How to maximize earning with the Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is one of the best travel credit cards in the points and miles world.

Many of the card’s perks, such as lounge access, make it stand out from the pack — but the card’s earning rates also shine.

Let’s examine how you can maximize this card’s earning rates to ensure you’re earning the most points.

Earn a lucrative welcome bonus

Right now is a great time to apply for the Sapphire Reserve. New cardholders can earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG’s September 2025 valuations, the welcome offer is worth $2,563. And it’s possible to get even more value if you’re familiar with Chase Ultimate Rewards sweet spots.

Related: Why I’ll never cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve

Use it to book travel and activities through Chase Travel

You can book activities, car rentals, cruises, flights and hotels through the Chase Travel℠ portal.

Earning 8 points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases is an excellent way to build up your Ultimate Rewards points. Although booking a hotel through Chase comes with pros and cons (as we’ll touch on later), you’ll earn over 16% back on those purchases (based on our September 2025 valuations).

If you usually book accommodation through online travel agencies like Orbitz and Priceline, you should check pricing through Chase Travel because you’ll earn more points that way. And you can pair that with the up to $250 in biannual (up to $500 per year) The Edit credits you’ll receive for booking participating luxury hotels (two-night minimum).

This earning rate on rental cars also works well in tandem with the card’s already generous primary rental car insurance.

The Chase Travel portal also allows other bookings, including activities and tours. You’ll earn 8 points per dollar on both types of purchases. If you were going to make these bookings anyway through a tour operator or third-party website like Viator, it’s smart to check Chase Travel first.

Use it to book flights and hotels directly

There are several reasons why booking flights or hotels directly is more beneficial. If you’re worried about losing out on 8 points per dollar through the portal, the Sapphire Reserve still has you covered, as cardholders earn 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked directly.

Although it’s half of what you could earn when booking through Chase Travel, the peace of mind you’ll get when dealing with a hotel or airline’s customer service versus the portal may be worth it to some.

And you’ll receive a reimbursement of $300 in travel purchases each anniversary year, helping offset the high $795 annual fee. Since Chase defines travel quite broadly, your credit will automatically trigger for expenses like car rentals, cruises and Ubers. (Just keep in mind that you won’t earn bonus points on the first $300 spent on travel.)

And there are two additional reasons the Sapphire Reserve is at the top of the list when it comes to booking flights:

• Baggage delay insurance: You and your immediate family are entitled to up to $100 per day for up to five days for necessary expenses like clothes and toiletries. This benefit kicks in when your bags are delayed more than six hours.
• Trip delay insurance: You are covered for up to $500 per covered traveler when your flight is delayed six hours or more or overnight.

Use it for dining

The Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide. That’s a solid 6.2% back on purchases, according to TPG’s September 2025 valuations.

If you’re like some of us at TPG, you might be spending thousands per year on dining out. It’s not difficult to rack up 10,000 points per year from dining alone, especially considering the 3 points per dollar bonus category includes delivery services like DoorDash.

This is TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed‘s favorite earning rate. He earns bonus points on a wide range of purchases that code as dining, including coffee shops, cafes, food trucks and sit-down restaurants.

And this earning rate works well with the card’s other benefits:

• Two monthly $10 non-restaurant and one $5 restaurant promos (up to $300 annually) with DoorDash and a complimentary DashPass membership for at least one year (must activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
• Up to $150 biannual (up to $300 annual) statement credit on dining with Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables (through OpenTable)

Use it for Lyft purchases

Sapphire Reserve cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027) and a $10 monthly in-app credit (up to $120 annually; through Sept. 30, 2027).

Unfortunately, the credits don’t carry over month to month, and it’s a use-it-or-lose-it situation. With such benefits, the preferred ride-hailing service for Sapphire Reserve cardholders should be Lyft.

Pair with another Chase card

While the Sapphire Reserve is strong on travel and dining, it earns just 1 point per dollar on non-bonus spending. That’s where pairing it with another Chase card can boost your earnings:

• Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees): Earns 3 points per dollar on drugstore purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on most other purchases. By putting everyday spending like groceries, streaming or gas on this card, you’ll consistently earn more than the flat 1 point per dollar the Sapphire Reserve offers.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earns 3 points per dollar on a wide range of popular business categories, including travel purchases that may not qualify for Sapphire Reserve bonuses, such as Airbnb stays and taxis.

The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Then, you can combine balances and redeem through the Sapphire Reserve for maximum value, whether that’s booking travel through the Chase Travel portal or transferring to airline and hotel partners.

Bottom line

To truly maximize the Chase Sapphire Reserve, lean into its strongest bonus categories:

• 8 points per dollar on bookings through Chase Travel
• 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked directly
• 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
• 3 points per dollar worldwide on dining

Then, cover your other spending with a complementary Chase card like the Freedom Unlimited or Ink Business Preferred to avoid settling for just 1 point per dollar. By pairing cards strategically and funneling all rewards into Ultimate Rewards, you’ll maximize every purchase and unlock outsized value through travel redemptions.

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve