Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Continue reading: New Chase Sapphire Reserve Bonus Rules: Mixed Bag, But Good For Most?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
A big question is if you upgraded from the CSP to the CSR but did not receive a CSR bonus, would you be eligible for a CSR bonus if you applied for the CSR again (after cancelling it). A lot of us upgraded from the CSP when the fee was $550 to the CSR (just before $795 increase) to get the the new card with the reduced fee. Of course we then got screwed because Chase made some of the new perks not available to us for many months. Bad call my side. Rules say you MAY not be eligible for the bonus if you held the CSR before, will be interesting to see what happens in practice.
I'm wondering about bonus eligibility for both - my CSR was originally the Chase Amtrak card (!), which I first got in like 2010. That went away, I changed it to CSP, and then I changed to CSR.
Good for most???
Almost anyone who reads this blog has had the CSR at some point. Once in a lifetime language is only a negative, and who the heck knows what their definition of "lifetime" is.
@ 305 -- My intent was good for most people in general, not good for most people who are super into the miles & points world, because you're right about that. :p
@ Paul -- It seems that per the terms, one might not be eligible for the bonus if they upgraded to the card in the past, even if they didn't get the bonus. That would be my default assumption, but also, I feel like the language is intentionally a bit vague, with the "may not be available" verbiage. It could be worth trying, and seeing if there's a pop-up message during the application process.
@ Gray -- Similar answer to what I wrote to Paul below, as it's a good question. Per the terms, one might not be eligible for the bonus if they upgraded to the card in the past, even if they didn't get the bonus. That would be my default assumption, but also, I feel like the language is intentionally a bit vague, with the "may not be available" verbiage. It could be worth trying, and seeing if there's a pop-up message during the application process.
Chase miles are like the hot girl that was very high maintenance, threw a lot of tantrums (5/24), but provided a lot of unique joy.
But now with the coming devaluation of Hyatt program, Chase miles are like the 'past their prime' diva, that is just not worth all the hassle anymore.
Once a person has ever had each UR card, that's it. Churning is behind us. Going forward, points come from ongoing spending. And, for ongoing spending, the CSR is not a weapon of choice. Indeed, Chase as a whole is not an ecosystem of choice. (Bilt is far superior as a Hyatt pipeline.) Add to that the state of Chase's transfer partners. And, the "best in class travel protections" song is getting old -- in fact, there's BETTER out there.
I'd love a proper comparison of which "ecosystem" is best in 2026. I've been a UR maximizer for the last few years but almost all value was driven by Hyatt. With that out the window I might just divert all spending to Citi. It feels like AA is the sweet spot for redemptions there. I hit the $75k spend threshold pretty easily on the CSR and I still find it fairly hard to get the value out of it to pay the fee at the moment. Strongly considering a downgrade to the preferred to retain the points and putting my spend elsewhere
I’d love to know the “lifetime”. Was a launch CSR holder but dropped it a few years later.
Definitely not getting the card again without a SUB.
@ Daniel -- Appreciate the data point! Out of curiosity, when did you close the card?
@ben I actually only closed it like a month ago after they only offered a $100 retention. As another DP, my wife closed her CSR more than 7 years ago and she was also ineligible for this bonus :/
Chase must be doing really great witch this card, since it keeps bumping the bonus offer every few months to lure new s.uckers.
DP - got the CSR welcome bonus in 2017. Downgraded to Freedom Unlimited in 2023. Just tried to apply for the elevated bonus - denied via pop-up window. Let me cancel the application without hard pull.
Closed my CSR 7 years and 2 months ago. I am not bonus eligible as of yesterday. Very sad. 7 years is a "lifetime," right?
How long do you think this 150k bonus will last? I have the CSP but not the reserve, but currently working on another minimum spend so would like to wait a month or so if possible
DP: Had mine 2017, canceled in 2021
How far in the process does it give you the denied pop up? I see the offer in my Chase app but I don't want to click Submit.
Just got denied per the once per lifetime rule...
datapoints:
Original Card Open: 8/2016
SUB: 10/2016
Close Date: 10/2017
🙁 Was hoping to get the 15k P1 referral + 150 SUB