Sep 2, 16, 8:22 am
Last edit by: serpens
Sapphire Reserve Annual Travel Credit
How are the dates calculated?
For cards issued prior to May 21, 2017 it was Reimbursed per Calendar year, not membership year. Purchases must be posted (not pending) by your December statement (dated any time Dec 1 through Dec 31) to be credited against current year's $300 credit. Any travel spend that posts after the December statement will credit against the next year's $300 credit.
For cards issued after May 21, 2017, it will be reimbursed by membership year.
But my 2nd annual fee is after May 21, 2017, why didn't my travel credit reset?
Because if you got your card before that date, your travel credit will continue to reset after your December statement.
Does the travel credit count as minimum spend?
Spend is spend, the credit is the credit. The $300 reimbursement is a separate item from spending requirements( the $300 reimbursement on travel, $100 Goes all count towards the $4,000 only the $450 yearly fee doesn't). You must spend $4000 for your signup bonus UR points. If part of that spend is categorized as travel, a credit will post to your account accordingly. They are separate items.
Even if you return a purchase after you've met your $4000 initial spend it will not count against your spend.
Can I get two travel credit fees if I apply in the middle of the year?
Not for applications after May 21, 2017.
What counts as Travel?
Gas Station and Grocery Store purchases will also count through 12/31/21. (See post 1521.)
The following items have been reimbursed.
Airline purchases, fees & gift cards:
What doesn't count as travel?
Here's a thread dedicated to the topic: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...rrect-mcc.html
The following items have NOT posted as travel/been reimbursed:
How are the dates calculated?
For cards issued prior to May 21, 2017 it was Reimbursed per Calendar year, not membership year. Purchases must be posted (not pending) by your December statement (dated any time Dec 1 through Dec 31) to be credited against current year's $300 credit. Any travel spend that posts after the December statement will credit against the next year's $300 credit.
For cards issued after May 21, 2017, it will be reimbursed by membership year.
But my 2nd annual fee is after May 21, 2017, why didn't my travel credit reset?
Because if you got your card before that date, your travel credit will continue to reset after your December statement.
Does the travel credit count as minimum spend?
Spend is spend, the credit is the credit. The $300 reimbursement is a separate item from spending requirements( the $300 reimbursement on travel, $100 Goes all count towards the $4,000 only the $450 yearly fee doesn't). You must spend $4000 for your signup bonus UR points. If part of that spend is categorized as travel, a credit will post to your account accordingly. They are separate items.
Even if you return a purchase after you've met your $4000 initial spend it will not count against your spend.
Can I get two travel credit fees if I apply in the middle of the year?
Not for applications after May 21, 2017.
What counts as Travel?
Gas Station and Grocery Store purchases will also count through 12/31/21. (See post 1521.)
The following items have been reimbursed.
Airline purchases, fees & gift cards:
- AA e-gift certificate
- Delta eGift Cards, in-flight food/drink purchases
- UA in-flight bev
- Moved from EC to EC+ on AA and credit posted 8/2017.
Southwest gift cards do work! Just purchased a $40 emailed gift card and received the travel credit 3/2018
- Airbnb & their GC
- Bellagio Las Vegas -- including restaurant charges signed to room (posted as BELLAGIO - FRONT DESK)
- hotels.com (NOT hotels.com e-gift cert!)
- Hotel restaurants not charged to room (verified at Renaissance LV)
- Marriott GC and hotel charges
- Priceline "opaque" hotel purchases
- Kruger National Park lodging reservation (booked on sanparks.org official site)
- Hilton Home2 Suites
- taxi fares: Uber, Lyft, Gett, Way2Ride, London taxi, RideAustin
- Transit fees: BART, MTA, FastTrac, MetroCard, DC Metro (WMATA) SmarTrip farecard and commemorative cards, NJ Transit, Oyster card, Ventra (Chicago), Las Vegas Monorail,Short term parking at LAS, London, STIB/MIVB (Brussels), UTA (Salt Lake City), TriMet (Portland, OR)
- Parking meters: Chicago; Portland, OR; San Francisco; Atlantic City; Seattle; Minneapolis; Raleigh; San Diego
- Public parking garages: San Francisco; Montgomery Co. MD; Saint Paul; UC San Diego
- Toll passes: E-Z Pass (MA, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA), Sunpass prepaid tolls, Washington State GoodToGo tolls, RiverLink tolls, TxTag, IPass (Illinois), Houston EZ-Tag
- Train tickets: trainline (UK train tickets), Eurostar.com, Bahn.com (when using Paypal), Amtrak (cafe car purchases as well as tickets purchased from kiosks or the website), italirail.com, Train and bus travel in Scotland at ticket counter, SNCB/NMBS (Belgium--app or counter; chip-and-sign cards don't work in ticket machines), Euroshuttle (car train under the English Channel)
- Ferries: Cape May, NJ to Lewes, DE
- Shuttles: Jackson Hole WY Airport official shuttle to town
- Unlimted JR Pass for Japan purchased from japan-rail-pass.com
- Bikeshare membership/usage fees in Washington, DC
- Parking apps: ParkWhiz, SpotHero, ParkMobile
- Presidential Limousine service in Las Vegas
- Costco Travel
Disney theme park tickets physically purchased at Disney gateSee post #1203- Disney Vacation account funding
- Royal Caribbean drink package
- Cruise bookings
- Cruise Excursions Booked Prior to Cruise (and fully refundable)
- MIR Travel Agency
- ChargePoint for Electric Vehicle Charging
- MileagePlusX Uber GC
- undercovertourist.com
- Rental cars (verified Avis on page 7 of this thread)
- Lahaina Cruise Co. (Hawaii Ocean Project whale watch cruise)
- Interval International Exchange Fee + Upgrade Fee
- Aircraft title transfer registration fees with ICAO's International Registry of Mobile Assets (Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol)
- Cooking class/experience booked through Viator
What doesn't count as travel?
Here's a thread dedicated to the topic: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...rrect-mcc.html
The following items have NOT posted as travel/been reimbursed:
e-gift card from Airline, except DeltaPlease list specifics.- AA in-flight food
- AAA membership
- Alaska Airlines: e-gift cards; in-flight food; Board Room membership (post 1152)
- Blink Charging (EV charging network): shows up as Bills & Utilities
- CLEAR -- annual membership fee and pro-rated $50 fee for adding a family member
- Points.com (Southwest)
- Not all parking meters - Michigan State University (MSU Police Dept. 1x), Phoenix
- Parking citation payment (SF MTA)
- Hotel parking fees (e.g. Fairmont SF)
- Walt Disney tickets directly from Disney.com
- Vacation Rental by Owner/HomeAway
- Airport landing, parking and ground handling fees for private jets
EZ-Tag (Houston, TX)now DOES count per post 1109- Georgia Peach Pass
- Hotels.com e-gift card
- Hyatt e-gift card
- Hyatt physical G.C. from Hyatt.com (coded as Online, Mail, or Telephone transaction or Card, Gift Novelty and Souvenir Stores) No manual adjustment.
- IHG Ambassador recognition program
- Southwest Airlines in-flight purchases
- Southwest Airlines Wi-Fi purchase ("Bills & utilities" in Chase online banking)
- Prince Resorts Hawaii Gift Card (Prince Hotel Waikiki, Mauna Kea Hotel, Hapuna Beach Hotel)
- Meal at Fairmont Hotel not charged to room
- Choice hotel Points + Cash reservation
- Delta in-flight Wi-Fi purchased through app
- MPX Amazon.Com
- Not all public transit: Lisbon metro
- Travel Insurance (Allianz)
Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 Annual Travel Credit (2016 - 2021)
Nov 13, 21, 7:43 am
#1516
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 10,277
Given that 1. & 3. earn points equivalent to using the first $300 on other travel and 2. earns less, it seems inadvisable to try front-loading lyft charges.
Nov 18, 21, 8:21 pm
#1517
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: MileagePlus 1K, Skymiles, HHonors Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 77
Seems like there are two likely possibilities and one unlikely possibility (by my judgement): 1. it would be 10x points and credits applied for $300 in lyft charges, but then the first $300 in travel (after lyft charges) would get no points and no credits; 2. the lyft charges would be no points and credits applied; or not very likely 3. the lyft charges earn 7x points and get credit applied, and the first $300 in travel earn normal 3x points.
Given that 1. & 3. earn points equivalent to using the first $300 on other travel and 2. earns less, it seems inadvisable to try front-loading lyft charges.
Given that 1. & 3. earn points equivalent to using the first $300 on other travel and 2. earns less, it seems inadvisable to try front-loading lyft charges.
Nov 22, 21, 11:16 am
#1519
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: MileagePlus 1K, Skymiles, HHonors Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 77
Took a few Lyft rides over the weekend and they indeed post showing the 7x points for Lyft rides, along with the subsequent matching travel credit adjustment. Really happy to see they've handled it this way, as it seems the most fair way to not disadvantage customers who happen to use Lyft before they fully take advantage of the $300 annual travel credit.
Nov 23, 21, 9:08 am
#1520
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,567
Is the Wiki up to date regarding grocery store purchases earning the travel credit? The points guy site states until 12/31/2021. I got my card before May 2017.
Nov 23, 21, 10:03 am
#1521
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,748
https://www.chase.com/personal/credi...serve-benefits
There are more ways to earn your annual $300 Travel Credit. Through Dec. 31, 2021, gas station and grocery store purchases will count toward earning your Travel Credit. You’ll also earn points on these purchases. And, as always, after your first $300 in travel purchases, you’ll immediately start earning 3x points on travel. All with your Sapphire Reserve card.
Dec 7, 21, 10:23 pm
#1522
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bay Area
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat Amb, United Silver, National Exec
Posts: 51
Anyone noticing a lag in travel credits posting this month?
Dec 8, 21, 12:30 am
#1523
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NW Iowa
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum Elite, Delta Silver Medallion
Posts: 365
Dec 18, 21, 8:56 am
#1525
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: DTW
Programs: UR, MR, AA, DL, HH, IHG, Bonvoy
Posts: 39
I got my card in 10/2016. My Travel credit just reposted. I want to use it quickly and then downgrade. This is the fine print on my account "Through June 30, 2021, in addition to eligible purchases made in the Travel category, purchases posted by June 30, 2021 in the Gas Station and Grocery Store categories will also count toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit."
So does this mean I can't use the $300 at a Grocery Store? If I can't, I see delta e- giftcards count. Is that still true?
So does this mean I can't use the $300 at a Grocery Store? If I can't, I see delta e- giftcards count. Is that still true?
Dec 18, 21, 1:19 pm
#1526
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,088
The wiki notes that the $300 at grocery stores counts as a travel charge for travel reimbursement purposes through the end of this calendar year. Post 1521 provides a link to https://www.chase.com/personal/credi...serve-benefits and a quote apparently from that page. However, I cannot find the verbiage on that page, and could not find it on that page on Dec 15.
However, on Dec 15, by clicking the small underlined asterisk next to $300 annual travel credit, I found "Automatically receive up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Through Dec. 31, 2021, gas station and grocery store purchases will count toward earning your Travel Credit.*" Today, I cannot find anything about grocery stores when I click small underlined asterisk, but it does say "Annually, the first $300 in travel purchases will not earn rewards points, regardless of whether the Annual Credit was earned on purchases for Travel, or for promotional offers on other categories, for example at Gas Stations, or Grocery Stores."
I wonder if Chase would renege on the offer if someone did make a grocery store purchase that would have been eligible before Chase removed the verbiage. It had been my intent to spend the $300 at a grocery store, collect the $300 travel credit, and then make no travel purchases (which would earn no points) before downgrading the card. I had intended to ask the gurus if this seemed like a valid idea and a good idea. Now I still ask the gurus. Would Chase renege? Is it a valid idea? Is it a good idea? Thanks.
Dec 22, 21, 7:17 am
#1527
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 72
Interesting. How do you navigate to the fine print in your account?
The wiki notes that the $300 at grocery stores counts as a travel charge for travel reimbursement purposes through the end of this calendar year. Post 1521 provides a link to https://www.chase.com/personal/credi...serve-benefits and a quote apparently from that page. However, I cannot find the verbiage on that page, and could not find it on that page on Dec 15.
However, on Dec 15, by clicking the small underlined asterisk next to $300 annual travel credit, I found "Automatically receive up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Through Dec. 31, 2021, gas station and grocery store purchases will count toward earning your Travel Credit.*" Today, I cannot find anything about grocery stores when I click small underlined asterisk, but it does say "Annually, the first $300 in travel purchases will not earn rewards points, regardless of whether the Annual Credit was earned on purchases for Travel, or for promotional offers on other categories, for example at Gas Stations, or Grocery Stores."
I wonder if Chase would renege on the offer if someone did make a grocery store purchase that would have been eligible before Chase removed the verbiage. It had been my intent to spend the $300 at a grocery store, collect the $300 travel credit, and then make no travel purchases (which would earn no points) before downgrading the card. I had intended to ask the gurus if this seemed like a valid idea and a good idea. Now I still ask the gurus. Would Chase renege? Is it a valid idea? Is it a good idea? Thanks.
The wiki notes that the $300 at grocery stores counts as a travel charge for travel reimbursement purposes through the end of this calendar year. Post 1521 provides a link to https://www.chase.com/personal/credi...serve-benefits and a quote apparently from that page. However, I cannot find the verbiage on that page, and could not find it on that page on Dec 15.
However, on Dec 15, by clicking the small underlined asterisk next to $300 annual travel credit, I found "Automatically receive up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Through Dec. 31, 2021, gas station and grocery store purchases will count toward earning your Travel Credit.*" Today, I cannot find anything about grocery stores when I click small underlined asterisk, but it does say "Annually, the first $300 in travel purchases will not earn rewards points, regardless of whether the Annual Credit was earned on purchases for Travel, or for promotional offers on other categories, for example at Gas Stations, or Grocery Stores."
I wonder if Chase would renege on the offer if someone did make a grocery store purchase that would have been eligible before Chase removed the verbiage. It had been my intent to spend the $300 at a grocery store, collect the $300 travel credit, and then make no travel purchases (which would earn no points) before downgrading the card. I had intended to ask the gurus if this seemed like a valid idea and a good idea. Now I still ask the gurus. Would Chase renege? Is it a valid idea? Is it a good idea? Thanks.
I have several gas and grocery charges that were credited in December 2021. The last grocery purchase was Dec 16 and last gas purchase was Dec 10.
Dec 22, 21, 8:51 am
#1528
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 45,850
Same here, my cycle started Dec 17 and grocery is getting the 300$ credit love, no issues.
Dec 27, 21, 4:00 am
#1529
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 58
If I upgrade my standard Sapphire back to the csr (had been downgraded in 2020, I believe) tomorrow, would I get the travel credit in 2021 and 2022 within one AF period? I would probably downgrade back to regular sapphire at some point next year.
Jan 8, 22, 6:24 pm
#1530
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 47,217
