Chase Sapphire Reserve Review 2026: Is the $795 Annual Fee Worth It?

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve has one of the highest annual fees in the credit card world at $795. That number scares a lot of people off before they look at what's actually included, and once you do the math, it's a different conversation.

The credits do a lot of heavy lifting: up to $300 in statement credits for travel purchases each account anniversary year, up to $500 annually toward prepaid bookings through The Edit (Chase's curated hotel collection), up to $300 annually in dining credits at Sapphire Exclusive Tables restaurants on OpenTable ($150 January through June, $150 July through December), up to $120 annually in Peloton membership credits through 2027, and up to $120 every four years toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS.

Add the $300 travel credit to the fee and you're effectively paying $495 for everything else: lounge access, elite status, and premium earning rates.

Where the ongoing points come from: 8x points on Chase Travel purchases (including The Edit), 4x on flights and hotels booked directly, and 3x on dining worldwide. If you travel and eat out regularly, this card earns fast.

One caveat: you don't earn points on travel purchases until after the first $300 spent in the travel category each account year, since that spend goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit first.

The lounge access alone is a big deal. You get access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club plus 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide for you and up to two guests. Chase estimates that's worth over $850 a year for a family that uses it a handful of times. Cardholders also get complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through 2027.

Who this card makes sense for: people who travel often enough to actually use the credits and lounge access, not just people who want to feel premium. If you're realistically booking a few trips a year, eating out regularly, and can use the travel and dining credits, the math works decisively in your favor. If you rarely fly, this is not the card for you. Stick with the Preferred instead.

Bottom line: at $795, the Reserve isn't for everyone, but for frequent travelers, the credits, lounge access, and current 100K bonus make it one of the strongest premium travel cards available in 2026.

Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you apply through a link on this site. All opinions are my own.