The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (learn more) has a $795 annual fee, and it’s possible to add authorized users for a $195 fee. There are often questions about whether adding authorized users is worth it, and that largely comes down to how much you value airport lounge access, as is the case with several premium credit cards.
Let’s discuss that in a bit more detail, as the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a lot of valuable perks, plus a generous welcome bonus, so for many people it’s worthwhile.
Let me emphasize that the below analysis applies specifically to the personal version of the Sapphire Reserve, and not the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (learn more). On the business version of the card, there’s no cost to add authorized users, but they also don’t receive extra perks, like lounge access, so it’s a more straightforward question that comes down to spending.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized user fee of $195
You can add authorized users to the Chase Sapphire Reserve for an annual fee of $195 per person. This is in addition to the annual fee for the primary cardmember. There’s no hard limit on how many authorized users you can add, so you can potentially add quite a few people.
How to add Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized users
Adding an authorized user to the Chase Sapphire Reserve is easy. Just log into your Chase account, and then click on your Sapphire Reserve. Once on that page, click on the “More” tab, then go to the “Account services” section, and click on “Authorized users.”
There you’ll just have to enter the name, date of birth, and address of the person you want to add to your card. Once requested, the card will be mailed to the primary cardmember, and it will be up to them to get the card to the authorized user. It typically takes five to seven business days for the card to be shipped.
Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized user implications
There are a few implications of being added on someone else’s Chase Sapphire Reserve, which are worth discussing.
First, if you’re an authorized user on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the good news is that you’d still be eligible to apply for the card yourself, including earning the bonus. So you don’t have to be worried about that. Furthermore, there’s no credit pull (hard or soft) for the authorized user to get added.
However, the bad news is that being added as an authorized user on someone else’s personal card would count as another card toward the Chase 5/24 rule, in case that’s a concern for you.
It’s also important for the primary cardmember to understand that they’re liable for any purchases that authorized users make, so be sure you trust the people you’re adding as authorized users. I imagine most people are just adding family members in order to consolidate spending and track expenses (and maybe even get some help on completing spending for a welcome bonus), in which case that’s hopefully not a big deal.
The good news for authorized users is that being attached to someone else’s personal card can help you build your credit history, and can potentially help your credit score. That’s because the card typically reports to your personal credit report.
Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized user benefits
Before I share what card benefits Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers do and don’t receive, below is a brief chart with a summary.
| What authorized users get | What authorized users don’t get |
|---|---|
| Same bonus categories on spending | Incremental statement credits beyond what the primary cardmember already receives |
| Priority Pass membership | A separate welcome bonus |
| Unlimited Chase Sapphire Lounge access | |
| Access to select Air Canada Lounges | |
| Same travel & rental car coverage | |
| Visa Infinite perks (Concierge Service, Luxury Collection, and more) |
Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized users do receive the following:
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve has awesome bonus categories, and the spending of authorized users racks up points at the higher rate, including earning 8x points on Chase Travel℠ bookings, 5x points on Lyft spending (through September 30, 2027), 4x points on direct airline and hotel bookings, 3x points on dining, and 1x points on all other purchases, all with no foreign transaction fees; that being said, the points are accrued by the primary cardmember, who is also responsible for paying the bill
- Authorized users get a Priority Pass™ membership, allowing them to access 1,300+ lounges around the world with two guests; this is the same Priority Pass benefit offered to the primary cardmember
- Authorized users also get unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, and they also get access to select Air Canada Lounges, the same as the primary cardmember
- Authorized users get the same rental car coverage and travel protection that the primary cardmember receives, when using their card for eligible purchases; this includes everything from trip cancellation and interruption coverage, trip delay coverage, baggage delay and loss coverage, emergency medical evacuation, and travel accident coverage
- Authorized users also receive purchase protection, extended warranty protection, premium roadside assistance
- Authorized users receive a DoorDash DashPass based on the current Chase partnership, along with monthly DoorDash credits (activation required by December 31, 2029)
- Authorized users receive Visa Infinite perks, which include Visa Infinite Concierge Service, access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Collection, and more
- Authorized users get access to The Edit by Chase, for luxury hotel bookings, plus Points Boost Chase Travel bookings at preferential redemption rates
- You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to partner loyalty accounts in the name of authorized users, or even combine points with authorized users if they have their own Chase cards, as long as they live at the same address (this needs to be done by phone)
Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized users don’t receive the following:
- Authorized users don’t receive any welcome bonuses, though their spending does count toward any spending requirement for the welcome offer
- Authorized users don’t receive any incremental credits (other than with DoorDash), beyond what the primary cardmember receives; this means that they don’t receive an additional up to $300 annual travel credit, up to $300 annual dining credit, up to $500 annual hotel credit, up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit, etc. (however, the spending of authorized users can count toward using those credits)
As I see it, one of the primary reasons to add an authorized user is for the lounge access. Whether you value the Priority Pass™ membership, or Chase Sapphire Lounge or Air Canada Lounge access, paying $195 per year for that could be a good deal, especially if you would frequently visit these lounges.
Comparing Chase Sapphire Preferred authorized users
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (learn more) has an annual fee of just $95 for the primary cardmember, and there’s no cost to add authorized users. Since many people try to decide between the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve, this is something worth considering.
Being able to add authorized users on the Chase Sapphire Preferred at no extra cost is potentially a valuable advantage. The way I view it:
- If the people you’re adding as authorized users greatly value lounge access, then having a Sapphire Reserve and adding them as authorized users is your best bet, because paying $195 for such a membership could be a good deal
- If the people you’re adding as authorized users are using the card primarily for spending (the Chase Sapphire Preferred has awesome bonus categories as well), and if they value great rental car and travel protection, then the Sapphire Preferred does the trick
Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized user FAQs
Bottom line
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a well rounded premium travel rewards card that has a great bonus. Cardmembers can add authorized users to the card for $195 each, and that comes with perks like a Priority Pass™ membership, Chase Sapphire Lounge access, and Air Canada Lounge access. On top of that, there’s the same points earning structure, travel protection, and rental car coverage, as the primary cardmember.
Essentially the math should come down to whether you value the lounge access at $195 per year. For many, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may be a better fit — there’s no cost to add authorized users, and they rack up points at an accelerated rate, and also get useful travel and car rental coverage.
What do you make of the value proposition of adding Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized users?
Membership is free and takes no more information than commenting as a guest. Earn status points for good contributions, and see fewer ads as your status grows.