The challenges of active-duty military service are unparalleled in difficulty and intensity. In this profession, it’s crucial to equip yourself not just with the necessary military gear but also with items that can simplify your daily life. One of the major stressors I faced, both personally and for my family, was the continual travel.
With this consideration, let’s discuss a travel tool I wish had been available in its present form during my service to simplify that aspect of my life. I’m referring to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which revolutionized the credit card market in 2016 and has consistently remained one of the most rewarding credit cards available.
Let’s examine the card benefits that are most advantageous for service members to help you determine if it warrants a place in your wallet.
No annual fee
On September 20, 2017, Chase implemented a major policy adjustment to adhere to the Military Lending Act (MLA). Due to the 36% MAPR (military annual percentage rate) limit, which includes fees for credit card accounts, Chase opted to play it safe and waived the $550 annual fee for the Sapphire Reserve card for military personnel for any accounts opened on or after September 20, 2017.
Following the same policy, Chase has eliminated all account fees, except for late fees and insufficient-funds fees. This exemption includes the $75 authorized-user fees. These advantages are also extended to the accounts of military dependents who are primary cardholders, provided they are registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
Fee waivers are said to be automatically applied to new accounts as Chase cross-references Social Security numbers with Department of Defense databases. Typically, a letter outlining the MLA benefits is sent to a military cardholder or their dependent shortly after they receive the card. Should this not happen, you can send a secure message to Chase via Chase.com or contact the Chase military desk at 1-877-469-0110 to request the benefits. Acquiring the card, the sign-up bonus, and all the Chase Sapphire Reserve perks (such as the annual $300 travel credit) without paying the annual fee presents an exceptional offer for military members.
Exchange points for a value of 1.5 cents or higher.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can earn with the Sapphire Reserve, can be transferred to 11 airline partners and three hotel partners. This allows you to get significant value from your points by indulging in a stay at a Park Hyatt hotel or booking an international business- or first-class flight. While on active duty, you might not have the time or the ability to plan ahead to take full advantage of these options, but they will be available when you are ready.
Head over to Chase Travel℠, where you can use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned with the Sapphire Reserve — or combined from other Ultimate Rewards cards to your Sapphire Reserve — at a value of 1.5 cents per point for any travel booking made through that site.
You can use your points to book a flight, hotel, rental car, cruise, or local experience at a set rate of 1.5 cents per point.
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For instance, if a plane ticket costs $200, it will require 13,333 points when booked through Chase if you hold the Sapphire Reserve. This offers great value compared to many other rewards programs. Additionally, flights booked through the portal are often considered as paid tickets by airlines, which means you’ll typically earn redeemable and elite-qualifying miles on these tickets, along with the ease and flexibility of use.
Membership for Priority Pass airport lounges
The U.S. military often travels internationally, which means you might need access to airport lounges at distant commercial airports. With a Priority Pass Lounge membership, you’ll have access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide. As a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder, you can bring an unlimited number of guests with you during each lounge visit.
I don’t suggest taking your whole ship’s crew to the lounge, but bringing your whole family should be fine. Throughout my nine years of military travel, I was continuously happy to discover a Priority Pass lounge in nearly every airport the Navy sent me to in Asia and the Middle East.
$300 annual travel credit
Each membership year, you’ll get a $300 travel credit that can be used for nearly any purchase that qualifies as travel.
If you are uncertain about whether an expense qualifies as “travel,” the definition provided on the Chase website is as follows:
“Businesses within the travel sector encompass airlines, hotels, motels, timeshare properties, campgrounds, car rental firms, cruise companies, travel agencies, budget travel websites, and providers of passenger train services, bus services, taxicabs, limousines, ferries, toll roads and bridges, as well as parking facilities and garages.”
Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
If you’re serving in the military, it’s essential to have Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
For those who remain in service for an extended period, international travel, often through commercial flights, is likely. To avoid waiting in immigration return lines, make use of the up to $100 Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits available with your Sapphire Reserve.
Reimbursement for the fee will occur once every four years. If you already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can use this waiver to register a friend or family member at no cost. The credit can be utilized by anyone, not just the cardholder.
When is the best time to register?
If I were still serving and searching for a credit card, this would be my top choice.
With no yearly fee, valuable rewards, and a host of travel benefits, this card deserves the top spot in your wallet. Additionally, starting with a Chase card is beneficial for optimizing your 5/24 policy status before considering other card issuers.
Regardless of whether you are in the military, it’s important to ensure your credit is in good standing before applying. Additionally, make sure your family has well-defined and consistent financial goals and organization, particularly before a deployment or an extended travel period.
Bottom line
The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides outstanding travel perks with no annual fee for active-duty military personnel. Additionally, the card offers various benefits like built-in trip delay insurance, access to the Luxury Hotel & Resort collection, and primary collision damage waiver insurance for rental cars. Make sure to invest some time in understanding how to optimize your Ultimate Rewards points to fully leverage the value of this remarkable card.
Sign up here: Chase Sapphire Reserve