Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Bank of America Travel Rewards wins 3-2. No-fee travel — 1.5x flat with no FX markup, plus Preferred Rewards bumps Chase Sapphire Reserve is still the right call if annual travelers — the upgrade path from sapphire preferred..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Bank of America Travel Rewards | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $550 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 1.5% (general) | 10% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 in first 90 days (~$250 travel) | = 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 740 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.3/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
Bank of America Travel Rewards
- 1.5x points on every purchase
- Up to 75% bonus for Preferred Rewards clients (1.5x → 2.625x)
- Points redeem against any travel purchase, no blackout dates
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- 10x on hotels and rental cars booked via Chase Travel
- 5x on flights booked via Chase Travel
- 3x on all other dining + travel
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounge access
- 50% bonus when redeeming for travel via Chase portal
FAQ
›Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: which is better?
Bank of America Travel Rewards wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Bank of America Travel Rewards for its best categories, Chase Sapphire Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Bank of America Travel Rewards: 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 in first 90 days (~$250 travel). Chase Sapphire Reserve: 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months.