Chase Sapphire Reserve Adding Authorized User Guide and Review

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium credit card that offers an array of benefits, including travel insurance and reimbursement for travel delays.

To add an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you'll need to log in to your online account and follow the prompts.

The process is relatively straightforward, and it's free to add an authorized user.

Once you've added an authorized user, you'll receive a new card with their name on it.

Benefits

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, adding an authorized user can be a great idea, especially since they'll enjoy most of the benefits in the same way as the primary cardholder. Authorized users get 50% redemption bonus on travel through Chase Travel, redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for 1.5 cents each.

This means they can redeem 10,000 points for a $150 plane ticket, rather than 15,000 points. Authorized users also get lost luggage coverage for up to $3,000 per covered person per trip, with limits for jewelry and electronic equipment.

Authorized users can even access the annual travel credit of up to $300 in statement credits for reimbursement toward travel purchases. However, it's worth noting that only one $300 allowance is available per account, regardless of how many authorized users are on the account.

Annual Travel Credit

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The Annual Travel Credit is a fantastic perk of having a Sapphire Reserve card. You can receive up to $300 in statement credits for reimbursement toward travel purchases charged to your account.

Either cardholder - you or an authorized user - can make the qualifying purchase(s), but you'll only receive a single $300 allowance.

This means that even if you have multiple authorized users on your account, you'll still only get one $300 credit each year.

To qualify for the credit, simply charge your travel purchases to your Sapphire Reserve account, and the credit will be applied to your statement.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a great option for travelers, but it's essential to understand how authorized users can benefit from it. Authorized users will enjoy virtually every benefit, except the welcome bonus, $300 travel credit, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit.

Authorized users can also build credit history, which is a significant advantage. This can be especially helpful for individuals who are new to credit or want to improve their credit score.

Adding an authorized user can also help combine expenses into one account, making it easier to manage finances. This can be a huge time-saver, especially for families or business partners.

Just remember, the primary cardholder is responsible for any transactions that occur on the authorized user's card.

Cost and Fees

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The cost of adding an authorized user to the Chase Sapphire Reserve is straightforward: $75 per year per person. This fee is in addition to the annual fee for the primary cardholder, which is $550 per year.

To give you a better idea of the cost, if you want to add four authorized users, it'll be $75 x 4 = $300 per year. That's a significant discount compared to having each individual open a separate account.

The $75 annual fee per additional cardholder is a standard rate for the Sapphire Reserve, and it's because authorized users will have access to numerous benefits beyond the line of credit itself.

Rewards and Earning

Adding an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Reserve account can boost your rewards earnings in several ways. Every transaction the authorized user makes will earn Ultimate Rewards points at the same rate as the primary cardholder.

You can also transfer your Ultimate Rewards points directly to your authorized user's loyalty account, such as United MileagePlus, in most instances. This can be a huge perk, especially if your authorized user has a loyalty program account with a high redemption value.

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The authorized user can earn rewards in a single account, just like the primary cardholder. Every transaction they make will earn Ultimate Rewards points at the same rate, which can add up quickly.

To give you a better idea, here's a breakdown of the rewards earning rates:

  • Earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travelâ„  immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
  • Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Adding authorized users can also make it easier to meet bonus requirements. For example, if you need to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months to get a welcome bonus, your authorized user can help you make purchases on everyday spending.

Authorized users can also redeem Ultimate Rewards points for 1.5 cents each, just like the primary cardholder, when booking travel through the Chase Travel portal. This can be a huge perk, especially for travel-related expenses.

Application and Eligibility

Applying for a Chase Sapphire Reserve card as an authorized user is a much simpler process than applying for your own card. You'll be able to take advantage of the benefits of the card, such as the welcome bonus and annual travel credit, without having to go through the approval process.

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However, to apply as an authorized user, you'll need to have an existing account holder who is responsible for paying the bill. This is a requirement for adding an authorized user to a Chase Sapphire Reserve account.

The main advantage of applying for your own separate Sapphire Reserve account is that you'll have access to your own welcome bonus and annual travel credit. But, you'll need to be eligible for the card, which typically requires excellent credit and status under the "5/24" rule.

Here are the key eligibility requirements for a Chase Sapphire Reserve card:

  • Excellent credit (750-850)
  • Status under the "5/24" rule, meaning you haven't opened more than five cards in the past 24 months

Features and Perks

Adding an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a range of benefits, including rewards and travel perks.

Authorized users can enjoy the same rewards as the primary cardholder, including the welcome bonus for meeting minimum spend requirements. They can also get an additional $75 per day for up to 5 days if their attending physician determines they need to recover in a hotel immediately after being discharged from the hospital.

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With the Chase Travel portal, authorized users can redeem Ultimate Rewards points at a value of 1.5 cents each, just like the primary cardholder. This means they can redeem 10,000 points for a $150 plane ticket, giving them a redemption value of 1.25 to 1.5 cents per point on select categories.

Here are the benefits that authorized users can enjoy:

  • The same rental car coverage and travel protection as the primary cardholder
  • Visa Infinite perks, including Visa Infinite Concierge Service and access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Collection
  • A Priority Pass membership with guesting privileges, allowing them to access 1,300+ lounges around the world with two guests
  • Unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, with current locations in Boston, Hong Kong, New York, and Washington

Get Perks

Adding an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Reserve card can be a great way to share the benefits with others. The annual fee for an authorized user is a fraction of the cost of a new card, at just $75 per year.

One of the most valuable perks is the Priority Pass Select Membership, which grants access to over 1,600 lounges worldwide. Authorized users can even bring up to two guests with them, making it a great benefit for frequent travelers.

Authorized users also get their own Priority Pass card, so they can enjoy the lounge experience even when the primary cardholder is not traveling with them. This is a huge advantage over purchasing lounge memberships directly, which can be very expensive.

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With the Priority Pass membership, authorized users can enjoy unlimited access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide, including Chase Sapphire Lounges. This is a fantastic perk for anyone who flies frequently.

The rental car coverage and travel protection offered to authorized users is the same as what the primary cardholder receives, which is a big plus. And with the Visa Infinite perks, authorized users get access to services like the Visa Infinite Concierge Service and the Visa Infinite Luxury Collection.

Here are some of the key benefits of adding an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Reserve card:

  • Priority Pass Select Membership with access to over 1,600 lounges worldwide
  • Unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges with current locations in Boston, Hong Kong, New York, New York, and Washington
  • Rental car coverage and travel protection identical to what the primary cardholder receives
  • Visa Infinite perks, including Visa Infinite Concierge Service and the Visa Infinite Luxury Collection

Annual Travel Credit Limit

The annual travel credit on the Sapphire Reserve is a fantastic perk, but it's essential to understand the limit. You can receive up to $300 in statement credits for reimbursement toward travel purchases each year.

Either you or an authorized user can make the qualifying purchases, but you'll only receive a single $300 allowance, regardless of how many authorized users are on the account. This means it's crucial to plan ahead and make your travel purchases strategically to maximize your credit.

How to Use a Card

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To add an authorized user to your card, you'll need to log into your Chase online account.

You can do this by clicking the Account services button and then selecting Add an authorized user.

The first step is to fill out the authorized user's personal info, including their name and date of birth.

You'll also need to enter their address, which can be the same as the primary cardmember's if you choose to check off the appropriate box.

Once you've confirmed all the details are correct, you can click Add authorized user to finalize the process.

Comparison and Alternatives

Adding an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Reserve card can be a great value, especially considering the annual fee is only $75 per user, compared to the $550 fee for the primary cardholder.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a more attractive option for authorized users, as you can add up to four users at no extra cost, and they receive the same lounge access perks as the primary cardmember.

Here's an interesting read: Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee Increase

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If you're looking for a premium card with lounge access perks for authorized users, the Capital One Venture X is the best option, followed by the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

The Platinum Card from American Express charges $195 for each authorized user and offers the same lounge access perks as the primary cardmember, making it a less desirable option for those with multiple users.

Here's a comparison of the annual fees and authorized user benefits for these three premium cards:

Bertha Hoeger

Junior Writer

Bertha Hoeger is a versatile writer with a keen interest in financial institutions and community development. Her work primarily focuses on banking and microfinance sectors, providing insightful analyses of various Indian financial entities and organizations. She has covered a range of topics, from banks based in Maharashtra and those established in 2019 to private sector banks and microfinance companies.

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