4 things to do once you get your Chase Sapphire Reserve
Editor's Note
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has consistently been one of the best travel rewards credit cards on the market. In fact, it's been named the Best Premium Travel Credit Card at the 2020 TPG awards. Although it comes with a $550 annual fee, you'll enjoy stellar perks such as a $300 annual travel credit, 50% point redemption boost when booking travel through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal, Priority Pass airport lounge access and so much more.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review
And now, you can apply for the Reserve with a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG's valuation of 2 cents per Chase Ultimate Rewards point, this offer is worth a whopping $1,200 -- covering the card's annual fee.
If you've just applied and gotten approved for the Sapphire Reserve (congrats!), here are four "to-do" items that you'll want to make a priority within the first few days of being a cardholder.
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Add your Sapphire Reserve to all your travel, rideshare and food delivery accounts
With both a $300 annual travel credit and the ability to earn 3x points in a broad travel category (after using your $300 travel credit) and a solid dining category, the Chase Sapphire Reserve should be your top card for booking travel. Have it handy not only when on a hotel or airline website, but also when you are booking via online travel agencies such as Expedia and Orbitz, since these purchases count in the travel category. Homesharing services, such as Airbnb or VRBO, also earn sometimes code as travel and earn 3x points.
Then you may also want to set up the Reserve as your default card on ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft, since these also count as travel. To make the deal even sweeter, Chase has partnered with Lyft to offer Reserve cardholders a year of free Lyft Pink membership to help save even more on rides. You can also earn 10x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft charges with your Sapphire Reserve until March 2025.
And if you have a monthly bill for a commuter train pass or parking at work, you might as well earn 3x for those expenses, too. Be sure to make the Reserve your default card for these regular travel charges as well.
Although the 3x dining definitions are more straightforward than the eligible travel items, don't forget to add your card to your account at your favorite restaurant delivery services. In most cases, you'll earn 3x points for these purchases.
Additionally, Reserve cardholders get one year of complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash, (if activated by December 31, 2024) offering free delivery at eligible restaurants and discounted service fees on orders more than $12. Make sure to activate your offer online or through your DoorDash app, adding in your Reserve card as your default payment method.
Related: How to earn 10x on select dining reservations and takeout with Chase Sapphire
Activate Priority Pass and rental car benefits
You don't need to wait until your card arrives to activate these perks, but you definitely shouldn't wait any longer than that.
To get started with these particular Reserve benefits — Priority Pass airport lounge access and Avis, National and Silvercar discounts — you'll need to log into your Chase account, select Ultimate Rewards, choose the account associated with your Reserve card, then select Card Benefits under the "Use Points" dropdown menu. From there, you'll register for each of the benefits you wish to receive.
Related: How valuable is a Priority Pass lounge membership?
Sign up for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck (or, gift it to a friend)
Getting through U.S. Customs or airport security is one of the most dreaded parts of modern-day air travel, so use your Chase Sapphire Reserve to apply for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and make your trek a little easier. You'll get the application fee waived up to $100 when using the Reserve to pay for either program.
What if you've already got Global Entry or PreCheck? You can let a friend or family member benefit from your Chase Sapphire Reserve. Use your card to pay for their application, and the fee will be offset via a statement credit by Chase so long as you haven't already used it on yourself or someone else in the last TK years.
Related: Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck: Which is better?
Set your earning and redemption goals
Now that you've got the Sapphire Reserve basics down, it's time for a little long-term planning.
Where do you want to go with your Ultimate Rewards points? How do you want to fly there — in a first- or business-class cabin? Or would a great Hyatt property such as the Park Hyatt St. Kitts be an exciting use of points for you? Do you think you'll need to find award availability and transfer points, or can you book the airfare or hotel directly through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal and stick with getting 1.5 cents per point in value?
Related: How I used Chase Ultimate Rewards to book my trip to Croatia
Once you've figured out your goals, you can formulate your plan for earning points. Is the Reserve going to be the primary card in your wallet, or should you use it exclusively for the 3x bonus categories and put your general spend on a different card? Planning ahead will allow you to make better choices so your points balances will be adequate when you're ready to start booking.
You can also start considering ramping up your Ultimate Rewards earnings even more by getting a supporting card, such as the Chase Freedom Flex℠ that awards up to 5x points per dollar. After you have the basics of using the Sapphire Reserve down, it can be worth your time to explore what we call the Chase Trifecta.
Bottom line
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is considered one of the best travel credit cards out there — and with good reason. Although the annual fee is $550, the benefits you get out of the card makes it well worth it for frequent travelers. Just make sure you're checking off the items on this to-do list to maximize your Reserve benefits and earning structure.
And if you decide that you aren't quite ready for the $550 annual fee with the Reserve, it can be worth your time to instead consider it's sister, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with just a $95 annual fee and welcome bonus of 60,000 points with $4,000 in spending in the first three months of account opening.
Apply link: Chase Sapphire Reserve Card available for a 60,000 bonus points.
Additional reporting by Stella Shon
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How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
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.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees