Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: Benefits, Points, and Is It Worth the Annual Fee?

At a Glance: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Annual fee: $795
Welcome bonus: 125,000 points after spending $6000 in the first 3 months
Points currency: Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earning rates:

• 8x on flights booked through Chase Travel℠
  
  
• 10x on hotels & car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠
  
  
• 3x on travel & dining (worldwide)
  
  
• 1x on everything else
  
  

Point value:

• Recently there was a 2x multiplier when redeemed through Chase Travel℠ but they are making it variable
  
  
• Potentially higher value when transferring to airline and hotel partners
  
  

Key perks:

• $300 annual travel credit
  
  
• $500 The Edit Credit ($250 split between Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec)
  
  
• $300 annual dining credit ($150 split between Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec)
  
  
• $300 Stubhub Credit ($150 split between Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec)
  
  
• Apple TV and Apple Music free through Jul 2027
  
  
• Priority Pass™ lounge access
  
  
• Primary rental car insurance
  
  
• TSA PreCheck® / Global Entry credit
  
  
• Strong travel and purchase protections
  
  
• Peloton credit
  
  
• Lyft Credit
  
  
• Free Dashpass and $20 per month through DoorDash ($10 twice a month)

That’s a lot of perks! Use Maxpoints.app to manage your credit usage and be sure to take advantage of all the offered credits whenever they become available and get a notification when you have new credits to use.

Best for:

• Frequent travelers
  
  
• People who value flexibility over airline-specific cards
  
  
• Anyone spending heavily on dining and travel
  
  

What Makes Chase Sapphire Reserve So Popular?

The appeal comes down to flexibility + protection + redemption power.

Unlike airline-specific cards, your points aren’t locked into one program. You can use them for flights, hotels, rental cars, or transfer them to partners when award availability is right. That flexibility is what makes this card a favorite among travel strategists.

Earning Points: Where the Reserve Really Shines

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is especially strong for people whose spending naturally falls into travel and dining.

Everyday Spending That Adds Up

• Dining out, takeout, and delivery all earn 3x points
  
  
• Flights, hotels, rideshares, parking, and tolls also earn 3x
  
  
• Booking through Chase Travel℠ unlocks elevated 5x–10x rates
  
  

If travel and dining are already part of your lifestyle, points accumulate quickly without changing your habits.

Redeeming Points: Simple or Strategic

One of the biggest strengths of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is how easy it is to get solid value from your points.

Option 1: Book Travel Directly (Easy Mode)

When you redeem points through Chase Travel℠, each point is worth 1-2 cents.

• 50,000 points = $500-1000 in travel
  
  
• No blackout dates
  
  
• Mix points and cash if needed
  
  

This is ideal if you don’t want to learn airline award charts.

Option 2: Transfer to Travel Partners (Max Value Mode)

You can transfer points 1:1 to airline and hotel partners, including programs like:

• United Airlines
  
  
• Southwest Airlines
  
  
• JetBlue
  
  
• Air Canada Aeroplan
  
  
• World of Hyatt
•  

This is where outsized value happens—business-class flights or luxury hotel stays can push point values well beyond 2¢ per point.

The $1700 in Credits: Why the Fee Feels Lower Than It Looks

Each cardmember year, you automatically receive credits that apply to a number of places:

• Flights
  
  
• Hotels
  
  
• Uber/Lyft
  
  
• Parking
  
  
• Tolls
  
  
• Stubhub
  
  
• Restaurants on a curated list (Book through OpenTable – free delicious food in major cities!)
  
  
• DoorDash every month
  
  

There’s no activation or category tracking required.

Assuming you maximize your credits, you’ll be getting back $1700 or more every year – getting back credits of $905+ after the $795 fee is reduced to $0. Furthermore 125,000 points nets you another $1250 in points alone – making your first year with CSR worth $1950 in travel, food, and other goods for “free” ($1155 after the fee).

Airport Lounge Access: Travel With Less Stress

The card includes a Priority Pass™ Select membership, giving you access to:

• 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide
  
  
• Select airport restaurants and experiences (availability varies by location)
  
  

For frequent flyers, lounge access alone can justify a large portion of the annual fee – especially during long layovers or delays.

Travel Protections That Actually Matter

This is where the Chase Sapphire Reserve quietly outperforms many competitors.

Key Protections Include:

• Primary rental car insurance (huge value)
  
  
• Trip delay reimbursement
  
  
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
  
  
• Lost luggage reimbursement
  
  
• Purchase protection and extended warranties
  
  

These benefits reduce the need for separate travel insurance and provide peace of mind when plans don’t go perfectly.

TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry Credit

Every four years, you’ll receive a statement credit (up to $100) for:

• TSA PreCheck®, or
  
  
• Global Entry
  
  

It’s a small perk, but one that directly improves the airport experience.

Who Should Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

This card is best suited for you if:

• You travel several times a year
  
  
• You spend heavily on dining and travel
  
  
• You want flexible points instead of airline-locked rewards
  
  
• You value protections and convenience over juggling multiple cards
  
  

You may want to skip it if:

• You rarely travel
  
  
• You prefer no-annual-fee cards
  
  

You won’t use the travel credit or lounge access