The Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are two of the best travel credit cards on the market today. Both cards offer incredible earning rates, making them a top choice for frequent travelers. With their generous rewards programs, these cards allow you to accumulate points quickly and easily.
One of the standout features of both the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Preferred is their earning rates on dining purchases. Both cards earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining worldwide. This includes everything from sit-down restaurants to fast food establishments. The earning potential is further enhanced by the fact that both cards also earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel for the Sapphire Reserve and 2 points per dollar spent on travel for the Sapphire Preferred.
In addition to the impressive earning rates on dining and travel, the Chase Sapphire cards also offer bonus points for Lyft purchases. Through March 2025, the Sapphire Reserve earns 10 points per dollar spent on Lyft, while the Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per dollar spent.
Chase’s definition of what qualifies as a travel purchase is broad, encompassing almost every charge related to a trip. This includes expenses such as Airbnb bookings and parking fees. Fortunately, their definition of dining is equally generous. According to Chase’s website, restaurants are defined as merchants whose primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining. This includes fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments. It’s important to note that some food and drink establishments located within larger merchants, such as sports stadiums and grocery stores, may not be included in the dining category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified as dining.
In practice, the dining category is even broader than it appears. Bars, including those that don’t serve food, and coffee shops like Starbucks typically code as dining purchases. Many restaurant delivery services, including DoorDash, also qualify for the dining category.
There are, however, some purchases that Chase does not count as dining. These include Amazon Restaurants, bakeries, catering services, food and drink establishments within larger merchants, and grocery stores. It’s always a good idea to check with Chase if you are unsure whether a purchase qualifies as dining.
As a bonus perk for restaurant delivery, Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders currently receive at least one year of complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash. This membership provides free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible purchases.
While it is rare, there may be instances where a restaurant purchase does not code correctly. If you believe you made an eligible dining purchase that did not earn the bonus points, you can contact Chase to dispute it and potentially receive the points you deserve.
In conclusion, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred offer excellent earning rates on dining purchases, making them ideal choices for those who frequently dine out. With the ability to earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, these cards provide a high return on these purchases. Additionally, the broad definition of dining by Chase ensures that cardholders have plenty of opportunities to earn rewards. By taking advantage of these earning rates, you can accumulate points quickly and enjoy the benefits of traveling with these top-tier credit cards.