A guide to upgrading to Sapphire Reserve®
Quick insights
- Chase cardmembers may be able to upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve card if they have had their card for at least a year and at least a $10,000 credit limit.
- The Sapphire Reserve credit card is a luxury travel credit card that includes a variety of travel and dining statement credits, complimentary airport lounge access and travel and purchase protections.
- Upgrading a Chase credit card generally doesn’t result in a hard pull of your credit, as it is a considered product change as opposed to a new credit application.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a travel credit card with travel benefits, rewards earning potential and a host of perks. With its comprehensive travel benefits, complimentary airport lounge access and the potential to earn rewards, it's no wonder this card is often considered by frequent travelers.
In this article, we’ll cover how to upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve and how you can maximize the card’s rewards and travel benefits.
Who can upgrade
To upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you typically need to have an existing Chase card that meets certain eligibility criteria. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card can be upgraded to the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Other Chase cards may also be eligible for an upgrade, provided they have:
- At least a $10,000 line of credit
- Been open for at least 1 year
Benefits of upgrading to Sapphire Reserve
The Sapphire Reserve provides travel and purchase protections, travel benefits and many ways to earn rewards.
Rewards structure and earning points
The Sapphire Reserve gives cardmembers:
- 8x rewards points on all travel booked through Chase TravelSM
- 4x points on flights and hotel stays booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
The Sapphire Reserve card earns 1 point on all other purchases.
Travel and purchase protections
The Sapphire Reserve has many travel protection benefits, including (but not limited to):
- Auto Rental Coverage
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
- Trip Delay Reimbursement
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement
- Emergency Evacuation and Transportation
- Roadside Assistance
The Sapphire Reserve card also offers Purchase Protection, including coverage for new eligible purchases against theft or damage for up to 120 days from the date of purchase.
Refer to the card’s guide to benefits for travel and purchase protection details.
Travel benefits
Cardmembers have complimentary access to any Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club location and over 1,300 Priority Pass™ airport lounges, with their Priority Pass Select membership. Additional travel benefits include hotel and airline elite status benefits and personalized trips via Reserve Travel Designers.
Statement credits
The card includes several statement credits and reimbursements, including:
- A $300 annual travel statement credit
- Up to $500 in statement credits annually for stays booked through The Edit by Chase TravelSM
- Reimbursement for application fees associated with TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry and NEXUS
- Up to $300 in statement credits annually at restaurants that are part of the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program
In addition, there are several other available statement credits with partner brands.
How to request a Chase Sapphire Reserve card upgrade
To upgrade, cardmembers can call the number on the back of their Chase card and request a product change to Sapphire Reserve. They will need to verify their identity—including the card‘s last four digits and their ZIP code—and may be asked to confirm their credit limit. The Sapphire Reserve has a minimum credit limit of $10,000.
Upgrading to a different product from the same card issuer generally does not result in a hard credit inquiry (which can impact your credit score). If you request a credit limit increase, though, Chase may perform a hard inquiry.
Cardmembers may also request a product change through their online account or can visit a Chase branch and speak to a customer service representative.
Considerations before upgrading
Before upgrading, you may want to consider fees, welcome offers and your credit score when upgrading to the Sapphire Reserve:
Annual fees and benefits
The Sapphire Reserve has a higher annual fee than the Sapphire Preferred. Cardmembers may want to weigh the card’s benefits against the fees to help determine if the upgrade is worthwhile.
Welcome offers
The Sapphire Reserve card provides a welcome bonus offer to new account owners. However, cardmembers upgrading a Chase card are ineligible for the welcome bonus offer (sometimes referred to as a sign-up offer).
Impact on credit score and utilization ratio
Upgrading a Chase credit card typically doesn't affect credit scores since it doesn't involve a new credit card application. Note that if a credit limit increase is required, it may result in a hard inquiry, which can affect your credit score. However, getting approved for a credit limit increase can help improve a cardmember’s credit utilization ratio.
In summary
Upgrading to the Sapphire Reserve offers many potential benefits, including travel protection benefits, travel perks and increased rewards earning potential. However, those thinking about upgrading may want to consider the potential changes in annual fees and benefits, as well as the impact on credit scores and utilization ratios if you need a credit limit increase.
By understanding the upgrade process and weighing the benefits against the costs, cardmembers can make an informed decision about whether upgrading to the Sapphire Reserve is right for them.
