Chase Hotel Price Match Guarantee
We generally avoid travel portals, but sometimes statement credits or other perks are good incentives to make a portal booking. Booking a premium hotel through The Edit program can unlock valuable credits and perks for eligible Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Sapphire Reserve For Business℠ cardholders. I recently gained access to the new Chase hotel price match guarantee, a benefit that has been rolling out to select cardmembers. I tested it on a stay at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. After finding the same stay almost $50 cheaper through HotelSlash, I submitted screenshots of the lower rate and terms. Chase approved my claim the next day, and the $48.60 refund appeared once the original charge posted.
What Is the Hotel Price Match Guarantee?
The Chase hotel price match guarantee is not available to everyone who books through the portal. The current beta includes Sapphire Reserve for Business, J.P. Morgan Reserve and select Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. Even if you have one of these cards, check your account before relying on the benefit. Your reservation should display Price Match Guarantee eligibility.
Eligible cardholders can submit a claim after booking a qualifying prepaid hotel through Chase Travel. You must find and submit the lower eligible rate within 24 hours of booking. The competing price must be more than $5 lower. But finding a cheaper room at the same hotel isn't enough. You need to compare equivalent rates. These details need to match:
- Property
- Dates
- Room type and bed type
- Number of guests
- Currency
- Cancellation and refund rules
Finding and Documenting a Lower Price
I booked the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa through The Edit using my Sapphire Reserve. After booking, I compared rates across several options. I found the same stay through HotelSlash for almost $50 less. My reservation showed Chase hotel price match guarantee eligibility, so I decided to submit a claim. Before submitting it, I confirmed that the competing rate had a comparable room and booking terms.
Once I found the lower rate, I immediately took screenshots of the price and booking terms. Hotel rates can change quickly, so don't wait to document what you find. Try to capture as much information as possible. Your screenshots should show the hotel, dates, room type, occupancy, total price and cancellation terms. I also saved the URL for the competing rate, because Chase requests both the screenshot and URL when reviewing a claim.
My Price Match Claim Approval Timeline
Submitting the claim was simple. My reservation displayed a box indicating Chase hotel price match guarantee eligibility, with instructions to submit a claim within 24 hours. I provided the HotelSlash rate, screenshots and URL. Chase then confirmed that a specialist would review my claim within 48 hours. I didn't have to wait that long, though. Chase approved my claim the next day for $48.60.
Interestingly, the approval email said Chase approved the refund “as an exception.” It also noted that the approval didn't change the program terms or guarantee future waivers. Because of that language, I would follow the published requirements as closely as possible for future claims. Don't assume a similar rate will automatically qualify.
The approval email said the refund could take one to two billing cycles to appear. In my case, the $48.60 credit appeared on my Sapphire Reserve immediately. The original portal purchase earned 8x, so Chase also deducted 388.80 Ultimate Rewards points after issuing the refund. That makes sense, since I was no longer spending that $48.60. For a few minutes of comparison shopping and submitting screenshots, I'll happily take almost $50 back.
How to Submit a Hotel Price Match Claim
If you make a portal booking through your eligible Sapphire Reserve personal or business card account, keep shopping prices right after you book. Just like it's always worth window shopping for award flights, you shouldn't stop looking for a better option after you've booked a hotel either.
First, confirm that your hotel reservation displays Chase hotel price match guarantee eligibility. Then, search for the same hotel and dates elsewhere. Carefully compare the room type, bed type, occupancy, currency, cancellation policy and other booking terms. If you find a qualifying rate that's more than $5 lower, document it immediately. Take screenshots of the price and terms, save the URL and submit your claim within 24 hours.
Price Matching Can Make Premium Hotel Bookings More Competitive
We generally recommend thinking carefully before booking travel through a portal. Consider whether using a travel portal, transferring points to partners or choosing cash back would be your best option. Weigh the potential pitfalls to booking through travel portals, too. These can become particularly frustrating when something goes wrong and a third party controls the reservation.
The Edit is different because it's a loyalty-eligible premium hotel program, offering bookings that come with luxury perks. The Chase hotel price match guarantee can make using your Edit credits more competitive. Don't assume a higher portal price is simply the cost of accessing those credits and perks. After booking, check for price match guarantee eligibility and immediately compare the same stay elsewhere.
