Will Chase Sapphire Reserve waive the annual fee?

The only surefire way to get the $550 Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee waived is if you’re an active servicemember and you check that box on the application. As long as Chase can confirm your active duty status, they won’t charge you any fees. Otherwise, your odds of getting a Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee waiver are next to none. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also has a $95 annual fee. But it’s not like Chase will penalize you for asking for a fee waiver, so why not give it a shot?

There are a few details you should be aware of before calling and asking for a fee waiver, though. And in the likely event that you don’t get one, you’ll need to know what perks are available to determine whether Sapphire Reserve is worth it. 

Here’s what you should know about Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee waivers:

• If you’re in the armed forces full-time, you’re eligible to have all Sapphire Reserve fees waived, except for the returned check fee. You can get this benefit by indicating your service on the application (there’s a box to check off) or by calling Chase customer service at 1-800-432-3117. Chase will have to verify your status.
• If you want to try for a fee waiver or reduction, you can call the number on the back of your card or the general Chase customer service line: 1-800-432-3117. 
• According to people who’ve had luck with fee waivers on other credit cards, having a high income and spending a lot can help. Since the issuer is already making a lot of money from the fees it charges merchants when you make purchases, the thinking goes, they might be more willing to give you a break.
• The Chase Sapphire Reserve initial bonus is worth $900 in travel through Chase, which covers more than a year and a half of annual fees. And if you’re a frequent traveler, you should always get more than $450 in value per year, between the $300 annual travel credit, free airport lounge access, 3 points per $1 spent on travel and more benefits.

While it’s unlikely that you’ll get the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee waived, you might as well try. The worst that can happen is Chase will say “no.” But if you do have to pay $550 every year, just make sure you take advantage of the card’s huge list of benefits in order to get your money’s worth. That or get one of the many credit cards with no annual fee.

I think they only do it for people in active service, like military and stuff. 

At the end of the day, the high annual fee is justified if you use the card often. The rewards are worth more than that!