For the Travel Hackers: ABD Charge on Sapphire Reserve

[acndis]

As I mentioned, I just got the new Sapphire Reserve card. I made a payment on my Alaska ABD and have already been credited the $300 travel bonus back. Made that $450 fee a lot less painful! Remember if you get the card before December, you can double dip. I will pay my ABD balance off in February and get another $300. I love this card!

I am posting this because I am always nervous about what counts as a "travel credit" and sometimes seemingly obvious travel expenses aren't coded that way. ABD is confirmed!

ABD also works as a travel expense on the Citi Costco where you get 3% Costco Cash Back.

 

[tink1970]

I had the same experience...also got off my duff and applied for Global Entry. This fee was also immediately reimbursed. The CSR has been a great product so far

 

[sayhello]

Is this a permanent feature, not a promotional thing? Getting a $300 rebate on travel you charge to their card? Is there a limit to how many times/how frequently you can get it? Is there a minimum amount (I would imagine?) that qualifies you for the $300?

Thanks!
Sayhello

 

[acndis]

Is this a permanent feature, not a promotional thing? Getting a $300 rebate on travel you charge to their card? Is there a limit to how many times/how frequently you can get it? Is there a minimum amount (I would imagine?) that qualifies you for the $300?

Thanks!
Sayhello

Sayhello,

It is $300 annually but in the first year, you can double dip ($300 for 15-16; $300 for 16-17; award is by calendar year NOT your card anniversary) if you get the card before December. No minimum amount to qualify but the maximum is $300. So, if you charge $100, you will get $100 back and then you would need to make $200 worth of additional travel charges and they will refund them until you hit $300. You just have to have a charge coded as what Chase deems 'travel'.

Here's a link to the info:

https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/sapphire/reserve

Make sure you try to sign up right away for the amazing bonus! Okay, I am starting to sound like a Chase ad, sorry! Not my intention but it is a great offer for us stalwart travelers!

 

[sayhello]

Sayhello,

It is $300 annually but in the first year, you can double dip ($300 for 15-16; $300 for 16-17; award is by calendar year NOT your card anniversary) if you get the card before December. No minimum amount to qualify but the maximum is $300. So, if you charge $100, you will get $100 back and then you would need to make $200 worth of additional travel charges and they will refund them until you hit $300. You just have to have a charge coded as what Chase deems 'travel'.

Here's a link to the info:

https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/sapphire/reserve

Make sure you try to sign up right away for the amazing bonus! Okay, I am starting to sound like a Chase ad, sorry! Not my intention but it is a great offer for us stalwart travelers!

That really does make the annual fee a bit easier to take, if you can get that every year.

I'm not sure what you mean by "($300 for 15-16; $300 for 16-17;".

Thanks!
Sayhello

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

My husband and I both got the cards. It is amazing so far and will definitely replace pretty much every card in my wallet if it proves to be as good as it seems. 3 times miles on travel and restaurants is hard to beat. We will both definitely be double dipping this year, and I can't wait for our 200,000 miles! Sayhello check out points guy for recent posts on this amazing card. It's been so popular that they ran out of metal to make the cards and sent temporary plastic instead.

 

[tink1970]

"I'm not what you mean by "($300 for 15-16; $300 for 16-170'"

@sayhello-Pretty sure those are referring to calendar years (2015-2016/2016-2017). So if you used the credit now and in Jan (for travel charge) it's $600 back when your annual fee is $450. Helps with the OUCH factor

 

[tgeorge]

Woohoo! Great info. Applied and now just waiting for it to arrive. Did those of you who already received them get the metal cards? I've read there has been a problem having enough of those cards so they have switched to plastic,but will replace with the metal once more are in stock. I will say that having the weight of the Sapphire card I have now is quite nice. I'm assuming it is somewhat similar??

Is that ridiculous to ask? I feel silly asking it

 

[tgeorge]

I had the same experience...also got off my duff and applied for Global Entry. This fee was also immediately reimbursed. The CSR has been a great product so far

I used my AMEX to get the Global Entry. You will not be disappointed.

 

[sayhello]

OK, I'm going to have to look into the details on this, but this looks like it could be a major benefit, also:

Travel Protection*
TRIP CANCELLATION/TRIP INTERRUPTION INSURANCE
If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip for your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.

AUTO RENTAL COLLISION DAMAGE WAIVER
Decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.

TRAVEL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $1,000,000.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION & TRANSPORTATION
If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

LOST LUGGAGE REIMBURSEMENT
If you or your immediate family members' checked or carry-on bags are damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.

TRIP DELAY REIMBURSEMENT
If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 6 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.

BAGGAGE DELAY INSURANCE
Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over six hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for five days.

If it's good enough to replace everything but travel medical coverage (which is not that expensive by itself) that could be a HUGE savings for me. Wish I'd known about this back in April!!!

Sayhello

 

[acndis]

@sayhello-Pretty sure those are referring to calendar years (2015-2016/2016-2017). So if you used the credit now and in Jan (for travel charge) it's $600 back when your annual fee is $450. Helps with the OUCH factor

Yes, calendar year is what I meant! Thanks tink1970 for explaining it much better.

We have the temporary card. They said they will send the fancier version when they have made more.

 

[sayhello]

My husband and I both got the cards. It is amazing so far and will definitely replace pretty much every card in my wallet if it proves to be as good as it seems. 3 times miles on travel and restaurants is hard to beat. We will both definitely be double dipping this year, and I can't wait for our 200,000 miles! Sayhello check out points guy for recent posts on this amazing card. It's been so popular that they ran out of metal to make the cards and sent temporary plastic instead.

Are you talking about topics on points guy, or is there actually some sort of a Forum with discussions that I'm missing?

Sayhello

 

[tink1970]

I still have the plastic version too...dreaming of my nice, substantial replacement once they make more

There are lots of articles about this card (including points guy and nerd wallet) that I found very helpful. I'm not sure I'll use another card for travel anytime soon!

 

[tgeorge]

I still have the plastic version too...dreaming of my nice, substantial replacement once they make more

There are lots of articles about this card (including points guy and nerd wallet) that I found very helpful. I'm not sure I'll use another card for travel anytime soon!

Okay, that answers my question,thanks. I guess I need to be patient

I will say that I love the 3X reward points for travel. I think I'll be very, very happy with this card. I've liked my current Sapphire card,but this takes those benefits and kicks them up a notch. And the bonus miles are a great addition

 

[DLgal]

"I'm not what you mean by "($300 for 15-16; $300 for 16-170'"

@sayhello-Pretty sure those are referring to calendar years (2015-2016/2016-2017). So if you used the credit now and in Jan (for travel charge) it's $600 back when your annual fee is $450. Helps with the OUCH factor

Yeah but you will get charged the annual fee right off the bat for this year (it will be on your first statement) and then you will get charged the $450 again next year on your card anniversary. So you will get $300 back this year and $300 next year but then that $450 charge will hit late 2017 and you will have already used your $300 credit for that year.

Unlike most other fee cards, this one charges the annual fee upfront, not one year after you open the card.

The simplest way to explain it is the annual fee is really $150, as long as you travel every year...and the definition of "travel" is very loose, at least right now. A lot of charges count as "travel" (taxis, trains, bus rides, Uber, airfare, baggage fees, paid parking lot fees, and a lot more).

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Are you talking about topics on points guy, or is there actually some sort of a Forum with discussions that I'm missing?

Sayhello

It's just topics. I follow his posts on twitter. You might have to go back a week or two to when the card was released, but he had tons of posts on it (why its the best card out there, how it works, all the perks, etc.). He explains the $300 travel credit really well.

 

[tgeorge]

I had to pay the annual fee for my Platinum Amex right away. I'm pretty sure the Citi Prestige card is the same. Since the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is linked into this class of card, that isn't unusual. If you compare those three cards, then you can actually see where the benefits are.

But, yes, you do have to 'travel' every year in order to recognize some of the benefit.

 

[carpenta]

STOP! STOP!!!!! My head hurts trying to figure out "travel hacking".......LOL........I just go "old fashion" and use the cards I currently have to the best advantage I can......I must inquire at M.I.T. if they offer a course on "Travel Hacking"? From what I have just read it must be listed in the PhD level courses.

 

[sayhello]

STOP! STOP!!!!! My head hurts trying to figure out "travel hacking".......LOL........I just go "old fashion" and use the cards I currently have to the best advantage I can......I must inquire at M.I.T. if they offer a course on "Travel Hacking"? From what I have just read it must be listed in the PhD level courses.

I agree!

It's just topics. I follow his posts on twitter. You might have to go back a week or two to when the card was released, but he had tons of posts on it (why its the best card out there, how it works, all the perks, etc.). He explains the $300 travel credit really well.

I didn't realize it had only been introduced a week or two ago! Now I don't feel so bad for not knowing about it in April!

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Well, I just got Instantly approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card! 100,000 points, come to me! (Wish I'd had them when I booked my flight to China, but, oh, well, I'm SURE I'll get use out of them!!! )

Thanks all!

Sayhello