The Chase Sapphire line includes high-rewards, travel-oriented credit cards issued by Chase Bank. The main ones are:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® – more moderate annual fee, good rewards and travel protections.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – higher fee, but more premium perks and credits.
These cards are part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which allows earning points (“Ultimate Rewards points”) that can be redeemed in many ways.
Key Benefits
Below are the main benefits, broken down by card type, plus common features. Note: benefits can change over time, so always check the current terms.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Some of the major advantages:
- Strong rewards & bonus categories
- Earn 5× points on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
- Earn 3× points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding certain retailers).
- 2× points on other travel purchases.
- 1× on other purchases.
- Welcome (Sign-up) bonus
- A large bonus if you meet a spending requirement early on. For example, 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
- Annual Hotel Credit
- Statement credit (e.g. $50) for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel.
- Anniversary Points Bonus
- Each card anniversary, you get additional points equal to 10% of your total purchases in the past year.
- Travel Protections & Insurances
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
- Trip delay reimbursement.
- Baggage delay and lost luggage coverage.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver (primary coverage) in many cases.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Good for international travel or purchases abroad.
- Flexible redemption of Ultimate Rewards points
- Redeem via Chase’s travel portal often at a premium value.
- Transfer points to airline & hotel partners at 1:1 in many cases.
- Lower annual fee (relative to the Reserve)
- The cost is more accessible, but you still get many of the travel benefits.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
For people willing to pay more for more perks, the Reserve offers enhancements that can make sense if your “travel + lifestyle” spending is high.
Some of its standout benefits:
- Very high rewards in travel & dining
- For example, 8× points on Chase Travel purchases.
- 4× points on flights and hotels booked directly.
- Generous annual credits
- Credits that help offset the high fee. Examples include:
• Travel credits (used for travel purchases).
• Dining credits (with certain restaurants/programs).
• Hotel credits via “The Edit by Chase Travel” (curated hotels/resorts).
- Credits that help offset the high fee. Examples include:
- Premium travel perks and status
- Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status for a term.
- Access to lounge networks: Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club, Priority Pass Select, etc.
- Statement credits or reimbursements for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or Nexus fees.
- More comprehensive travel protection
- Trip cancellation/interruption, baggage delay, emergency evacuation & medical transportation, roadside assistance, etc.
- “Points Boost” program
- Enhancements that give boosted value when redeeming points on certain flights/hotels via Chase Travel (points worth more than base value).
- Lifestyle perks and credits
- Credits toward dining programs, entertainment tickets, subscription services, etc.
- High annual fee, but high return potential
- Because the fee is high, you really need to make use of the credits and perks so that the net benefit outweighs the cost. For many frequent travelers or those who dine out often and use the lifestyle perks, it can be worth it.
How to Decide Which One Makes Sense
Here are some considerations to help evaluate:
- How often you travel & spend in bonus categories: If travel, hotels, flights, and dining are a big part of your spending, Reserve may pay off. If more occasional, Preferred may be sufficient.
- Can you maximize the credits? A lot of the value in Reserve comes from using the travel, dining, entertainment, and subscription credits. If you don’t use them, the high fee will be harder to justify.
- Foreign travel or spending abroad: No foreign transaction fees is a plus. Also, travel protections are more valuable when you are traveling internationally.
- Point redemption style: If you like redeeming via travel portals or transferring to airline/hotel partners for maximum value, these cards are good. If you tend to redeem only for cash back or gift cards, you may not get full benefit.
- Annual fee vs. net value: Always compare the fee you pay vs. what you get (credits + rewards) realistically.
Potential Drawbacks / Things to Watch
No card is perfect. Here are things to watch out for with Sapphire:
- High annual fee (especially Reserve) – Must make full use of perks to make it worth it.
- Spending requirement for welcome bonus – The bonus is large, but requires significant early spending.
- Complex redemption options – To maximize value, you often need to transfer points or use them via Chase Travel.
- Perks subject to change – Categories, partner hotels, credit amounts, status benefits, etc. can change.
- Availability outside the U.S. – Some benefits or partners are U.S.-centric; check acceptance and protections abroad.
Bottom Line
Chase Sapphire cards offer excellent value for people who:
- Travel with some frequency (airfare, hotels),
- Eat out or spend on dining and lifestyle,
- Can make use of the travel credits, status, and partner benefits,
- Like flexibility in how you redeem points.
For many, the Preferred is a great “sweet spot”—high rewards with much lower fees than the Reserve, though with fewer premium perks.
If you travel a lot and will actually use the perks and credits, the Reserve can be worth the higher cost.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What are the main differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve?
The Preferred has a lower annual fee and solid travel/dining rewards, while the Reserve has a higher fee but offers premium perks like lounge access, larger travel credits, and enhanced redemption values.
2. Do Chase Sapphire cards charge foreign transaction fees?
No, both the Preferred and Reserve have no foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travel.
3. How do Chase Ultimate Rewards® points work?
Points can be earned on purchases and redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credits, or transferred to airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions.
4. What is the current welcome bonus for the Sapphire cards?
Bonuses vary by time and offer, but typically range from 60,000 to 75,000 points after meeting the spending requirement.
5. Can I transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airlines and hotels?
Yes, both cards allow 1:1 point transfers to partners like United, Southwest, Hyatt, and Marriott.
6. Which card is better for dining and restaurants?
Both cards reward dining, but the Reserve offers higher multipliers on restaurant spending.
7. Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred include trip cancellation insurance?
Yes, the Preferred includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, plus baggage delay and primary rental car coverage.
8. What premium travel protections does the Reserve offer?
The Reserve includes emergency evacuation, trip delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, and roadside assistance, in addition to standard protections.
9. Can I access airport lounges with the Sapphire Preferred?
No, lounge access is exclusive to the Reserve, which offers Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Lounges.
10. How much is the annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
As of 2025, the annual fee is around $95 (subject to change).
11. How much is the annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Reserve’s annual fee is significantly higher (around $550–$595 depending on current terms).
12. What is the $50 hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
It’s an annual statement credit when booking hotels through Chase Travel.
13. What credits are available on the Sapphire Reserve?
The Reserve offers a flexible annual travel credit, credits for dining, subscriptions, and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursements.
14. Can I redeem points for cash back?
Yes, but the best value usually comes from redeeming for travel or transferring to partners.
15. Are Chase Sapphire cards good for everyday spending?
They are best for travel, dining, and lifestyle categories; other purchases may earn fewer points compared to flat-rate cash-back cards.
16. How do anniversary bonus points work on the Preferred?
You earn an additional 10% of points based on your total purchases each card anniversary year.
17. Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve at the same time?
No, Chase restricts cardholders from having both simultaneously.
18. Do these cards work well for international travelers?
Yes, thanks to no foreign transaction fees, global acceptance, and strong travel protections.
19. Is it worth upgrading from the Sapphire Preferred to Reserve?
If you travel frequently, use lounges, and can maximize credits, the Reserve can justify its fee. Otherwise, stick with the Preferred.
20. How do I apply for a Chase Sapphire card?
You can apply directly through Chase’s website or at a local branch, subject to credit approval and Chase’s 5/24 rule (limiting approvals if you’ve opened 5+ cards in the past 24 months).
