I am an eight year loyal customer of Chase Sapphire Reserve and at this point, I wouldn´t dream of switching to a different card, which is why I am sharing my Chase Sapphire Referral Link with you. If you are a frequent traveler (and even if you´re not), it´s an incredible card to have. A few highlights for me include how easily I can earn points on so many things that I already buy, how easily I can use the points, and Priority Pass lounge access. I don´t even use all of the benefits I could use, there are so many. I am going to highlight the basics of what is offered below, and also highlight some of my favorite features of the card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred?
One of the questions people often ask me is what is the difference between the Reserve and the Preferred, and why should I get one over the other? There are some obvious differences, and then I will provide you with my opinion. However, both are amazing cards. See the chart below for a side-by-side comparison of the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. the Chase Sapphire Preferred. For more specific details, please see the Chase website.
| Benefit/Detail | Reserve | Preferred |
| Annual Fee | $550 | $95 |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | none | none |
| Travel Insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Annual Travel Credit | $300 | $50 (hotels only) |
| Points on Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Points on Travel | 3x | 2x |
| Redeeming Points for travel | Worth 50% more | Worth 25% more |
| TSA Precheck/Global Entry/NEXUS Reimbursement | Yes | No |
| Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access | Yes | No |
| Transfer of Points to Travel Partners | Yes, 1:1 | Yes, 1:1 |
Some of the obvious differences are the annual fee, which is significantly different, the access to airport lounges, the annual travel credit, and the points you can earn on travel. Beyond these benefits, there are also many promotions and discounts that Chase provides throughout the year that change depending on what they´re promoting at the time. For example, for a period of time, they were offering 10x points on Peloton purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred?
I know that the annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve is high, but I´ve never regretted it. For one, you get $300 back almost immediately in the travel credit. The travel credit is automatically deducted from my account, and can be used on everything related to travel – Ubers, flights, hotel, etc. So almost automatically, the fee is reduced to $250. If you count the TSA Precheck/Global Entry/NEXXUS fee, it´s reduced another $100. While this fee isn´t realized every year, it´s another benefit that makes up for the cost.
The other perk I could not give up (especially being an international traveler), is the lounge access. As someone who has, and continues to travel often, this is a huge perk. The pass also allows you to bring one guest, so my husband can benefit from it too.
If you´re not a frequent traveler, and you think that you want to start with a lower annual fee, I totally get that, and I think the Preferred is also an excellent card. You cannot go wrong!
My Favorite Chase Sapphire Features
Lounge Access
I think this has come across quite clearly at this point, but the lounge access is amazing. Let´s be real, not every lounge is created equal, and I will say that international departure lounges are almost always better than U.S. domestic departure lounges, but it´s still worth it. I´ve also had the opportunity to visit two of the new Chase Sapphire Airport Lounges – one in Hong Kong and one in Washington Dulles – and I can´t wait to see Chase offer these lounges in more locations because they´re excellent.
Travel Insurance
The travel insurance is so clutch. I never get the extra insurance on car rentals anymore because I know Chase has my back. For example, a few years ago, my husband and I rented a car from a company in Spain that completely screwed us on the deposit. They claimed we had done more than $500 in damage to the car, which was false, and which we had to pay to return the car. I called Chase and filed a report with pictures, and they refunded me the full amount. I was so angry about the situation at the time, but Chase completely saved the day.
3x points on Dining & Travel
We go out to eat relatively often and obviously travel a lot, so the extra points I earn on travel and dining are huge. Chase also often offers 2x or 3x points on groceries too, which is amazing. My husband eats a lot so I need that! I don´t think too much about the points I´m earning day-to-day, but when I go to spend them, I almost always have enough for the flights I want to book.
50% More Value When Points Redeemed for Travel
What this means is that if you have $100 worth of points, if you spend them on travel, they are worth $150. So anything you book through the Chase portal – flights, hotels, car rentals – is worth 50% more. This is obviously a huge perk. I´ve bought countless flights with my Chase account including flights from Mexico City to Hong Kong for my husband and I for our honeymoon. This also comes in handy when you want to book business class. For example, when I moved from Milan to Mexico City, I booked business because of all the baggage I had, which was really helpful in avoiding enormous excess baggage fees.
Customer Service
The customer service at Chase is generally top notch. They have a number you can call within the U.S. as well as an international number – this is so important since you can´t call 800 numbers outside the U.S. They have 24/7 service, and almost always pick up within a minute of your call. The one thing they won´t do is, if you lose your card, send it to you internationally. I understand this because it´s a security issue, but I would love this option as someone who lives outside the U.S.
Don´t Wait, Use my Chase Sapphire Referral Link
All of this said, here is my Chase Sapphire Referral Link! Looking for some amazing destinations where you can spend your points? Check out my itineraries page that includes itineraries for destinations around the world.
*This post is in no way sponsored by Chase. However, if you use the code to sign up for a credit card, I will receive additional Chase bonus points that I can use. All opinions in this post are my own.
