Why I’ll Never Upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card has been one of the reliable credit cards in my wallet. Plenty of newcomers have emerged on the rewards scene, but I’m loyal to Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

That said, you may wonder why I’m not going for the more premium Chase Sapphire Reserve^® instead. After all, this luxury card comes with benefits that the Chase Sapphire Preferred card sorely lacks, whether that’s complimentary lounge access or better earning rates on travel purchases.

Here are some of the reasons why upgrading to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card isn’t in my future.

Benefits Overlap With Other Cards in My Wallet

What exactly does the Chase Sapphire Reserve card have over the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?

There are quite a few benefits that I’d get jumping from a $95 annual fee to a much greater $795 annual fee:

For some travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is the better choice, even with the higher annual fee. However, as with any card, you need a personalized analysis to see if it aligns with your travel preferences.

While Chase’s network of lounges is still pretty small, the issuer is working hard to open up new locations. My home airport, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), has a Delta Sky Club open right now, with a second location and an Amex Centurion Lounge set to open later in 2025. For those reasons, having the Platinum Card^® for American Express in my wallet as my go-to lounge access card makes a lot of sense for me.

Again, this decision greatly depends on where you reside. For example, New York-based travelers are lucky, since 2 of the 3 metro airports now have Chase Sapphire lounges. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you get access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club With Etihad Airways at New York (JFK) — for you and up to 2 guests.

A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit is a valuable perk, but it’s offered by so many other cards on the market, many of which don’t charge a $895 annual fee like the Amex Platinum card (rates & fees).

That said, the $300 travel credit is one of the easiest benefits to use on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, effectively cutting the annual fee down significantly. However, given that many of the card’s benefits overlap with those of other cards I already have, there’s no real need for me to get the premium version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

I Prefer Transferring Points vs. Booking Through Chase Travel

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card gives you increased value when redeeming points through Chase Travel — making each point worth up to 2 cents on select flights and hotels through Points Boost — this isn’t my preferred method to book.

I prefer to use Chase’s transfer partners most of the time to maximize the value of my Chase Ultimate Rewards points. For example, by transferring points to World of Hyatt, I can book hotels and get 2 to 4 cents per point in value. By transferring to Flying Blue, I can secure a business class ticket to France and achieve up to 6 cents per point value. The list goes on.

While Chase Travel has vastly improved over recent years, it’s still a third-party booking portal. You can’t earn hotel points on third-party stays (except The Edit), and if you ever need to change or cancel a flight, good luck. Whether with cash or points, booking directly with an airline or hotel is almost always worth it to me.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Holds Merit

Since I don’t need the premium benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the anchor card in my wallet that still allows me to earn Ultimate Rewards points.

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.

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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

19.49 - 27.74% 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 bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands, and streaming services.

It offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and strong travel insurance coverage, including primary car rental insurance. If you travel a few times a year and spend on dining, the card is likely to be a good choice, but it’s hard to justify if you don’t dine out or travel often.

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Subject to Chase’s 5/24 application restrictions

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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 Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 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 Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
• Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
• 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: 19.49 - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

I can pool rewards earned on my Chase cash-back cards, including the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Flex^®, to turn them into transferable rewards points.

However, let’s say I did move to an area where the airport has a Chase Sapphire lounge. I might consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve card since it would align more closely with my travel habits.

That said, I still wouldn’t upgrade my Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Rather, I’d submit a brand-new application for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, as Chase now allows you to have 2 Sapphire cards simultaneously. By submitting a new application (rather than upgrading), I would be eligible for the welcome bonus offer on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

This slight nuance can mean the difference between earning hundreds of thousands of points — or not.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card isn’t in the cards for me. I’m sticking with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for now, as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card doesn’t offer compelling perks for my travel and lifestyle habits.