Hawaii Reward Travel may earn a commission from links on this page. See full disclosure.
Credit Card Spotlight

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The flagship travel card — airport lounges, premium credits, and points that fly you up front.

✦ Personal Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Learn More Limited-time offer; terms apply. See the issuer’s site for rates, fees, and full offer details.
150,000
Bonus Points
$795
Annual Fee
Good–Exc.
Credit Score
Transferable
Reward Type
Earning Rates

Where it earns

8x
Chase Travel
Booked through Chase Travel℠
4x
Flights & Hotels
Booked direct with the airline or hotel
3x
Dining
Restaurants worldwide, including takeout
1x
Everything Else
All other purchases

The top of your Chase points pyramid. The Reserve unlocks the highest redemption value — full transfer-partner access plus Points Boost on select travel. Feed it with no-fee Freedom and Ink cards, then transfer to partners like Hyatt and Southwest for outsized Hawaii value.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Chase Freedom Unlimited® Sapphire Reserve for Business℠
Scottie Kobayashi
Scottie’s Take
Opinions are Scottie’s own and have not been reviewed or endorsed by any bank or card issuer.

A big fee that only works if you work it

Let’s be honest about the $795 fee — it’s the highest of any Sapphire card, and it only makes sense if you actually use the credits baked into it. On paper they more than cover the fee; in practice, plenty of people let half of them quietly expire.

For Hawaii flyers specifically, scrutinize those credits before you commit. The dining and travel credits are easy if you spend there, but the more niche ones skew mainland and urban. Where the Reserve genuinely earns its keep for us is lounge access on long mainland connections, and Points Boost — which stretches a Hyatt-Maui or premium-cabin redemption further than any other Chase card.

My view: this is a once-per-lifetime bonus now, so 150,000 points is a real reason to look. But for most families I’d still start with the Preferred. Reach for the Reserve only if you’ll fly enough to use the lounges and you’re disciplined enough to claim every credit — otherwise the $795 eats your rewards.

Card Benefits

What you get

🛋

Priority Pass Lounge Access

Complimentary membership for primary cardmembers and authorized users, with up to two guests per visit.

🌐

Transfer Partners

Move points 1:1 to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, including Hyatt, United, Southwest, and Aeroplan.

🛢

Trusted Traveler Credit

Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS application fees, every four years.

🛡

Premium Travel Protection

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary auto rental coverage, and baggage delay insurance.

🏨

The Edit by Chase Travel

Luxury hotel program with daily breakfast, room upgrades when available, and other premium perks.

🚗

Elite Status Perks

Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite, Avis President’s Club, and National Emerald Club Executive status.

You may not be eligible for the welcome bonus if you have previously earned a new cardmember bonus on the Sapphire Reserve; a once-per-lifetime rule now applies and Chase’s 5/24 guideline also applies. Credit score ranges are estimates only and approval is not guaranteed.