2021 Review: Chase Sapphire Reserve – the Best Premium Travel Card?
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve features top-tier benefits and perks designed to make your traveling experiences a bit better all around. There’s a high annual fee, but you’ll get an annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and perks to help your stays away from home feel more comfortable.
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Our Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
We gave the Chase Sapphire Reserve® 5 out of 5 Stars because it’s one of the most rewarding travel credit cards that’s not tied to a particular airline or hotel.
Why We Like It
- Earns points for all kinds of travel purchases, as well as dining
- A large signup bonus
- 50% point bonus for redeeming through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Point transfers to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- A large annual travel credit that covers just about every kind of travel expense
- Unlimited access to Priority Pass Select airport lounges
- A Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Special benefits and discounts through the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
Why It Could Be Better
- High annual fee, making it best for regular travelers
- Must redeem for travel expenses or point transfers to get the best value for your points
- Min. credit levelExcellent
- Annual Fee$550
- Regular APR16.99%-23.99% Variable
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Through December 31, 2021, gas station & grocery store purchases will also count towards earning your Travel Credit
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
- 10X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on:
- Travel (after the full travel credit is used)
- Dining
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A for N/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR16.99%-23.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99%
- Late FeeUp to $39
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $39
- Additional Cards Annual Fee$75
- Foreign Transaction Fee$0
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a high-end metal travel rewards credit card, designed for frequent travelers with excellent credit. It could be a great way to save some money and have a better time overall while away from home.
This is a general-purpose travel card, meaning it’s not associated with a single airline or hotel chain. Instead, it provides 3X points per dollar for travel expenses and dining at restaurants. You’ll get a 50% point bonus when redeeming through Chase Ultimate Rewards, or you can transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to a variety of travel partners, where they might be worth even more.
There’s a $550 annual fee to pay, but you’ll get a number of great benefits and perks to make this card worthwhile. Those include a $300 annual travel credit, unlimited access to Priority Pass Select airport lounges, and complimentary services at certain hotels and resorts.
If you’re not a frequent traveler, the high annual fee might put this card out of reach. If that’s you, check out some good but less-expensive travel cards.
Insider Advice: Getting the Most Out of Your Card
- Ideal for travel and dining: Use this card for all travel and dining purchases to maximize your rewards.
- Reach the welcome bonus: Get the 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months after account opening, worth a good chunk when redeeming for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Utilize the annual credit: Your $300 annual travel credit will be automatically applied to any eligible purchases — just sit back and watch your balance fall.
- Be aware of the different redemption methods: Redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards or by transferring to a travel partner to get the highest value for them.
- Take advantage of the airport lounges: Enjoy free WiFi, snacks, and other services with unlimited access to Priority Pass airport lounges around the world.
- Get through TSA faster: Get free expedited screening at airports with a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
- Limit your high-end travel cards: You probably don’t need more than one travel card with a high annual fee in your wallet, whether it’s this card or one of its top competitors, because they tend to have similar benefits.
The Rewards
This card earns the equivalent of 1% to 4.5% cash back on most purchases with the normal redemption methods, depending how you earn and redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. If you transfer points you can find better deals, which could give a 6% cash back equivalent or more.
For Lyft rides, however, you could see a cash back equivalent of up to 20% or more!
Earning
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Since this card has a $300 travel credit, you won’t earn any Ultimate Rewards points on the first $300 in travel purchases. But you’ll immediately start earning 3X points on travel purchases after you’ve used up the full $300 travel credit.
The Sapphire Reserve provides its rewards for general travel expenses, so you can earn points for any related purchases. That covers your initial reservations, plus any other eligible purchases you make while traveling. Some other cards are more limited, like The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review), which has reward categories that are only useful for booking travel in certain ways.
Redeeming
There are several options for redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points:
- Ultimate Rewards travel portal: Chase gives a 50% point bonus when you redeem points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards website, giving you a value of 1.5 cents per point.
- Transfer to travel partners: You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 rate to a number of travel partners, where their value will vary (this can be your best option).
- Statement credit: Redemptions for statement credits will provide a value of 1 cent per point.
- Gift cards: Gift cards will provide different values for your points, usually 1 cent per point or less.
- Pay with points: You can use your points to pay for purchases at certain merchants, like Amazon, but you’ll only get 0.8 cents per point.
The easiest way to redeem your points will probably be through Chase Ultimate Rewards, getting that 50% point bonus. You can use them to pay for:
- Flights
- Hotel rooms
- Car rentals
- Cruises
- Select activities
There are no blackout dates or travel restrictions when booking through Ultimate Rewards, although you may find blackout dates with some travel partners.
Redeeming through Ultimate Rewards can provide a good value, but you can find an even better deal through a point transfer. Below, we go through an example showing how you can get a cash back equivalent of 6.8%. But the value you get will vary depending on the way you use your points after transferring.
We do not recommend redeeming for statement credits, gift cards, or by paying with points, because you can get more for your points elsewhere.
| Airline Partners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | British Airways Executive Club | Emirates Skywards | Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM | Iberia Plus |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards | United MileagePlus | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club |
| Hotel Partners | ||
|---|---|---|
| IHG Rewards Club | Marriott Bonvoy | World of Hyatt |
Point Transfer Example
Let’s say you want to fly from Burbank, California, to San Antonio, Texas. We can fly United, and can take a MileagePlus Saver Award flight to get an even better deal than usual.
We’ll take a one-way economy-class flight, on Monday, March 26th. This trip would normally cost $289. Or, you can take a Saver Award flight for 12,500 miles, plus $80.60.
So how much do you need to spend to earn this flight? Since the transfer rate is 1:1, you need to earn 12,500 points with your card. It will take $4,167 in spending to earn that many points at the 3X rate (it will take more spending if you earn at a lower rate).
Once you earn the points, you can convert them to United MileagePlus miles and then book your flight.
In this example you spend $4,167 to earn the points, and then an extra $80.60 for the flight. That’s a total of $4,247.60.
That gets you a flight valued at $289, which means you’re getting a cash back equivalent of 6.8%. That’s quite good, and its even better than the 4.5% you can get through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Your points are worth about 1.6 cents each in this particular transfer example. But keep in mind that different transfers will provide different values, and you may end up with a better or worse deal. United is typically one of the better redemption options, with its Saver Award flight routes, but you can find similar deals with other airlines.
With some effort (and patience) you can probably find deals giving you 2 cents per point or more!
The Benefits
The extra perks and protections you’ll get with this card are pretty comprehensive, and are comparable to other high-end travel cards. These are just some of the most interesting features, so check your Guide to Benefits for more details when you get your card, or delve into our favorite Sapphire Reserve benefits to learn how they help make this card worth the premium price tag.
- $300 annual travel credit: You’ll get a $300 travel credit every year that will be automatically applied to any travel-related expenses you charge to your card.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Cardholders get complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which provides access to over 1,000 airport lounges and restaurants worldwide. You must manually activate this benefit, and you’ll receive a Priority Pass Select member card in the mail.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Every four years you’ll get up to a $100 credit towards the application fee for either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85).
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection provides some complimentary services and benefits at participating hotels and resorts.
- Elite hotel benefits at Relais & Châteaux: Cardholders get accelerated progress towards Club 5C member status with Relais & Châteaux luxury hotel and resort properties; just stay two nights at qualifying properties in a 12-month period. Club 5C status provides benefits like a VIP welcome, room upgrades, access to a unique experience at each property, and invitations to exclusive events. You must book using the Visa Infinite Concierge.
- $120 Peloton credit: Enroll to get up to $120 back for an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership (through 2021). No fitness equipment is required.
- Visa Infinite Concierge: Call 1-877-660-0905 for non-emergency help of all kinds, like making dinner reservations or finding good tickets to a show. You can also ask for travel recommendations, for flights, tourist attractions, the best shopping spots, restaurants, night clubs, etc. This benefit is probably most useful when visiting a new city.
- Special car rental privileges: You can access your special car rental privileges by logging in to Chase Ultimate Rewards and following the instructions to enroll. You’ll get perks at Avis, Silvercar, and National Car Rental like rental upgrades, discounts, and occasional promotional offers.
- Lyft Pink membership: One-year exclusive saving opportunities with Lyft Pink membership, providing 15% off rides, relaxed cancellation fees, priority dispatch at airports, and more
- DoorDash membership, $60 annual DoorDash credit: Chase will pay for a DoorDash subscription for two years (a DashPass). You’ll also get $60 in DoorDash credits in 2020, and $60 in 2021 (learn more about Chase DoorDash benefits).
- Shopping protections: Purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and return protection
- Travel protections: Primary auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside assistance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance, and emergency evacuation & transportation
The Terms & Fees
| Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|
| 16.99%-23.99% Variable | 16.99%-23.99% Variable | 24.99% Variable |
| Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
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| $550 | $0 |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
|---|---|
| Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater | Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 29.99% | Up to $39 | Up to $39 |
Since this is a card designed for frequent travelers, no foreign transaction fee is expected (see other great travel cards without foreign transaction fees). The biggest cost that stands out is the annual fee.
Authorized users will each cost $75 per year.
The Bottom Line
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the most impressive general-purpose travel rewards credit cards, with a very enticing offer.
The annual fee is pretty high, but if you travel enough you’ll be able to offset it with the perks and points you’ll earn. The 3X category is very broad, so you can use it to earn points both while booking travel and for extra expenses as you go.
You should redeem those points through Chase Ultimate Rewards or for point transfers to get the best value, but that shouldn’t be hard for frequent travelers.
Make use of as many benefits as you can, especially the travel credit. The airport lounge access should make your trips more comfortable, and having expedited security screening could save you a headache or two. Don’t forget about the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, to make your stays a bit more pleasant as well, and the host of protections that cover you in case something goes wrong.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a valuable set of rewards and benefits, but it’s not the only premium travel credit card on the market. Check out some of those other cards below, one of which might be a better fit.
How Do I Apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card?
Want to apply now for this card? Just click the link below to apply securely on Chase’s website.
This card is made of metal, and you won’t need to request that when you apply. There is no plastic version.
Many applicants will get an instant response, but in some cases it could take longer. Chase may request more information from you.
Insider tip
If you have a different Chase Sapphire card you may be able to request a product change to the Sapphire Reserve. Call the number on the back of your card to make this request, although there’s no guarantee you’ll be approved. Currently, the only other Sapphire card you can apply for is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review).
What Credit Scores Do You Need for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is designed for people with excellent credit.
If you have a minimum score of 740 for FICO (the “very good” level) and you’re in the range of 750–850 for VantageScore, you’ll have a good shot at being approved.
However, if you have lower credit scores than what are recommended you may still be approved. Or, even if you have high enough credit scores, you might not be accepted. Approval relies on more than just credit scores, including factors like income.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Must be 18 to apply
- Personal information: Name, date of birth, Social Security number
- Address and contact information: Home address, phone number, email address
- Financial information: Total annual income, type of residence, monthly mortgage or rent payment
- Min. credit levelExcellent
- Annual Fee$550
- Regular APR16.99%-23.99% Variable
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Through December 31, 2021, gas station & grocery store purchases will also count towards earning your Travel Credit
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
- 10X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on:
- Travel (after the full travel credit is used)
- Dining
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A for N/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR16.99%-23.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99%
- Late FeeUp to $39
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $39
- Additional Cards Annual Fee$75
- Foreign Transaction Fee$0
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a number of strong benefits attached. These include a $300 travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, a one-year Lyft Pink membership, a DoorDash membership with $60 annual credits, and a good selection of travel protections. These protections include primary rental car insurance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation/delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, and more.
Review a more detailed explanation of all the benefits you can expect with your card.
What does the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s travel credit cover?
The annual $300 travel credit can be applied to any travel-related expenses. This means hotel stays, transit, airline tickets, airline fees, or anything else related to your trips.
If you want to see how the Reserve stacks up to other luxury credit cards, check out our list.
What rewards does the Chase Sapphire Reserve earn?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s rewards include 10X Ultimate Rewards points for Lyft rides (through 3/31/22), 3X points per dollar for travel and dining, and 1X point for all other purchases.
But you’ll need to use the full $300 travel credit before you start earning 3X for travel.
How can I redeem my Chase Sapphire Reserve points?
There are several different avenues you can take when it comes time to redeem your points.
You can:
- Redeem for statement credits or gift cards
- Redeem for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Transfer them to Chase’s airline and hotel partners
- Use them to pay at certain merchants like Amazon
The simplest method would be to redeem for statement credits at 1 cent per point, but if you choose to redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you’ll get a 50% point bonus.
However, you could potentially find an even better value by transferring your points to one of Chase’s travel partners.
Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve have an annual fee?
Yes, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has an annual fee of $550. However, it’s somewhat mitigated by the $300 annual travel credit, and the value you’d get from the other benefits like the Priority Pass Select membership and shopping and travel protections.
How do I log in to my Chase Sapphire Reserve account?
Just head over to Chase.com and input your account information in the login box. From there, you can navigate to your account page and keep an eye on all things card-related. You can pay your bill, see your statement, and take advantage of your card features.
Alternatives to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- New! American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships. Enrollment required.
- $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) features top-tier perks and benefits along with rewards focused on the Amex Travel service.
There’s $200 in annual Uber credits with the Platinum, compared to the Reserve’s Lyft Pink membership. The Lyft membership could be worth around $240, but it’s hard to say the true value someone may get out of it, based on how often they’ll use Lyft.
The airport lounge access you’ll get with the Platinum is considerably better than what you would get with the Reserve, providing a Priority Pass Select membership along with entry to Delta Sky Clubs and exclusive Centurion Lounges, among others.
The elite hotel statuses provided by the Platinum are likely to be more valuable too, as they include a wider collection of affordable hotels: Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton, rather than the fancy Relais & Châteaux.
Read more about these two high-end travel cards in our comparison guide: the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. the Amex Platinum.
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
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Although the Platinum card is a bit more limited, it can end up being more rewarding overall. You can earn the equivalent of 5% cash back through the normal redemption methods, when earning at the 5X rate. And point transfers could provide even more than that, up to 10% cash back or more.
The Amex Platinum only provides these 5X rates when booking travel. If you have any incidental charges by airlines or hotels, like food while traveling, it won’t be included in the bonus categories. The Sapphire Reserve’s 3X category will cover all of those purchases.
- Global Lounge Collection: Enroll for complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
- Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash: Add your Platinum card to the Uber App to get up to $15 in Uber Cash per month, plus a bonus $20 in December; U.S. Eats orders and rides only.
- $200 hotel credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits each year for prepaid hotels booked through The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts; must pay with the Platinum card.
- $300 Equinox credit: Pay with your Platinum card to get up to $300 in statement credits annually with Equinox (up to $25 per month), for Equinox All Access, Destination, E by Equinox, or Equinox+ membership fees.
- $240 digital entertainment credit: Pay with your Platinum card to get up to $240 in statement credits annually for digital entertainment (up to $20 per month), only for eligible purchases from Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.
- CLEAR credit: Up to $179 in statement credits annually for CLEAR biometric security, enough for a membership.
- Uber Eats Pass: Get unlimited $0 delivery fees and 5% off orders at eligible restaurants for 12 months; must enroll by 12/31/21. Taxes and service fees may apply and do not count toward the order minimum. Eats Pass will start auto-billing 12 months from enrollment, at then-current monthly rate. Learn more.
- Uber VIP status: Add your Platinum card to the Uber App to get Uber VIP status where available.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four and a half years)
- Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay
- Fine Hotels & Resorts Program: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties
- $100 annual Saks credit: Up to $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue: $50 from January through June, and $50 from July through December
- Global Dining Access by Resy: Resy provides access to exclusive reservations and dining experiences.
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection; Extended Warranty; Return Protection; Baggage Insurance Plan; Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance; Trip Delay Insurance; Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $695
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
- 5X ThankYou points on Air travel and Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points on Hotels and Cruise Lines
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn
- Rewards never expire
- $250 travel credit
- Complimentary 4th night free on eligible hotel stays, capped at twice per year
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Application Fee Credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $495 annual fee
The Citi Prestige® Card (Review) is similar in quite a few ways to the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
The rewards program here offers 5X points on dining and air travel, better than the Reserve. And hotels get 3X points, the same rate.
There are a few differences in their benefits, however. The Prestige offers a 4th free night at any hotel, when you book four consecutive nights. That’s a pretty valuable, and versatile, perk, potentially worth over $1,000 per year if you stay somewhere fancy.
The annual travel credit the Prestige provides ($250) is slightly less than the credit offered by the Reserve, though it is equally as flexible. When you subtract the Prestige’s credit from its annual fee, it effectively drops to $245.
That’s just about even with the offset fee of $250 for the Reserve after its $300 credit. But the Reserve’s effective annual fee could be considered to be even lower, depending on how often you take advantage of its Lyft membership, and the Prestige’s may change based on how you value its perks.
Overall, the Sapphire Reserve probably has the better set of extra benefits. But if you book a lot of long hotel stays of four nights or more, the Prestige card could save you quite a bit of money.
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The value you get for your ThankYou points will vary depending on how you redeem them. If you consider points to be worth about 1.25 cents each via point transfers, a reasonable value, you’ll be getting an equivalent of 6.25% cash back in the 5X category. The 3X category will provide an equivalent of 3.75% cash back.
This isn’t as much as what you can get through the normal redemption methods with the Sapphire Reserve. But, like the Sapphire Reserve, the value you get will depend on how you use your points.
- Point transfer: To a variety of transfer partners, including Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Annual $250 travel credit: Good for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other travel expenses
- Complimentary 4th Night Stay: Get your fourth night free when booking four nights in a row through ThankYou.com and paying with your card, ThankYou points, or a combination of both. Capped at twice per year.
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership: Access to over 1,000 Priority Pass airport lounges and restaurants around the world
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every five years
- Citi Prestige Concierge: Call for non-emergency help any time you need it.
- World Elite Car Rental Program: Elite memberships at Avis, Silvercar, and National Car Rental
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 16.99%–23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
- Rose Gold is back. You can now choose between Gold or Rose Gold.
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- Get up to 12 complimentary months of an Uber Eats Pass subscription when you enroll with your Gold Card by 12/31/21.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
The American Express® Gold Card (Review) features plenty of useful amenities for the frequent traveler.
The Gold Card is a bit more food-focused than the Reserve, offering a $120 dining credit and earning 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent per year).
It also has a lower annual fee than the Reserve, and after you take the credit into account, it effectively drops the Gold Card’s fee to just $130.
There are no hotel memberships included with the Gold Card. Instead, you’ll get access to The Hotel Collection, which provides a $100 credit per stay and room upgrades (when available) at a larger swath of hotels than the more narrow-focused hotel membership the Reserve features.
The Gold Card could still save you some money compared to the Reserve if you don’t expect to spend a lot on hotels while traveling, focusing instead on groceries and dining out.
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- $120 annual dining credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits per month for purchases at eligible restaurants and food delivery services.
- Point transfer: To airline and hotel loyalty programs, like JetBlue, Southwest, Marriott, and Hyatt
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash: Add the Gold Card to the Uber App to get up to $10 in Uber Cash per month; U.S. Eats orders and rides only.
- Uber Eats Pass: Get unlimited $0 delivery fees and 5% off orders at eligible restaurants for 12 months; must enroll by 12/31/21. Taxes and service fees may apply and do not count toward the order minimum. Eats Pass will start auto-billing 12 months from enrollment, at then-current monthly rate. Learn more.
- The Hotel Collection: Provides up to $100 in credits for every eligible hotel stay of two nights or more, along with other perks.
- Amex Offers: Find discounts and extra point opportunities at a changing selection of merchants (offers are limited; enrollment required).
- ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $250
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
- Patented black-PVD-coated metal card—weighing 22 grams.
- 2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1.5% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
- Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
- Annual Airline Credit—up to $100 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Up to a $100 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry.
- Enrollment in Priority PassTM Select with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest limit. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
- Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
- Annual Fee: $495 ($195 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
The Mastercard® Black Card™ (Review) is here, uniquely, to provide a foil for the other high-end travel cards.
Whereas the other cards provide a good deal of value for their annual fees, the Black Card stands apart. Despite its $495 annual fee, it doesn’t provide much in the way of rewards.
It does offer a few useful perks, like a $100 annual travel credit and Priority Pass membership, but the credit is far less than what the Reserve offers. Unfortunately, there’s little value to the Black Card’s perks behind that.
There’s an intro balance transfer APR, but this isn’t a card to get if you’re looking for a place to stick a balance (see better balance transfer cards for that). While the design is sleek and metal, there’s little else beyond aesthetic value here. You’d get much more bang for your buck by choosing another top-tier travel card.
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But wait, maybe those points are worth $5 each? Nope. :-(
They’ll be worth:
- 2 cents per point when redeemed for airfare
- 1.5 cents per point when redeemed as a statement credit or direct deposit
- 1 cent per point when redeemed for gift cards or merchandise
That means you can earn a maximum of 2% cash back with this card. That’s all you’ll get for the high fee, and it certainly doesn’t seem worth it.
- $100 airline credit: This annual $100 airline credit can be applied to travel expenses like airfare, baggage fees, and in-flight purchases.
- Global Entry credit: A $100 Global Entry application fee credit; Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that provides expedited entry to the U.S. (it can include TSA PreCheck)
- Priority Pass Select membership: Get unlimited visits and free guests at Priority Pass airport lounges, with no need to call in advance (unlimited free guests is a rare gem; you’re typically limited to only two).
- Luxury Card Concierge: Personal 24/7 concierge service; you can call or chat live through the Luxury Card app
- VIP Hotel & Travel benefits: Access to numerous discounts and amenities at a variety of different properties
- Mastercard Priceless Program: Exclusive access to invitation-only events
- Purchase APR: 14.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
Introductory bonus
How to Transfer a Balance on a Credit Card
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Brendan Harkness
Brendan has been writing about personal finance for over eight years, and is now taking on the challenge of bringing high-quality credit education to the masses. He makes sure that Credit Card Insider is covering the most important credit topics transparently and precisely, and that we have up-to-date reviews of credit cards so you can find cards that are right for you.
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