At TPG, you may hear staffers rave about their favourite playing cards for a number of causes.
A few of us love premium journey playing cards with profitable welcome provides and beneficiant reward-earning buildings. Others favor low-key, no-annual-fee playing cards that earn flat charges on all purchases.
And a few of us, me included, have a foot firmly planted in each camps.
I unfold my purchases throughout a few playing cards to maximise my spending and earn each money again and transferable bank card factors. Amongst my go-to’s are:
Collectively, they supply wonderful worth on on a regular basis purchases I already make often, although the Sapphire Reserve stays the standout of the bunch.
I acquired the Sapphire Reserve in January 2024, and it instantly supplied outsize worth. In reality, I made a decision to maintain this card even after its annual payment jumped to $795 from $550 in June.
This is how I maximized the advantages and perks of my Sapphire Reserve after I obtained it — and what you need to do when you get yours.
Earn the welcome bonus
First, I deliberate the best time to use for the Sapphire Reserve. My most important purpose was to earn the welcome bonus with out worrying about assembly spending necessities on different new playing cards on the similar time.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
By signing up, you’ll obtain newsletters and promotional content material and conform to our Phrases of Use and acknowledge the info practices in our Privateness Coverage. You might unsubscribe at any time.
At present, new candidates for the Chase Sapphire Reserve can earn 125,000 factors after spending $6,000 throughout the first three months from account opening. Based mostly on TPG’s August 2025 valuations, the present welcome supply is value $2,563.
With a credit score rating of over 800 and a stable credit score historical past, I used to be assured in my capability to get permitted for the Reserve card. The discover of approval got here immediately, and I moved on to lining up the purchases that may assist me attain the spending threshold wanted to earn the welcome bonus.
The very first buy I made with my card was a $250 deposit for a New 12 months’s Eve household cruise. As a result of this was a journey buy, it was lined by the $300 annual journey credit score that comes with this card (though this buy didn’t earn factors because the journey credit score is not eligible to take action).
I additionally put my card down for a few meals with family and friends, which added up to some hundred {dollars} on prime of utilizing my Sapphire Reserve for normal on a regular basis purchases, together with gasoline, parking and grocery runs.
Maximize perks and incomes charges
As a interest chef, I like to prepare dinner and experiment with new recipes and components, however on the finish of a protracted day, I do not all the time really feel like prepping a meal from scratch.
When this occurs, I often order supply on DoorDash. The $5 month-to-month DoorDash credit score, together with a complimentary DashPass subscription that comes with this card by Dec. 31, 2027, saves me a couple of bucks each time I click on “Place order.”
One other perk to maximise is the annual $300 eating credit score by Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables. The credit score is break up up into $150 biannually and is an effective way to dine at some superb eating places with family and friends. Plus, this credit score helps cut back the cardboard’s huge annual payment.
One other perk of the refreshed Sapphire Reserve is the flexibility to earn 8 factors per greenback spent on resort reservations and flights booked through Chase Journey℠. The Reserve can also be a wonderful journey companion because it has no overseas transaction charges.
This card additionally supplies an as much as $500 The Edit resort credit score yearly for pay as you go reservations of two nights or extra. I am excited to make use of this profit to assist cut back my journey prices when reserving stays inside The Edit portfolio.
As an present cardholder, I will not get entry to the brand new credit, perks and reward charges on this card till Oct. 26. New candidates, nevertheless, obtain quick entry to the entire card’s refreshed perks and incomes charges.
Add the Sapphire Reserve to apps, web sites and your cell pockets
With the flexibility to earn 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and lodges booked direct and three factors per greenback spent on eating worldwide, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ought to be one in all your prime playing cards for reserving journey.
Additionally think about establishing the Sapphire Reserve as your default card in your Lyft account since you may earn 5 factors per greenback spent by Sept. 30, 2027. That is greater than a ten% return in your Lyft purchases based mostly on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Not solely do you get entry to DashPass, however the Reserve card earns 3 factors per greenback on eating, as nicely — whether or not it is consuming out at a restaurant or ordering supply. Simply remember to make your card the default fee in your account.
Associated: The right way to earn 10 factors per greenback on choose eating with Chase Sapphire
Benefit from extra advantages
To get began with these specific Reserve advantages, do the next:
Log in to your Chase account.Choose “Final Rewards.”Choose your Sapphire Reserve account.Choose “Card Advantages” below the “Use Factors” dropdown menu.
From there, you may register for every profit you want to obtain. Some notable examples embrace
Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscription by June 22, 2027 (One-time activation per service by chase.com or the Chase Cellular app required)Complimentary Precedence Go Choose membership
As a cardholder, you may additionally wish to reap the benefits of the as much as $300 annual Stubhub and Viagogo credit score (by Dec. 31, 2027). You may obtain this credit score as $150 biannually and may use it towards occasion tickets, resembling live shows and sporting occasions.
I’ve had my eye on Cage the Elephant tickets, however timing could be difficult since my credit score would not kick in till Oct. 26 and the band’s 2025 tour ends Oct. 30.
Associated: Is a Precedence Go lounge membership really value it?
Join World Entry/TSA PreCheck
Getting by U.S. Customs and Border Safety or airport safety is likely one of the most dreaded elements of modern-day air journey, so use your Chase Sapphire Reserve to use for both World Entry or TSA PreCheck and make your trek just a little simpler.
You may get the appliance payment waived, as much as $120, while you pay for both program (although I like to recommend going with World Entry in the event you journey overseas incessantly because it contains TSA PreCheck).
Have already got World Entry or PreCheck? You’ll be able to let a buddy or member of the family profit out of your Chase Sapphire Reserve. Use your card to pay for his or her utility, and the payment might be offset through a press release credit score by Chase as long as you have not already used it on your self or another person.
Associated: World Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is extra helpful?
Backside line
As a result of I plan to open extra bank cards, I’ve to suppose strategically about which of them I apply for and when.
My strategy to every card I apply for is actually the identical:
Create a sport plan to earn the welcome bonus. This contains deciding if annual charges, incomes charges and bonus classes align with my spending habits and journey wants.Take into account how upcoming journey plans can match into maximizing my spending whereas additionally incomes useful factors and miles I can put towards future use.Test if including a licensed person to assist enhance my reward-earning energy is sensible.Enroll within the card’s advantages and perks.
The crown jewel in my day by day bank card group is the Sapphire Reserve — even with its hefty $795 annual payment — due to its myriad advantages, together with beneficiant assertion credit, excessive incomes charges on journey bookings and stellar journey protections.
In the event you’re not fairly able to decide to a excessive annual payment, think about the Sapphire Reserve’s sibling, the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges), which contains a modest $95 annual payment and is a TPG workers favourite.
To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Sapphire Reserve
