Million Mile Secrets reader, Bhavin, commented:
Can I add my wife as an authorized user on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to get her lounge access, Global Entry credit, and other card benefits? Or will we need to apply for separate cards to get all of the perks?
Great question, Bhavin!
When you open the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll get a $100 statement credit for Global Entry and Priority Pass Select for access to airport lounges. Plus, the card has many other terrific benefits.
And for a $75 annual fee, you can add a Chase Sapphire Reserve Authorized User. But, authorized users only get certain perks with the card. For example, authorized users CAN get lounge access. But, they will NOT qualify for the $100 Global Entry credit if it’s already been used by the primary cardholder.
I’ll explain what to consider before adding an authorized user.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Authorized User
Link: My Review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
When you open the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll earn 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You’ll also get:
- 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel & dining
- 1X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on all other purchases
- $300 annual credit for travel purchases such as airfare and hotels
- $100 statement credit for Global Entry
- Priority Pass Select for access to airport lounges
You’ll have the option to add an authorized user for a $75 annual fee, which has some benefits.
Help Meeting Minimum Spending Requirements and Travel Credit
You’re likely eager to earn the Sapphire Reserve’s incredible 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards point sign-up bonus. The faster you earn the bonus, the sooner you can enjoy Big Travel With Small Money!
Adding an authorized user to your account can help you reach the minimum spend requirement faster. That’s because any purchases an authorized user makes also count towards the minimum spending requirements.
And any travel purchases an authorized user makes will count toward the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual credit benefit. But authorized user’s do NOT get their own $300 annual travel credit.
Global Entry Credit
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a $100 statement credit for Global Entry. This perk doesn’t have to be used by the primary cardholder.
For example, if you already have Global Entry, your authorized user can sign-up and you’ll still get the statement credit.
In fact, you could pay for Global Entry for any friend or family member and you’ll still qualify for the credit!
Lounge Access
One great perk with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is the Priority Pass Select membership, which gives you access to over 900 airport lounges. Authorized users get their own membership too!
Transfer Points Between Loyalty Accounts
Chase allows folks to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to anyone’s airline or hotel account, as long as they live in your household AND are an authorized user on your account.
This is a great perk! Let’s say your authorized user has 20,000 Hyatt points, but needs an extra 10,000 points to book a room at the Park Hyatt New York. You could transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to his or her account to book a free night!
Earn More Points
When your authorized user makes a purchase with their card, all the points go to your account!
This means you’ll earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on all of the authorized user’s travel and dining purchases.
And they won’t pay foreign transaction fees for any of their purchases.
Drawbacks of Adding an Authorized User
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card doesn’t offer a bonus for adding an authorized user.
And with the Sapphire Reserve you’ll pay a $75 annual fee for each authorized user.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Authorized Users May Find It More Difficult to Be Eligible for a Future Sign-Up Bonus
Keep in mind, it’s possible an authorized user may NOT be able to earn the sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card in the future. Because an authorized user account may appear on his or her credit report and could count towards Chase’s tougher application rules.
This means if the authorized user has opened ~5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months (excluding certain business cards), they’ll be unlikely to get approved.
So if Bhavin’s wife wants to earn the sign-up bonus down the road, she might want to hold off on becoming an authorized user.
Also, any charges on an authorized user’s account are the responsibility of the primary cardholder. So only add someone you trust!
Bottom Line
For a $75 annual fee, you can add a Chase Sapphire Reserve Authorized User. The authorized user will get free access to 900+ airport lounges with their own Priority Pass Select membership.
All purchases made by the authorized user will count toward meeting the Sapphire Reserve’s minimum spending requirements, the $300 annual travel credit, and will earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on any travel and dining spending. You’ll even be able to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the authorized user’s airline and hotel accounts if he or she lives in the same household.
But adding an authorized user might make it difficult for he or she to earn the Chase Sapphire Reserve sign-up bonus in the future. Because an authorized user account counts towards Chase’s stricter application rules.
Do you plan on adding an authorized user to your Sapphire Reserve account?