Should I Upgrade to a Chase Sapphire Reserve?
If you're about to do a lot more traveling, an upgrade might make sense, but consider the higher annual fee.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of our absolute favorite starter travel cards. From flexible and valuable points to wide-ranging travel protections, it offers a lot of valuable benefits for just a $95 annual fee.
However, after building up a balance of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, you might be wondering if it's worth it to upgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to a Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Doing so would get you a ton of lifestyle and travel credits, unlock even higher earning rates in certain categories, and add valuable perks like airport lounge access and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee reimbursement. The downside: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a much higher annual fee.
So, is it worth it to upgrade?
In this article
Comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Before you decide whether it's worth it to upgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you need to know the key differences between the two cards. Here's an overview.
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$95
$795 plus $195 for each authorized user.
• 5x points on all Chase Travel℠ purchases (exclusions apply).
• 5x on Lyft rides and Peloton equipment (for a limited time; terms apply).
• 2x points on all other travel.
• 3x points on dining, takeout and eligible delivery worldwide.
• 3x points for online grocery purchases (exclusions apply).
• 3x points on some streaming services.
• 1x point on all other purchases.
• 8x points on all travel booked through Chase.
• 4x points on bookings directly through an airline or hotel.
• 3x points on dining, takeout and eligible delivery worldwide.
• 1x point on all other purchases.
Points worth up to 75% more on select redemptions for travel booked through Chase.
Points worth up to 100% more on select redemptions for travel booked through Chase.
10% of your total purchases in the previous year.
None.
$50 in statement credits every account anniversary toward hotel stays purchased through Chase's travel portal.
Up to $500 in credit for The Edit (Chase’s high-end hotel portal). This comes in the form of two $250 credits a year, one good January through June and another in July through December.
$300 annual travel credit.
$120 in Lyft credit, available at $10 a month, through Sept. 30, 2027.
Travel protections, including auto rental collision damage waiver and baggage delay insurance.
No foreign transaction fees.
Chase Sapphire Lounge and Priority Pass Select lounge access.
Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee every four years.
Travel protections, including auto rental collision damage waiver and baggage delay insurance.
Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through Dec. 31, 2027.
No foreign transaction fees.
Up to $120 in DoorDash promos, in the form of one $10 promo on non-restaurant orders each month.
Complimentary DashPass for at least one year when you activate through Dec. 31, 2027.
Up to $300 in credit at restaurants in the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program. This, too, comes as two separate credits — $150 in each half of the year.
Up to $300 in statement credit for StubHub, in the form of two $150 credits a year through Dec. 31, 2027. Enrollment required.
Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions through June 22, 2027.
Up to $120 in credit toward Peloton membership, available at $10 a month, plus you earn 10 points per dollar on eligible Peloton purchases through Dec. 31, 2027.
Up to $300 in DoorDash promos, in the form of two $10 promos on non-restaurant orders and one $5 promo on a restaurant order each month.
Complimentary DashPass for at least one year when you activate through Dec. 31, 2027.
What you don't see in the chart above are the sign-up bonuses offered by these cards. That's because the bonus offer is irrelevant when you're upgrading; only new accounts are eligible for the sign-up bonus.
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now
Can you upgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders can upgrade to a Chase Sapphire Reserve® once their card account has been open for at least a year. So it's not a question of can, but rather should you upgrade.
As you can see in the chart above, these two cards offer different earning rates, different travel perks and very different annual fees. When comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card versus the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a compelling value when you're first signing up for a card. However, there's a good argument for upgrading to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® once you've had a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for a bit.
Chase refers to the process of switching from one card to another as a "product change" rather than an upgrade, so that's the terminology you'll hear Chase agents use when you call.
Upgrading your travel perks
A reason to consider an upgrade from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to a Chase Sapphire Reserve® is to boost your travel perks. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a ton of valuable travel protections — including auto rental collision damage waiver and baggage delay insurance. Upgrading to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® will unlock even stronger protections, which can be a major plus when you need it the most.
However, the lower-fee card doesn't provide a lot of extra travel perks.
Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers premium travel benefits like Chase Sapphire Lounge access and Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, a $300 annual travel credit, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee reimbursement and more. These perks can be valuable for those traveling more frequently.
So, you might consider upgrading to a Chase Sapphire Reserve® shortly before you start traveling more. Make sure to upgrade far enough in advance that you have time to enroll in Priority Pass and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
» Learn more: What to know about Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access
Downsides to upgrading the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Despite its much higher annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® falls short of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in a few ways. Make sure you factor these aspects into your decision of whether or not to upgrade your Chase card.
First, you will lose the 10% anniversary bonus when you upgrade a Chase Sapphire Reserve®. If you've spent a significant amount on your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in the past cardholder year, you may want to wait until after your anniversary bonus has been posted before you upgrade your account.
Also, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders earn 3x points on online grocery stores and streaming services. These purchases only earn 1x points when charged to a Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Finally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through the Chase's travel portal. When used, this perk offsets more than half of the card's annual fee.
When you look at the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and all the credits it offers, one word comes to mind: complicated. While you can get a lot of value by using up all the benefits on the premium card, it may be unnecessarily stressful or time-consuming trying to do so. If you value simplicity, then sticking with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card may be the way to go.
How to upgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
To upgrade from a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you'll need to call the number on the back of your card to speak with a Chase customer service representative. That agent can check if you're eligible for a product change and submit your request.
Keep your card handy, as you'll need to verify your identity and card information before you can discuss your account options.
Before you upgrade any card, have a plan to use the benefits. Your new annual fee will appear on your first or second billing cycle, so be sure you can make the most of everything the card has to offer.
If you're considering an upgrade from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® are excellent travel cards. But the right card for you will depend on your spending patterns, how much you travel and what perks you want while traveling.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an ideal card for those just starting out. But, current cardholders that are about to start traveling or spending a lot more may consider upgrading their card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Doing so could increase the value of your Ultimate Rewards® points and add travel perks like airport lounge access, $300 in travel credits and a slew of other credits.
However, it’ll also add a lot more to keep track of, and upgrading isn't going to be right for all travelers. Consider the much higher annual fee and loss of perks like the 10% anniversary points bonus, $50 hotel credit and bonus points in certain spending categories.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2025:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Travel
Hotel
You can access over $3,500 in annual value with benefits and eligible purchases across travel, entertainment, and other benefits. Terms apply.