Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) Card Benefits
After years of use, I promised friends I would finally share, in detail, why I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) credit card for nearly everything I buy—how it benefits me.
I should note that I don’t act quickly on financial matters. I don’t hurry to take advantage of something just because people say I should. I pause and think things through, a lot.
So I had to think about the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card for a long time before I knew whether it would be a good fit for my life. After all, it might not be a good fit for everyone.
While soul-searching this, I thought through how I use credit cards for all my travel and living…
I only use two credit cards (one to charge everything I purchase, the other as a backup)
I always want at least one VISA (as not all locations accept Mastercard, AMEX, etc.)
I never want to pay foreign transaction fees (for traveling/purchasing internationally)
I charge everything possible to my credit card (travel, lodging, dining, groceries, utilities, etc.)
I don’t carry a balance (I have a budget; I only charge what I can pay off in full each month)
I want to earn a lot of points when I sign up for a new credit card—and long after
I want points that can be used for many things (lodging, airfare, auto rentals, cash, etc.)
I typically want a credit card with a small—or no—annual fee (however…)
I Didn’t Let the Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee Scare Me
Okay, when I first researched credit cards, I did let the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee scare me—but only for a bit.
Back then, the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee was $350. No way, I thought. I’d never heard of such a thing.
When I saw that fee, I immediately crossed this card off my list and researched every other credit card I could find. But no other credit card was meeting my needs.
So I decided to look into the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee, to (at least) ensure I fully understood it. And that was everything, fully understanding it.
After researching the facts, I could see that the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee was almost meaningless—because this card provided me with more than $350 in needed annual benefits.
Years later, when I saw my Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee rise to $550, I did the same thing. I fully researched the annual fee, to understand it, to see if I should keep this card.
And, again, after researching the facts, the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee was almost meaningless—because this card provided me with more than $550 in needed annual benefits.
Like all benefits, fine print is involved—and I don’t need or use every Chase Sapphire Reserve benefit. So I’m just going to share how I interpret the Chase benefits I do need and use (which could be inaccurate, thus every individual must always verify Chase benefits with Chase directly).
No Foreign Transaction Fees (3% Value)
Since I like spending time away from my home country, I always want a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees—which the Chase Sapphire Reserve card does not charge.
This means the purchases I make outside of the US are not subject to foreign transaction fees, which saves me around 3% in fees that would otherwise be charged to my credit card.
For instance, if my budget is $3,000 a month and I charge everything outside my home country, Chase does not charge me an extra $90/month (or so) in fees.
If my budget is $4,000 a month and I charge everything outside my home country, Chase does not charge me an extra $120/month (or so) in fees.
If my budget is $5,000 a month and I charge everything outside my home country, Chase does not charge me an extra $150/month (or so) in fees.
I notice all the miscellaneous fees we can accidentally find ourselves paying, and I consider each fee a drain on financial stability. I think it’s wise to avoid all fees possible.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card ensures that my credit card statement is never charged foreign transaction fees.
Annual Travel Credit ($300 Value)
I charge at least $300 of the following travel expenses to my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card annually, which means I qualify to receive Chase’s Annual Travel Credit benefit. Thus, Chase reimburses $300 of the following charges to my credit card statement annually…
airlines
hotels
motels
timeshares
car rental agencies
cruise lines
travel agencies
discount travel sites
campgrounds
operators of passenger trains
buses
taxis
limousines
ferries
toll bridges
highways
parking lots and garages
and it’s important I read all the small print, like… “Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling.”
Chase Sapphire Reserve Points ($900 Value)
If I’m going to earn points, I want to earn a lot of points upfront, plus I want to easily earn points all year long. I also want my points to be as flexible to use as possible.
So I loved that my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card came with an initial bonus offer of points that were worth up to $900.
I also love that I’ve earned more than $900 in points annually—just by using my credit card for my everyday travel and living expenses.
I put little thought into this (a more points-savvy person would be more strategic). Whatever points I earn, I earn. But I don’t think about it. I just charge my entire life to this card.
I still stick to a budget and only charge what I can pay off in full each month—I do not carry a balance on my credit card. This, to me, is key for financial sustainability.
Here’s how my points have broken down—after my $300 Annual Travel Credit is earned…
10 points/$1 spent on Chase Dining (through Chase/Ultimate Rewards program)
10 points/$1 spent on qualifying hotel + car rentals (through Chase Travel)
5 points/$1 spent on airline tickets (through Chase Travel)
3 points/$1 spent on dining, takeout, + eligible delivery services
3 points/$1 spent on travel
1 point/$1 spent on all other purchases
I also love that my points can be used for many different things. I can use my points for flights, hotels, rental autos, cash back, and more.
Again, I am not a points guru. I rarely understand all the ways I can/should earn and use points. And I don’t always redeem my points for their highest value (to make them worth 50% more).
When not traveling, I usually credit the value of my points back to my credit card statement. I choose the credits that make my points worth at least 25% more.
When traveling, I use my points toward my travel plans, booked via Chase. To make my points worth 50% more.
I only book travel plans via Chase after I’ve first verified that the Chase offer is better/wiser than any other offer.
I don’t book flights via Chase (I don’t use my Chase points) because I find super affordable flights via Google Flights, Pomelo, or Going.
There is no limit to the points I can earn. My points don’t expire if my account remains open.
But that is all I know about how my points work. And that’s okay. Because my points earn far more than my Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee—so it’s all a win.
Purchase Protection ($10k - $50k Value)
As someone who charges my life to my credit card, I want the purchase protection that comes with my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. It helps me feel protected in this world.
While I am as careful as possible with every purchase, our online and automated world means mistakes and fraud will happen. But I no longer feel alone if something goes awry.
My CSR purchase protection covers my new purchases for 120 days (damage, theft, accidental parting), up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year, which I think is huge.
Especially since I’ve placed several orders for items that never arrived or were subpar with no remedy option. Chase has saved me by crediting me back entirely.
I love this protection.
Roadside Assistance ($100 Value)
When I owned an auto, I paid about $100 annually for quality roadside assistance. When I sold my auto, I still wanted quality roadside assistance to cover borrowed and rented autos.
So when I knew my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card came with roadside assistance, I was able to cancel my independent $100/year roadside assistance membership.
I feel reassured knowing I have 24/7 roadside assistance in the United States and Canada (up to $50 for each service event, up to four events/year), to handle…
towing
jumpstarting
tire changes (must have a good, inflated spare)
lockouts (not key replacement)
standard winching
fuel delivery (up to 2 gallons covered)
“not available in areas not regularly traveled … in ‘off-road’ areas not accessible by ordinary towing vehicles…”
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS Credit ($25 Value)
When I first received my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, Chase would reimburse one Global Entry application fee to my credit card statement every four years (a $100 value).
More recently, when I went to renew my Trusted Traveler membership, Chase allowed a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee to be reimbursed to my credit card statement.
I love this choice. I love this benefit. This matters to me.
Priority Pass Select Membership ($469 Value)
My Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card comes with a complimentary annual Priority Pass Select membership, which currently gives me…
free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
free access to every Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club location
the ability to bring my travel partner with me, for free (plus more)
When in airports—during airport lounge operating hours—this membership provides a free place to relax, drink free beverages, and fill up on free food. Some lounges even have showers.
While I’m someone who would normally never pay for this kind of membership, I love having it. I think this benefit can ease travel fatigue.
How do I know this?
We’ve booked long overnights in airports that we should have better coordinated to instead happen during airport lounge hours—to enjoy the comforts of the lounge.
Because we can easily consume $50 worth of food and beverages while relaxing in an airport for a few hours, it’s wonderful to have this benefit available to us in a private lounge.
And we have too often found ourselves in an uncomfortable airport chair with armrests poking into our sides when we try to take a nap. I really want the option to bypass that.
I will love this membership even more when (someday) every airport lounge, worldwide, offers free showers. That alone could carry me anywhere.
Emergency Medical and Dental ($2,500 Value)
When I travel, I buy independent travel insurance that covers emergency medical and dental. So why do I love that my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card also offers this benefit?
They each offer different coverage.
My independently purchased travel insurance gives me substantial emergency medical coverage, but only $750 in emergency dental coverage.
My Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card has a benefit of $2,500 that covers both medical and dental, so I view my Chase coverage as my more robust emergency dental coverage.
My Chase Sapphire Reserve coverage kicks in if…
I’m 100 miles or more from home on a trip
I become sick or accidentally injured while traveling on a covered trip (travel that does not exceed 365 days away from my legal residence to a destination other than my city of residence, when my cost of transportation on a common carrier has been charged to my card/rewards programs)
if my medical emergency requires me to be hospitalized and my physician determines I should recover in a hotel immediately after my release, I may be eligible for an additional benefit of $75 dollars/day for up to 5 days for the cost of a hotel room
Lost Luggage Reimbursement ($3,000 Value)
When I travel, I buy independent travel insurance that covers lost luggage. So why do I love that my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card offers a lost luggage benefit, too?
You can guess … it’s because they each offer different coverage.
My independently purchased travel insurance provides important emergency medical benefits I want, plus it happens to include $1,000 for lost luggage, their standard offer.
However, that’s not enough to cover the value of my lost luggage (due to loss, damage, or theft).
My Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card has a lost luggage benefit of $3,000, so my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card offers more robust coverage, which I want.
Trip Interruption/Cancellation ($10k - $20k Value)
When I travel, I buy independent travel insurance that covers trip interruption/cancellation. And you can guess why I love that my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card offers that benefit as well.
It’s because they each offer different coverage.
My independently purchased travel insurance provides important emergency medical benefits I want, plus it happens to cover up to $2,500 for trip interruption/cancellation.
However, that would not be enough to cover the cost of a more substantial trip.
My Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card has a benefit of up to $10,000 per covered person or up to $20,000 per trip if a loss results in cancellation or interruption.
So my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card offers more robust coverage for more substantial travel (for when I’m not being frugal, let’s say), which is when I want this coverage.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) Card, Summarized
The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card saves/earns me at least $2400 a year—and that doesn’t include the purchase protection or insurance benefits.
This means the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card is a great fit for my life. It protects me. It makes me money. I would not want it any other way.
And, again, the Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) credit card offers additional benefits than what I’ve shared here—benefits that may make it a great credit card for anyone else, traveler or not.
I think those benefits are worth understanding. I consider it wise to click the link above and study all that the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card offers in full.
However, I find it vital to point out some circumstances that would make me say no to this card…
if I could not pay off its balance in full each month (I don’t want to pay high interest rates)
if I didn’t use it to charge my daily life (I want to earn a lot of points and protection)
if I didn’t receive at least $550 in needed benefits annually (to justify its $550 annual fee)
To me, those are vital reasons to choose a different credit card, because everyone must choose what’s wisest for their situation.
Mostly, I hope this helps explain what can happen when we’re willing to understand. Had I not been willing to understand, I would be missing out on all this support—the support I love.