• Receive a $300 travel statement credit reimbursement each anniversary year
• Complimentary membership to Priority Pass lounges
• Access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club
• Get 50% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase TravelSM
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
• Discounts on DoorDash with free DashPass subscription (Must be activated by December 31, 2027)‍‍
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• No foreign transaction fees

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And, your miles don't expire as long as your account is open.

When it comes to Chase Ultimate Rewards, the best way to maximize your points is to redeem them with travel.

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 We don’t recommend: Turning your points into cash back 

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While you can redeem your points for cash back or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point, or use Chase's Pay Yourself Back option, it simply doesn’t provide the best value.

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We sometimes recommend: Using the Chase Travel Portal

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You can redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, and car rentals through Chase Travel^SM, all at a fixed rate of 1.5 cents per point. While this is a decent option, it’s still not the best.

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We always recommend: Using transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio to stretch your points as far as humanly possible.

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The bottom line is — if a flight or hotel room can be bought with cash, you can use your points to book it. Transferring your Chase points can score you more than 1.5 cents per point by moving rewards to Chase's 14 amaaaazing airline and hotel partners. Top picks include Hyatt, United, British Airways, IHG One Rewards, and so many more. Taking advantage of these transfer partners is one of the best ways to justify your Sapphire Reserve. Chase often runs bonus promotions, giving you up to 30% more points or miles when you transfer to a partner.

Transferring your Chase points is a super simple process. Simply log in to your Chase account and click on “points” in the top right corner. Then, you’ll see three dots on the top of the screen. Click those and select “transfer points to partners.” From there, you’ll be able to view any bonuses and available transfer options.

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And you’re on your way! ✈️

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1. The Luxurious Traveler

Let’s be clear. The Sapphire Reserve is boujee. In case you need convincing of that, just check out the annual fee. But let’s be clear about another thing. You shouldn’t let that annual fee scare you. This card’s perks and statement credits are here to save the day. And speaking of perks, the Reserve has proven to be for the luxurious traveler. We’re talking about a complimentary membership to Priority Pass lounges and access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club, both of which add a little sparkle to any travel day. Plus, you’ll receive up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. Needless to say, with the Sapphire Reserve, you’re definitely traveling in style.

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2. The Everyday Traveler

Ok, every day is a stretch, but you get the point. The Sapphire Reserve is a perfect choice for those frequenting the airport. In case you’re in need of some convincing, here are some examples of ways Mike has used his card recently:

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• Hotel in Myanmar: There are no chain hotels in that area, so he used the Sapphire Reserve to book a place for 1.5 cents per point value.
• At a Hyatt: He booked a 5-night stay for 15k points transferred from the Sapphire Reserve. While this wasn’t a massive cents-per-point value, it was still super nice to get a long stay for basically no points (with free breakfast and free dinner every night).
• Flight from Chongqing, China to Hong Kong: He booked said flight with 12,500 United miles transferred from the Sapphire Reserve. The flight was priced at $500 so it was about 4 CPP value!
• Qsuites flight: Mike booked a Qsuites flight from Pakistan to Doha for 26,000 JetBlue miles…which is nuts!

Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is below 700, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.

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We’ve said it before — but the Sapphire Reserve is not a beginner card. If you’re at the beginning of your miles and points journey, there are a few starter cards we would suggest checking out first. For example, the Sapphire Preferred is an excellent stepping stone on the way to the Reserve. You’ve still got access to Chase’s Travel Portal and transfer partners, but you’re paying a significantly lower annual fee (and working on building up that credit score in the meantime).

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Here are a few cards we suggest you check out first:

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — $95 Annual Fee
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® — $0 Annual Fee
• Chase Freedom Flex® — $0 Annual Fee

An excellent credit score (740-850) is recommended for Chase Sapphire Reserve®. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying.

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We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line, and be granted the Sapphire Reserve. While it’s not necessarily a beginner card, the worst they can say is “no.”