The The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card’s $795 annual fee is more than eight times the Preferred's. For that, you get a long list of credits and perks. Here is what Chase lists:
Travel credits
- $300 a year toward travel purchases - It doesn’t take much to burn off $300, so the actual cost of the card is really $495
- Up to $500 a year for prepaid stays of two nights or more at hotels in Chase's "The Edit" collection (up to $250 per booking)
- Up to $250** for select prepaid hotel stays (IHG, Omni, Montage, and others) booked through Chase Travel, through December 31, 2026
- Up to $120** toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every four years
Airports and hotels
- Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges and 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges
- IHG Platinum Elite hotel status through the end of 2027
- Points Boost, which makes points worth up to 2x on select flights and hotels booked through Chase
- Reserve Travel Designers, a personal trip-planning service
Dining and lifestyle credits (these change frequently)
- $300 a year for dining at certain partner restaurants
- Up to $420 a year in DoorDash promos plus a DashPass membership
- $120 a year in Lyft credits
- $120 a year toward Peloton memberships
- $300 a year toward concert and event tickets on StubHub and Viagogo
- Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions through June 2027
Protection
- Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per traveler
- Primary rental-car coverage up to $75,000
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per traveler
- Baggage delay coverage up to $100 a day for up to five days
- Emergency evacuation coverage up to $100,000
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase says these benefits can add up to more than $3,000 a year, but that only means something if you'd really use them. Many credits are tied to specific hotels, restaurants, or services, and some need activation or a two-night minimum. A credit you don't use is worth $0.
Who might consider it: Frequent travelers who would use the lounges, hotel credits, and travel credit. For most people starting out, a $95 card is the easier first step, and you can upgrade later.