10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All values of Membership Rewards are assigned based on the assumption, experience and opinions of the 10xTravel team and represent an estimate and not an actual value of points. Estimated value is not a fixed value and may not be the typical value enjoyed by card members.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is renowned for its generous travel benefits, and at the forefront of these perks is the $300 annual travel credit. This feature alone goes a long way in offsetting the card’s annual fee, making it a favorite among frequent travelers and points enthusiasts.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to make the most of your Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit, ensuring you squeeze every bit of value from this premium travel card.
What Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card comes with a $300 annual travel credit, which is automatically applied to your account each year. This credit is one of the most flexible and easy-to-use travel credits available among premium credit cards, setting the Chase Sapphire Reserve apart from its competitors.
Earn 125,000
bonus points
after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $795
Key Features of the Travel Credit:
- Annual $300 credit
- Automatically applied to travel purchases
- Resets each account anniversary year
- Covers a wide range of travel expenses
How Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit Work?
The $300 travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve is remarkably user-friendly. Here’s a breakdown of how it functions:
- Automatic Application: The credit is applied automatically to your first $300 in travel purchases each account anniversary year.
- Broad Definition of Travel: Chase has a generous definition of what qualifies as travel, making it easy to use the credit.
- Statement Credit: The travel credit appears as a statement credit on your account, usually within a few days of the qualifying purchase.
- No Registration Required: Unlike some other card benefits, you don’t need to activate or register for this credit. It’s always on and ready to use.
- Applies to Both Primary and Authorized Users: Travel purchases made by both the primary cardholder and any authorized users count towards the $300 credit.
What Qualifies for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit?
Chase’s broad definition of travel expenses makes it easy to use the $300 credit. Here’s a list of purchases that typically qualify:
- Airlines
- Hotels
- Motels
- Timeshares
- Campgrounds
- Car rental agencies
- Cruise lines
- Travel agencies
- Discount travel sites
- Passenger trains
- Buses
- Taxis
- Limousines
- Ferries
- Toll bridges and highways
- Parking lots and garages
It’s worth noting that some travel-adjacent purchases may not qualify. These may include:
- In-flight goods and services
- Duty-free airport purchases
- Travel insurance purchased outside of trip bookings
How to Check Your Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit Balance
Keeping track of your travel credit usage is simple. Here’s how you can check your remaining balance:
- Log in to your Chase online account or mobile app.
- Navigate to your Chase Sapphire Reserve account.
- Click on “Card benefits.”
- You’ll see your total credit for the year and how much you’ve used.
If you’ve already hit your $300 credit for the year, you may not see this benefit listed. You can verify if you’ve already spent over $300 on travel in your “Spending report.”
Maximizing Your Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit
While the travel credit is easy to use, there are still ways to maximize its value:
- Use It Early: Try to use your credit early in your account anniversary year. This ensures you don’t forget about it and miss out on the benefit. This shouldn’t be difficult as long as you use your card, because the application of the travel credit is automatic.
- Small Purchases Count: Remember, even small travel-related purchases like parking fees or train tickets count towards the credit.
- Combine With Other Benefits: Use the card’s other travel benefits, like Priority Pass lounge access or trip delay insurance, for maximum value.
- Book Through Chase Ultimate Rewards: While not necessary to earn the credit, booking through the Chase portal can earn you extra points on top of using your travel credit.
- Use for Incidental Fees: If you’ve covered your major travel expenses, use the credit for incidental fees like seat upgrades or baggage fees.
Common Misconceptions About the Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit
Despite its straightforward nature, there are some common misconceptions about the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit:
| Misconception | Reality |
|---|---|
| The credit only applies to flights and hotels. | The credit applies to a wide range of travel purchases, including parking, tolls and campgrounds. |
| You need to register or activate the credit each year. | The credit is automatically applied to qualifying purchases. |
| The credit resets on January 1 each year. | The credit resets on your account anniversary date, not the calendar year. |
| The travel credit reduces your minimum spending requirement for the sign-up bonus. | Purchases reimbursed by the travel credit still count towards the minimum spend requirement. |
Comparison With Other Premium Card Travel Credits
While the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit is one of the most flexible, it’s worth comparing it to two other popular premium cards:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Offers a $300 annual travel credit, but it must be used through the Capital One Travel portal. This makes it less flexible than the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Provides an up to $200 airline fee credit, but it’s much more restrictive. It only applies to incidental fees (like baggage or seat selection) with one pre-selected airline each year.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000
Venture Miles
after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Annual Fee: $395
The Platinum Card® from American Express
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000
Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $8,000 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.
Annual Fee:
$695
Additional Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
While the $300 travel credit is a standout feature, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers several other valuable benefits.
DoorDash Benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides a complementary DashPass subscription, offering free deliveries on eligible DoorDash orders. This benefit can save frequent users significant money on delivery fees.
Other Notable Benefits
- 3X points on travel (after earning the travel credit) and dining worldwide
- 1:1 point transfers to airline and hotel partners like United and Hyatt
- Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Lost luggage reimbursement
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the travel credit apply to vacation rentals like Airbnb?
A: Yes, vacation rentals, including Airbnb, typically qualify for the travel credit.
Q: If I downgrade my Chase Sapphire Reserve, do I lose the unused travel credit?
A: Yes, if you downgrade your card, you’ll lose any unused portion of the travel credit.
Q: Can I use the travel credit for gift cards purchased from airlines or hotels?
A: Generally, no. The purchase needs to be coded as a travel expense, which gift cards may not be.
Q: Can I use the travel credit for travel insurance?
A: Travel insurance purchased as part of a trip booking typically qualifies, but standalone travel insurance policies may not.
Conclusion
The Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 annual travel credit is one of the most valuable and easy-to-use benefits in the premium credit card market. Its broad application and automatic nature mean most cardholders will be able to take full advantage of this perk without much effort. By understanding how the credit works and what qualifies, you can ensure you’re maximizing the value of your Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Remember, while the travel credit is a significant benefit, it’s just one part of the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s comprehensive suite of travel perks. When combined with the card’s other benefits like lounge access, travel insurance and a generous points earning structure, it’s clear why the Chase Sapphire Reserve remains a top choice for many travelers.
New to the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to start with.
With a bonus of 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. , 5x points on travel booked through the Chase TravelSM Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!
after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $795
after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Annual Fee: $395
after you spend $8,000 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.
Annual Fee:
$695
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All values of Membership Rewards are assigned based on the assumption, experience and opinions of the 10xTravel team and represent an estimate and not an actual value of points. Estimated value is not a fixed value and may not be the typical value enjoyed by card members.
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
bonus cash back
after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
miles
once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
bonus points
after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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.
