Chase Sapphire Reserve Opinions and Review

I picked up the CSR recently when the 150k SUB was announced because it's impossible to come out behind. I would pay the AF for that many rewards points alone. I've been in chase with keeping my CSP for a good number of years now as my main dining card. Occasionally using for other travel as their protections are very good.

So anyway CSR after fully exploring all their rewards:

The good:

SUB. I would not have gotten this card otherwise.

Travel protections. This is one that seems to vary greatly in how people value it. I find great value from this, but CSP already had covered a lot.

4x booking direct. Underrated and rarely brought up.

8x through portal is very good as well.

Edit points boost. I've already seen great value that I plan to stay at a destination that is on my bucket list for about 2/3 of the price. But this is not for everyone as the CC game is about economizing for some people. A stay that costs 5-8k Is very much not economizing. But it will still save me a lot of money and allow me to go to the destination by the time boost could change. I only include this due to the SUB. I assume this is available to csp owners as well.

TSA credit: I think this comes with any visa infinite.

Mediocre:

At least some of the credits are easy to use. Annual credit and travel hotel credit make up $550 without having to do anything. That still leaves more than I would like up to coupons.

Stubhub statement credit: I and many people organically spend this.

Lyft credits:

Full value for some. For me nice to get a discount while on vacation for me or visiting a city where I only want to park once. Two cities I frequent rideshare is the only way to get around without a horrible experience.

Apple tv: I don't use it or care about it. If I want to watch a particular show I will pay for it straight up or find a way to watch it without a subscription. I understand it has value to people who already use the service.

Bad:

The edit statement credit. Most of the hotels at the edit are out of my price range. I was able to find a hotel that went down to what I would normally pay a night somewhere on one of my yearly trips.

I consider it a free upgrade and free hotel credit and not something to take at face value. If I can find a hotel that's 200-400 a night normally I don't mind using this but everything about it is annoying. Searching edit hotels even with the site someone created sucks.

doordash apple music peloton:

only there so chase can say their card offers some $ per year in benefits.

$75k spend. I wouldn't have put this on the card regardless but they are terrible rewards.

Overall:

7/10. Do it for the SUB. I will likely cancel when the AF is up next year as other cards get 90% of the way there without having to think about so much. I would never get this card without a SUB. If I let it go it's never coming back.

When I went and did the exercise of writing down what I would pre pay for the benefits it was a break even for me.

The risk of such a high AF card like this is if life happens as, it frequently does then you will probably not break even.