While we often recommend the card_name as a beginner-friendly first card for those seeking credit card points and miles, there is a definite time when the card_name might work best. In fact, I just applied for it after years of holding the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. 

 
 

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You can combine Chase Ultimate Rewards® with your spouse (or other household members), so we recommend that people refer their Player Two to the card and earn referral points if this card works for your family. 

 

Transfer Partners

We think this card has the very best transfer partners. A huge reason is that you can transfer to Hyatt, and Chase Ultimate Rewards® is the only major program that transfers to Hyatt. Hyatt is our hotel brand of choice because of the oversized value you get from redeeming Hyatt points for free hotel stays. While we transfer most of our Ultimate Rewards® to Hyatt, United Airlines, and Southwest® Airlines are also programs that many people transfer to. Here is a list of all of the Chase transfer partners:

• Aer Lingus
• Air Canada
• British Airways
• Emirates
• Flying Blue (KLM/Air France)
• Hyatt
• Iberia
• IHG
• JetBlue
• Marriott
• Singapore Airlines
• Southwest
• United
• Virgin Atlantic

Your points transfer to all of these partners at a 1:1 ratio, and most transfers occur instantly. However, transfers are one-way only, so make sure to confirm availability before you transfer your points.

 

Annual Fee and Card Benefits

The annual fee is high at $795, so there better be some AMAZING card benefits to offset that! I decided to see if I could make these benefits work for me, even though the high welcome offer was enough to entice me, at least for the first year. If not, I will downgrade it to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card after the first year.

 

The ​Chase Sapphire Reserve®​ benefits include:

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel(SM), including The Edit(SM) and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases.
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass(TM) Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge(R) by The Club with two guests. Plus, a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck(R) or NEXUS application.
• Get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and again from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually when you dine at restaurants part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $324 annually.
• Member FDIC

 

Strategy Tips

If you already have the Sapphire Reserve, it’s smart to hold onto it until your next renewal date to keep the current $550 fee and benefits for as long as possible. For those interested in the refreshed version and its new perks, it may be worth applying. 

Some users may consider downgrading or upgrading from other Chase cards, such as the card_name or card_name, to become eligible for new cardholder offers. Ultimately, it’s essential to look at how often you’ll realistically use the latest travel and lifestyle credits to decide if the $795 annual fee makes financial sense for you.

 

Why It Works for Me

• Benefits I can use: DoorDash (worth $470), Apple TV (worth $250), $300 Annual Travel Credit—those credits cover my annual fee and then some.      
• I might use the Edit travel credit some years
• It allows me increased lounge access, as it will let me visit Sapphire Lounges to my heart’s content. (I like the one in Boston.) Other Sapphire Lounges can be found in :

  • BOS – Boston Logan

  • IAD – Washington Dulles

  • HKG – Hong Kong

  • JFK – New York JFK 

  • LGA – LaGuardia 

  • PHL – Philadelphia 

  • PHX – Phoenix Sky Harbor

  • SAN – San Diego 

  • Three more are planned for Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Dallas, and I’m sure more will follow.

 

 

Bottom Line

I missed the recent elevated welcome offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, so I was happy for the opportunity to try out the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Another elevated offer doesn’t hurt either. There have definitely been times that I could have gone into a Sapphire Lounge this last year, but I had already used the one-time entrance my Priority Pass gives me annually. Time will tell if I will keep this card or downgrade it in the future. What are your thoughts?

 

Related Posts

7 Reasons Why I Love Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Review of the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston