Choosing the right travel rewards credit card can feel overwhelming, especially when comparing powerhouses like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Both cards, issued by Chase Bank, are renowned for their lucrative rewards programs, travel perks, and access to Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This detailed comparison breaks down the key differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards to help you determine which best aligns with your spending habits and travel aspirations.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: A Detailed Breakdown
Let’s delve into a side-by-side comparison of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve, examining their features, rewards, and benefits.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: Core Features and Benefits
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is often lauded as an excellent entry point into the world of premium travel rewards. It balances valuable benefits with a reasonable annual fee, making it attractive to a broad range of users.
- Annual Hotel Credit: Enjoy a $50 annual statement credit for hotels purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. This perk helps offset the annual fee and provides direct value to travelers.
- Authorized User Fee: Adding authorized users to your Sapphire Preferred account comes at no additional cost. This is a significant advantage for families or individuals who want to share card benefits without incurring extra fees.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Travel internationally without the worry of foreign transaction fees. Both Sapphire cards waive these fees, making them ideal for overseas spending.
- Point Transfers: Unlock exceptional value by transferring your Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio to Chase’s impressive roster of hotel and airline partners. This flexibility is a cornerstone of the Sapphire cards’ appeal.
- Travel Protections: Travel with peace of mind thanks to included travel insurance benefits.* These include Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance. These protections can save you money and hassle in unexpected travel situations.
Sapphire Preferred: Earning Rewards and Bonuses
The rewards structure of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is designed to accelerate point accumulation on common spending categories, particularly dining and travel.
- Elevated Rewards on Dining and Travel: Earn 3x points on dining purchases globally, from restaurants to takeout and delivery services. Additionally, accrue 2x points on all travel purchases, encompassing flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. These bonus categories align with typical spending patterns, making it easy to rack up points quickly.
- Boosted Redemption Value for Travel: When you redeem your points for travel directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, your points are worth 25% more. This means each point is valued at 1.25 cents, increasing the purchasing power for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and other travel expenses booked through the portal.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Premium Features and Benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve positions itself as a premium travel credit card, offering a richer suite of benefits and perks tailored for frequent travelers who seek luxury and convenience. It comes with a higher annual fee, justified by its enhanced rewards and travel advantages.
- Generous Annual Travel Credit: Receive up to $300 in statement credits annually to reimburse travel-related purchases. This credit is applied automatically to a wide range of travel expenses, including airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, ride-sharing, and more, effectively reducing the out-of-pocket cost of the card.
- Authorized User Fee: Adding authorized users to the Sapphire Reserve incurs a $75 annual fee per user. While there’s a fee, authorized users also gain access to many of the card’s benefits, such as Priority Pass lounge access.
- Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy complimentary access to the Priority Pass Select network, one of the world’s largest independent airport lounge programs. This membership grants you and up to two guests access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, offering a comfortable and relaxing airport experience.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Just like the Preferred card, the Reserve card has no foreign transaction fees, ensuring seamless spending abroad.
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance:* The Sapphire Reserve provides the same robust travel insurance protections as the Preferred card: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/NEXUS Credit: Receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS. These programs expedite airport security and customs processes, saving you valuable time and hassle.
Sapphire Reserve: Maximizing Rewards and Bonuses
The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s rewards program is geared towards rewarding frequent travelers for both travel and dining spending, with accelerated earning on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- High Rewards on Travel and Dining: Earn 3x points on all travel and dining purchases after exhausting the $300 annual travel credit. Once the credit is used, you continue to earn at this elevated rate.
- Exceptional Rewards on Travel Booked via Chase: Earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals and 5x points on flights when booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. This significantly boosts your points earnings when booking travel through the portal.
- Superior Redemption Value for Travel: Points redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal are worth 50% more, providing a value of 1.5 cents per point. This enhanced redemption rate maximizes the value of your rewards when booking flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through the portal.
Shared Perks: Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve
While the Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cards have distinct features, they also share several valuable benefits.
Sign-Up Bonus Opportunities
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve frequently offer attractive sign-up bonuses to new cardmembers. These bonuses typically require meeting a minimum spending threshold within the first few months of account opening. It’s always recommended to check the latest offers on Chase’s website to maximize your initial rewards.
Complimentary Food Delivery Benefits
Cardholders of both Sapphire cards are eligible for a complimentary DashPass membership from DoorDash. Activating by December 31, 2023, grants you free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible orders of $12 or more at participating DashPass restaurants. This perk provides ongoing savings on food delivery services.
Transferable Points to Travel Partners
A key strength of both Sapphire cards is the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Chase’s extensive network of travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. This unlocks significant value by allowing you to redeem points for flights and hotel stays with partners like United, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, and many more. This flexibility often yields a higher redemption value compared to using points within the Chase portal.
Chase’s Transfer Partners Include:
- United
- British Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
- Southwest Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- Iberia
- JetBlue
- Air France
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Aer Lingus
- Hyatt
- Marriott
- IHG
Choosing the Right Sapphire Card for You
Deciding between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve hinges on your individual travel frequency, spending patterns, and willingness to pay an annual fee.
Is the Sapphire Preferred Right for You?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent choice for individuals who:
- Are new to travel rewards credit cards or prefer a lower annual fee.
- Travel moderately and want valuable travel rewards without a hefty annual cost.
- Spend significantly on dining and travel, maximizing the bonus categories.
- Value point transferability and boosted redemption through the Chase portal.
The Sapphire Preferred provides a robust rewards program and valuable travel perks at a more accessible price point, making it a versatile card for a wide range of users.
Is the Sapphire Reserve Right for You?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is ideally suited for:
- Frequent travelers who can fully utilize the premium travel benefits.
- Individuals who prioritize airport lounge access and travel credits.
- Those who spend heavily on travel and dining and want to maximize rewards.
- Travelers who appreciate enhanced travel protections and conveniences like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit.
While the Sapphire Reserve carries a higher annual fee, the rich array of benefits and elevated rewards can easily outweigh the cost for frequent travelers who can take advantage of its premium features.
Conclusion: Compare and Choose Wisely
Ultimately, the best Chase Sapphire card for you depends on your personal circumstances. By comparing the benefits, annual fees, and rewards structures of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your travel style and financial habits. Utilize resources like the Card Comparison Tool to further evaluate your options.
Whether you opt for the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, both cards offer compelling rewards and benefits that can enhance your travel experiences and provide significant value from your everyday spending.
* See the Chase website for full terms, conditions, and exclusions for all travel insurance benefits.
