Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a personal credit card that’s ideal for business owners who travel frequently and need complimentary access to more than 1,300 airport lounges in 500 cities worldwide. It offers premium rewards on flights, hotel bookings, and car rentals. However, it comes with a high annual fee of $550 and an additional charge of $75 for each authorized user.
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- 60,000 bonus points (worth $900 in travel) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 are spent on travel purchases annually
- 10x total points on Chase dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards® after making prepaid restaurant reservations, order takeout or joining virtual cooking events
- 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 3x points on other dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
- 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Pros
- With $300 annual travel credit
- Lucrative rewards at 50% more when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- With complimentary airport lounge access
Cons
- With high annual fee
- No interest-free financing option
- Needs excellent credit
- Airport lounge access: Enjoy access to more than 1,300 priority pass lounges worldwide for free prior to airline travel
- Annual travel credit: You’ll receive a $300 annual travel credit that can be applied liberally toward your travel purchases.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Trip delay insurance: If your travel is delayed more than 12 hours or you require an overnight stay as a result of a delay, you’re covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Covers up to $10,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is cut short or interrupted by sickness or bad weather.
- 60,000 bonus points (worth $900 in travel) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 are spent on travel purchases annually
- 10x total points on Chase dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards® after making prepaid restaurant reservations, order takeout or joining virtual cooking events
- 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 3x points on other dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
- 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Pros
- With $300 annual travel credit
- Lucrative rewards at 50% more when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- With complimentary airport lounge access
Cons
- With high annual fee
- No interest-free financing option
- Needs excellent credit
- Airport lounge access: Enjoy access to more than 1,300 priority pass lounges worldwide for free prior to airline travel
- Annual travel credit: You’ll receive a $300 annual travel credit that can be applied liberally toward your travel purchases.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Trip delay insurance: If your travel is delayed more than 12 hours or you require an overnight stay as a result of a delay, you’re covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Covers up to $10,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is cut short or interrupted by sickness or bad weather.
How We Evaluate Travel Rewards Credit Cards
When grading travel rewards credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card, we first consider the introductory rewards, ongoing rewards, and additional card features. We also take into account the annual fee, ongoing annual percentage rate (APR), and introductory APR.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 25 | 25 |
Introductory Rewards | 22 | 25 |
Additional Features | 15 | 25 |
Annual Fee | 15 | 15 |
Introductory APR | 0 | 5 |
Ongoing APR | 3. | 5 |
Total Score | 80 | 100 |
Who the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Is Best For
- Business owners who travel frequently: It provides premium rewards for flights, hotel stays, dining, and car rentals that are booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Those who need access to airport lounges: It offers Priority PassTM Select, which provides complimentary access to more than 1,300 airport lounges in 500 cities worldwide. It’s not surprising that it’s one of our best business credit cards with airport lounge access.
If this doesn’t fit your needs, check out our guide to the top small business credit cards. Alternatively, you can head over to our Credit Card Marketplace to find the right one for your business.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Fees
APR
- Introductory APR: None
- Ongoing APR for purchases, My Chase LoanSM, and balance transfers: 19.24% to 26.24% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance APR: 27.24% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable—adjusts with the prime rate. This APR will be potentially applied indefinitely to your account if you do one of the following:
- Fail to make a minimum payment by the date and time that it’s due
- Make a payment that’s returned unpaid.
- Due date: At least 21 days after the close of each billing cycle
- Minimum interest charge: None
Fees
- Annual fee: $550, plus $75 for each authorized user
- My Chase PlanSM fee: 1.72% per month of the amount of each eligible purchase transaction or amount selected to create a My Chase Plan. Note that the fee will be determined at the time each My Chase Plan is created and will remain the same until it’s paid in full.
- Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Late and returned payment fees: Up to $40
- Return check: None
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Rewards
Welcome Offer
- 60,000 bonus points (worth $900 in travel) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account
- Complimentary access to DashPass, which includes membership for DoorDash and Caviar—unlocking $0 delivery rates and lower service fees on eligible orders for a minimum of one year when activating your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card on or before Dec. 31, 2024. With DashPass, you also get $5 in DoorDash credits each month, which can be redeemed at checkout.
Travel Rewards
- $300 annual travel statement credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 10x points on Lyft rides until March 31, 2025—worth 7x points in addition to the 3x points already earned on travel.
- 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- With Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when redeeming them for statement credits against existing purchases in selected rotating categories
Dining Rewards
- 10x total points on Chase dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards® after making prepaid restaurant reservations, ordering takeout, or joining virtual cooking events
- 3x points on other dining purchases, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
- Receive a $10 monthly statement credit from Gopuff, which delivers drinks, snacks, and other household essentials straight to your doorstep. The promotion runs until Dec. 31, 2023
You can redeem your points as a statement credit, gift cards, or for travel. Your points are worth 50% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 50,000 points for travel are worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
How to Make Payments on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card
- Online or mobile app: Go to chase.com/paycard to sign in and make a payment online. You can also enroll in automatic payments through the website or mobile app. When you enroll, specify the deposit account from which your payment will be deducted and how much you’d like to pay, such as your statement balance, minimum payment due, or any fixed amount.
- Phone: You can also make a payment through the automated phone service by calling (800) 436-7958.
- Mail or money order: You should include your name and full account number on your check or money order. Don’t send cash. Mail your payment to the following address:
Cardmember Services
PO Box 6294
Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294
For overnight mail, send your payment to:
Chase Card Services
201 N. Walnut Street
De1-0153
Wilmington, DE 19801
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Features
Travel Protection & Insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: You’ll be covered by cancelation and interruption insurance and can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip if your trip is canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather conditions, and other covered situations. Note that only prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses are eligible for reimbursement, including passenger fares, tours, and hotel stays.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: When you use your card to rent a car in the US or abroad, you can decline the rental company’s collision insurance. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement of up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rentals.
- Trip delay reimbursement: If your common carrier travel is delayed more than six hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family member on the same reservation are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: You’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger for checked or carry-on luggage belonging to you or an immediate family member that’s damaged or lost by the carrier.
- Emergency evacuation and transportation: If you or an immediate family member are injured or become sick during a trip and require an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation for up to $100,000.
Purchase & Return Protection
- Purchase protection: Purchase protection covers purchases made using your Chase credit card against damage or theft within 120 days from the date of purchase. You’re allowed a maximum of $10,000 coverage per claim and $50,000 per year.
- Return protection: Return protection offers coverage in case you need to return an item that you purchased using your Chase credit card, but the store won’t take it back. You can be reimbursed for eligible items within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year.
Purchase Incentive
- Pay Yourself BackTM redemption: Your points are worth 50% more when you use them as statement credits against existing purchases in select rotating categories with Pay Yourself BackTM Redemption. Purchases made within 90 days before the redemption request date are eligible. Each point you redeem via Pay Yourself BackSM is worth 0.015 of a cent, which means that 100 points equal $1.50 in redemption value. This is valid only during the current offer and may change at any time.
Travel Incentive
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit: Receive one statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for application fees charged to your card.
- Priority PassTM Select membership: The card offers free Priority Pass™ Select membership, which provides access to airport lounges, restaurants, cafes, and markets participating in the Priority Pass™ Select network. Primary card members and authorized users are granted complimentary access to the Priority Pass lounges and are allowed a maximum of two accompanying guests each. Your card will be charged $27 per additional guest, per visit.
- Car rental privileges: Receive special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis, and Silvercar when booking using this card.
- Points transfer: Receive 1:1 points transfer to Chase’s leading airline and hotel loyalty programs such as Emirates Skywards®, Iberia Plus, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer among others.
Pros & Cons of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
Automatic statement credit of $300 annually for each account anniversary year for travel expenses charged to your card | High annual fee of $550, plus $75 for each authorized user |
Rewards are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® and when used as a statement credit through Pay Yourself BackSM redemption | No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers |
Complimentary airport lounge access to airport lounges, restaurants, cafes, and markets participating in the Priority Pass™ Select network through the free Priority Pass™ Select membership | Excellent credit is required in order to qualify |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Alternatives
American Express Business Platinum Card®
American Express Business Platinum Card® is our best business credit card with airport lounge access as you’ll have access to over 1,400 lounges in 140 countries through its American Express Global Lounge Collection®. It also offers 5x Membership Rewards® points that can be earned on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com and a welcome offer of 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months after opening an account. While it charges a high annual fee of $695, it lacks foreign transaction fees.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
BEST FOR:
Gaining access to unrivaled travel rewards and luxury travel perks like airport lounge access
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless with the Business Platinum Card.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card or any of the Additional Cards on your Platinum Card account.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: CLEAR® uses biometrics to assign you a touchless ID, allowing you to move faster through security at select airports and stadiums across the U.S. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR membership with up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR with your Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless with the Business Platinum Card.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card or any of the Additional Cards on your Platinum Card account.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: CLEAR® uses biometrics to assign you a touchless ID, allowing you to move faster through security at select airports and stadiums across the U.S. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR membership with up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR with your Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business is our top-recommended business credit card for miles since it has a straightforward rewards program with a low annual fee. It lets cardholders earn unlimited 2x miles on all purchases, with no blackouts or seat restrictions and no minimum miles to earn, and 5x on hotels and rental cars that are booked through Capital One Travel. It doesn’t offer an interest-free financing option, although it doesn’t charge balance transfer and foreign transaction fees.
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
BEST FOR:
Unlimited 2x miles with every swipe
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
- You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
- Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
- You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
- Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
United ClubSM Business Card
United ClubSM Business Card is a great alternative if you fly with United Airlines frequently. It made our evaluations of the best business credit cards with airport lounge access and leading business credit cards for travel as it gives you access to more than 45 United Club locations and participating Star AllianceTM -affiliated lounges worldwide. It allows you to earn 2x miles on purchases made with United Airlines and 1.5x miles on all other purchases, and you can receive 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months after opening an account.
United Club℠ Business Card
BEST FOR:
United Airlines enthusiasts who use airport lounge access regularly
- 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months after account opening
- United ClubSM membership
- Two Premier Access® travel services
- First and second checked bag free
- Earn double miles on tickets purchased from United
- Earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Pros
- Offers free first and second checked bags
- With sign-up bonus
- With lounge membership
Cons
- Charges high annual fee
- Has no 0% introductory APR
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- United Club membership: You and other eligible travel companions will receive free access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance™ affiliated lounges worldwide.
- Avis President’s Club®: Primary cardholders are invited to enroll in Avis President’s Club® and enjoy complimentary two-car class upgrades, guaranteed car availability, expedited rental services, and more.
- Free two checked bags: The primary cardholder and their companion traveling with the same reservation will each receive free checked bags (up to $35 value for the first checked bag and up to $45 value for the second checked bag, each way, per person).
- Lost luggage reimbursement: You and your immediate family member are covered up to $3,000 if you check or carry luggage damaged or lost by the carrier.
- Baggage delay insurance: If there’s a baggage delay of more than six hours, you can be reimbursed for essential purchases, such as toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day for three days.
- 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months after account opening
- United ClubSM membership
- Two Premier Access® travel services
- First and second checked bag free
- Earn double miles on tickets purchased from United
- Earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Pros
- Offers free first and second checked bags
- With sign-up bonus
- With lounge membership
Cons
- Charges high annual fee
- Has no 0% introductory APR
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- United Club membership: You and other eligible travel companions will receive free access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance™ affiliated lounges worldwide.
- Avis President’s Club®: Primary cardholders are invited to enroll in Avis President’s Club® and enjoy complimentary two-car class upgrades, guaranteed car availability, expedited rental services, and more.
- Free two checked bags: The primary cardholder and their companion traveling with the same reservation will each receive free checked bags (up to $35 value for the first checked bag and up to $45 value for the second checked bag, each way, per person).
- Lost luggage reimbursement: You and your immediate family member are covered up to $3,000 if you check or carry luggage damaged or lost by the carrier.
- Baggage delay insurance: If there’s a baggage delay of more than six hours, you can be reimbursed for essential purchases, such as toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day for three days.
Bottom Line
Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a great personal credit card if you travel frequently and want access to airport lounges. It has a generous welcome offer and lucrative rewards just for using the card for your travels and business purchases. While it charges a high annual fee of $550, it does have any foreign transaction fees. Note, however, that you must have excellent credit to qualify for the card.
If this isn’t the right card for your business, visit our Credit Card Marketplace to find one that’s a better fit.