. Doing your research and due diligence before applying for a travel card will make sure that you are picking the best card for your current lifestyle and spending.
The best credit card for you can differ from the best credit card for your neighbor. So, you need to make sure that the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is right for you and your lifestyle.
Below we will provide you with a Chase Sapphire Reserve® Benefits Guide and tell you everything you need to know to make an informed decision about whether you should apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve® card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Experienced Users
60,000 Points
Are The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Benefits Worth The Annual Fee?
When you apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, you will be asked to pay a $550 Annual Fee. Whether this fee makes financial sense will depend upon your current spending and lifestyle habits and how much you are going to benefit from the included benefits.
Below we will break down whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Benefits afford you enough value to outweigh the fee.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Benefits Guide
$300 Worth of Travel Credits Each Year
If you are a frequent traveler then you should benefit from the $300 annual statement credit which you can use to book travel. You can use this credit to pay for Chase Sapphire Reserve® Travel Booking such as flights, hotels, and car rentals as well as Lyft rides and accommodation costs.
So that's $300 out of the $550 covered if the $300 is spent on qualifying travel each year.
Earn 60,000 Bonus Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠
If your current spending levels match this amount and you are looking to collect points for travel - then this makes the high annual fee more than worth it.
If your current expenditure doesn't match the $4,000 benchmark, then you should consider other cards which will give you points after you spend lower amounts.
3x Points on Dining Out
If you regularly eat at restaurants, you may be able to build up points for travel and dining quite quickly. if you purchase restaurant bookings and meals using the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal you will earn 10x points per dollar spent. Money spent on dining in other restaurants will allow you to earn 3x points per dollar.
If you regularly eat out this means you can start to grow your points total quite quickly.
Do You Travel Regularly?
When you use Chase Sapphire Reserve® Travel Booking, you will be able to earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights, and 10 points per dollar on car rentals and hotel booking (after earning your $300 travel credit.) Other travel bookings will earn you 3x points after your bonus of $300 is spent.
So, if you regularly travel for business or leisure, then choosing to apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve® Cards may be an excellent choice for saving on travel in the future.
Are You a Priority Pass Member, or Do you Want to use Airport Lounges?
If you use or want airport lounge access when you fly, then you can use Chase Sapphire Serve benefits to access Priority Pass lounges. You will be able to access over 1,300 lounge locations around the world.
To buy a priority pass prestige membership outright, you will need to spend $469 to ensure lounge access any number of times throughout the year. So, when you combine this with your $300 credit bonus each year - your annual fee is covered.
Make sure to check through the available Priority Pass lounges to make sure that they reflect the locations you normally visit. If not then the value of these Chase Sapphire Reserve® Benefits may not warrant the annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Benefits Guide - What Else Should You Consider?
When weighing up whether to apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve® card and whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits add value and savings to your lifestyle, you should also consider:
- A Complimentary One Year membership to Lyft Pink. Activate by March 31, 2025
- One Year Complimentary Membership to DashPass. Activate by December 31, 2024
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Discount credit on Global Entry or TSA Precheck Memberships.
- Travel Purchase Protection.
Summary - Is Chase Sapphire Reserve® Worth It?
So, out of all the new credit cards, Chase Sapphire Reserve® undoubtedly has some great benefits. But should you apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve®? Look at our Chase Sapphire Reserve® Benefits Guide again and assess it against your lifestyle and spending.
if you don't travel enough for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Benefits of $300 travel credit to cover your current expenditure, then you should question whether the card is the best fit for you. Likewise, if you don't currently use or can't see yourself making use of the Priority Pass membership, then you should think about whether this is the best traveler credit card for you.
If you are a frequent flyer who is currently spending quite a substantial amount on travel costs, airport lounge access, and TSA Precheck or Global Entry, then if you apply for a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you could end up saving money. Out of all the new credit cards, Chase Sapphire Reserve® just may be the best fit!
However, if you don't spend enough to earn 60,000 bonus points in the first three months and don't fly enough to spend your $300 travel credit, then you should question if the Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits are the best available for you.
What Credit Cards Have The Best Airport Perks?
If you are a frequent traveler, either for business or leisure, you are missing out if you aren't taking advantage of the many travel and airport perks which come with owning credit cards.
