The Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ® 150,000 Point Q&A: Eligibility, Strategy & Value
Update 4/30/26: The Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ® now has a limited-time offer of 150,000 Chase Ultimate RewardsĀ® points for $6,000 spend in 3 months from account opening.
The Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ® has long been one of the most talked-about premium travel cards in the points and miles world. Right now, it’s offering one of the biggest welcome bonuses in its history.
This card comes with a suite of premium perks, including a $300 annual travel credit, up to $500 per year in statement credits for The Edit by Chase Travel luxury hotel program, up to $300 per year in dining credits at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants, best-in-class travel protections, and Priority Pass lounge access (including Sapphire Lounges). It also earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred 1:1 to airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest, or combined with points from other Chase Ultimate Rewards cards for even more flexibility.
Yes, the $795 annual fee is significant. For travelers who will realistically use the credits and perks, the math can work heavily in your favor. For others, the Chase Sapphire PreferredĀ® Card ($95 annual fee) remains our #1 beginner recommendation.
We’ve put together responses to the most common questions we’re getting about this offer.
Here’s the breakdown:
To qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve 150,000-point bonus, you must meet the following criteria:
- Under 5/24: If your credit report shows that you’ve opened 5 or more new cards from any card issuer in the past 24 months, Chase will not approve you for this card. This card DOES count toward your 5/24 total.
- Important 2025 Update on Sapphire Eligibility: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve no longer share a “family rule,” meaning you can now hold both cards at the same time. However, each card has its own limitation: you may not be eligible for the welcome bonus if you’ve previously held the same card. If that’s the case for you, you’ll see a pop-up during the application letting you know you’re not eligible for the bonus, and you’ll be asked whether you want to proceed without it. The good news: you’ll know before any credit check happens.
- Meet minimum spend requirements: Once you’re approved, you have 3 months to make purchases totaling $6,000 or more. That works out to about $2,000 per month, which is manageable with regular household expenses for many people. Note that the $795 annual fee and any cash advance charges do not count toward that total.
150K Offer Questions and Answers
How do I apply?
Travel Freely’s link for this offer can be found on our Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ® page here.
Is the $795 annual fee actually worth it?
It depends on how frequently you travel and whether you’ll realistically use the credits. Here’s the honest breakdown.
The most valuable, easy-to-use credits for most people:
- $300 annual travel credit: auto-applied to nearly any travel purchase. For frequent travelers, this is an easy $300 off the fee right away.
- Up to $500 per year for The Edit by Chase Travel luxury hotel bookings ($250 twice per calendar year, 2-night minimum at participating luxury hotels).
- Up to $120 Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheckĀ® application fee credit every 4 years.
Credits that require a bit more effort to use:
- Up to $300 in Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables dining credits ($150 twice per year at specific high-end restaurants).
- Up to $300 in StubHub and viagogo credits ($150 twice per year), useful if you regularly attend live events.
- $10 monthly Lyft credit and up to $10 monthly Peloton credit.
- Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions (through June 22, 2027).
Who this card makes sense for: Frequent travelers who will use the $300 travel credit, fly often enough to benefit from Priority Pass lounges, and want the best-in-class travel protections. If you’ll stay at luxury hotels at least twice a year, The Edit credit alone can cover a meaningful portion of the annual fee.
Who it may not make sense for: Casual travelers, beginners, or anyone who won’t actively use the travel-related credits. If you’re new to points and miles, or if you only travel once or twice a year, the Chase Sapphire PreferredĀ® Card (currently offering 75,000 points after $5,000 in spending with just a $95 annual fee) is a much better starting point.
How much are 150,000 points worth?
The answer depends on how you use them:
- $1,500 cash: You can cash out Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a penny each.
- Up to $3,000 toward travel: With the Sapphire Reserve’s Points Boost feature, points are worth up to 2 cents each when redeemed for select flights and hotels through Chase Travelā . All hotel bookings through The Edit by Chase Travel qualify for the 2 cents per point rate.
- Even more when transferred to partners: Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred 1:1 to a number of airline and hotel partners (see details here). For example, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome runs over $1,500 per night in cash – but you can transfer Chase points to Hyatt and book 2 nights for as few as 70,000 points (worth over $3,000 in cash value). Other standout redemptions include the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills (over $500 per night in cash, bookable for around 40,000 points per night) and the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (over $1,000 per night in cash, bookable for as few as 35,000 points per night – with no resort fees on award stays). (NOTE: The World of Hyatt rates were accurate at the time of publication and will change with the introduction of a new Awards Redemption chart in May 2026.)
How long will this offer last?
We don’t know for sure. When Chase runs limited-time elevated offers like this, they typically last 4 to 6 weeks. If you’re interested and eligible, we’d recommend acting while the offer is live rather than waiting.
What if I can’t spend $6,000 in 3 months?
That’s about $2,000 per month, which is reasonable for many households if you put recurring bills, groceries, gas, and other everyday expenses on the card. If $6,000 in 3 months still feels like a stretch, the Chase Sapphire PreferredĀ® Card may be a better fit. It has a current welcome bonus of 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months and only a $95 annual fee. For more ideas, read our article on 21 ways to reach a minimum spending requirement.
I applied and did not get an answer. It went pending. Is there anything I can do?
Yes, but don’t call right away. Chase often needs a few days to review applications, and calling too quickly can sometimes trigger a more thorough manual review. See our article here for specific strategies on pending Chase applications. If you’re lucky, the card will just show up in the mail.
I applied and was denied. Is there anything I can do?
Yes! When denied for a Chase personal card, call the reconsideration line at 1-888-270-2127 and politely ask for your application to be reconsidered. Here’s a helpful script you can use:
“Hi, I just applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve and saw that my application wasn’t approved right away. My credit score is around ___, and I’ve always managed my accounts responsibly. I’d love to know if there’s any additional information I can provide to help with the decision.”
If you already hold other Chase credit cards, you can also offer to move credit from an existing card to the new account. This often helps, because Chase limits the total amount of credit it will extend to any one person.
Can my significant other also apply so that we earn 300,000 points between us?
Yes! If your partner has their own credit profile, has good credit, and is under 5/24, they can apply for their own Chase Sapphire Reserve and earn a separate 150,000-point welcome bonus. You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points between household members, making this a powerful strategy for couples planning a big trip together.
Can I earn the bonus by product changing to the Chase Sapphire Reserve from another Chase card?
No. To earn the welcome bonus, you must open a brand new account.
5/24 Questions
How do I know my 5/24 status?
Check your Travel Freely My Cards page. You can also read more about 5/24 here.
Does this card count toward my 5/24 status?
Yes. Unlike Chase business cards, personal Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve count toward your 5/24 total. If you’re approved, your count will increase by one.
I am told I am over 5/24 due to being an authorized user on several accounts. Can I qualify?
Yes. Authorized user cards can cause initial denials because of 5/24, but they don’t actually count toward your total. Call 1-888-270-2127 and ask to speak with an application specialist. When they ask about the authorized user accounts, you can say: “I’m not financially responsible for those accounts, I’m only an authorized user.”
They can typically remove those from the count during a manual review. If the first rep insists authorized user cards count, politely end the call and try again with a different agent. This is known as the “HUCA” strategy (Hang Up, Call Again), and it often works because different reps interpret the rules differently.
Current Sapphire Card Questions
I currently have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Can I qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Yes! The Chase Sapphire PreferredĀ® Card and Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ® Card are no longer part of a “family,” which previously prevented you from holding both. You can now apply for the Sapphire Reserve while holding the Sapphire Preferred, and vice versa.
That said, you will still be checked for the new limitation: if you’ve previously held the Chase Sapphire Reserve (or received a welcome bonus on it), you may not be eligible for this offer. In that case, a pop-up will appear during the application process letting you know before any credit check happens. You can then choose to apply without the bonus or cancel the application.
I currently have the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Can I cancel it and then apply again for the bonus?
Possibly, but the rules have changed. Under the updated eligibility rules, you may not be eligible for the welcome bonus if you’ve previously held the Sapphire Reserve, even if you no longer have it. The pop-up at application time will tell you whether you’re eligible.
Product Change Questions
I currently have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Which card should I product change to?
If you’re downgrading, you can product change to either the Chase Freedom UnlimitedĀ® or the Chase Freedom FlexĀ®. Both are excellent no-annual-fee cards. If you don’t already have the Freedom Unlimited, that’s our suggestion, since it earns 1.5X on every purchase.
One important note: to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, you need to hold a card with an annual fee (such as the Chase Sapphire PreferredĀ®, Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ®, or Chase Ink Business PreferredĀ®). If you product change to a no-fee Freedom card and no longer hold a premium Ultimate Rewards card in your household, you’ll still be able to use your points to book travel through the Chase Travel portal, but you won’t be able to transfer them to partners.
If I product change, what happens to the points in my account?
Your points stay with you. Product changing preserves your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, your credit line, and the credit history tied to the date the original card was opened.
If I product change and then I’m denied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, can I product change back?
Yes, most likely. It’s not guaranteed that Chase will offer you that option, but it’s very common.
What happens to travel booked recently on my Chase Sapphire Reserve for the travel protections? If I product change to a different card, will I keep the travel insurance protections for my upcoming trips?
Not guaranteed. Your travel protections may be based on the card you hold at the time you file a claim, not the card you held when you booked the trip. If you have upcoming travel you’re counting on for trip protections, it’s often worth waiting until that trip is complete before making any product change.
Is it helpful if I use Travel Freely’s link?
Yes, very much so! Using our Chase Sapphire ReserveĀ® link here is one of the best ways to support our site and app. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps us keep Travel Freely completely free for everyone. Feel free to tell your friends about this offer too.
