Hector Molina, WalletHub Analyst
@hectormolina
You may be able to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit for gift cards, but it depends on the merchant. That’s because the travel credit only applies to transactions that have the “travel” merchant code. Airlines, hotels and other travel providers will have the travel code, but often sell their gift cards through third-party providers that do not have that code. Chase’s website specifically says that, “The purchasing of gift cards, points or miles do not qualify in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in the travel category.”
There are anecdotal reports of some people being able to apply the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit to gift card purchases. But you shouldn’t count on that happening, and you may want to contact the travel provider or gift card seller ahead of time to see if they categorize gift cards as travel purchases.
Keep in mind that there is a long list of travel purchases that will always count toward the $300 travel credit. Those include airfare, hotel bookings, cruises, taxi and bus fares, tolls, parking garage fees and more.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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