Which purchases qualify for the $300 Sapphire Reserve travel credit?

One of the best features of the Sapphire Reserve card is the $300 annual travel statement credit. This credit automatically applies to any qualifying travel purchase made with the card. But what qualifies as travel, according to Chase?

Reader Jake sent me this question and I thought the answer was worth posting for all who wondered. Unsurprisingly, it’s a lot more than just your standard hotel charges and airline fees. In fact, there is a very useful Flyertalk page that outlines various purchases confirmed to have been reimbursed:

Airline purchases that qualify for the $300 Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit

Most people are going to use the $300 Sapphire Reserve travel credit for airline purchases. But that’s not your only restriction! Cardholders can use the credit towards select airline gift cards, airfare, and even incidental fees. That definitely works out well for those who want more flexibility to redeem this credit for more than just airfare

• Airline purchases, fees & gift cards
• American Airlines e-gift certificate
• Delta eGift cards
• United Airlines in-flight beverages

Hotel purchases that qualify for the $300 Travel Credit

Hotels are probably the second most popular category for the $300 Sapphire Reserve travel credit. In addition to direct hotel bookings, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can redeem their travel credits towards Airbnb gift cards, select travel OTA’s, and even some gift cards. 

This ensures that you’re not restricted to direct hotel bookings only and can shop around for the best deals.

• Airbnb and their gift card
• Hotels.com (excluding e-gift cards)
• Hotel restaurants not charged to room (at Renaissance LV)
• Kruger National Park lodging reservation (booked on sanparks.org official site)
• Marriott gift card and hotel charges
• Priceline “opaque” hotel purchases

Transit purchases

Transit purchases that qualify for the $300 Sapphire Reserve travel credit are vast. For example, public transportation, rideshare apps, and toll passes all qualify. Pretty much any transportation cost can be covered with this credit. Below are some examples:

• Ferries: Cape May to Lewes, DE
• Parking meters in Chicago, Portland, San Francisco, Atlantic City, Seattle
• Public parking garages in San Francisco; Montgomery Co. MD
• Shuttles: Jackson Hole WY Airport official shuttle to town
• Taxi and rideshare fares: Uber, Lyft, Gett, Way2Ride, London taxi
• Toll passes: E-Z Pass (MA, MD, NH, NJ, PA), Sunpass prepaid tolls, Washington State GoodToGo tolls, RiverLink tolls, TxTag, IPass (Illinois)
• Train tickets: Trainline (UK train), Eurostar, Bahn.com (when using Paypal), Amtrak (cafe car purchases as well as tickets purchased from kiosks), italirail.com, Train and bus travel in Scotland at ticket counter.
• Transit fees: BART, MTA, FastTrac, MetroCard, DC Metro (WMATA) SmarTrip farecard and commemorative cards, NJ Transit, Oyster card, Ventra, Las Vegas Monorail
• Unlimited JR Pass for Japan purchased from japan-rail-pass.com

Other Purchases that qualify for the $300 Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit

Aside from your obvious travel purchases, the $300 Sapphire Reserve travel credit can also be applied towards a myriad of other purchases. For example, electric car owners will be pleased to use their credits towards CharPoint charging stations. Cruises and vacation packages are a given, but you can also use your credit on currency exchange fees.

Furthermore, MileagePlus X users will appreciate being able to use the $300 travel credit from the Sapphire Reserve towards Uber gift cards.

• ChargePoint for electric vehicle charging
• Cruises and excursions booked prior to cruise 
• Disney Vacation account funding
• Disney Cruise
• Interval International Exchange Fee + Upgrade Fee 
• Lahaina Cruise Co.
• MileagePlusX Uber GC
• MIR Travel Agency
• Rental cars (Avis)
• Royal Caribbean drink package
• Undercovertourist.com

Travel purchases that DO NOT qualify for the $300 Sapphire Reserve credit

It’s also important to note which purchases DO NOT qualify for the $300 Sapphire Reserve travel credit. These are common travel purchases, but perhaps once you wouldn’t expect to qualify for this credit.

• AAA membership
• Airport landing, parking and ground handling fees for private jets
• Alaska Airline e-gift cards
• Choice Hotel Points + Cash reservation
• EZ-Tag 
• Georgia Peach Pass
• Hotel parking fees (e.g. Fairmont SF)
• Hotels.com e-gift card
• Hyatt e-gift card
• Hyatt physical gift cards from Hyatt.com. 
• IHG Ambassador recognition program
• Meals at Fairmont Hotel not charged to room
• Park tickets directly from Disney.com
• Parking meters – Michigan State University, Phoenix
• Points.com (Southwest)
• Prince Resorts Hawaii Gift Card 
• Southwest Airlines in-flight purchases
• United in-flight wifi service purchased through the app
• Vacation Rental by Owner/HomeAway

It was alleged on this Flyertalk thread that airline e-gift cards (except for those issued by Delta and American) were also excluded from the travel category. That particular statement was then crossed out. I imagine that’s because there isn’t enough data to verify it.

Regardless, it’s good to be aware of which charges may or may not count towards the annual $300 travel statement credit from the Sapphire Reserve. That way, if a particular airfare charge is confirmed not to count towards the $300 travel credit, then you can explore your other options, including the Amex Platinum cards.

If you know of any purchases that are eligible for the $300 travel statement credit from the Sapphire Reserve but aren’t listed here, please share them in the comment section.

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