Best Alternatives If Guest Access Is a Priority

Ten days without luggage in Europe taught me a hard truth- even the best-planned trips can unravel. Having the right credit card with travel protections would have made all the difference.

We washed our underwear in the sink every day, and bought little more than toothbrushes and toothpaste. We finally bought swim suits at the gift shop- but that was it- because each day we were told our luggage would be ‘arriving tomorrow’. 

Had my husband and I owned a credit card with travel insurance benefits, we would have been able to rest assured we would be getting compensated for some shopping, within reason of course. Instead, we wore the same outfits everyday for 6 days until we were told our bags were ultimately lost.

In a Nutshell

• Premium travel credit cards include benefits like trip cancellation, delay coverage, and lost baggage insurance.
• Understanding the specifics and limitations of travel protections from credit cards is crucial for travelers.
• Some credit cards even extend travel protections to authorized users, enhancing their value.
• Choosing the best credit card for travel protection depends on individual needs and situations.

The Travel Insurance Already in Your Wallet

Travel protections that come included with many premium travel credit cards give peace of mind and the confidence to book travel, even in times of uncertainty.  For anxious travelers like myself, the inclusion of travel insurance alone now legitimizes high annual fees that at one time I would have scoffed at. 

Even one extra night of lodging and a few additional meals tacked onto a trip can stretch or even break the budget of many travelers- the right credit card and included travel protections can cover those added expenses. 

Before getting credit cards that offered travel protection, I was regularly spending hundreds of dollars per trip, fearing unforeseen mishaps that might delay or cancel a vacation.  During Covid, I became acutely aware of the vulnerability of losing sums already paid for lodging, tours, and other prepaid expenses.

In this guide, we’ll explore what credit card travel insurance includes, what it doesn’t, and how to decide whether you still need extra coverage.

How does travel insurance from credit cards work?

While each credit card and its travel protections work differently, there are some basic requirements in order for claims to be eligible for coverage:

-The trip must be purchased on the credit card with travel protections

-Receipts and proper documentation will be required to file claims

-Only eligible travelers will be covered by the benefits

-Claims will be filed directly through the credit card’s travel insurance system

-Reimbursements through the credit card will kick in only after all other options have been exhausted (coverage provided by airlines, purchased travel insurance, etc.)

What travel protections are included with premium credit cards?

While travel insurance benefits differ between credit cards, the majority of them include the following features:

• Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance — Reimburses nonrefundable expenses for covered reasons.
• Trip Delay Coverage — Covers meals, hotels, and transportation after a set delay.
• Lost or Delayed Baggage Insurance — Pays for essentials and reimburses for lost items.
• Travel Accident & Emergency Medical Coverage — Reimbursements for treatment in case of injury or illness abroad.
• Rental Car Damage Protection — Covers collision damage without using your own auto insurance.(Usually will not work when renting cars internationally)
• 24/7 Travel Assistance & Concierge Services — Access to emergency help and travel support.

Additional travel insurance included for some credit cards include the following:

-Coverage and Reimbursement for Medical and Dental Emergencies

-Emergency Evacuation Transportation- Immediate transport to the nearest location where your medical needs can be met

-Repatriation of Remains- In the event of death, transportation of the body back to the country of residence

Credit Card Travel Protections Vary- Get to Know the Benefits

It is important to get familiar with the specifics of the benefits included in the travel protections offered in a credit card.  Even the benefits commonly included like trip delay and baggage delay/loss vary between credit cards, like number of hours of delay needed to trigger a benefit, reimbursement caps for lost luggage, or the payout amount per day for delayed baggage.  

The Chase Sapphire credit cards are a perfect example. For trip interruption insurance when a common carrier is delayed, Chase Sapphire Reserve customers are eligible for reimbursement after only 6 hours of delay, while Preferred customers require a 12 hour delay to be eligible for a payout.  Additionally, Chase Sapphire Reserve clients have Emergency Evacuation transportation included in the benefits, while Preferred clients do not. 

It’s critical to understand the details of your included benefits as coverage hinges on proper access.  For example, for Emergency Evacuation needs you must contact the benefit administrator to arrange transport.  Arranging transport through other methods will not qualify for the coverage.

Read your Benefits Guide carefully. If you are covered by multiple credit cards, get to know the differences in benefits and book travel accordingly.

Know the Limitations of Credit Card Travel Insurance 

While having travel protections included in a credit card is a worthwhile perk, it is not comprehensive coverage and the limitations of the benefits should be understood.  There are various situations where coverage will not apply, so familiarize yourself with the specifics of your benefits.

Some restrictions are but not limited to the following:

-Your reason for trip cancellation are outside of eligible causes listed in the policy (changed your mind, needing to cancel due to illegal acts (imprisonment), etc.)

-Pre-existing medical conditions

-Complications experienced during medical travel

-High-risk activities (Bungee jumping, skydiving, etc.)

-Traveling in a war zone

-Trip is not further than 100 miles from home

-Trip is too long for coverage (most cover up to 60 days only)

Who Is Covered By Travel Protections Through a Credit Card?

Credit cards vary regarding who the travel protections will include, but outside of the primary cardholder the benefits may extend to a spouse, children if traveling together, and sometimes other non-familial travel companions. 

Review your Benefits Guide for specific details included in the policy.

Authorized Users Get Credit Card Travel Protections Benefit Too

One of the most exciting features of premium credit cards that offer travel protections is that some of the benefits extend to their authorized users.  What’s more, some credit cards with travel insurance like the Venture X and Atmos Rewards Summit allow free authorized users on the account. Venture X allows up to 4 authorized users, and currently the Atmos Rewards cards do not have a designated number of maximum authorized users listed.  

While the travel benefits like TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit don’t roll over beyond the primary cardholder, having authorized users who also get to benefit from the travel protections free of charge is an incredible perk, making the annual fees ($395 for each of the Venture X and Atmos) worth the price.  Other programs like the Chase Sapphire family and American Express charge $195 per authorized user.  

How to File a Claim for Credit Card Travel Insurance

While some coverage will require contact to the benefits administrator prior to getting care, such as for Emergency Evacuations, most other claims will be filed after the need. Many benefit administrators will have 24-hour hotlines for emergency services.  Otherwise, file your claims as soon as possible through the insurance portal of the benefit administrator- there will be a window of time within which a claim must be filed, generally 30-60 days.  

The reimbursement process can be lengthy, taking 2-6 weeks or longer in some cases.  Make sure to check your email regularly or log into the portal as there may be frequent requests for more documentation.

Do I need to Purchase Separate Travel Insurance if My Credit Card Has Travel Protections Included?

Every person and every trip is different.  While some travelers would never travel internationally without purchasing additional coverage, plenty of people have gone their entire lives never having had any kind of travel protections on their trips.  

If your main concerns are making sure you’ll get reimbursed for incurred expenses due to delays or cancellations, you’ll likely have your needs met with the travel protections included in your credit card.  

Credit card travel protections were never intended as comprehensive health coverage, so purchasing additional coverage through a third party is a great way to get peace of mind.  Particularly with medical coverage, international travel is a smart time to purchase additional coverage as most American healthcare plans do not offer coverage outside the US- some have limited use in Canada and Mexico, depending on the plan. 

There are many competitive plans for third party travel insurance, with varying premiums and levels of coverage depending on trip factors like length of trip, amount already spent, amount expected to spend in entirety and levels of coverage desired. 

I personally have purchased plans in the past through Tin Leg and Squaremouth, but luckily did not need to use them during my travels.  I found their websites easy to navigate and I was pleased with my options for coverage.

Third party insurance plans will cover the basics like trip delay/interruption and baggage loss and delay, but will have more robust medical options depending on your needs. The Points Guy has a great review of travel insurance plans, as well as a few more overviews from Forbes and NerdWallet.

Which is the best Credit Card for travel protections?

The most notable and widely-recognized credit cards that offer travel protections include Capital One’s Venture X, Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve, and the American Express Platinum.  Upgraded Points has an overview of the travel protections these cards offer.

Atmos Rewards, the resulting loyalty program from the Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines merger just released the Atmos Summit Visa Infinite credit card. It is the first credit card released by Bank of America in the Alaska (now Atmos) mileage program to offer travel protections included in its benefits. 

Other airline and hotel branded credit cards also include travel protections, including a variety of Citi Strata cards, Hilton Honors Aspire, Marriott Bonvoy, and United Quest.  Forbes does a great review of co-branded cards with travel protections here.

Final Thoughts

Travel insurance credit card benefits have come a long way and offer travelers robust protections for myriad scenarios. There is no single ‘best card for travel protections’ because every individual has different needs. But with low annual fee cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Ink Business Preferred (both $95 annually), many people now have access to travel protections through credit cards that they may not have had previously. Bilt Mastercard, which has no annual fee, even offers very basic travel protections included in their benefits.

With fewer passenger protections and more unpredictable weather than ever, having built-in travel insurance from your credit card is one of the easiest ways to travel with confidence. While there are refund polices in place for cancelled flights for some specific scenarios, having built-in travel protections means you can relax and focus on enjoying your trip instead of worrying about what might go wrong.

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines’ revamped mileage plan and its premium card- the Atmos Summit-  are giving top-tier travel cards a run for their money.

A friend reached out to me the other day and asked if she should be upgrading her Alaska Airlines Visa card to the new Atmos Rewards Summit card.  I told her I didn’t think so- she already gets better lounge access through her Chase Sapphire Reserve. 

But I decided to use the opportunity to dig in a bit, and I was humbled at what I learned.

IN A NUTSHELL

• Atmos Summit has undeniable value for frequent flyers of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian and Oneworld partner airlines
• Atmos Rewards offers one of the quickest paths to elite status- even without flying
• Lounge access with Atmos Summit is lacking compared to Priority Pass credit cards like Venture X, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum
• Visa Infinite affiliation provides premium travel insurance and purchase, return and warranty protections 
• 3X on Dining and International purchases rivals other premium credit cards

Original Alaska Visa Signature and Mileage Plan

I’ve had the Alaska Airlines card for almost 20 years, but it’s been a long time since it’s actually been in my wallet.

While the Alaska Airlines mileage plan has always been revered as one of the best in the industry, admittedly, the card itself has had rather abysmal earnings when compared to many of the credit cards on the market.  While earning 3X points for Alaska flights and 2X for gas and EV charging are decent, all other categories have earned a measly one point per dollar. 

The main benefits, as most cardholders will attest to, have been the free checked bag and the annual companion pass, but limited only to when making the purchase with the card.

There has been plenty of room for improvements.

Atmos Rewards- The Lovechild of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines

The new points program that merges Alaska and Hawaiian airlines loyalty programs has been rebranded to Atmos Rewards that currently offers 3 tiers of cards:

• Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature ($95 annual fee)
• Atmos Rewards Visa Business  ($70 annual fee, and $25 each additional card)
• Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite ($395 annual fee)

The Atmos Rewards Ascent (the rebranded Alaska Airlines Visa Signature) and the Atmos Rewards Business (previously Alaska Visa Business) cards go virtually unchanged from their previous iterations.  For a more detailed review of these cards, please visit the Atmos site here.

The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite, however, is a whole new animal, showcasing premium features never before included in the Alaska Visa network of cards.  

There are an eye-popping number of benefits added to the original features that cardholders have known and loved:

Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite

• $395 Annual Fee
  • Free authorized users (same as old Alaska/Ascent)
• 100k Introductory Bonus Miles (after spending $6,000 in first 3 months)
• Visa Infinite Network
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • Extended warranty, purchase and return protection
  • Access to concierge services and luxury hotel collection
• 3X Points Earning Multipliers
  • Dining
  • Alaska and Hawaiian airline tickets
  • Foreign purchases
• Free checked bag for you and 6 guests (same as old Alaska card/Alaska Ascent)
• 10k Annual Elite Points on card anniversary
• 25k annual international companion pass
  • Valid on Alaska, Hawaiian, and Oneworld airline partners
  • Earn 100k international companion pass if spend $60k+
• 8 Annual Alaska Lounge passes
• 1 Elite status point per $2 spent
• 8 Wifi passes
• $120 every 4 years for TSA precheck or Global Entry
• Partner award fee waiver
• Free points transfer to hotel partners
• Free points sharing between up to 10 Atmos members

Sneaky Perks of the Atmos Summit Card

With so many features to this card, I want to call out the most noteworthy elements that really move the needle.  While I typically would advise away from airline-specific co-branded cards due to their lack of flexibility, these features have me changing my tune:

• Affiliation with the Visa Infinite Network
• 10k Elite points annually on card anniversary
• 3x on Dining
• 3X on International Purchases
• Free Authorized Users

Visa Infinite Network

The new Atmos Summit card is in the Visa Infinite network which includes a stable of luxury protections akin to premium travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Venture X. 

This addition will be a game-changer for many, as the lack of travel protection has been one of my biggest pain points when booking flights with my Alaska card.  

While I’ve been unable to find specifics regarding the travel insurance and additional protections-each card within the Visa Infinite network may have small differences- the Atmos website lists the following protections that should excite prospective card holders:

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver- Primary auto rental coverage

Extended Warranty Protection- Automatic extension of product warranties

Return Protection- Extended and more flexible return policy

Purchase Security- Purchase protections from unexpected loss or theft

Travel and Emergency Assistance Services- 24/7– Emergency assistance while traveling

Travel Accident Insurance-  Payouts for accidents and death while traveling

Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption- Reimbursements for prepaid fares for covered reasons

Trip Delay Reimbursement- Covers additional costs incurred when your flights are delayed (additional meals, hotel stays, etc.)

Lost Luggage Reimbursement- Reimbursements for lost and damaged luggage

Roadside Dispatch®- Emergency Roadside Assistance

Baggage Delay Reimbursement- Get reimbursed for basics when your luggage is delayed

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation/ Repatriation of Remains Coverage– Coverage for emergency evacuation or repatriation

Personal Identity Theft– Coverage up to $15,000 to restore identity after fraud

Free Checked Bag and Travel Protection

The toughest pill to swallow in previous years has been knowing that trips booked with my Alaska card were not covered by any kind of travel insurance (as I refuse the ‘Purchase Protection’), as it pains me have to pay for coverage when I am otherwise covered by my Venture X and Chase Sapphire Preferred for all my other travel as they are Visa Infinite cards. 

I imagine I am not alone in this struggle.

Now with the Atmos Summit, this will no longer be an issue, and we can get our free checked bag and rest easy knowing we are protected in the event of any delays, cancellations or losses on our adventures.

10K Elite Status Miles

Cardholders will receive an annual boost of 10,000 Elite Status points on their card anniversary (also after completing the initial $6,000 spend), a huge boost in achieving MVP status each year.

Additionally, with every $2 spent on the card equalling one elite status point, the Atmos Summit card is one of the quickest paths to elite status on the market.

With the 10K annual status points boost on your card anniversary and two status points for every dollar spent on the card, it might not require much flying at all to get to Ruby status each year.

3X Elevated Multipliers

Atmos’ 3X earn on dining purchases is a huge come up from the previous card which earned only a single point per dollar. Atmos Summit now rivals the Chase Sapphire network for dining earnings, only eclipsed by American Express’ Gold Card which earns 4X on dining and groceries. 

Earning 3X on international purchases is also a stand-out feature.  This dwarfs the Venture X which gets 2X on everything, which has been my go-to for all non-dining purchases.  The Atmos Summit card takes the lead here.

25K/100K International Companion Pass

This new feature appears to be the sexier version of the domestic companion pass that has been the defining perk of the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card.  The 25K International Companion pass will be posted to your digital account after hitting the initial $6,000 spend in the first 90 days of account opening, and then every card anniversary.  

This new form of companion fare allows you shave 25,000 points off of an international booking for two.  This is a great perk- however, it must be pointed out that these passes expire in one year and do not rollover. 

Please note that flight must be booked within the year, but it is not necessary to have completed travel within the year.

An important call out to note that you must be accumulating enough miles annually to make use of this benefit. 

For infrequent travelers or for those who will not be putting a considerable spend on this card, this benefit may not be of much use.  You can’t deduct 25k miles from two international tickets if you don’t have a points pool large enough to accommodate 2 international tickets in the first place. 

The 100K International Companion Pass can be earned in addition to the initial 25K pass if card spend surpasses $60,000.  While this may only apply to ultra high-spend cardholders, this benefit could have huge impacts if you achieve the spend- think getting a lie-flat business class ticket virtually free for a travel partner. 

Free Authorized Users

There is currently very little information regarding privileges for authorized users on the Atmos Summit, but the ability to add authorized users free of charge to a premium card like this is a substantial perk.  For households and families, this is a great way to share the gospel of free checked bags and accumulate additional points.

The Rest of the Atmos Summit Credit Card Features

• Free checked bag for you and 6 guests remains the same as the revamped original.  With rising checked baggage fees, this perk is essential and is especially great as any authorized users on the card would also take on these benefits for themselves and 6 of their own guests on the same reservation.
• Annual domestic companion pass on card anniversary remains the same as the old card.  Note for previous Alaska cardholders that signed up before January 18, 2023- you are ‘grandfathered in’ and do not need to spend $6,000 annually for the companion pass. However, if upgrading to the Atmos Summit, I would imagine this new spending requirement would apply.
• 8 Atmos Lounge passes- these lounge passes are added to your digital wallet 2 per quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1).  The guest must be flying on an Alaska or partner-ticketed airline in order to use the lounge pass. Each pass can be used multiple times in one travel day by one guest, admits 2 accompanying children free per pass, and are usable only in Atmos Lounges and not partner lounges.  
• 8 Annual Wifi passes- 2 passes are deposited into your digital mileage account each quarter like the lounge passes.  This perk is a great value for now, but Alaska is currently working on connecting to Starlink for their fleet which will provide free, fast internet for their flights and is projected to begin in 2026.
• $120 credit every 4 years for TSA precheck or Global Entry- a stellar perk that rivals other premium travel cards.  
• Partner Award Fee Waiver- this new feature allows booking on partner airlines through the Alaska Airlines website without the additional fee, usually an additional $12 per flight. 
• Free to transfer points to hotel partners:
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
  • Coast Hotels
  • Choice Hotels
  • Best Western
• Free points sharing- this new feature allows points pooling with other members free of charge. I’ve paid over $100 in the past to move points between mine and my husband’s account to round out a fare, so this is excellent news for points poolers.
• 20% off for inflight purchases on Alaska and Hawaiian airlines- this feature is unchanged from the original Visa Signature. 

The Biggest Downfall to the Atmos Summit Visa Infinite Card

For airport lounge hounds like myself, the Alaska lounge passes will not be enough for the masses to ditch their premium travel cards like the Venture X, Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum, where their Priority Passes grant them access to over 1000 lounges globally. 

Admittedly, while lounge quality can vary drastically from one another in the Priority Pass network, the sheer volume of lounges gives travelers at least some sense of security, no matter the quality of lounge.

There are currently only 9 Alaska Airlines lounges, and the passes that come with the Atmos Summit are not eligible for use at partner lounges.  Furthermore, you must be flying same-day on Alaska, Hawaiian, or partner airline to utility the passes.  

This lack of lounge flexibility is the defining downfall of this card. 

Final Thoughts

After doing my research, I have been convinced of the value of the Atmos Summit card and will be upgrading as soon as I figure out a timeframe when I can maximize that initial 6k spend for the bonus 100k points.

The Atmos Summit has set itself apart from the other recent ‘upgrades’ we have seen in the premium travel cards programs that have been plagued by cuts to access and additions of multiple ‘credits’ that prove often hard to utilize and dizzying to track. 

As this is an airline loyalty program and not a bank program, the utility of these benefits will depend largely in part on how often you fly with Alaska and its partners. While it lacks the flexibility of bank-based cards, tremendous value can be had with the Atmos Summit with the right planning and strategy.

For frequent flyers of the Oneworld Alliance, the new Atmos Summit card is a must.  For high-spenders on the west coast, this card is also a quick way to gain elite status and get closer to international jet-setting.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card has recently undergone some major changes and many current cardholders may be wondering if this card is worth keeping, especially with the updated $795 annual fee.

 If you’re on the fence about whether the revamped benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve justify the cost, I’ll break down some key features of the card to help you determine whether it deserves a spot in your wallet or if it’s time to explore other options.

IN A NUTSHELL: The revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve may turn off some current cardholders if the newly added credits do not align with current spending habits. Benefits such as travel insurance, lounge access, travel credit, and purchase protection that are likely the main draw for many cardholders can be accessed with a lower overall annual fee by substituting with a combination of two cards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One’s Venture X credit card. However, if elevated travel insurance and guest access for airport lounges are key features or you don’t want to manage cards in two different loyalty programs, sticking with the Chase Sapphire Reserve is likely the best option. 

For years the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card held steady as one of the leading premium travel credits on the market alongside the Venture X and the American Express Platinum. These three credit cards have offered cardholders premium travel benefits such as travel insurance, airport lounge access, elevated earning through travel portals, travel credit, airline and hotel transfer partners, generous sign up bonuses, purchase and warranty protection and elevated earning multipliers for travel-related expenses. 

When it comes to benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve continues to be an outstanding credit card for all the features outlined above.  However, for current cardholders, the additional $245 per year may not seem worth the price, especially if newly added credits are not aligned with existing lifestyle or spending habits. 

Below are the benefits and features of the updated card with new features highlighted in blue: 

REVAMPED CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE BENEFITS 

• Priority Pass Select membership with up to 2 free guests
• Chase Sapphire lounge access with up to 2 free guests
• $120 Credit for TSA, Global Entry or NEXUS every 4 years
• $120 Lyft credit ($10/month)
• $300 Travel credit through the Chase Travel Portal
• Travel Insurance and Auto Rental Coverage
• Purchase, Return, and Warranty Protection

• IHG Platinum Rewards Elite Status
• $500 Travel credit for The Edit hotel collection through the Chase Travel Portal ($250 Jan-June, then July- December, 2 night minimum)
• $300 Dining credit when dining at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables($150 Jan-June, then again July- December)
• $300 DoorDash credit and complimentary DoorDash membership ($5/month on food delivery and $10/month twice a month for groceries and retail)
• Complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music ($250 value)
• $300 Stubhub credit ($150 twice a year-Jan-June, then again July- December)
• $120 Peloton credit

Replacing Essential Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a slew of benefits, but current cardholders who are not immediately sold on the revamped version may be curious if there are alternatives that would still give them access to things like travel insurance, lounge access, good earning multipliers and travel credit.

GET THESE BENEFITS WITHOUT THE CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE

I’ve managed to retain nearly all of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve by using a two-card strategy. I now hold both the Capital One Venture X  ($395 annual fee), and the Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee). Between these two cards, I get the bulk of the perks of the Chase Sapphire Reserve at a significantly lower cost. Even with two cards, the total annual fee comes to $490, for a grand total of $305 in annual savings compared to the Reserve’s $795 fee.

Below are the original benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve, prior to the revamp.  For current cardholders wondering if they should bail on this card, let’s go through these benefits to see how we might be able to get the same values from the Venture X and Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• Priority Pass Select membership with up to 2 free guests
• Chase Sapphire lounge access with up to 2 free guests
• $120 Credit for TSA, Global Entry or NEXUS every 4 years
• $120 Lyft credit ($10/month)
• $300 Travel credit on your account
• Travel Insurance and Auto Rental Coverage
• Purchase, Return, and Warranty Protection

Additional benefits and multipliers:

• 3x Dining
• 3x Travel
• Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal

Priority Pass Select Membership:

The Venture X offers cardmembers  the same Priority Pass membership as the Chase Sapphire Reserve.  However, Capital One recently restructured their lounge access for guests and authorized users. Beginning February 1, 2026, all guests will be charged $35 fee to access lounges- unless the primary cardholder has paid the new $125 annual fee per authorized user that grants them their own Priority Pass membership.  

For me, this change is the biggest drawback to the two-card approach as I greatly value the ability to bring guests into the lounge.  That said, if I consider how often I have actually brought guests with me into the lounge, the math works out that it would still be cheaper to pay the $35 per visit fee versus the additional $305 to keep the Sapphire Reserve.  

For further details on the upcoming changes to Venture X’s lounge guest access, click here.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Access:

While neither of these cards will give access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, the Venture X offers primary cardholders and authorized users with the paid Priority Pass membership to have access to the growing network of Capital One Lounges and Landings.  Currently available in 6 airports across the United States, the Capital One lounges are celebrated for their elevated atmosphere, top-notch amenities like shower suites, grab-and-go food counters and even spa treatments. 

Venture X cardholders and their authorized users can bring up to 2 guests at no additional charge until February 1, 2026. After that, all guests outside the primary cardholders and authorized users who have paid the membership fee will incur the $45 entry fee, unless you are client that has racked up over $75,000 on your Venture X the previous year. I am not in this club, but kudos to you if you are.

TSA Precheck or Global Entry credit:

The Venture X gives $120 credit to cover TSA Pre-check and Global Entry every 4 years, just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.  Absolutely no difference for this category between the cards.

Lyft Credit $120:

There is no credit like this for either the Venture X or the Chase Sapphire Preferred.  However, paying for your rides with the Chase Preferred will earn you 5X once you connect your accounts. 

Travel Credit of $300:

The Venture X credit card offers an annual $300 travel credit that is added to your account every anniversary.  This credit can be used when booking travel through the Capital One travel portal.  While not quite as flexible as the Chase credit which automatically applies to any travel expenses on the credit card, Venture X’s annual credit remains a valuable perk that helps enhance bookings.

Travel Insurance:

Both Venture X and the Chase Sapphire Preferred cards come with excellent travel insurance that helps cover trip delays and cancellations, lost or delayed baggage, and primary auto collision coverage.  However, each card differs in terms of the required delay duration and payout limits for lost luggage or covered expenses.  Click here for travel insurance details for the Venture X and here for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

The more premium Chase Sapphire Reserve offers travel insurance benefits like emergency evacuation and emergency medical and dental coverage, both items that are not included with Venture X or the Chase Sapphire Preferred. 

If these types of benefits are important to you, it’s worth comparing the cost of purchasing similar coverage separately and consider how many trips you take each year.  In some cases, paying the higher annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve may be a worthwhile investment.

Purchase, Return, and Warranty Protection

Both the Venture X and Chase Sapphire Reserve are Visa Infinite cards and offer extended return policies and warranty protection for eligible purchases.  However, one key advantage of the Chase Sapphire Reserve over the Venture X and Chase Sapphire Preferred is the superior purchase protection. The Sapphire Reserve covers up to $10,000 per claim, while the Preferred has a limit of $500 per claim.  The types of purchases you make—and how important purchase protection is to you—can play a major role in determining whether keeping the Sapphire Reserve is the right decision.

Additional Perks of the Two-card Strategy

Pairing the Venture X with the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with additional benefits beyond replicating the most important features of the Sapphire Reserve.  Below are my favorites:

• Opportunity to earn a new sign up bonus for Venture X
  • Current bonus offer is 75,000 after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
• Venture X is a flat earning rate of 2X
  • Venture X earns 2X miles on everything, making it a strong catch-all card for everyday spending that doesn’t fall into bonus categories. Earning 2X on groceries, medical bills and non-travel or non-restaurant purchases can be a huge bonus
• Venture X gifts you 10,000 anniversary points each year, a value of $100
• Strong Value-to-Fee Ratio
  • Between the annual $300 travel credit and the $100 value of the anniversary miles, you get $400 value for a credit card with a $395 fee. The card pays for itself.
• Dual Travel Portals for Rate Comparisons
  • Having access to Chase and Capital One travel portals allows you to compare rates for hotels and flights
• Two Shopping Portals for More Earning Opportunities
  • Both Capital One and Chase offer online shopping portals that allow you to earn additional rewards when making purchases through partner retailers
• Venture X includes Cell Phone Protection
  • When you pay your monthly phone bill with the Venture X, it offers protection for eligible breaks, thefts and losses.
• Generous Authorized User Policies
  • Venture X allows up to 4 free authorized users, while Chase Sapphire Preferred has no restrictions on the number of free authorized users. In comparison, Chase Sapphire Reserve just increased authorized user fees from $75 to $195 per user
• Retention of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
  • Downgrading to the Chase Sapphire Preferred from the Reserve means you can keep all your Chase Ultimate points and don’t have to scramble before you lose access to them if you decide to ditch the card

The Drawbacks of the Two-card Strategy

While there are a multitude of benefits of the two-card approach, there are admittedly a few drawbacks that may keep Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders from making the jump, even if they aren’t thrilled with the new updates:

• Splicing points into two different loyalty programs
  • Points earned will now funnel into Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Miles
• Requires more intentional spending
  • Using a two-card system to maximize points earning will require a bit work
• Limited lounge access
  • Lounge access for guests through Venture X’s Priority Pass will come with a fee after February 1, 2026

For those trying to accrue a large number of points for a specific trip, juggling two programs might be a turn off.  However, it is worth exploring hotel and airline partners for both Chase and Capital One as there is an overlap of transfer partners, thus points from both programs could be transferred into the same airline or hotel loyalty account for a larger redemption. 

For example, I transferred points from both my Capital One and Chase accounts into Vietnam Airlines and got my husband and me business class tickets from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City last year.  

Managing two cards will require intentional spending on specific cards to maximize points earning.  Personally, I put all restaurant expenses on my Chase Sapphire Preferred and the rest goes on my Venture X.  Although some may have an aversion to dividing points earned into two different loyalty programs, I would argue that you may be surprised at how quickly your points accumulate when you are earn double points on things like medical bills, pet food, and the mechanic which were earning only one point per dollar on the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Keep in mind that the renewed Chase Sapphire Reserve just shifted their travel earnings multipliers with the new update, giving higher earnings for bookings through their portal or direct bookings with airlines and hotels.

What was once a 3X earn on all travel-related expenses (think ride shares, third-party booking websites like Kayak, Airbnb, cruise bookings, Viator and Klook, now such sites will only earn one point per dollar spent unless utilizing a promo in the Chase shopping portal.

And of course, the, lounge access. Beginning February 1, 2026, Venture X cardholders will no longer be able to bring free guests, and authorized users on the Venture X will need to pay a fee of $125 to maintain their Priority Pass membership.  

If guest lounge access is important to you, this may be a good enough reason to keep the Chase Sapphire Reserve as no changes were made to their lounge access.

Final Thoughts

With the recent updates, keeping the Chase Sapphire Reserve may not be an obvious choice for plenty of current cardholders. For people looking for a more budget-friendly substitute, pairing the Venture X with the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a compelling option.

While it might take a bit of adjustment for those used to using one card for all purchases, these two cards offer almost all of the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and some additional perks as well.

However, if lounge access for guests and elevated travel insurance are important features for you, then keeping the Chase Sapphire Reserve is likely the way to go.  I continue to stand by the Chase Sapphire Reserve being a top-notch travel credit card- it just might not be the right choice for some who prefer to stay within certain budgets or are comfortable leaving behind some of the bells and whistles.

To explore further about options for credit cards, please read about what credit cards will fit best into your lifestyle, or dive deeper into my full review of the updated Chase Sapphire Reserve. Additionally, you can read up on why I still think that Venture X is one of the best travel credit cards on the market. 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card remains one of the leading premium travel cards on the market.

IN A NUTSHELL: The revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card has added a multitude of credits to help offset the major hike in annual fee. While cardholders who already tend to book nicer hotels, eat at the hottest, hard-to-book restaurants, or utilize Apple TV or Apple Music are a shoe-in to keep this card, the new $795 annual fee may be difficult to justify for others.

However, Chase just announced a fee increase to $795, a notable jump from the previous $550. While it’s true that they’ve added loads of additional perks and credit benefits, features like ‘credits’ can be notoriously challenging to use, especially if they don’t align with services or businesses that are already integrated into your lifestyle.  

Many of the top rewards cards have added credits like these in an attempt to soften the blow of ongoing fee increases.  While on the face of it these additional benefits may seem appealing, these credits often have limitations such as monthly increments or other usage restrictions buried in the fine print, leaving credits often unused at the end of the year. 

Here’s a breakdown of the current features of the card, with new features highlighted: 

REVAMPED CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE BENEFITS 

• Priority Pass Select membership with up to 2 free guests
• Chase Sapphire lounge access with up to 2 free guests
• $120 Credit for TSA, Global Entry or NEXUS every 4 years
• $120 Lyft credit ($10/month)
• $300 Travel credit through the Chase Travel Portal
• Travel Insurance and Auto Rental Coverage
• Purchase, Return, and Warranty Protection
• IHG Platinum Rewards Elite Status
• $500 Travel credit for The Edit hotel collection through the Chase Travel Portal ($250 Jan-June, then July- December, 2 night minimum)
• $300 Dining credit when dining at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables($150 Jan-June, then again July- December)
• $300 DoorDash credit and complimentary DoorDash membership ($5/month on food delivery and $10/month twice a month for groceries and retail)
• Complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music ($250 value)
• $300 Stubhub credit ($150 twice a year-Jan-June, then again July- December)
• $120 Peloton credit

REVAMPED CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE MULTIPLIERS

• 8X points when booking through Chase Travel (replaces 5X for flights and 10X hotels and car rentals) 
• 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly with carrier or brand (replaces 3X for travel)  DOES THIS MEAN NO MORE FOR THIRD PARTY? YES. SUCKS (1X on Chase Travel not eligible for points boost?)
• 3X points on dining
• 5X points for Lyft 
• 10X points for Peloton hardware and accessories