Perks that would justify the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee increase, according to TPG readers
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
On the heels of Chase upping its annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card to $550 in exchange for new perks with Lyft and DoorDash, we asked our TPG Lounge members to share their own ideas for added perks that would make the increase worthwhile.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite answers. (Some responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity).
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Better deals on everyday purchases and travel
Many of our TPG Lounge members said they'd feel better about the annual fee increase if the $300 annual travel credit also went up — hey, that's not a bad idea! — and more points were awarded for additional everyday categories like entertainment, gas, groceries and golf.
"I want Uber credits, an annual flight voucher for Q Suite, unlimited tequila on my airline of choice, tickets to the Olympics every two years and full-scale travel insurance on all trips booked with the credit card. And free pizza." — Nicole S.
"Increasing the annual travel credit to $350 — plus current benefits — would make the annual fee increase easier to swallow." — Andres G.
"Introduce some additional categories, like groceries and gas, that earn 2x points." — Kevin M.
"Considering Lyft is very North America-centric, I find it relatively useless. I'd even settle for reimbursements on inflight expenses like Wi-Fi." — Elana G.
"2x points for every dollar for all purchases on top of the 3x points we already get for dining and travel." — Ashley M.
"If they upped the points value in shopping at grocery stores, I would be ecstatic!" — Molly F.
"A grocery bonus of 3x points — as long as we're dreaming — and, of course, 20x points for golf equipment, trips and for club dues paid on the card." — Bill V.
"Bonus earning on golf would be a dream. I would be earning so much from my husband's spending." — Bao C.N.
Related: The ultimate guide to the best cards for every bonus category
"Counting gas when you're more than a certain number of miles away from home. We do a fair number of road trips, some of them in our motorhome." — Catherine O.
"Lumping gas into their broader category of travel." — Donovan T.
"Adding an entertainment category. 2x points on entertainment and 3x points on dining would round out the card to be a no brainer for almost everyone." — Serenity F.
"If they're tying the increased fee to perks, I'd want something like Delta does where we could choose which perks we get with our annual fee. So for my Chase Sapphire Reserve, I might pick Lyft and airfare, while someone else might pick DoorDash and Priority Pass. I also would extend the trend of 10x points with a specific merchant. Maybe AMC Theaters or Alamo Drafthouse Cinema if Chase has a relationship. If they want to influence my spending to a partner and to their card, giving me outsized rewards will do it, too." — Byron B.
"1. Lyft benefits become permanent. 2. Hotel status — it would be nice to get Hyatt Explorist or IHG Platinum Elite status. 3. 4x points on dining and travel." — Bao C.N.
"What would I like? Additional lounge access, larger annual travel credit, points transfers to American Airlines and more points for travel and dining." — Ashley B.R.
"Anything directly related to travel and/or dining that isn’t company specific. Status, credits, general entertainment — all of those can be used at home or while traveling, especially if they apply to categories rather than companies." — Stephanie C.
Related: The best travel rewards credit cards
Better rideshare and food delivery options
Regarding rideshare options and food delivery services, several TPG Lounge members seemed happy about the new Lyft perks — as long as they're permanent benefits. Others mentioned how they'd rather receive more points for dining than DoorDash credit.
"The Lyft Benefit pays for itself after a handful of trips to the airport. They need to make Lyft Pink a permanent benefit though. You can't justify a huge fee hike for only temporary benefits." — Kevin B.
"I have switched to Lyft entirely so the extra 10x points will net me more than the $100 increase." — Timothy O.
"Just do $100/0.25. Spend $400 on Lyft and break even with the increase. I spent $200 on a weekend trip to Chicago so its not a bad deal. This is evaluating Chase Ultimate Rewards at 1.5 cents per point minimum." — Utsav R.M.
"Regardless of Lyft Pink membership, 10x points on Lyft purchases will add up extremely quickly. I feel this is an added perk that is underrated and not talked about as much. Everyone is focused on DoorDash." — Joey B.
Related: Earn up to 14 points per dollar and cash-back rewards with this ultimate Lyft deal stack
"If they made the annual travel credit even $350 or increased travel and/or dining to 4x points, I would have been much happier than with the DoorDash credit. I've already mostly used it, but they have significantly fewer restaurants available than Seamless and Grubhub, even here in New York City. I can't imagine how barren it is for non-city dwellers." — Steve I.
"I don't use food delivery services, so the new DoorDash dining credit is of no use to me. Increasing the travel and dining categories to 5x and/or increasing the annual travel credit would be my preferences." — Larry H.
Related: Which purchases count as dining with the Chase Sapphire cards?
More perks with airlines and airport lounges
Others wrote in saying they'd prefer to have special access to flight upgrades or lounges beyond what's already available through Priority Pass, mentioning that United Club passes would be an acceptable added benefit to offset the cost of the new annual fee.
"Make the Chase Sapphire Reserve upgrade a priority over fare class. CSR cardholders at each medallion level would get preference for upgrades at that level." — Bill B.
"5x points on flights and hotels and 4x points on restaurants. 3x points on rental cars and gas. CLEAR membership. United Club membership." — David O.
"Ideally, I’d like to see Chase lounges or a partnership with airline lounges. United would be a natural choice for this." — Cameron L.
"I would love it if they reinstated the unlimited Priority Pass guest policy. I frequently travel in a business group of four and have been paying out of pocket for the third guest. $30 per visit adds up and I would gladly pay $550 per year to be able to take that additional person in for free." — Jeremy C.
"Since they're partnered up with United already, complimentary elite status and/or United Club passes." — Donovan T.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended 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.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.