Chase Sapphire Reserve: Why I’m Thinking of Getting it Soon..

As card issuers have increased fees on their premium products, I’ve made changes to my card strategy. At the moment, we have credit card annual fees as high as almost $900. I won’t even rule out higher fees in the near future. However, the Amex Platinum Card is a card that I’ve carried for many years. I first picked up the card in 2014 when the annual fee was still $450. Then came the Sapphire Reserve in 2016. I picked that up as well right after it was launched. However, given the rapid increases in annual fees, particularly on premium credit cards, I’ve pared down my stack and have stuck to just one premium card over the last five years, which is the Amex Platinum Card (Charles Schwab version). However, in the light of some recent events, I’m tempted to go for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card once again.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Value Proposition (For Me)

As stated earlier, I currently have the Amex Platinum Card, which is the only premium credit card in my wallet. After its most recent refresh, Amex added a slew of new credits to the card. While many have found the dining, shopping and entertainment credits very useful, I tend to look for travel focused benefits. Moreover, almost 90% of  my travel is international in nature. Therefore, a lot of the benefits that are specific to the US often don’t excite me that much. Here are a few issues that I’m facing with the card:

• Saks Credit – I’ve never found it very useful. With Saks’ financial woes, finding good stuff in stock has become even more difficult.
• Resy Credit – Useful, but is US specific, doesn’t work for restaurants abroad.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit – Only US based airlines qualify. While I’ve used workarounds to use this benefit over the years, I’m now looking for something that’s easier to use.
• Lululemon Credit – As stated earlier, the benefit on paper may be good, but again shopping isn’t my thing and I’m looking for more travel focused benefits and credits

However, there are some Amex Platinum Card benefits that I really like and use frequently:

• Centurion lounge access + Priority Pass: This is a great combo and gives me access to a lot of lounges around the world
• 5x points on flights: I purchase flights all the time, either for myself or friends and family. So earning 5x Membership Rewards on flights is a great way to earn points very quickly.
• $600 Hotel Credit: I am able to max out this benefit quite easily as I love trying out new properties in different parts of the world when I travel.
• $300 Entertainment Credit: This one is easy to use by simply putting my YouTube premium subscription on the card each month.

At the moment, the Amex Platinum Card is offering a limited time welcome bonus offer of up to 175,000 Membership Rewards points. You’ll earn the welcome bonus once you spend $12,000 in the first 6 months of card membership.

Click Here to Check Your Offer

Chasing the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

So, why am I tempted to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve? For a card that charges an annual fee of $795, there are a few reasons. Firstly, the fee is $100 cheaper than the Amex Platinum Card. Secondly, compared to the Amex Platinum Card, there are specific travel related benefits that work better for me, especially for travel abroad. Again, I’m only listing travel specific benefits that would help me justify the $795 fee. I won’t be listing all benefits that the card offers.

• $300 travel credit (this is easier to use than the airline fee credit and any travel purchase triggers the benefit)
• $500 Edit Credit (this one is similar to the Amex Platinum Card’s Hotel Credit)
• Chase Sapphire Lounges + Priority Pass (Chase is expanding its network and the Priority Pass benefit remains the same)
• $250 credit for select Chase hotels (Only for 2026)

If I only were to look at the travel credit and the Edit credit, I’m getting $800 in absolute value. Add to that the lounge access benefit and the Apple Credit benefit (since our household has a lot of Apple devices), then I’m getting good value out of the card with less effort.

At the moment, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is offering a limited time welcome bonus offer of 125,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You’ll earn the welcome bonus once you spend just $6,000 in the first three months.

Click Here for the 125,000 Points Offer

The Pundit’s Mantra

Both the Amex Platinum Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card are amazing products for the right use cases. While neither is perfect, it may work very well for you, based on how you travel. Looking at how my travel needs and goals have changed, especially after Covid, I’m seeing that the Chase Sapphire Reserve may be a lower hanging fruit when it comes to using benefits with minimal effort.

Which is your favorite premium credit card? Tell us in the comments section.

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