topic CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once? in Credit Cards

CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 23:24:53 GMT

Is the Chase Saphirre Reserve worth the annual fee if I only travel once a year?
Quick question but wanted to see if there was some experience with people who only travel around once a year

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

simplynoir — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 23:42:49 GMT

What kind of spend do you do on that one trip? There is a break even point so it's feasible even with one trip you would break it after you take into account the $300 travel credit. Are you considering the CSP as an alternative if it's not the case or perhaps even another travel card?

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 23:48:26 GMT

nope. You need to travel at least twice a year for math to work. Once to use up the travel credit, another one to redeem UR points on travel.

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

simplynoir — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 23:54:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
nope. You need to travel at least twice a year for math to work. Once to use up the travel credit, another one to redeem UR points on travel.

If the plan is to save them up there's no need for that 2nd trip. And you don't even need to "travel" to trigger the credit anyways; there are plenty of everyday expenses that can trigger the credit it does not need to be charged all at once.

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

UpperNwGuy — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 23:58:55 GMT

It isn't the number of trips. You need to spend more than $6000 a year on travel and dining for CSR to beat a 2% flat rate card. That's the true test.

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

iheartwings — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:00:04 GMT

Only you can answer that question in terms of value for you.

Tell us about your annual trip. Where are you going and what are you looking to experience? Do you value travel in business class or at nicer resorts? Or, do you like going to remote places with tickets that may be a little pricey?

The CSR has an annual fee of $450. With that, you do get a travel credit of $300 (which Chase defines fairly liberally - rideshare, ). That leaves $150 to see if you are getting value from the card.

The card also provides a membership to Priority Pass, which gives you some lounge access. If you only travel once a year, you might not be getting enough value to offset your AF.

So, you have to think about other benefits:

Do you rent a car on your single trip? The card offers primary coverage, and depending on the amount you save on collision coverage with your rental, might save enough to offset the AF.

There's also trip cancellation, trip delay, etc. benefits, all of which you should determine the value in offsetting your annual fee.

CSR does have a greater earn rate (3x for travel and dining) and redemption (1.5 cpp) within the Chase UR portal (with additional value if you do take advantage of transferring points to one of the travel partners). Travel and dining are defined broadly. (If you are only thinking of points, you'd have to earn on the order 10k points to offset the AF.)

Sorry for the rambling, but I hope this answers your question in a roundabout way?

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:01:17 GMT

I do have the Trifecta (Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, and CSP) and I travel once a year. Main spend I will be putting on it would be dining and that one trip a year. I do have a large family which is why dining would be great for me.

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

simplynoir — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:02:45 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I do have the Trifecta (Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, and CSP) and I travel once a year. Main spend I will be putting on it would be dining and that one trip a year. I do have a large family which is why dining would be great for me.

If you don't mind us asking how much spend are you putting on the CSP currently?

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

wasCB14 — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:19:05 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I do have the Trifecta (Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, and CSP) and I travel once a year. Main spend I will be putting on it would be dining and that one trip a year. I do have a large family which is why dining would be great for me.

6 people driving to spend a week at a basic hotel one state over? Maybe you don't need CSR.

6 people flying business class overseas with multiple layovers? Get CSR.

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

xaximus — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 16:15:37 GMT

FYI - if not known already, if you do plan on getting the CSR, it would either have to be converted from the CSP > CSR or you would have to PC the CSP down to another card and then apply. I'm not sure if you'll get the SUB on it either as if you've had the CSP for less then 48 months, you may not get the SUB. As others have stated - depending on what your estimated expense is - that dictates on whether the CSR is worth it for you.

Re: CSR worth the $450 fee if I travel once?

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 16:35:19 GMT

CSR is only good for 2 things, 3x on travel/dining, and 1.5x on travel redemption. I really dont think it worth the trouble to find ways to use it if you just travel once a year and don't redeem it for travel.

Yes, there may be zig-zag ways you can get it to work, but how about just geting a no AF wells farogo propel for 3x on travel, dining and gas, or get an low AF Amex gold to get 4x on dining/grocery? Both of them can also be redeemed for travel at a rate no worse than CSR (propel needs to be paired with no AF Wells visa).