Why I’m Still Getting the New Chase Sapphire Reserve — Even With the $795 Annual Fee

When Chase announced the new $795 annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the internet collectively lost its mind.

And honestly? I get it.

At first glance, $795 sounds wild for a credit card. But after looking closely at the benefits, I realized something important:

For families who already travel, dine out, and use points strategically… this card can actually pay for itself fast.

For our family, this is one of those rare cards where I know we’ll organically use the credits without changing our habits. 

The Credits I’ll Actually Use

$300 Annual Travel Credit

This one is basically automatic for us.

Flights, parking, hotels, rental cars, tolls — Chase applies the credit automatically to eligible travel purchases. Since we travel regularly as a family, I know we’ll burn through this almost immediately. 

That immediately brings the “real” annual fee down to $495 in my mind.

$300 OpenTable Dining Credit

Chase now offers up to $300 annually toward Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables through OpenTable. 

As parents who already love date nights when we travel, this feels incredibly usable for us — especially in cities we’re already visiting.

Apple TV+ + Apple Music Included

This benefit alone is valued at about $288 annually. 

We already pay for Apple TV+ and Apple Music, so this is another “money I was already spending anyway” credit.

So… Is the Fee Already Covered?

For our family:

• $300 travel credit
• $300 dining credit
• ~$288 Apple subscriptions

That’s already $888 in value before even touching the other perks.

And that doesn’t include:

• $750 hotel credits
• Airport lounge access
• Priority Pass
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
• DoorDash credits + DashPass
• Lyft credits
• Hyatt transfer partners
• Strong travel protections and insurance
• The huge welcome bonus

Why This Matters for Family Travel

One of the reasons I love Chase points is the flexibility.

We recently used Hyatt points for an incredible Costa Rica vacation that would’ve cost thousands out of pocket — exactly the kind of trip that reminds me why points matter so much for families.

If you know how to maximize transfer partners like Hyatt, a strong welcome bonus alone can easily cover multiple nights at luxury resorts.

And that’s where this card really shines.

My Take

This absolutely is not the right card for everyone and not for those new to the points game.

But if you:

• already spend on travel and dining,
• value airport lounge access,
• use streaming subscriptions,
• and want to travel more as a family using points…

…I actually think the new Sapphire Reserve is one of the most compelling premium travel cards out there right now.

Ready to Apply?

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