A lot has changed in the world since 2016. If you rewind, you hadn’t yet heard of TikTok, the UK was still in Europe and the Cronut was the biggest thing in food. One thing that’s been very constant ever since, however, is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card.
It’s been referred to by the New York Times as the world’s first “viral” credit card.
At launch in 2016, the Sapphire Reserve perks were the richest of their time, and in recent years, they’ve only gone further, with the introduction of delivery credit and points earning up to 10X, among others.
The unlimited airport lounge access and credit for Global Entry never hurts, either.
For a limited time, the publicly available welcome bonus on this workhorse of luxury travel is the highest it’s been since that 2016 launch, which means its the perfect time to consider whether it deserves a place in your wallet. For me, it’s my go-to for virtually everything.
Here’s the story on the best Sapphire Reserve features, and the limited time 80,000 point welcome offer. Hint: it’s ending soon!
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Luxury Travel Workhorse
The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3X points on virtually all travel and dining, but it earns 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel, and a whopping 10X on any hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel.
If you spent $1,000 on a hotel via Chase Travel, you’d earn 10,000 points. Points from thee Chase Sapphire Reserve Card can be used on Chase Travel at a rate of 1.5 cents per point, which means those 10,000 points could get you $150 toward the next trip. That’s a stunning rate of return.
Perhaps most notably, the card also offers a very flexible $300 annual travel credit. And In anecdotal experience, quite a lot classes as travel, so the credit is very easy to spend.
A complimentary DoorDash “DashPass” membership worth a minimum $120 a year, plus monthly $5 credit on DoorDash bringing up to $60 of value, adds a potential total of $180 to the $300 travel credit. Basically, you can nearly “break even” on the card’s $550 annual fee, just between these perks.
Add in the 10X points earning, unlimited airport lounge access and and the value of the 80,000 point welcome, and you’re well past the fee. Chase is upping the lounge game this year too, with an emphasis on opening their own lounge spaces.
80,000 Point Welcome Bonus Is Highest Since 2016
80,000 points is a lot — and there are so many ways to maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for enjoyable value, whether for travel, dining, charity or products.
Used towards travel purchases on Chase Travel, the 80,000 point welcome bonus is worth at least $1200. Transfers to any airline, or hotel, partners like Hyatt, or Virgin Atlantic, can yield even higher value. The welcome bonus requires $4,000 in spend within 3 months of card opening to trigger the 80,000 point bonus.
Keep in mind, if you spent $4,000 on hotels via Chase Travel to earn that 80,000 point bonus, you’d have a haul of 120,000 points within the first 3 months. Seriously, solid.
The Welcome Bonus That Won’t Last
This offer isn’t too good to be true, but it is too good to stay forever. Accordingly, Chase has unveiled that this welcome bonus offer will expire on November 30th, 2022 at 6PM.
Basically, if this card sounds like the right solution for you, as it is for me, you might want to consider any final thoughts before that date and see where you end up!
My Most Recent Chase Sapphire Reserve Points Redemption
Last month, British Airways and American had fantastic business class fares from Dublin to Los Angeles (via London) for just $1300 round trip. Many people struggle to find economy for those prices, these days!
Because Chase Sapphire Reserve Points can be used at 1.5 cents per point, I was able to book these round trip flat bed business class flights for 87,000 Points per person, with no taxes and fees.
Making matters all the more enjoyable, since these show up to the airline as if I used cash, I’ll earn 20,000 points per ticket back from the airline, and elite status credit too.
Good Time To Apply For Sapphire Reserve?
Chase is facing unprecedented competition in the luxury card market, with both Capital One and Amex regularly improving their offers on competitors like the Amex Platinum Card, or Capital One Venture X.
The competition is not only bringing some of the largest ever offers, like this 80,000 point limited time welcome offer, but also new innovation.
Chase plans to launch at least 8 lounges in the years to come, and has actively been building a full service travel and dining business. Sapphire Dining and Tock, the Chase dining reservation service has spurred Amex to invest further in Resy, and Capital One in partnerships with Jose Andres and the Michelin Guide.
Basically, these cards are getting better than ever, and with the highest bonus since 2016, it’s a fabulous time to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. Check out the 80,000 point welcome offer.
