The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is widely considered one of the best travel credit cards. It earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and provides useful statement credits that can elevate your travel and lifestyle.
Right now, the Sapphire Reserve features a stellar 150,000-point welcome bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. TPG’s May 2026 valuations place this offer at a whopping $3,075 in value.
Many of these perks, like Chase Sapphire airport lounge access, the annual flexible $300 travel credit and benefits with The Edit by Chase Travel℠, take the spotlight. But did you know there are many under-the-radar perks that could pay off in certain circumstances?
Let’s review seven lesser-known benefits that can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Roadside assistance
Whether you’re taking a road trip or on your daily commute, you never want to be caught in a bad situation with car troubles.
Thankfully, if you have the Sapphire Reserve, you can access 24/7 roadside assistance in the U.S. and Canada. Call 1-800-350-1697 for services, including:
- Fuel delivery (if you run out of gas, you can receive a delivery of up to two gallons of fuel)
- Jump start
- Lockout service
- Tire changing
- Towing
Roadside service is covered for up to $50 per event, up to four times per year.
TPG’s director of site content strategy, Carly Helfand, said one of her friends swears by the benefit. Her friend once had to call for assistance to jump-start his car battery after his toddler turned on an interior light in the back seat. He said the benefit has saved him multiple times in numerous cities, and it’s always provided quick service.
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Related: The 5 best credit cards that offer roadside assistance
Hotel elite status
If you aren’t an IHG loyalist, you may forget that the Sapphire Reserve provides a solid benefit when you stay at IHG hotels: Complimentary Platinum Elite status (through Dec. 31, 2027).
Platinum Elite status provides useful perks (when available), including complimentary room upgrades, early check-in and 2 p.m. late checkout.
For TPG senior product manager Andy Kuan, this perk truly made a difference on a family trip. He received a free room upgrade and was able to check in early after a red-eye flight, which he said was a “lifesaver” since he was traveling with his baby.
Cardholders can also spend toward elite status with other brands, earning World of Hyatt Explorist status and an upgrade to IHG Diamond after putting $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Related: Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?
Trip delay reimbursement
If you experience a trip delay, the Sapphire Reserve may reimburse you for many eligible expenses, as long as your delay occurred due to a covered reason, including equipment failure, inclement weather or a strike.
If your trip (whether by air, bus, cruise ship or train) is delayed by more than six hours or requires an overnight stay due to a covered reason, you’re entitled to reimbursement as long as you purchased your ticket with your Sapphire Reserve.
The benefit covers you and your family members for up to $500 per person per trip, including lodging and meals.
Related: Flight delayed? Remember these 4 things if you want trip delay reimbursement from your credit card
Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance
If you’ve dealt with delayed or lost luggage, you know it’s a massive inconvenience. If your baggage is delayed or misdirected for six or more hours, the Sapphire Reserve can reimburse you for essential items.
Baggage delay insurance covers you and your family members for up to $100 per day after the initial six-hour delay — and for each additional 24-hour period thereafter — for a maximum of five days. Covered items include essentials needed as a result of the delay, such as clothing, toiletries and electronic device chargers (limit one per device).
For baggage delay insurance coverage, at least a portion of the cost of your trip must have been charged to your card for the benefits to take effect.
In the unfortunate event of lost luggage, the card covers up to $3,000 per insured person on eligible trips. The reimbursement applies to both checked and carry-on luggage. There are some limitations on electronics, jewelry and watches, and exceptions for certain items, including cash and documents.
Related: The best credit cards for paying taxes and fees on award tickets
Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance
A canceled trip is a nightmare situation for many travelers. Thankfully, the Sapphire Reserve comes with some protections that will help you walk away with as little financial damage as possible.
Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you if you cannot travel on or before the departure date and, as a result, you have to cancel your travel plans. Meanwhile, trip interruption insurance covers you if your trip is cut short or postponed.
For both trip cancellation and trip interruption, the Sapphire Reserve covers you and immediate family members for up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip.
Chase covers trip cancellations or interruptions caused by things like illness or injury affecting you, your travel companion or an immediate family member; severe weather; terrorism or hijacking; and unavoidable jury duty or court subpoenas.
However, it won’t cover issues caused by war, a travel company going bankrupt, schedule changes by a carrier or tour operator (unless due to severe weather or a public transport strike), or trips longer than 60 days.
You can start a claim online at chasecardbenefits.com or by calling 1-800-350-1697 within 20 days of the cancellation or interruption, and Chase recommends filing as soon as reasonably possible.
I used Chase’s trip cancellation insurance to recoup almost $250 when I caught the flu over New Year’s a few years ago. I had planned to stay at a hotel in Charlotte and ring in the New Year with my friends, but after an emergency room visit just days earlier, I had to cancel my stay. After filing the relevant paperwork, Chase refunded the cost of the hotel stay.
Related: How my Chase Sapphire Preferred saved me nearly $250 on a canceled trip
Primary car rental insurance
Renting a car can include many additional fees, so it’s nice to know you have protection if anything goes wrong. The Sapphire Reserve provides a rental damage waiver that counts as primary coverage when traveling both in the U.S. and abroad. This means you don’t need to report the incident to your personal car insurance provider.
With the Sapphire Reserve’s rental damage waiver, if your rental car is damaged in a collision or you are the victim of theft, you’re eligible for up to $75,000 in coverage.
Coverage exclusions include certain vehicles — such as antique cars, large passenger vans, limousines, motorcycles and RVs — along with leases, theft or loss of personal belongings, and rentals longer than 31 days.
Both you and additional drivers included on the rental agreement are eligible for the coverage, though you must decline all supplemental insurance offered by the rental car company to be eligible.
This benefit could save you a lot of out-of-pocket cash if you end up in this unfortunate situation with a rental car. TPG senior writer Ben Smithson once used credit card insurance to be reimbursed for the full cost of a replacement tire while he was on a trip in Fiji.
You need to visit chasecardbenefits.com or call by phone at 1-800-350-1697 to report theft or damage (regardless of who is at fault) as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 100 days from the date of the incident.
Related: Best credit cards for rental car coverage
Visa concierge benefits
The Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card, which means you have access to a dedicated concierge service.
These services are available 24/7, 365 days a year for the following services:
- Access to exclusive events
- Dining arrangements
- Shopping
- Travel arrangements
For instance, you can use the Visa Concierge to help book tables at high-demand restaurants, make travel arrangements (such as hotel stays or flights), rent vehicles and arrange tours and activities at popular attractions.
You can call 1-800-587-2700 or visit visadigitalconcierge.com to contact the service.
Related: Visa Infinite: Everything you need to know, from rental car perks to lounge access
How to access the Sapphire Reserve’s benefits guide
If you want to dive into these cardholder benefits yourself, log into your Chase account and download the most up-to-date benefits guide. Note that these guides are updated every so often, so you’ll want to ensure you are referencing the most current version.
Related: What you need to know about Visa Signature card benefits
Bottom line
While the widely known benefits of the Sapphire Reserve are incredibly useful, some of the card’s lesser-known perks offer great value as well.
Keep in mind that benefits can change over time. Before submitting a claim, take a few minutes to read over your benefits guide so you understand what’s covered, who’s eligible and what documents you may need. Doing so ahead of time can make the process quicker and easier.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
