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Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?

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Green456
Established Contributor

Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?

Wife wants Chase Sapphire Reserved. Setting aside my personal dislike towards Chase, is the card worth it for us?

We will spend this year $5,000 on travel. Next year probably similar amount.
We can put additional spending of about $1,000 per month.
So total $17,000 per year.
Message 1 of 32
31 REPLIES 31
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?


@Green456 wrote:
Wife wants Chase Sapphire Reserved. Setting aside my personal dislike towards Chase, is the card worth it for us?

We will spend this year $5,000 on travel. Next year probably similar amount.
We can put additional spending of about $1,000 per month.
So total $17,000 per year.

pure value wise, not for 5000 spending on travel alone. unless you


1. assign large value on lounge access/free airport food, and/or

2. have other chase cards whose points can be redeemed for travel at 150% value

Message 2 of 32
wasCB14
Super Contributor

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?

How much of the additional $1k/month is dining? CSR is nothing special outside of travel and dining.

 

I like mine, but I spend more on travel and use CFU often.

 

*For the travel spend, any favored hotel or airline?

Personal spend: Amex Gold, Amex Schwab Plat., BofA PR+CCR(x2), Costco
Business use: Amex Bus. Plat., BBP, Lowes Amex AU, CFU AU
Perks: Delta Plat., United Explorer, IHG49, Hyatt, "Old SPG"
Mostly SD: Freedom Flex, Freedom, Arrival
Upgrade/Downgrade games: ED, BCE
SUB chasing: AA Platinum Select
Message 3 of 32
Green456
Established Contributor

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?

Only $200 a month on dining. $800 on food and other non travel.
Message 4 of 32
Green456
Established Contributor

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?


@Anonymous wrote:

@Green456 wrote:
Wife wants Chase Sapphire Reserved. Setting aside my personal dislike towards Chase, is the card worth it for us?

We will spend this year $5,000 on travel. Next year probably similar amount.
We can put additional spending of about $1,000 per month.
So total $17,000 per year.

pure value wise, not for 5000 spending on travel alone. unless you


1. assign large value on lounge access/free airport food, and/or

2. have other chase cards whose points can be redeemed for travel at 150% value


She is 0/24. So she can potentially get 4 chase cards. 

 

$5000 on travel

$10,000 on non travel

$2000 on dining.

 

What is point redeem value on Chase portal?

Message 5 of 32
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?


@Green456 wrote:
Wife wants Chase Sapphire Reserved. Setting aside my personal dislike towards Chase, is the card worth it for us?

We will spend this year $5,000 on travel. Next year probably similar amount.
We can put additional spending of about $1,000 per month.
So total $17,000 per year.

Yes it's worth it. You get a $300 credit, making the annual fee $150.   

 

$4700 x 3% = $141, meaning just the travel component makes the card essentially free.  

 

There's also lounge access, various travel protection including primary rental car coverage, etc.  That's not even taking into account that the SUB will pay the annual fee for 3+ years even if you value the points at $0.01 each.

Message 6 of 32
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?


@Green456 wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

@Green456 wrote:
Wife wants Chase Sapphire Reserved. Setting aside my personal dislike towards Chase, is the card worth it for us?

We will spend this year $5,000 on travel. Next year probably similar amount.
We can put additional spending of about $1,000 per month.
So total $17,000 per year.

pure value wise, not for 5000 spending on travel alone. unless you


1. assign large value on lounge access/free airport food, and/or

2. have other chase cards whose points can be redeemed for travel at 150% value


She is 0/24. So she can potentially get 4 chase cards. 

 

$5000 on travel

$10,000 on non travel

$2000 on dining.

 

What is point redeem value on Chase portal?


1.5cpp (lowest price not guranteed).

 

10000x2.25

7000x4.5

-------------------

total $540

 

return: (540-150)/17000=2.3%, not a great return.

 

Again, CSR's lounge free food can value 20 per visit for two at least. So 2 to 3 trips can net you 100.

If you get her freedom, and try to get its 5% category (7.5% with CSR), it will increase value as well.

Message 7 of 32
Shadowfactor
Valued Contributor

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?

How do you plan on redeeming the points if you get the CSR ? Southwest and Hyatt are really the only decent options left. BA is an decent program but it’s not unique to chase so it shouldn’t be a deciding factor given CSR’s earn rates are behind other travel card.

You should take a look at the transfer partners chase has to offer as that’s how you obtain the most value out of the card. The portal is a safety net at 1.5CPP so 4.5% return on dining and travel. Not outstanding but not terrible either.

Chase has an easy to use travel credit which leaves the AF at $150 net. PP is almost worthless in the US unless at a restaurant “lounge” so if you don’t plan on international travel. I wouldn’t assign much value to that perk.

Chase really shines if you’re the type of person that stays in Hyatt’s and flies southwest. Mainly domestic travel. It has decent insurance for travel.

The biggest thing with picking a travel card is how you will utilize the points. You’re collecting this “currency” and you want to be able to spend it how you want.





Total Revolving Limits $254,800

Message 8 of 32
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?

I wouldn't call PP wortheless. They do have presence in many large airport in US.

Message 9 of 32
Shadowfactor
Valued Contributor

Re: Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?


@Anonymous wrote:

I wouldn't call PP wortheless. They do have presence in many large airport in US.


Yes they do have many lounges in the US, but gaining access to them is a crapshoot. Very limited hours that most lounges accept PP guests. They are often closed to PP because of space constraints. 

 

I wouldn’t assign much value to PP unless you can utilize the restaurant options or travel internationally. 

 

As always YMMV but this has been my experience and I see daily posts about this issue in the travel groups I belong too. 





Total Revolving Limits $254,800

Message 10 of 32
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