The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is worth an estimated $1,146 per year as of May 2022, according to Credit Karma’s Total Benefit Value, our measurement of a card’s annual worth via perks and benefits.
That value makes it one of the most valuable premium rewards cards in our rankings.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve®’s flexible travel credit sets it apart from other premium rewards cards, and there are several other valuable benefits that can help you cover the $550 annual fee and then some.
- The three most valuable Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits
- More Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits
- Is Chase Sapphire Reserve® worth the annual fee?
- Alternatives to Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The three most valuable Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits
1. Flexible travel credit: $300
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® features a $300 annual travel credit, and it’s one of the most useful benefits you’ll find on any premium rewards card.
Unlike some other credits, this one has very few restrictions on its use and automatically applies to your travel purchases. The credit works for practically any travel purchase you can imagine, including flights, hotels, and less obvious categories like transportation and rideshares.
Given that flexibility, it’s likely that a Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholder can easily earn the full value of the $300 credit every year.
2. Airport lounge access: $461
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also comes with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership (with required one-time activation), which allows access to more than 1,500 airport lounges around the world for the cardholder and two guests.
Available services at each lounge differ, but these lounges typically offer food, drinks, Wi-Fi and a quiet spot to wait for your flight.
This benefit can be valuable, but some premium rewards cards offer Priority Pass membership and additional, more-exclusive lounge access. If lounges are a big reason you’re interested in this card, you might want to consider another option, like the Platinum Card® from American Express or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
3. Food delivery perk: $180
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also features a perk from a popular food delivery app.
You’ll receive a complimentary DashPass membership for DoorDash, which also includes $5 in DoorDash credits each month, for a minimum of one year. DashPass offers $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders, and it usually costs $9.99 per month.
Keep in mind, though, that this benefit isn’t exactly free. You get partial discounts on your DoorDash orders, so you can still expect to pay some amount for each delivery.
More Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also comes with a handful of lesser-known travel perks that could make or break your trip.
- Airport security program credits — When you apply for an expedited airport security program like Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or Nexus, you’ll receive a credit of up to $120 every four years. Similar travel program credits are available on many travel cards, but they’re still nice to have.
- Hotel perks — You’ll be eligible for complimentary room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout when you book a room at a property included in the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection℠, which includes some of the top hotels and resorts around the world.
- Travel insurance and protections — When you book your trip with your card, you’ll be eligible for a variety of travel insurance coverages and protections, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and more. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use travel insurance — but if you ever do, you’ll be glad you have it. We don’t include these coverages in our Total Benefit Value calculation, but they could prove valuable if you ever need them.
- Car rental discounts — When you rent a car from Avis, National or Silvercar, you’ll be eligible for discounts and complimentary upgrades to a nicer vehicle. Unfortunately, these perks don’t apply to other rental car agencies.
- No foreign transaction fees — Because there are no foreign transaction fees, this card is a good option to bring when you’re traveling internationally. This perk is a must-have for frequent international travelers, and it’s available on all the best travel cards.
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® worth the annual fee?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a $550 annual fee, which is on the high side — even for a premium rewards card. But it also offers some of the best perks out there.
The $300 annual travel credit makes it easy to cover more than half of the annual fee without much work, and the airport lounge access and delivery credits can provide considerable value.
Our Total Benefit Value of $1,146 more than doubles that annual fee, so there are plenty of ways to get value for your money. And that value doesn’t even include what you get from the card’s valuable rewards points redeemable through Chase Travel℠.
Alternatives to Chase Sapphire Reserve®
We understand the Chase Sapphire Reserve® isn’t for everyone. If you’re still interested in getting a premium rewards card, here are a few more that might be a better fit.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: This card also comes with practical benefits that don’t require a lot of strategizing — and it has a lower annual fee.
- Platinum Card® from American Express: If you don’t mind putting in a little effort, this card has more benefits and perks to choose from.
- American Express® Gold Card: If you prefer to maximize restaurant credits, then this card might be the best option for you.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: If you’re looking for a travel rewards card with a more affordable annual fee, this card is like a junior version of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.