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Side-by-side

Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

Both are travel travel cards. The Bank of America Travel Rewards comes from Bank of America at $0/yr; the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Chase at $795/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($2,250 more in estimated value) than the Bank of America Travel Rewards's. Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve first; revisit the Bank of America Travel Rewards after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureBank of America Travel RewardsChase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee$0$795
Sign-up bonus25,000 points125,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$250$2,500
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 3 mo$6,000 in 3 mo
IssuerBank of AmericaChase
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (All_purchases)1.5x1x
Transfer partnersNonechase-ur
Headline benefits
  • 1.5x everywhere
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign tx fees
  • Preferred Rewards boost
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • 8x on Chase Travel
  • 4x on flights & hotels booked direct
  • $500 The Edit hotel credit
Read the full review
Bank of America Travel Rewards
$0/yr · 25,000 points
Read the full review
Chase Sapphire Reserve
$795/yr · 125,000 points

Editorial take: Bank of America Travel Rewards

The no-fee version of Premium Rewards. Only shines with BoA's Preferred Rewards boost, otherwise the Capital One VentureOne or Wells Fargo Autograph beat it.

Editorial take: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Recently revamped with over $3,000 in annual credits and perks. If you travel three or more times a year and live near an airport with a Sapphire lounge, this card is a smart choice.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bank of America Travel Rewards or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has the bigger bonus, 125,000 points, worth roughly $2,500, versus 25,000 points (~$250) on the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Bank of America Travel Rewards has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve's $795 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Chase Sapphire Reserve's benefits to clear $795 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
Can I have both the Bank of America Travel Rewards and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Bank of America Travel Rewards or the Chase Sapphire Reserve first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bank of America Travel Rewards: $1,000 spend in 3 months. Chase Sapphire Reserve: $6,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.