Chase Sapphire Reserve^® Review: Is This Premium Travel Card Truly Worth Its $795 Annual Fee?

Is a $795 annual fee really worth it? With the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, it just might be. Known as a top travel credit card for its premium perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® underwent a major overhaul in June 2025. The update brought new statement credits, a revamped rewards structure, changes to travel redemptions and a jump in the annual fee from $550 to $795. While key benefits like airport lounge access remain unchanged, many travelers are left wondering if the higher cost still delivers enough value.

Chase claims the card can provide over $1,200 in annual travel value and more than $1,500 in lifestyle benefits, including up to a $300 travel credit, $300 dining credit and $500 hotel credit. However, some of these credits come with restrictions that make them harder to fully utilize. On top of that, the updated rewards rates are more limited than before, which could affect how quickly you earn points. Still, for travelers seeking premium perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® could be worth the price — if you’re confident you’ll take full advantage of its benefits.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is best for frequent international travelers with excellent credit who prioritize airport lounge access and extensive travel insurance and plan to maximize the annual travel credits while earning substantial bonus points on travel and dining.

However, it’s less suitable for occasional travelers or those sensitive to a high annual fee. If you’re not a frequent traveler, there are more cost-effective cards available that still deliver strong value.

Annual fee: $795

Sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards: 1X - 8X points

• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠
• Earn 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct
• Earn 3x points on dining worldwide
• Earn 1x points on all other purchases

Intro purchase APR: N/A

APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable

Foreign transaction fee: $0

More than $2,000 worth of other benefits:

• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status

  New to the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® as of June 23, 2025, you’ll get complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status by linking your IHG One Rewards membership in the benefits section of your account on Chase.com or the Chase mobile app.

  Typically, to reach Platinum Elite status, you’d need 40 qualified nights or 60,000 qualified points. Benefits include:

  • • Member rates and promotions
    • Free internet
    • No blackout dates for reward nights
    • 60% bonus earnings
    • Complimentary upgrades (subject to availability)

  • • Welcome amenity at check-in
    • Hertz Five Star® status​
    • Guaranteed room availability
      Reward night discounts
    • Early check-in (subject to availability)
    • Late check-out (subject to availability)
  Enrollment required. This benefit is available until Dec. 31, 2027.

  → Learn more about the IHG Rewards Program.

• $469 Priority Pass^TM Select membership

  Priority Pass membership with unlimited free lounge visits normally costs $469 a year, with a $35 fee for each guest. However, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, this perk is complimentary.

  You’ll get access to 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide, complimentary access to every Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club with up to two guests and access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in the U.S., Canada and Europe with an eligible boarding pass. You can also add an authorized user to your card for a $195 fee to grant them the same access rights.

• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit

  Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.

• Up to $300 flexible travel credit

  The travel credit is one of the most valuable perks of the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, thanks to how easy it is to use. The credit is automatically applied to eligible travel purchases made with your card. Each year, you’ll receive up to $300 in statement credits for purchases that fall under Chase’s travel category, helping to offset the card’s annual fee. Eligible purchases include:

  • • Airlines
    • Hotels/Motels
    • Timeshares
    • Car rental agencies
    • Cruise lines
    • Travel agencies
    • Discount travel sites
    • Campgrounds

  • • Trains
    • Buses
    • Taxis
    • Limousines
    • Ferries
    • Toll bridges
    • Highways
    • Parking lots/garages
  The credit is much more flexible than some competing cards. For example, The Platinum Card^® from American Express offers up to a $200 hotel credit, but only on select prepaid bookings of two nights or longer made through American Express Travel. And it offers up to a $200 airline credit (enrollment required), but that applies only to “incidental fees” charged by airlines.

• Up to $500 credit for hotel stays with The Edit^SM

  The Edit is Chase’s handpicked collection of hotels and resorts. As of June 2025, you can get up to $250 in statement credits twice per year for prepaid stays booked through the Edit — once from January through June, and again from July through December. That’s up to $500 annually, with a two-night minimum stay required.

  Bookings through The Edit also come with exclusive perks, including daily breakfast for two, $100 property credit, room upgrade at check-in when available, early check-in and late check-out when available and complimentary Wi-Fi.

• Top-notch travel insurance

  The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® provides the most comprehensive and valuable travel insurance benefits available from any credit card. It beats out similar cards like The Platinum Card^® from American Express^1,2,3 and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card in terms of what it offers and coverage amounts. Here’s an overview of what you’ll get:

  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
    Up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations.
  • Emergency evacuation and transportation
    Up to $100,000 for medical services and transportation if you or a covered traveler is injured or becomes sick during a trip 100 miles or more from home that results in emergency evacuation.
  • Roadside assistance
    Up to $50 per incident, four times per year if you have a roadside emergency. Includes things like a tow, battery assistance, tire change, locksmith or gas.
  • Primary auto rental coverage
    Primary coverage up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage when you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card.
    → See the best credit cards for car rental insurance.
  • Trip delay reimbursement
    Up to $500 per covered traveler if your common carrier travel is delayed more than six hours or requires an overnight stay. Includes expenses like meals and lodging.
  • Baggage delay insurance
    Up to $100 per day for up to five days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed over six hours.
    → Learn more about Chase Sapphire Reserve^® Travel Insurance Benefits.

  You’ll also get solid purchase protection, including:

  • Return protection
    Get reimbursed for eligible items that the store won’t accept within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item and up to $1,000 total per 12-month period.
  • Extended warranty
    Extends the manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.
    → See the best credit card extended warranty.
  • Purchase protection
    Covers new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $10,000 per item
    → Learn more about credit card purchase protection.

• Up to $300 dining credit

  One of the standout lifestyle perks of the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is its dining credit, especially if you live near a major metro area included in the program. You can earn up to $150 in statement credits from January through June, and another $150 from July through December, for a total of $300 annually when you dine at select restaurants through the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program — which features trendy, high-end spots.

• Up to $250 in Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions

  To activate, go to the card benefits section of your Chase mobile app, find the Apple TV+ and Apple Music offers and follow the prompts to link your Apple ID. Then, activate your complimentary subscriptions.

• Up to $420 in value with DoorDash

  You’ll get up to $300 in annual DoorDash promos — broken down as $25 per month — but the structure can be a bit underwhelming. Each month, you receive two $10 credits for non-restaurant purchases (like groceries), while only $5 applies to standard food delivery. For many users, that setup may limit the overall value. However, if you’re a frequent DoorDash customer, the card also includes a complimentary DashPass membership (a $120 annual value), which offers $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders.

• Up to $120 in annual Lyft credits + 5x points

  If you’re a frequent Lyft user, you might find value in getting access to up to $10 in monthly in-app credits (up to $120 annually). Plus, you’ll get an extra 4x points on eligible Lyft rides on top of the 1x points you already earn on purchases with the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®.

• Up to $120 in annual Peloton credits + 10x points

  If you’re considering a Peloton purchase, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® can help you save. You’ll earn up to $120 in annual statement credits toward eligible Peloton memberships, plus 10X points on qualifying Peloton equipment and accessories — up to a total of 50,000 points.

• Up to $300 in annual StubHub credits

  Get up to $150 in statement credits from Jan. 1 through June 30 and again from July 1 through Dec. 31 for a maximum of $300 annually for purchases on StubHub.com and viagogo.com.

Perks after spending $75,000

If you spend $75,000 or more annually on your Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, you’ll unlock additional status and credits. These elevated benefits are available for the rest of the year in which you qualify and continue through the entire following calendar year.

• IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
• Up to $500 Southwest Airlines Credit
• A-List Status with Southwest Airlines
• Up to $250 Shops at Chase credit

If you currently have the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, you may be wondering what your next move should be. With the recent updates, Chase is offering over $2,700 in potential annual value through new credits and benefits, making it possible to offset the increased $795 annual fee. However, each benefit comes with specific terms and conditions, so it’s important to evaluate whether you’ll actually use enough of them to make the card worth keeping. Here’s the current timeline of changes:

• As of June 23, 2025: Current cardholders can continue to use your current card and start using Points Boost on Chase Travel^SM.
• Starting Oct. 26, 2025: The new rewards rate and suite of benefits will kick in and your annual fee will increase to $795 on your anniversary date, with an increased $195 annual fee for authorized users.
• Through Oct. 26, 2027: For points earned before Oct. 26, 2025, you’ll automatically get the best offer available, whether it’s Points Boost or 1.5x on Chase Travel^SM.

Tip: You could also look into a credit card downgrade with Chase if you’re worried about the high annual fee and don’t want to close the card completely. Downgrading to the $95-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card might be a good move because you’ll still get some of the same great travel benefits, minus the more premium perks.

→ See all of the top travel credit cards.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^® vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Platinum Card^® from American Express may be a better fit if you travel frequently or value luxury travel perks. With recent changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, The Platinum Card^® from American Express now has a lower annual fee ($695). It offers access to a much larger set of lounges, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (subject to visit limitations) and Priority Pass™ Select (enrollment required).

Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, it includes a wide range of travel, shopping and entertainment credits totaling over $1,000 in potential value. This includes up to a $200 airline incidental credit (for fees like checked bags on eligible flights) after selecting a qualifying airline and up to a $200 credit on select prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel (terms apply).

While The Platinum Card^® from American Express earns strong rewards on flights and hotels, its categories are more narrowly travel-focused, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® offers broader earning potential across dining, travel and everyday spending.

→ Learn more about Chase Sapphire Reserve^® vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^® vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a strong alternative to the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, particularly for frequent travelers who want premium benefits at a lower cost. With a $395 annual fee, it offers a more straightforward way to earn miles and delivers a solid rewards rate on all purchases.

Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, it includes Priority Pass lounge access and a $300 annual travel credit, though the credit only applies to bookings made through Capital One’s travel booking site. For travelers who prioritize value and simplicity, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may be the better fit for maximizing perks while keeping costs down.

→ Learn more about Chase Sapphire Reserve^® vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^® vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

If you’re hesitant about the higher cost of the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card offers many similar benefits for a much lower $95 annual fee — with no authorized user fees. While it doesn’t include lounge access, it does provide a $50 annual hotel credit on stays booked through Chase Travel^SM, which helps offset the fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card also has strong travel insurance, including the same trip cancellation and delay coverage as the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. However, some reimbursement limits are lower, and it doesn’t include emergency medical evacuation.

If you decide you want more premium perks later on, you can easily upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® in the future.

→ Learn more about Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve^®.

We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

• Average value over two years (80% of rating): We calculate the value of rewards and perks for the average cardholder using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes the card’s sign-up bonus, annual bonus (including free night certificates) and travel perks like lounge access and travel credits. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
• Flexibility of rewards (15% of rating): We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum thresholds to redeem, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back.
• Other features (5% of rating): We also compare a card’s benefits, such as purchase protections, travel protections and elite status benefits against benefits from other cards.