A map to organize by walking
If you’re a Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) Hard Card, you’ve probably heard the buzz. Chase has released its luxury hotel program, Chase travel planning, and it’s designed to compete with Amex’s luxury hotels + resorts (FHR).
On paper, the value proposition is clear. Booking by arrangement offers a set of valuable Perks – even locally for one night:
- A daily meal every day
- Credit for goods is at least $100
- Room refreshes and late check-out, subject to availability
However, there is a fundamental design flaw that undermines the program’s usability: Its search engine is amazing. The information contention is so high that many users have no visible way of knowing which hotels or where they are. An unavailable product is a product that cannot be used.
So, to address the information gap, following my work on the Amex FHR & Thc search engine, I created a simple, functional map of all 1,364 properties in the planning system.
Use Ctrl + Mouse Wheel to zoom. Click on the top right corner for a full view. Details obtained directly from Chase. Please do not operate this map link without permission.
Now that we can see the network, a few thoughts:
The basic incentive to promote CSR cards will be a biannual $250 travel credit. Chase introduced unique constraints here: The credit can only be used for final planning two or more nights. This is a clear disadvantage compared to FHR.
However, there is a way to combat the contradiction, which is, frankly, brilliant: Change of Payment. For a $300 night stay, $250 can be paid in cash (resulting in credit) and the remaining $50 in Chase points at a rate of 2 cents. This allows savvy users to capture the full amount of credit with minimal out-of-pocket expenses – a significant edge over FHR.
On the cover, the arrangement may feel small, but the details show that it is no longer behind FHR (1,364 Properties to FHR’s ~ 1,545). Their basic faults are the two-night credit rule and the lack of -exaggerated 4 pm late checkout, important benefit of FHR.
Programming is a new entry, and one market pressure will force a rush to invest in basic usability. In the meantime, use the map, find out what’s closest to your next destination!
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