How To Upgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Chase Sapphire Reserve

If you’re upgrading the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, it’s possible to do so after holding the card for at least 1 year. Before upgrading, though, consider a major drawback first.

Upgrading a card means you’ll forfeit the welcome offer. In most cases, completing a brand-new application is a better way to earn bonus points. Read our guidance first to see the best way to upgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Quick Overview: Upgrading the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

You need to hold your Chase Sapphire Preferred card for at least 1 year to be eligible for an upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. At times, Chase has targeted cardholders with upgrade bonuses, but those aren’t guaranteed (nor available to everyone).

Upgrading your account means you won’t be eligible for this bonus offer, as an upgrade is considered a product change rather than a new account and won’t count toward your 5/24 standing. You can request the upgrade by phone, online, or in person at a Chase branch.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card charges a $795 annual fee, which is $700 more than the Chase Sapphire Preferred card with a $95 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is also a Visa Infinite card, which requires a minimum credit line of $10,000.

If your credit limit is lower on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you may need to request an increase first, which could result in a hard credit inquiry.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card have similar names but differ significantly in terms of perks and fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Benefits

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 – a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers strong rewards on everyday purchases and travel for a comparably low $95 annual fee. Cardholders earn up to 5x points on certain purchases (including Chase Travel bookings), 3x points on dining, gas and EV charging, online grocery purchases, vacation homes, and select streaming purchases, 2x points on other travel purchases, and 1x points on everything else.

Additional perks include a $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit, travel insurance (including primary car rental coverage), and up to a $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit every 4 years, among others.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Benefits

The ultrapremium Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers excellent value thanks to its many travel and lifestyle benefits, which can outweigh its considerable $795 annual fee. You can earn 8x points on Chase Travel purchases, 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly, 3x points on dining, and 1x points on everything else.

The card also offers access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations, a Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status, and other statement credits for dining, hotels, and more.

Benefits Comparison

Compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card:

One of the best features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is its high-value rewards structure from a card with an annual fee under $100.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a series of valuable benefits. If you are able to take advantage of all of the credits that come with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you get well over $2,000 in value.

Hot Tip:

Need a comprehensive look at both of these cards? Check out our detailed comparison of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card vs. the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

How To Upgrade Your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Step-by-Step Guide

Take these steps if you’re ready to upgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to a Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

• Step 1: Confirm your Chase Sapphire Preferred account has been open for at least 1 year, as per the Credit CARD Act of 2009 (Source: Federal Trade Commission).
• Step 2: Check whether you’ve previously earned a welcome offer bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, as upgrading forfeits your eligibility.
• Step 3: Call the number on the back of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and request an upgrade.
• Step 4: Note that upgrading doesn’t count as a new account and therefore won’t affect your Chase 5/24 status.

Some cardholders receive targeted upgrade bonuses, which allow you to earn a welcome offer when you upgrade your card instead of opening a new one.

Hot Tip:

If your current credit limit is below $10,000, a credit limit increase request is required — this may trigger a hard inquiry (Source: Chase).

Why It Makes More Sense To Apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Chase made a change in early 2026, now allowing cardholders to have both Sapphire cards. Previously, cardholders were limited to 1 welcome offer across the entire Chase Sapphire family, but this change allows 1 welcome offer per Chase Sapphire card product.

Rather than upgrading the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, it’s better to start a new application for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and earn the current public welcome offer:

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

19.49% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

During the application process, Chase will notify applicants if they’re not eligible for a bonus offer, giving them the opportunity to exit before any impact on their credit score. If no message appears, you should be eligible for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

If you don’t want to hold both Chase Sapphire cards, you can request to downgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to a no-annual-fee Chase card. This allows you to preserve your credit history and avoid a second annual fee, all with no impact on your 5/24 count.

Who Should Upgrade Their Card?

Here are a few situations in which it might make sense to upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

You Spend a Lot on Travel

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card generally offers better rewards on travel. You earn 8x on all purchases through Chase Travel and 4x Ultimate Rewards points on flights and hotels booked directly. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 5x on Chase Travel purchases, 3x on vacation homes, and 2x Ultimate Rewards points on other travel.

If you tend to book hotels, tour packages, or flights directly with the provider, or if you tend to avoid booking with Chase Travel, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is worth it.

You Don’t Spend Much on Dining

One of the biggest value points of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is its ability to earn 3x points on dining. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card also offers 3x points on dining, but it also comes with a much higher annual fee.

You Don’t Spend Much on Online Groceries

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns 3x points on online groceries, excluding Target, Walmart, and warehouse clubs.

One of the best uses of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is on Instacart purchases. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card only earns bonus points on online groceries, so if you don’t spend much on online groceries every year, the value of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is weaker.

You Want Better Travel Benefits

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers significantly enhanced travel benefits compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Even though the Chase Sapphire Reserve card also comes with a higher annual fee, the increased benefits can outweigh the cost.

For example, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you get a Priority Pass Select membership, which gives you access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide for you and up to 2 guests (Source: Chase). This benefit alone is worth at least $469 every year.

Plus, you get an annual travel credit of up to $300 from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which is one of the easiest benefits to use. That’s not even considering the ability to get more perks at hotels through The Edit by Chase Travel (including a $500 annual credit).

Both cards come with excellent travel insurance protections and the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit every 4 years, so the above should factor into your decision to upgrade over those travel benefits.

You Want a Better Value on Chase Travel Portal Bookings

If you are constantly redeeming points through the Chase Travel portal, you’d come out ahead in the long run by holding the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Thanks to Chase’s Points Boost, cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card (and the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠) can receive up to 2 cents per point, and sometimes you get up to 2.5 cents per point in value during special promotions. (Source: Chase).

Final Thoughts

Upgrading from the Chase Sapphire Preferred card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card can provide additional travel benefits, including lounge access, but it also means paying $700 more in annual fees and potentially giving up a welcome offer. The smarter choice is to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card outright, then downgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to a no-annual-fee Chase card to retain your credit history.

If you plan on upgrading, just remember the 1-year account requirement and call the phone number on the back of your card to start the process.