Adding an authorized user to the Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $195 per user, on top of the card's $795 annual fee, according to Chase's Reserve page. For that fee, the authorized user gets their own Priority Pass Select membership and Chase Sapphire Lounge access, and what they charge earns points and counts toward the card's credits. Everything here was read on October 19, 2026.
What the Fee Costs and Who Pays
The $195 is charged per authorized user. The primary cardmember is responsible for repaying all balances, and authorized users have the same charging privileges but aren't financially responsible. Statements, notifications and the cards themselves go to the primary cardmember's name and address. Chase says it reports account information to the credit reporting agencies for all account users, which could affect an authorized user's credit score.
What Authorized Users Get
Chase's pages state these for authorized users on the Chase Sapphire Reserve:
- Points: purchases made by you or an authorized user earn points.
- Priority Pass Select: each primary cardmember and authorized user has the membership automatically activated, with a maximum of two guests each. Additional guests cost $27 per guest, per visit.
- Sapphire Lounges: Chase's lounge page lists authorized users among those with access. Our guide to Chase Sapphire Lounges has the locations and hours.
- Air Canada lounges: authorized users are eligible, with one guest, and the Star Alliance departure rule applies.
- DashPass: you and your authorized users can activate it, and one membership period covers everyone, starting when the first user activates.
What Counts Toward the Credits
For these credits, Chase counts purchases made by you or an authorized user: the $300 annual travel credit, the Edit credit on prepaid stays of two or more nights, the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee, StubHub, Peloton and the welcome bonus spend. The $75,000 spending threshold counts an authorized user's purchases too, though Chase says the benefits that unlock at that level go to the primary cardmember.
The Lyft credit works differently. Chase says whoever adds their card to the Lyft app first receives the $10 monthly credit, so it's one credit for the account, not one per user.
Travel Protections and Authorized Users
Chase's Guide to Benefits, in effect as of June 11, 2026, defines "You" as an individual to whom a covered card account has been issued, and its trip coverage covers you and your family members. Call the benefit administrator at 1-800-350-1697 before you rely on a protection for a trip an authorized user paid for.
When an Authorized User Is Worth $195
Compare the fee to the benefit that person would actually use. The biggest parts are the Priority Pass membership and lounge access, so a partner or family member who flies often gets the most from it. Our Priority Pass comparison shows how other premium cards treat authorized users.
If the person only wants a card to charge groceries on, the fee buys little that a no-fee card wouldn't. Add them when they'll use the lounges, or when routing their spend through your account helps you reach a credit.
