At TPG, you will hear staffers rave about their favourite playing cards for a number of causes.
A few of us love premium journey playing cards with profitable welcome provides and beneficiant reward-earning constructions. Others desire low-key, no-annual-fee playing cards that earn flat charges on all purchases.
And a few of us, me included, have a foot firmly planted in each camps.
I unfold my purchases throughout a few playing cards to maximise my spending and earn each money again and transferable bank card factors. Amongst my go-to’s are:
Collectively, they supply wonderful worth on on a regular basis purchases I already make frequently, although the Sapphire Reserve stays the standout of the bunch.
I obtained the Sapphire Reserve in January 2024, and it instantly offered outsize worth. The truth is, I made a decision to maintain this card even after its annual charge jumped to $795 from $550 in June.
This is how I maximized the advantages and perks of my Sapphire Reserve once I acquired it — and what it’s best to do when you get yours.
Earn the welcome bonus
First, I deliberate the perfect time to use for the Sapphire Reserve. My foremost objective was to earn the welcome bonus with out worrying about assembly spending necessities on different new playing cards on the similar time.
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Presently, new candidates for the Chase Sapphire Reserve can earn 125,000 factors after spending $6,000 throughout the first three months from account opening. Primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations, the present welcome supply is price $2,563.
With a credit score rating of over 800 and a strong credit score historical past, I used to be assured in my capacity to get accepted for the Reserve card. The discover of approval got here immediately, and I moved on to lining up the purchases that will assist me attain the spending threshold wanted to earn the welcome bonus.
The very first buy I made with my card was a $250 deposit for a New Yr’s Eve household cruise. As a result of this was a journey buy, it was lined by the $300 annual journey credit score that comes with this card (though this buy didn’t earn factors because the journey credit score is not eligible to take action).
I additionally put my card down for a few meals with family and friends, which added up to some hundred {dollars} on prime of utilizing my Sapphire Reserve for basic on a regular basis purchases, together with fuel, parking and grocery runs.
Maximize perks and incomes charges
As a interest chef, I like to prepare dinner and experiment with new recipes and elements, however on the finish of an extended day, I do not all the time really feel like prepping a meal from scratch.
When this occurs, I often order supply on DoorDash. The $5 month-to-month DoorDash credit score, along side a complimentary DashPass subscription that comes with this card via Dec. 31, 2027, saves me a couple of dollars each time I click on “Place order.”
One other perk to maximise is the annual $300 eating credit score via Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables. The credit score is cut up up into $150 biannually and is an effective way to dine at some wonderful eating places with family and friends. Plus, this credit score helps scale back the cardboard’s massive annual charge.
One other perk of the refreshed Sapphire Reserve is the flexibility to earn 8 factors per greenback spent on resort reservations and flights booked through Chase Journey℠. The Reserve can also be a wonderful journey companion because it has no overseas transaction charges.
This card additionally supplies an as much as $500 The Edit resort credit score yearly for pay as you go reservations of two nights or extra. I am excited to make use of this profit to assist scale back my journey prices when reserving stays inside The Edit portfolio.
As an present cardholder, I will not get entry to the brand new credit, perks and reward charges on this card till Oct. 26. New candidates, nevertheless, obtain quick entry to all the card’s refreshed perks and incomes charges.
Add the Sapphire Reserve to apps, web sites and your cell pockets
With the flexibility to earn 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and motels booked direct and three factors per greenback spent on eating worldwide, the Chase Sapphire Reserve must be one in every of your prime playing cards for reserving journey.
Additionally take into account establishing the Sapphire Reserve as your default card in your Lyft account since you will earn 5 factors per greenback spent via Sept. 30, 2027. That is greater than a ten% return in your Lyft purchases primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Not solely do you get entry to DashPass, however the Reserve card earns 3 factors per greenback on eating, as effectively — whether or not it is consuming out at a restaurant or ordering supply. Simply remember to make your card the default fee in your account.
Associated: Easy methods to earn 10 factors per greenback on choose eating with Chase Sapphire
Make the most of extra advantages
To get began with these specific Reserve advantages, do the next:
- Log in to your Chase account.
- Choose “Final Rewards.”
- Choose your Sapphire Reserve account.
- Choose “Card Advantages” underneath the “Use Factors” dropdown menu.
From there, you will register for every profit you want to obtain. Some notable examples embrace
- Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscription via June 22, 2027 (One-time activation per service via chase.com or the Chase Cell app required)
- Complimentary Precedence Cross Choose membership
As a cardholder, you will additionally need to benefit from the as much as $300 annual Stubhub and Viagogo credit score (via Dec. 31, 2027). You will obtain this credit score as $150 biannually and might use it towards occasion tickets, comparable to live shows and sporting occasions.
I’ve had my eye on Cage the Elephant tickets, however timing is perhaps difficult since my credit score does not kick in till Oct. 26 and the band’s 2025 tour ends Oct. 30.
Associated: Is a Precedence Cross lounge membership really price it?
Join International Entry/TSA PreCheck
Getting via U.S. Customs and Border Safety or airport safety is without doubt one of the most dreaded elements of modern-day air journey, so use your Chase Sapphire Reserve to use for both International Entry or TSA PreCheck and make your trek slightly simpler.
You will get the applying charge waived, as much as $120, if you pay for both program (although I like to recommend going with International Entry in case you journey overseas incessantly because it consists of TSA PreCheck).
Have already got International Entry or PreCheck? You may let a good friend or member of the family profit out of your Chase Sapphire Reserve. Use your card to pay for his or her utility, and the charge will likely be offset through a press release credit score by Chase as long as you have not already used it on your self or another person.
Associated: International Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is extra helpful?
Backside line
As a result of I plan to open extra bank cards, I’ve to assume strategically about which of them I apply for and when.
My strategy to every card I apply for is actually the identical:
- Create a recreation plan to earn the welcome bonus. This consists of deciding if annual charges, incomes charges and bonus classes align with my spending habits and journey wants.
- Contemplate how upcoming journey plans can match into maximizing my spending whereas additionally incomes helpful factors and miles I can put towards future use.
- Verify if including a certified person to assist increase my reward-earning energy is smart.
- Enroll within the card’s advantages and perks.
The crown jewel in my every day bank card group is the Sapphire Reserve — even with its hefty $795 annual charge — due to its myriad advantages, together with beneficiant assertion credit, excessive incomes charges on journey bookings and stellar journey protections.
In the event you’re not fairly able to decide to a excessive annual charge, take into account the Sapphire Reserve’s sibling, the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges), which incorporates a modest $95 annual charge and is a TPG workers favourite.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Sapphire Reserve
