Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Still Worth It for Long-Term Travelers?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card has long been a favorite among frequent travelers, offering a robust suite of benefits tailored to those who spend significant time on the road. With its annual fee rising from $550 to $795 in June 2025, along with a revamped benefits structure, long-term travelers may wonder if the card still delivers enough value to justify the cost. Today we are exploring the card’s current benefits for long-term travelers, highlights changes from its previous offerings, and evaluates whether it remains a worthwhile investment.

Benefits for Long-Term Travelers

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is designed with travelers in mind, particularly those spending extended periods abroad or frequently hopping between destinations. Below are the key benefits that make it appealing for long-term travelers in 2025.

Flexible $300 Annual Travel Credit

The $300 annual travel credit remains a cornerstone of the card’s value. It automatically applies to a wide range of travel expenses, including flights, hotels, car rentals, taxis, trains, and even parking or tolls. For long-term travelers, this flexibility is a game-changer, as it covers everyday travel costs like rideshares or budget accommodations without requiring bookings through a specific portal. This credit effectively reduces the $795 annual fee to $495, making it easier to offset the cost.

Worldwide Airport Lounge Access

Long-term travelers often face long layovers or frequent airport visits, making lounge access a prized perk. The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, granting access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide, plus Chase Sapphire Lounges in select airports like Boston, New York (JFK and LaGuardia), and Hong Kong. These lounges provide free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and a comfortable space to relax or work, saving money on overpriced airport meals and enhancing travel comfort.

Points Boost for Travel Redemptions

The card’s Points Boost feature allows cardholders to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase Travel portal at up to 2 cents per point for select flights and hotels. For long-term travelers, this can stretch points further, covering accommodations or flights at a higher value than standard redemptions (1 cent per point). For example, 50,000 points could cover $1,000 in travel, making it easier to fund extended trips.

1:1 Points Transfer to Travel Partners

The ability to transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to 14 airline and hotel partners, such as United MileagePlus, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and World of Hyatt, is a standout feature. Long-term travelers can maximize value by transferring points to partners for premium cabin flights or high-end hotel stays. For instance, a business-class flight to Asia might yield 5 to 15 cents per point in value, significantly offsetting the annual fee with a single redemption.

Comprehensive Travel Protections

Travel disruptions are a reality for long-term travelers, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers robust protections. These include trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip), trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket for delays over six hours), and primary rental car insurance (up to $75,000 for theft or damage). These safeguards provide peace of mind and potential savings during extended journeys.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

For those traveling internationally for months at a time, the absence of foreign transaction fees is a significant advantage. Using the card abroad for purchases, from local markets to hotels, incurs no additional costs, unlike cards that charge 3% per transaction.

Luxury Hotel Perks via The Edit

The card provides access to The Edit, a curated collection of luxury hotels and resorts, with up to $500 in annual credits ($250 semi-annually) for bookings of two nights or more. Benefits include daily breakfast for two, $100 property credits, and potential room upgrades. For long-term travelers staying in boutique or high-end properties, these perks enhance comfort and reduce costs.

Additional Lifestyle Credits

New benefits introduced in 2025 cater to long-term travelers’ lifestyles. These include up to $300 in annual dining credits ($150 semi-annually) for Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants, $300 in StubHub/Viagogo credits for event tickets, and $250 in Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions. While not travel-specific, these can offset dining or entertainment expenses during extended stays, especially in urban destinations.

Changes from Previous Benefits

The Chase Sapphire Reserve underwent a major overhaul in June 2025, increasing the annual fee by 45% from $550 to $795 and introducing new benefits while modifying existing ones. Here’s how the current benefits differ from the previous structure.

Annual Fee Increase

The most significant change is the jump from $550 to $795, a $245 increase. This makes the card less appealing for casual travelers but potentially worthwhile for those who maximize its expanded benefits.

Modified Earning Structure

Previously, the card earned 3x points on all travel and dining purchases. Now, it offers 8x points on Chase Travel portal bookings (after the $300 travel credit), 4x points on direct flight and hotel bookings, 3x points on dining worldwide, and 1x point on other purchases. Additionally, 5x points on Lyft rides and 10x points on Peloton purchases over $150 (both through September and December 2027, respectively) were added. The shift incentivizes booking through Chase Travel for higher rewards, which may limit flexibility for travelers who prefer direct bookings.

New Statement Credits

The 2025 refresh added several credits not available previously:

• Up to $500 annual credit for The Edit hotel bookings.
• Up to $300 annual dining credit for Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Up to $300 annual StubHub/Viagogo credit.
• Up to $250 for Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions.
• Up to $120 annual Peloton membership credit.
• Up to $300 in DoorDash credits, plus a $120 DashPass membership. These credits, totaling over $1,700 if fully utilized, significantly boost the card’s value but require active management to maximize.

Points Redemption Changes

Before October 26, 2025, points redeemed through the Chase Travel portal were worth 1.5 cents each. Now, the Points Boost feature offers up to 2 cents per point for select redemptions, increasing potential value. However, the general travel bonus category (3x points) no longer applies to the first $300 in travel spending annually, as it’s offset by the travel credit.

Elite Status and High-Spending Perks

New perks for cardholders spending $75,000 annually include IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status, Southwest Airlines A-List status, a $500 Southwest travel credit, and a $250 credit for The Shops at Chase. These weren’t available previously, catering to high spenders but less relevant for most long-term travelers.

Lounge Access Expansion

The addition of Chase Sapphire Lounges complements the existing Priority Pass membership, offering more options for frequent flyers. This enhances the lounge benefit compared to the previous version, which relied solely on Priority Pass.

Is It Still Worth Having?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve remains a strong choice for long-term travelers who can leverage its benefits, but its value depends on your travel and spending habits. Here’s a breakdown of its worth now.

Why It’s Worth It

For long-term travelers, the card’s benefits align perfectly with extended travel needs. The $300 travel credit and lounge access alone can justify much of the fee, especially for those frequently in airports or using rideshares and budget travel options. The Points Boost and 1:1 transfer options offer flexibility to stretch points for high-value redemptions, crucial for funding long trips. The new hotel and dining credits, if used, further offset the $795 fee, potentially yielding over $2,700 in annual value. Travel protections and no foreign transaction fees are invaluable for international sojourns, saving money and reducing stress. For example, a traveler using the $300 travel credit, $500 hotel credit, and lounge access could recoup $1,000 in value, making the fee palatable.

Potential Drawbacks

The increased fee and complex benefits structure may deter some. If you don’t book through Chase Travel, you miss out on 8x points, and the new credits require effort to track and activate (e.g., for Peloton or DoorDash). Budget travelers or those loyal to specific airlines/hotels may find less value if they can’t use The Edit or Exclusive Tables credits. Additionally, Chase’s 5/24 rule (no approval if you’ve opened five or more cards in 24 months) and the 48-month wait for the welcome bonus (100,000 points plus $500 Chase Travel credit) limit accessibility for some.

Who Should Get It

The card is ideal for long-term travelers who:

• Spend heavily on travel and dining, especially via Chase Travel.
• Value lounge access for frequent flights.
• Plan to use luxury hotel perks or dining credits.
• Transfer points to partners for premium redemptions.
• Need robust travel protections for extended trips. It’s less suitable for infrequent travelers, those preferring cash back, or anyone unwilling to manage multiple credits.

Final Verdict

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is still worth having for long-term travelers who actively use its benefits. The $300 travel credit, lounge access, and high-value point redemptions remain compelling, while new credits like The Edit and dining perks add significant value for those who maximize them. Compared to its previous version, the card offers more potential benefits but demands more effort to unlock them due to the higher fee and portal-focused rewards. If you’re a strategic traveler spending months on the road, the card’s value can far exceed its $795 cost, making it a powerful tool for funding and enhancing your adventures.