It’s no surprise that the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates & fees) is one of the most popular travel credit cards on the market. Packed with high-value benefits, including travel credits, complimentary memberships and up to 10x rewards on eligible travel purchases, this card is ideal if you travel on a regular basis.
When compared to other travel rewards cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® also offers some of the most generous travel and purchase protections available. In fact, cardholders get trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption coverage and much more. These are some of the reasons the card is our pick for the best credit card for travel insurance in 2025.
Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a $550 annual fee, you can easily make up for it by taking advantage of the full range of benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides a variety of valuable perks — ranging from complimentary airport lounge access to a flexible travel credit — that can help offset the cost of travel. Travel credits and memberships include:
Each account anniversary year, you’ll automatically receive statement credits up to the annual maximum as reimbursement for eligible travel purchases charged to your card.
Note, the following types of travel purchases are not eligible for this credit: Purchases from some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services, such as real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, onboard 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 hauling vehicles. Additionally, purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles do not qualify.
Every four years, get one statement credit as reimbursement for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee charged to your card.
If you value airport lounge access, this could very well be the most valuable benefit offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The included Priority Pass™ Select membership comes with free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world for you and two accompanying guests ($27 for each additional guest per visit). Amenities include free refreshments, Wi-Fi and more. Note that a one-time activation is required.
Airport lounge benefits for this card also include entry into Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations in select cities. While more lounge locations may be available in the future, locations are currently available in Boston (BOS), New York City (LGA), New York City (JFK), Phoenix (PHX), San Diego (SAN) and Hong Kong (HKG) airports. Las Vegas (LAS) and Philadelphia (PHL) locations are coming soon.
You’ll also get access to Air Canada lounges and The Etihad Lounge at Dulles Airport (IAD).
You won’t be charged additional fees when you use your Chase Sapphire Reserve® to make purchases outside of the U.S.
Get exclusive benefits at a variety of hand-selected hotels and resorts worldwide through The Edit by Chase Travel℠. You won’t always score a better rate than booking directly with properties, but there are still other benefits to booking through The Edit. If you don’t have hotel elite status, for example, booking through The Edit could help you earn benefits you might not have otherwise.
The Edit was formerly known as the Chase Luxury Hotel and Resorts Collection.
Cardholders get a complimentary subscription to DashPass, which allows $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible DoorDash orders. Other benefits include a $5 monthly credit applied automatically and up to $20 in credits to use each month on non-restaurant orders through the app. This benefit is available for a minimum of one year, although activation is required by Dec. 31, 2027.
From complimentary trip interruption insurance to reimbursement for trip delays, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides one of the most extensive lists of travel protections available from any credit card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve®‘s travel insurance benefits include:
Receive primary coverage against damages caused by theft or collision damage when you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Rental periods of up to 31 consecutive days can qualify for this protection.
We should note: The following types of cars are not covered: Antique cars, cargo vans, vehicles with open cargo beds, trucks (other than pick-up trucks), motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, limousines and passenger vans that seat more than nine people. Additionally, rental periods that exceed 31 days are not eligible.
“This benefit alone makes both the Chase Sapphire cards worth their annual fees. As a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholder, I’ve used this benefit on several trips — and it’s saved me hundreds of dollars. Rental car coverage fees are shockingly high, and not having to worry about that expense while I’m traveling makes the experience a whole lot better.”
– Kristen Grau, LendingTree staff writer
You can receive reimbursement for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses that have to be canceled or cut short because of unforeseen circumstances like illness, severe weather and other qualifying situations.
Note that cancellations caused by the following scenarios will not be covered: Changes in plans, financial circumstances or business obligations, pre-existing conditions, travel scheduled after the 26th week of pregnancy, failure to obtain required travel documents and more.
If you experience a travel delay from a common carrier, like an airline, train or bus, that lasts more than six hours or requires an overnight stay, you can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred during the delay.
Note that this benefit does not apply to a delay caused by a covered hazard that was made public or made known to you prior to your departure. It also doesn’t cover prepaid expenses related to your covered trip, such as activity fees associated with your trip.
Chase offers accidental death or dismemberment coverage for you or your beneficiaries when you purchase your air, bus, train or cruise transportation using your card.
Note that accidents, injuries or losses resulting from the following are not covered: Emotional trauma, mental or physical illness, disease, pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, bodily malfunctions, surgical treatments and more.
If your bag is delayed for more than six hours, Chase will reimburse you for essential items like toiletries and clothing.
Note that the following items are not covered: Hearing aids, artificial teeth, money, checks, tickets, business samples, jewelry and watches, cameras, recreational equipment and more.
This benefit provides roadside assistance — including towing, tire changing, jump starts, lockout service, fuel delivery and standard winching — 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the U.S. and Canada.
Note that commercial vehicles are not covered. Also, emergency road service isn’t available in areas not regularly traveled or accessible by regular towing vehicles.
If you or an immediate family member become sick or injured while traveling, you may receive reimbursement for your medical treatment.
Note that the following are not covered: Travel for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment, non-emergency services, care not provided by a hospital, physician or dentist, experimental care, care provided as a result of self-inflicted harm and more.
This coverage can pay for emergency transportation and evacuation in the event you become sick or injured and require this type of care. This benefit also includes coverage for repatriation of remains if you or a covered traveler passes away during a trip.
Note that coverage only applies for trips of at least five days and less than 60 days. Covered trips must also be at least 100 miles from home to be eligible. Other instances that may not be covered include non-emergency transportation, transportation covered by another party at no cost to you, transportation for experimental procedures and more.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also provides the following coverage when you use your card to make purchases:
This benefit protects new retail purchases against theft, damage or loss that occurs within 120 days of purchase.
Note, the following purchases are not covered: Animals and living plants, antiques or collectible items, motorized vehicles, computer software, items purchased for resale or commercial use, medical equipment, perishable or consumable items, travelers’ checks, pre-owned items and more.
If you’re not satisfied with an item within 90 days of purchasing it and the retailer won’t allow you to return the item for a refund, exchange or credit, Chase may reimburse you for the purchase price.
Note, the following purchases are not covered: Animals and living plants, motorized vehicles, tickets, computer software, damaged or non-working items, formal attire, items purchased for resale or commercial use, items purchased outside the U.S., altered items, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, medical equipment, perishables and consumables, seasonal items and more.
Chase will extend the time period of any eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less by one additional year.
Note that the following purchases aren’t covered: motorized vehicles, items purchased for resale or commercial use, rented or leased items, computer software, medical equipment, pre-owned items and more.
Along with extremely valuable travel and retail credits and protections, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a very lucrative rewards program:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is an excellent sign-up bonus, especially if you transfer it to one Chase’s several hotel or airline partners. If you redeem it through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, you’ll also enjoy a 50% boost in value – making each point worth 1.5 cents (instead of 1 cent). You may be able to get a better value through the transfer portal, so be sure to compare redemption rates on each platform before you book.
The sign-up bonus may increase to 80,000 points a couple of times per year — so if you’re not planning an immediate trip, it may be worth waiting to apply.
You’ll earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Additionally, earn 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
To maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, it may be worth adding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and/or Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates & fees) to your wallet as well. This will allow you to transfer your cash back rewards to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for even more value.
Earn 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 up to 50,000 points. This offer ends March 31, 2025.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a variety of ways to redeem your rewards. However, you can squeeze the most value out of your rewards by redeeming them for travel through Chase’s travel portal or by transferring them to an airline or hotel loyalty partner.
If you redeem your points for airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, activities or cruises through Chase TravelSM, they’ll be worth 50% more. This means that instead of generally being valued at 1 cent each, a point will be worth 1.5 cents. For example, 50,000 points would be worth $500 if redeemed for cash but $750 if redeemed for travel via Chase’s travel portal.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be transferred to a number of airline and hotel loyalty partners at a rate of 1 to 1.
Chase travel partners include Air Canada Aeroplan, 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, IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.
You can typically find the best value for Chase points by transferring them to Hyatt. You can normally get a value of at least 1.7-2 cents per point, or even more depending on the date and property.
You can also redeem your points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards or products and services. These options will often be less valuable than transferring your points to travel partners.
Despite its hefty annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers generous rewards and benefits to both frequent and occasional travelers that can far outweigh the cost. From travel protections that could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unplanned expenses to generous travel credits, cardholders stand to get a lot of value from the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
That said, if you’re looking for a travel credit card with similar benefits and a much lower annual fee of $95, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great alternative.
Yes, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $120 fee credit every four years that can be applied to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a broad range of travel insurances, including an auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, travel accident insurance, travel and emergency assistance, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation, roadside assistance and emergency medical and dental coverage.
If you’re currently a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholder, you can request an upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® by calling the number on the back of your card or logging in to your online account.
Chase points do not expire as long as your credit card account remains open and in good standing.
You and two guests have complimentary access to over 1,700 Priority Pass lounges with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Plus, you’ll get access to Air Canada lounges and the Etihad Lounge at Dulles Airport (IAD).
The information related to the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
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