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When Chase released the new Chase Sapphire Reserve last year, the product was the first of its kind. Despite its predictable $450 annual fee, the card offered an array of exclusive benefits never seen before.
Not only does the Reserve offer Priority Pass lounge membership, 3x points on travel and dining, 50 percent more value for travel booked through the Chase portal, and premium travel perks like primary auto rental coverage and trip cancellation/interruption insurance, but it comes with a versatile $300 travel credit good each year as well.
What Counts as Travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve's $300 travel credit was enough to send a lot of Chase enthusiasts over the edge. Why? Because, unlike credits from other cards like the Platinum card from American express, the Reserve's $300 travel credit was supposed to be for any type of travel. Better yet, the credit was supposed to come automatically - as in, you wouldn't have to call or email to ask for a refund like you do with the similar $300 credit from the Ritz Carlton credit card.
So far, this has all proven to be true. The $300 travel credit appears to be good for any purchase that codes as travel. This includes travel expenses from hotel stays to airfare, but also less obvious ones like Uber rides and AirBNB stays. Further, it appears local commuter transportation counts toward the travel credit as well.
And if you can't think of any other way to use your travel credit, you can always use it to buy gift cards directly from airlines or hotel brands.
To summarize, the Chase Sapphire Reserve's $300 travel credit can be used for:
Airfare booked directly with airlines
Hotel stays booked directly
All travel booked through discount websites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Priceline
AirBNB stays
Local commuter transportation
Uber and Lyft
Gift cards ordered directly from airlines and hotel brands
Campgrounds
Car rental Agencies
Or, you can look to Chase's definition of purchases that should, at least theoretically, code as travel:
"Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages. Please note that some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, merchants within hotels and airports, and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. In addition, the purchasing of points or miles does not qualify in this category."
Final Thoughts
If you have the new Chase Sapphire Reserve card or plan to sign up, it's comforting to know that nearly any travel purchase should count toward the credit. And if you're worried you won't be able to use this year's travel credit before year's end, you can always buy gift cards directly from your favorite hotel chain or airline to use later.
This perk continues to help the Reserve card stand out among competing cards, regardless of whether the signup bonus is 100K or 50K. However, as always, you should read the fine print of any credit card offer before you sign up.
How did you use your Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit?
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