Sometimes it is difficult to justify paying a high annual rate for a premium credit card year after year.
However, there is a card that has been a constant in my wallet for almost a decade. I opened my CHASE SAPPHIRE Reserve® (see rates and rates) When he debuted in 2016 and I have never thought about cancel it or degrade it.
Almost 10 years after its inauguration, the Sapphire reserve has finally had its own complete update, which included an annual increase in rates and a review of income rates, card and design benefits.
The new annual rate of $ 795 takes the most expensive card title of American Express Platinum Card® With its annual $ 695 rate (see rates and rates). But despite the massive changes and the new annual rate, I still plan to keep my sapphire reservation, and here are the three main reasons.
The $ 300 credit remains flexible
When Chase announced changes in the Zafiro reserveMy first fear was losing the $ 300 flexible travel credit or the issuer by implementing some restrictions on its use. These fears were not unfounded, since many other issuers have restrictions on the credits of the travel declaration, which makes it difficult to exchange them and maximize them.
For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards CED Credit It comes with a travel loan of $ 300. However, it can only be used to travel reserved through Capital One Travel Portal. There are times when Book through a portal is more expensive, And there may be Several other reasons to reserve directly instead of a third party.
Because Chase has a Broad definition of what counts as a tripThe $ 300 credit remains the most useful travel credit of any issuer, especially for a premium credit card. For example, I have reserved Bush flights with a tourist operator in Tanzania to get to Serengeti National Park, and when putting the purchase in my sapphire reserve, I received a loan of $ 300 in a few days. The broad application and accessibility of this credit effectively generates the annual rate from $ 795 to $ 495.
Related: What you need to know about direct travel reserves versus third
The new income rates benefit me
Since opening my card almost 10 years ago, I have excited its categories of bonus gains. He Zafiro reserve It has a broad definition of dining room That includes fast, informal food, restaurants, coffees and more, along with gaining bonus points on trips.
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In addition to the new income rates of the 8 -point card per dollar for flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, activities and reserved tours Chase Travel℠Here are the bonus categories and the income rates that apply me the most:
| Bonus category | New profit rate | Previous gain rate |
|---|---|---|
| Reserved flights through Chase Travel | 8 points per dollar | 5 points per dollar |
| Flights directly with airlines | 4 points per dollar | 3 points per dollar |
| Hotels directly reserved | 4 points per dollar | 3 points per dollar |
| All other trips, including cruises, vacation rentals and transit | 1 point per dollar | 3 points per dollar |
When deepening my expenses, most of my travel expenses are in air tickets and hotels. I always reserve my air passage directly with the airline using my sapphire reservation or AMEX PLATINO And almost always choose to stay in the hotels.
Yes, it is difficult to see that all other trips now only earn 1 point per dollar, but among my general travel expenses, those purchases represented less than 10% of them. Even if I want to reserve rental cars, activities and tours, I can do it through Chase Travel and win 8 incredible points per dollar.
In general, these new rates are very promising, especially winning 4 points per dollar in direct hotels reserves. I already put a substantial amount of air tariff purchases in my Amyx Platinum due to its profit rate of 5 points per dollar directly reserved with airlines OA through American Express Travel® (up to $ 500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar after that), but the new profit rate of the Sapphire reserve will probably have me putting me in More air ticket purchases there also from now.
It is easy to maximize the new declaration credits
The new annual rate of $ 795 can be difficult to swallow, especially if you are also paying annual rates on other credit cards. In my opinion, the new accredited statement Zafiro reserve Compensate the increase.
Not only do I get more than $ 1,500 for benefits, but the credits of the general declaration are more adapted to the avid traveler and entertainment search engine.
New travel credits
He Zafiro reserve It already has an excellent and flexible travel credit of $ 300, but the new annual state credit of up to $ 500 for The edition By Chase Travel, the collection of hotels and luxury resorts of Chase (divided into two biannual declaration credits of $ 250 for prepaid reserves) is such a valuable addition.
Immediately, the sapphire reserve exceeds AMEX PLATINUM’S UP TO $ 200 HOTEL ANNUAL (Only prepaid reserves, registration is required) Giving card holders $ 300 more for hotels, despite the credit is divided biannually. Keep in mind that to obtain the credit of up to $ 250 of Biannual Credit, the hotel editing reserve must be a minimum stay of two nights.
New lifestyle and gastronomic credits
The following credits of the declaration are unique and innovative, challenging the Zafiro reserve The biggest rival, the Amex Platinum. These benefits include:
- Stubhub or Viagogo Credit: Up to $ 300 annual credit for concert purchases and purchases events until 12/31/27 (divided into two biannual credits of $ 150; activation is required)
- Gastronomic Credit: Up to $ 300, the annual credit of the gastronomic declaration and the reserves of stellar schedule in the exclusive Sapphire tables reserve through OpenTABLE (divided into two biannual credits of $ 150 applied automatically within the Sapphire Reserve exclusive table program)
- Apple TV+ and Apple Music Benefit: Valued up to $ 250, an Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscription until 06/22/27 (unique activation is required by service through Chase.com or Chase’s mobile application)
The addition of these three declaration credits per year is more than enough for me to look beyond the increase in the annual rate.
No issuer, until now, offers declaration credits for entertainment purchases, so this is an excellent way to get tickets for a game of Los Angeles Lakers or catch my favorite comedian.
The declaration credit for the exclusive tables of Sapphire Reserve is also a great addition, because I can easily use it in restaurants within California or when I travel nationwide and seek to eat in a good restaurant.
I did not expect the benefits of Apple TV+ and Apple Music, but I am excited about them. I already pay for a Premium Spotify account, but if I get Apple Music at no additional cost, I can easily change suppliers.
With so many transmission services and the costs associated with all the subscription rates, I am pleased to see that I will no longer have to pay for Apple TV+.
End
I love premium credit cards for all the advantages and benefits they have. Above all, I am a great admirer of the Zafiro reserve And it has been one of the main cards in my wallet that helped me feed my luxury trip.
The changes in the Zafiro reserve They are important, but I consider that they are well balanced, especially at a time when the emitters are becoming more restrictive with benefits and benefits. I appreciate these new changes and expect to maintain the sapphire reservation for another decade.
To learn more, see our Complete Review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Zafiro reserve
For the rates and rates of the Amyx Platinum, click here
