Sep 2, 2017, 7:31 pm
Last edit by: kerrigjl
In 2017, at the first renewal of the 2016 Chase Sapphire Reserve card,* no retention offers have been forthcoming. It appears that Chase is not offering retention bonuses on this card at this time, and will cancel the card at the cardholders request without further ado.
*A retention offer has been reported (though it's minimal): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28917524-post376.html
Posts 333 and 327 discuss a fee credit issued by Chase when cancelling the card. These have been called both "Annual Fee Refund" and "Membership Fee Credit."
This thread discusses the timing of both cancelling and product changing (downgrading to Sapphire Preferred) in order to 1) Keep from paying the $450 annual fee, and 2) possibly get a 2018 $300 travel credit before cancelling.
The rules changed for the travel credit on cards issued in May 2017, making the travel credit a calendar year issuance rather than a Dec statement to Dec Statement issuance.
The nuances discussed within this thread include changing your billing date, fees posting on the 1st of the month, and the 30 day window to cancel/60 day window to product change.
09/03/17 - 72k spend, no offer.
09/03/17 - 30k spend, no offer.
09/04/17 - 25k spend, no offer.
09/05/17 - 10k spend, no offer.
09/06/17 - 24k spend, no offer.
09/06/17 - Maybe 4-5K spend. No offer, closed.
09/06/17 - Spend unspecified, no offer.
09/07/17 - 10k spend, no offer.
09/12/17 - 15k annual spend, no offer, downgraded to Chase Freedom to preserve cl
09/18/17 - No offer.
09/22/17 - 25k spend, no offer.
09/29/17 - 17k spend, no offer.
10/02/17 - 64k spend, no offer.
10/10/17 - 16.5k, 2,500 point offer, declined.
10/13/17 - 165k, no offer.
10/13/17- No offer. ~$25k
10/21/17 - No offer, maybe $10k spend, transferred CL, cancelled.
03/02/18 - No offer, ~$13.5k spend
*A retention offer has been reported (though it's minimal): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28917524-post376.html
Posts 333 and 327 discuss a fee credit issued by Chase when cancelling the card. These have been called both "Annual Fee Refund" and "Membership Fee Credit."
This thread discusses the timing of both cancelling and product changing (downgrading to Sapphire Preferred) in order to 1) Keep from paying the $450 annual fee, and 2) possibly get a 2018 $300 travel credit before cancelling.
The rules changed for the travel credit on cards issued in May 2017, making the travel credit a calendar year issuance rather than a Dec statement to Dec Statement issuance.
The nuances discussed within this thread include changing your billing date, fees posting on the 1st of the month, and the 30 day window to cancel/60 day window to product change.
09/03/17 - 72k spend, no offer.
09/03/17 - 30k spend, no offer.
09/04/17 - 25k spend, no offer.
09/05/17 - 10k spend, no offer.
09/06/17 - 24k spend, no offer.
09/06/17 - Maybe 4-5K spend. No offer, closed.
09/06/17 - Spend unspecified, no offer.
09/07/17 - 10k spend, no offer.
09/12/17 - 15k annual spend, no offer, downgraded to Chase Freedom to preserve cl
09/18/17 - No offer.
09/22/17 - 25k spend, no offer.
09/29/17 - 17k spend, no offer.
10/02/17 - 64k spend, no offer.
10/10/17 - 16.5k, 2,500 point offer, declined.
10/13/17 - 165k, no offer.
10/13/17- No offer. ~$25k
10/21/17 - No offer, maybe $10k spend, transferred CL, cancelled.
03/02/18 - No offer, ~$13.5k spend
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Renewal & Retention
Sep 6, 2017, 5:42 pm
#166
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Sep 6, 2017, 7:42 pm
#167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Posted today on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Megathread at r/churning:
"Spoke to CSR who said that they are giving only 30 days to credit back the AF on the CSR if you cancel the card, and 60 days to credit it back if you downgrade. The rep said they are not pro-rating the annual fee back if it is greater than 60 days from when you decide to downgrade."
"Spoke to CSR who said that they are giving only 30 days to credit back the AF on the CSR if you cancel the card, and 60 days to credit it back if you downgrade. The rep said they are not pro-rating the annual fee back if it is greater than 60 days from when you decide to downgrade."
Sep 6, 2017, 7:55 pm
#168
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Plastic, Delta Silver Emeritus
Posts: 1,037
I'm pretty sure they will find this without me having to call. 
Sep 7, 2017, 8:33 am
#169
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
Posted today on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Megathread at r/churning:
"Spoke to CSR who said that they are giving only 30 days to credit back the AF on the CSR if you cancel the card, and 60 days to credit it back if you downgrade. The rep said they are not pro-rating the annual fee back if it is greater than 60 days from when you decide to downgrade."
If accurate, this appears to be a change in policy to partially combat the strategy outlined in your blog post. (Affects primarily the cardmembers with a 1 September anniversary date.)
"Spoke to CSR who said that they are giving only 30 days to credit back the AF on the CSR if you cancel the card, and 60 days to credit it back if you downgrade. The rep said they are not pro-rating the annual fee back if it is greater than 60 days from when you decide to downgrade."
If accurate, this appears to be a change in policy to partially combat the strategy outlined in your blog post. (Affects primarily the cardmembers with a 1 September anniversary date.)
Sep 7, 2017, 8:34 am
#170
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
Sep 7, 2017, 7:24 pm
#171
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Product change to Chase Freedom. No retention offer.
Sep 9, 2017, 4:24 am
#174
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVP; UA Gold; DL Gold; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 156
I'm curious what would be a worthy retention offer for keeping CSR another year? Are folks thinking statement credit or points or a spend challenge?
I'll be keeping CSR for another year. Specifically, living in Europe and traveling to Asia a lot, the CSR's Priority Pass benefit is worth a lot to me. Lots more options from which to choose. Although, the Turkish Airline lounge at IAD is one of my favorite US domestic PP lounge out there.
I'll be keeping CSR for another year. Specifically, living in Europe and traveling to Asia a lot, the CSR's Priority Pass benefit is worth a lot to me. Lots more options from which to choose. Although, the Turkish Airline lounge at IAD is one of my favorite US domestic PP lounge out there.
Sep 9, 2017, 4:47 am
#175
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
This is a reason to have a Priority Pass membership, but not to have Sapphire Reserve. Priority Pass is a me too benefit, also available from American Express, Citi, and other issuers.
Sep 9, 2017, 7:55 am
#176
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,041
My wife and I both have the card (for the sign-up bonus) and was thinking we'd keep at least one, but other than the 3X for dining/travel, which is great, I'm actually struggling to identify any other unique benefit of value with this card.
I find it humorous that so many in these forums declared this card superior to the Citi Prestige (after the changes) and yet for us the Prestige is the one card that is probably the easiest for us to justify keeping. The 4th night free benefit is literally a money maker for us.
Regards
Sep 9, 2017, 9:38 am
#177
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,946
Need some advice. Both my wife and I have our own (not au) CSRs. My wife's af will hit this month (mine's in Dec). I plan to cancel hers, but I'd like to retain the credit line. I have already transferred the URs to me, so her UR balance is 0.
What's the best downgrade option?
What's the best downgrade option?
Sep 9, 2017, 10:11 am
#178
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Need some advice. Both my wife and I have our own (not au) CSRs. My wife's af will hit this month (mine's in Dec). I plan to cancel hers, but I'd like to retain the credit line. I have already transferred the URs to me, so her UR balance is 0.
What's the best downgrade option?
What's the best downgrade option?
You could go the CSP route but that's a $95 annual fee (not waived because you're downgrading). It would be less expensive just to make her an AU on your CSR ($75) than it would to downgrade to CSP.
Sep 9, 2017, 10:51 am
#179
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,946
If you don't want to pay an annual fee, either Freedom (5x rotating categories) or Freedom Unlimited (1.5% back on every purchase.)
You could go the CSP route but that's a $95 annual fee (not waived because you're downgrading). It would be less expensive just to make her an AU on your CSR ($75) than it would to downgrade to CSP.
You could go the CSP route but that's a $95 annual fee (not waived because you're downgrading). It would be less expensive just to make her an AU on your CSR ($75) than it would to downgrade to CSP.
Sep 9, 2017, 12:10 pm
#180
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
Thanks. I thought about AU for my wife on my CSR, but PP, one of the larger benefits she'd receive, in SEA is little more than a joke during peak hours....and we usually travel on the same reservation. All that said, I'm still open to reasons why retaining it makes sense for me.