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Chase Sapphire Reserve vs JetBlue Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025

Editor's Picks
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: This premium card is ideal for frequent travelers who also spend significantly on dining.
- JetBlue Plus Card: This card is best for loyal JetBlue flyers looking to earn points quickly and enjoy airline-specific perks like a free checked bag.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons why the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a top-tier travel card.
- The card’s $300 annual travel credit is straightforward and automatically applies to a wide range of travel purchases.
- Cardholders receive a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, which provides unlimited airport lounge access for themselves and their guests.
- Factoring in the $300 annual travel credit, the card's $795 annual fee is effectively lowered to $495, making it much easier to break even on the cost (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Features a suite of premium travel perks, including a flexible annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and statement credits for trusted traveler programs.
- A flexible rewards program allows cardholders to earn bonus points on travel and dining, with valuable redemption options that include point transfers to airline and hotel partners.
- Comes with comprehensive travel protections and access to exclusive cardholder experiences through the Reserved by Sapphire℠ program.
Cons
- Its high annual fee can be a significant hurdle, especially for those who don't travel often.
- Applicants generally need an excellent credit score, making the card inaccessible for some.
- The rewards program is complex, and some of the card’s top perks require manual enrollment.
JetBlue Plus Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons why the JetBlue Plus Card stands out.
- You'll earn an impressive 6X points on JetBlue purchases and 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores.
- Cardholders receive 10% of their points back every time they redeem for a JetBlue flight.
- The free first checked bag for you and up to three companions can easily offset the $99 annual fee with just one round-trip flight for two people (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Valuable travel benefits, including a free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and companions, and an annual statement credit for JetBlue Vacations.
- Strong rewards structure that includes accelerated earning on JetBlue purchases, bonus points on dining and groceries, and a points rebate when you redeem for award flights.
- Provides a pathway to earning Mosaic elite status through spending and an annual anniversary points bonus.
Cons
- Lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access or priority boarding.
- Rewards and benefits are heavily tied to the JetBlue ecosystem, limiting its value for travelers who aren't loyal to the airline.
- Infrequent JetBlue flyers may find it difficult to get enough value from the card's perks to make it worthwhile.
JetBlue Plus vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Reserve or JetBlue Plus, depends entirely on your travel habits and loyalty. One is a general premium travel card, while the other is tailored for fans of a specific airline.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® - This is a premium travel card designed for frequent travelers who dine out often and want luxury perks like lounge access and comprehensive travel protections. It offers broad flexibility across different airlines and hotels.
- JetBlue Plus Card - This is a mid-tier airline card ideal for regular JetBlue flyers. It provides strong value and core airline benefits that can enhance the travel experience for those loyal to the airline.
Redemption
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Points are highly flexible and can be redeemed for travel through the Chase portal, transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners, or cashed out. This versatility is ideal for travelers who value options over brand loyalty.
JetBlue Plus Card: Points are redeemed primarily for JetBlue flights, providing a direct path for the airline's frequent flyers to earn award travel. Redemption value is concentrated within the JetBlue ecosystem.
Travel Perks
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Offers a broad travel ecosystem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. Cardholders receive a Priority Pass™ Select membership for airport lounge access and benefit from an annual travel credit. Points are not earned on travel until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases, as this spending goes toward the annual travel credit. The card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
- JetBlue Plus Card: The travel ecosystem is centered entirely around JetBlue. While it does not offer general lounge access, it provides valuable airline-specific benefits like a free first checked bag for the cardmember and companions on the same reservation, and savings on in-flight purchases. This card also has no foreign transaction fees.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
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- Test Drive Feature: See exactly how much a new card would earn you before applying by using your real spending data. This feature provides personalized calculations, including annual rewards projections and category-by-category earnings.
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- Unbiased Recommendations: Explore nearly 3,000 credit cards, with the vast majority not linked to commissions, for transparent and data-driven suggestions.
Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is tailored for frequent travelers who can fully leverage its premium benefits to offset the annual fee. This includes individuals who dine out often, value Priority Pass™ airport lounge access, and seek comprehensive travel protections on their trips. Ultimately, it's the ideal choice for points enthusiasts looking to maximize value by utilizing the annual travel credit and transferring points to airline and hotel partners, as detailed in this premium travel card review.
Who Should Choose the JetBlue Plus?
The JetBlue Plus Card™ is tailored for casual to moderately frequent JetBlue flyers who travel with the airline a few times per year. Its main appeal lies in practical perks that save money, such as a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to three companions on the same reservation. For these travelers, the value from benefits like the free checked bag, anniversary bonus points, and in-flight savings easily outweighs the card's reasonable $99 annual fee.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. JetBlue Plus comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect match for your wallet, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score. Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Review issuer application restrictions. Some issuers have rules that may affect your eligibility for a welcome offer if you have or have had similar cards.
- Plan how you will use the benefits. Be aware that some perks require separate enrollment or activation after you are approved.
Application Strategy
- Time your application before a large purchase to help meet the minimum spend requirement.
- Evaluate the card’s credits and perks to confirm they fit your lifestyle.
- Avoid applying for multiple credit cards in a short period of time.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Chase Ultimate Rewards points for JetBlue flights?
Yes, you can. JetBlue is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, allowing you to transfer points earned with your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card to your JetBlue TrueBlue account.
Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve's annual travel credit cover JetBlue purchases?
Yes, the $300 Annual Travel Credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is automatically applied to a wide range of travel purchases, including flights and fees with JetBlue. Points are not earned on travel purchases until after the first $300 is spent annually, as this spending goes toward the travel credit.
What happens to my TrueBlue points if I cancel my JetBlue Plus Card?
Your JetBlue TrueBlue points are separate from your credit card account and will remain in your TrueBlue account if you cancel the JetBlue Plus Card. JetBlue TrueBlue points do not expire.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.














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