I’m just ending my third cardmember year with the Chase Sapphire Reserve (“CSR”) credit card.
In my mind, this card is a keeper for sure (it has been since year one).
But what would the actual numbers say? I just got my “year in review” email from Chase, let’s take a look if the numbers were as good as I think.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Year In Review
The Numbers From Chase:
Initial Analysis:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with an annual fee of $450. Did the numbers justify keeping this card another year?
Annual Fee: -$450
+ Point Earnings: $510.75
+ Travel Credits: $300
+ Avoided Foreign transaction Fees: $41.70
= Subtotal $401.95 Gross Benefit
So with just this basic analysis, I’m coming out $401.95 ahead this year. Pretty good, yes, but that’s not the complete picture.
Don’t Forget The Additional Benefits:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of my favorite cards for a reason. You can’t forget the great benefits this card comes with (below).
The Priority Pass Select:
This is one of the very best perks of this card.
The CSR version of this somehow escaped the massive devaluation of this benefit (Citi and Amex removed free guests, and Amex removed all Priority Pass restaurants, R.I.P. Timberline Steaks & Grille). For now, the CSR version is still the best version you can get.
So what’s it really worth?
(Image courtesy of prioritypass.com)
The CSR version is actually worth more than the $429 Prestige version because it comes with 3 free guests. For the sake of argument, let’s just say $429.
I used this card all over the place this year in places like Los Angeles, Paris, London, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, and I always bring friends (of course).
The Luxury Hotels & Resorts Collection:
This may be the most valuable perk of all. The CSR grants me access to the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection (LHRC), which I find myself using about once a month.
This card member year I’ve used this benefit at Nomad, Park MGM, MGM Grand, The Signature, and ARIA (among others).
And remember, this card just gets you access to LHRC, you don’t even have to use it.
So for arguments sake, LHRC benefits in Las Vegas are usually a $100 property credit + $30 breakfast credit (x2) = $160 a night.
So for 20 nights a year, this card is getting me about $3,200 in value.
Final Analysis:
With all the above, my final analysis looks like this:
$401.95 Gross Benefit [from above]
+ $429 Priority Pass Select Benefit
+ $3,200 LHRC Benefit
2019 Cardmember Year Net Benefit = $4,030.95
The Bottom-Line?
I absolutely love the Chase Sapphire Reserve. It’s the #1 card I recommend to people starting off in travel-hacking.
I find it indispensable for all the $4,030.95 reasons above. I’m definitely keeping the card for another year.
So is it in your wallet? Why not?
Cheers!
