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Of the 26 credit cards in my possession (yes, 26—it’s possible I take points and miles too seriously), one of the cards I use most often is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Just before I sat down to write this article, I used it to order food via DoorDash, pay my Netflix bill, and book a hotel via the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. Which is all to say: Even the most advanced points and miles hobbyists will find some use out of this entry-level travel rewards card.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a low annual fee of $95, a lucrative rewards structure, and a bevy of benefits that help the card pay for itself. This makes it one of the most approachable and easy-to-use travel credit cards available right now. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to get started with points and miles for travel—and even if you don’t travel at all. Read on for a full Chase Sapphire Preferred review, with information on its perks and ways to spend your accumulated points.
Why it’s worth it
My friends often ask me, “What’s the best starter credit card for travel rewards?” Without fail, I name the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a perfect card for points and miles beginners. Its varied spending categories make it easy to use both at home and abroad, especially because it does not charge foreign transaction fees and, as a Visa card, it’s widely accepted around the world.
The card has an annual fee of $95, but this fee can be offset by the card’s annual travel credit: $50 credited back to your account when you use the card to book a hotel stay through the Chase travel portal. So by booking a night at a hotel worth at least $50, you’re effectively reducing the card’s annual fee to $45. From there, the card’s other benefits are easily worth $45: trip cancellation and delay insurance, delayed or lost baggage insurance, a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, and more—not to mention the multiple points you earn per dollar on various types of spending.
However, other credit cards on the market have higher earning rates for the same spending categories. For example, I could use the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn three points per dollar at restaurants, but more often, I use myAmerican Express Gold Card to earn four points per dollar while dining out, and stick to the Preferred for delivery. If you’re someone with multiple travel credit cards, you might find the Sapphire Preferred somewhat lacking when it comes to earning points on everyday spending—for newcomers, though, it’s an easy way to get your points strategy started.
Another card some travelers might get more mileage out of: a direct competitor like the CapitalOne Venture Rewards Credit Card. It also has an annual fee of $95, but offers a $100 credit for Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck and comes with complimentary access to Capital One Lounges. The Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn't offer lounge access, nor does it come with a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Still, the Sapphire Preferred is a valuable card for many people for its ease of use. Not a lot of cards match the breadth of this one’s rewards structure, making it a perfect starter card for people who want to earn travel rewards without thinking too much about it.
Sapphire Preferred benefits and perks
When it comes to perks, the Sapphire Preferred’s fancier sibling, the Sapphire Reserve, has this entry-level card beat. The Reserve comes with access to Priority Pass airport lounges, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, the infamous $300 travel credit, and more. But the Sapphire Preferred is no slouch either. It’s rewarding enough for folks who need an introduction to the benefits of travel rewards cards.
The Sapphire Preferred’s annual $50 travel credit kicks in whenever you book a hotel stay through the Chase travel portal. There’s no minimum spending required, so you could even book a hotel night worth $50 exactly and the credit would still work.
This card is issued as a Visa Signature card, which means it comes with an array of travel and purchase protection coverage. For example, you can be reimbursed for lost or delayed luggage, or delayed flights. If you rent a car on your travels, the card offers primary collision damage waiver coverage too. Luckily, I haven’t had to use these benefits yet, but they offer some peace of mind in case of emergencies.
The Sapphire Preferred also comes with some complimentary memberships: a DoorDash DashPass membership, valid through December 31, 2024, which waives all delivery fees and reduces service fees on eligible DoorDash orders; and a six-month Instacart+ membership, with enrollment required by July 31, 2024, which similarly waives delivery fees and reduces service fees on eligible Instacart orders. While I prefer to do my own grocery shopping in-person, I’ve abused the DashPass benefit almost every week. If you love ordering in when you’re home, these benefits could be valuable enough to offset more of the card’s annual fee.
And finally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not charge foreign transaction fees, so you’ll still earn points with this card whenever you use it abroad. It’s been handy for me to have whenever I travel because most places accept Visa cards.
Current welcome offer
Like many travel credit cards, the Sapphire Preferred comes with a hefty sign-up bonus, gained by spending a certain amount on the card within a few months of getting it. (Be sure to pay off your balances in full each month—otherwise, the interest accrued effectively negates the benefits and rewards you earn, since the interest is what you “pay” for them.)
For a limited time, Chase is offering80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. Oftentimes, the sign-up bonus is only 60,000 points, so now is an especially good time to pick up the card.
Learn more about applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
How to earn points
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns multiple points in a variety of spending categories, which makes it a flexible card that can meet the needs of many types of people. Let’s break them down.
First, the Sapphire Preferred earns five points per dollar spent on all purchases made through the Chase travel portal. This is the card’s most lucrative spending category. Personally, I only ever use the Chase portal to take advantage of the annual $50 hotel credit;last year, I put it toward an airport hotel for a long layover. Otherwise, I try to book directly with airlines and hotels so I can earn miles and points for my flights and stays.
That said, you can still use this card for travel spending. The Sapphire Preferred still earns two points per dollar spent on travel not purchased through Chase. For this card, “travel” hasa generous definition: It includes airfare and hotel bookings, but also Airbnbs, car rentals, cruises, taxis—even parking garage fees. Two points per dollar isn’t the most lucrative earning rate (I use myAmerican Express Platinum Card to earn five points per dollar spent on airfare instead), but the broadness of what counts as “travel” for the Sapphire Preferred can more than make up for it.
This card’s other spending categories are more competitive: You earn three points per dollar spent on dining worldwide (including eligible delivery services and takeout); onstreaming services (Hulu, Netflix, Spotify, and Apple Music all count); and ononline grocery stores (this excludes Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs, but includes meal kit delivery services). So even when you’re not on the road, the Sapphire Preferred can still earn points that could be redeemed for future travel.
Currently, there’s also a unique spending category for the card: You’ll earn five points per dollar spent on qualifying Lyft rides through March 2025. This promotion may or may not be extended, so if you’re a frequent Lyft user, this card is worth considering.
And finally, the Sapphire Preferred has one extra special benefit to it: the 10 percent anniversary points bonus. Every year, on your account’s anniversary, you’ll get a number of bonus points equal to 10 percent of the total amount of points you earned in the past 12 months. For example, if you spent $30,000 on the card in one year and earned 30,000 points, you’d get another 3,000 points simply for paying your annual fee and keeping the card for another year.
How to spend/redeem points
You can easily spend your points directly through Chase’s travel portal; the sign-up bonus of 80,000 points alone is worth $1,000 if you book flights, hotels, or rental cars via Chase. When you’re ready to make a redemption, however, I recommend transferring your points to one of Chase’s many airline and hotel partners.
For example, even just 55,000 points transferred to Air France could get you a one-way business class flight from New York to Paris—a ticket that could cost upwards of $5,000 if you paid for it in cash. This is the golden rule of points and miles: It takes a little time and research to find the right airlines and the right flights for you, but converting points into airline miles in this way will almost always get you more bang for your buck.
As for me, I combined my bonus points with points earned through spending at restaurants last year, transferred them to Singapore Airlines, and booked a swanky business class flight from New York to Manila via Singapore. The first part of my ticket was the nonstop flight from JFK to Changi—the longest flight in the world, clocking in at 9,537 miles and almost 19 hours in flight, booked for 99,000 points transferred from Chase to Singapore Airlines.
What I wish I knew before signing up
If you’re a newbie to points and miles, I definitely recommend picking up your very own Chase Sapphire Preferred. It’s a learner-friendly card and a good stepping stone to the rest of the travel credit cards universe.
If you’ve already got a couple of cards in your wallet, you should consider the Sapphire Preferred if it can cover some gaps in your points strategy. For example, do you have something that earns three points per dollar on Disney+ or Hulu?
But if you’re keen on maximizing your points per dollar spent and ready to build a more comprehensive card portfolio, you might be better served by the Chase Sapphire Reserve, or by card combinations like the Amex Gold and the Amex Platinum.
Learn more about applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
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Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
FAQs
Is Chase Sapphire Preferred good for flights? ›
Your points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise lines through Ultimate Rewards—our easy-to-use portal that helps you maximize your travel spending.
How much is travel worth on Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›Each point you redeem for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards is worth $.0125 (one and a quarter cents), which means that 100 points equals $1.25 in redemption value, and points are worth 25% more than if redeemed for cash.
Is it difficult to get a Chase Sapphire Preferred card? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is hard to get because you'll need good to excellent credit to have a chance at getting approved. Unless your credit score is 700 or higher and you have a lot of income, it will be difficult for you to get approved for Chase Sapphire Preferred.
How does Chase Sapphire card work with travel? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on ...
What airlines are best with Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›- Emirates Skywards.
- Flying Blue Air France KLM.
- Iberia Plus.
- JetBlue TrueBlue.
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards.
- United MileagePlus.
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Although it has many travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card does not reimburse the TSA PreCheck application fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card offers a statement credit up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for a TSA PreCheck application fee.
How much is 80000 points Chase Sapphire Preferred worth in dollars? ›However, Chase points are worth 25% more with the Sapphire Preferred card when you use them to book travel through the Chase Ultimate rewards site. So the 80,000 bonus points are worth $1,000 in travel booked through Chase and it's easy to use your points this way.
Does Sapphire Preferred have lounge access? ›The only way you can get airport lounge access with Chase Sapphire Preferred is by paying the $99 membership fee. This card does not provide complimentary access to airport lounges/clubs. Only Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives free airport lounge access – for the cardholder, authorized user, and up to two guests.
What is the credit limit for Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you're approved for this card, the reported minimum credit limit you can receive is $5,000. The average credit limit on this card is $10,000, and about 10% of cardholders report a credit limit that exceeds $20,000.
What does your credit score need to be for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card? While there is no set score needed, we recommend you have a credit score of at least 670, a clean 2 years of credit history, and an income of at least $30,000 per year.
Is Chase Sapphire Preferred a beginner card? ›
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great entry-level card if you're new to credit card rewards. You can earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — worth $1,440 based on Insider's valuations.
Why did I not get approved for Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred is considered a great beginner card, but you may not get approved if you don't have much credit history or only have one credit card to your name. I'd recommend applying for one of the best first credit cards or best credit cards for college students if you are brand-new to credit cards.
Is Chase Sapphire a high end card? ›One of the best luxury credit cards is Chase Sapphire Reserve® because it offers an initial bonus worth up to $900 in travel booked through Chase, gives a $300 annual travel credit, and provides complimentary airport lounge access.
Does Chase Sapphire consider hotel as travel? ›Travel purchased through the Chase Travel Center
Eligible travel purchases include airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and cruises.
Use the card for other expenses that qualify as travel, such as taxi rides, train fares, even parking lots and garages. Gas doesn't count as travel, however. Triple points for dining out means the Chase Sapphire Reserve® should always be the card you hand to the waiter.
Does Sapphire Preferred come with TSA PreCheck? ›Lounge access and other top-tier benefits
The card also offers up to a $100 reimbursement every four years for the application fee for NEXUS, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, which can let you sail through customs or security lines on your next trip. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lacks these travel perks.
No, Chase is not an American Airlines partner. This means you cannot transfer Ultimate Rewards points to the American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program. However, there are a number of Chase credit cards that offer rewards for booking American Airlines flights.
What is the difference between Chase Sapphire and preferred? ›If you are not a frequent or world traveler, the Sapphire Card is a solid rewards card that will reward you for dining out and all other purchases. The main reason for upgrading to the Sapphire Preferred Card is if you do travel frequently and would like to earn free travel. That might be worth the $95 annual fee.
Do you get free checked bags with Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›The Sapphire Preferred Card is not affiliated with a particular airline, so it does not offer features such as free checked bags or airport lounge access.
Does Chase Sapphire cover TSA PreCheck fee? ›Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
Receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your Sapphire Reserve card.
How can I get TSA PreCheck for free? ›
The best way to get TSA PreCheck for free is by carrying an eligible credit card. Dozens of credit cards reimburse the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee if you use that card to pay upfront.
Do Chase Sapphire points expire? ›No, your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points do not expire — as long as you keep your credit card account open.
How much is 100k points worth Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›100,000 Chase points are usually worth $1,070, whether you spend them on travel, cash back, gift cards, experiences or shopping. With a few Chase cards, 100,000 points can be worth 25% - 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
How much is 100k Sapphire points worth? ›How much are 100,000 Chase points worth? When redeemed for cash back, 100,000 Chase points are worth $1,000. When redeemed for travel booked through Chase, 100,000 points are worth $1,500 if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or $1,250 with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Does Chase Sapphire cover missed flights? ›The Chase Sapphire Reserve® travel insurance includes trip delay reimbursement, which will cover any reasonable expenses you incur in the meantime as long as you aren't already being reimbursed by your airline or other common carrier. The amount — $500 per ticket — should be more than enough to cover a typical delay.
Is Sapphire Preferred an elite card? ›While the Sapphire Preferred Card lacks elite and lounge benefits, it offers plenty of other useful travel perks. The card comes with an annual $50 credit toward hotel bookings made through Ultimate Rewards Travel.
What hotels are Sapphire Preferred partners? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred has three hotel partners – IHG®, Marriott Bonvoy™, and World of Hyatt®. You can transfer your points to these three hotels at a 1:1 transfer rate. Plus, your points are worth 25% more when you redeem for hotels through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program.
What is the minimum FICO score for Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›To get approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you need good-to-excellent credit. According to FICO, this means at least a 670 credit score. If you're unsure of your credit score, it's smart to check it before applying for a new credit card to avoid a hard inquiry followed by a rejection.
What is the average income for Chase Sapphire Reserve? ›Requirements for Chase Sapphire Reserve
You must earn at least $75,000 per year as a single individual or $150,000 combined with your spouse. You'll need excellent credit, which usually entails a Vantage Score 3.0 score of 750 or above.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are both made out of metal.
Does closing a credit card lower your score? ›
Credit experts advise against closing credit cards, even when you're not using them, for good reason. “Canceling a credit card has the potential to reduce your score, not increase it,” says Beverly Harzog, credit card expert and consumer finance analyst for U.S. News & World Report.
Which credit bureau does Chase Sapphire Preferred pull? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card is another of the Sapphire credit cards offered by Chase. It also uses Experian as its primary credit bureau and provides bonus points for a set amount of purchases during the first three months.
How long does it take to get a Chase Sapphire Preferred card? ›A: It typically takes seven to 10 business days for a new Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to arrive after you're approved. However, Chase may offer expedited one- to two-day delivery of your card upon request.
Which Chase card is the easiest? ›Chase has one good starter credit card, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, but it's only available to students. It offers 1% cash back on purchases plus a $50 bonus after your first purchase and a $20 good standing reward after every account anniversary.
What do I need to know before getting Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great option for frequent travelers who are looking for a high-value card, but applicants should have good to excellent credit scores if they are considering applying. A score of 700 or higher is recommended.
What is the minimum monthly payment on Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred minimum payment is $35 or 1% of your new balance including any late fees and interest charges, whichever is higher.
What should I put for annual income for a credit card? ›For a credit card application, you will need to report your gross income, which is your annual salary before taxes and other deductions. Your net income is the amount you get in your paycheck after those deductions.
Why is Chase so hard to get approved for? ›In general, Chase credit cards aren't the easiest to get since most require a good or excellent credit score for approval (700 or more). Most of those requirements are pretty standard, although some credit card companies offer cards to people with lower scores.
What is the Chase 5 24 rule? ›The Chase 5/24 rule is an unofficial policy that applies to Chase credit card applications. Simply put, if you've opened five or more new credit card accounts with any bank in the past 24 months, you will not likely be approved for a new Chase card.
How to get $100,000 for Chase Sapphire? ›As of June 4th, 2021, Chase is offering an unbelievable welcome bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points when you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and spend $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
What card do billionaires use? ›
What Credit Card Do the Super Rich Use? The super rich use a variety of different credit cards, many of which have strict requirements to obtain, such as invitation only or a high minimum net worth. Such cards include the American Express Centurion (Black Card) and the JP Morgan Chase Reserve.
What is the rarest credit card in the world? ›The rarest credit card in the world is likely the Centurion® Card from American Express, also known as the “Black Card.” This card is available by invitation only, and you will reportedly need to spend at least $250,000 per year on other Amex credit cards and have an income of $1 million+ to get it.
How does Chase Sapphire Preferred work for travel? ›25% more value in travel rewards
Your points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise lines through Ultimate Rewards—our easy-to-use portal that helps you maximize your travel spending. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel.
For the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to be worth it, we'll need to accumulate at least 12,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are worth $250 by our valuations. That means in a given year, you'll need to spend $4,167 on 3x categories like travel (excluding the $300 travel credit) and dining for it to make sense.
How do I use my Chase Sapphire card for travel? ›First, you'll need to log in to your Chase account, then navigate to the right side of the page, where you'll see a little box with your total Ultimate Rewards balance. Click “Travel” to access the travel homepage, where you can search for airfare, hotels or vacation rentals.
Is it hard to get Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is hard to get because you'll need good to excellent credit to have a chance at getting approved. Unless your credit score is 700 or higher and you have a lot of income, it will be difficult for you to get approved for Chase Sapphire Preferred.
What airlines can you book with Chase Sapphire points? ›- Aer Lingus AerClub.
- Air Canada Aeroplan.
- British Airways Executive Club.
- Emirates Skywards.
- Flying Blue (KLM and Air France)
- Iberia Plus.
- JetBlue TrueBlue.
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
Having a broad rewards category on your credit card is a great way to earn lots of points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Ink Business Preferred both count a wide range of businesses in the travel category. Everything from flights and hotels to rental cars and parking will earn bonus points on these 2 cards.
Does Chase Sapphire Preferred cover missed flights? ›Chase Sapphire Preferred trip cancellation coverage reimburses cardholders in the event of cancelled or interrupted trips due to sickness, severe weather, and other unforeseen circumstances. The insurance covers up to $10,000 per person and a maximum of $20,000 per trip.
Do you get priority boarding with Chase Sapphire Preferred? ›The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers complimentary Priority Pass membership, while Chase Sapphire Preferred® does not. Both are popular credit cards that feature travel benefits and perks.
How much are Chase Sapphire points worth for flights? ›
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. It's most famous for offering a 50% redemption bonus on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal which makes your points worth a fixed 1.5 cents each. Pay Yourself Back gives a value of 1.25 to 1.5 cents per point.
Does Sapphire Preferred reimburse for TSA? ›The card also offers up to a $100 reimbursement every four years for the application fee for NEXUS, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, which can let you sail through customs or security lines on your next trip.
Does Chase Sapphire Preferred cover airport lounge access? ›The only way you can get airport lounge access with Chase Sapphire Preferred is by paying the $99 membership fee. This card does not provide complimentary access to airport lounges/clubs. Only Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives free airport lounge access – for the cardholder, authorized user, and up to two guests.
Does Chase Sapphire partner with Delta Airlines? ›With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can't use your rewards to book flights directly with Delta. But you can do so if you go through Chase's online travel portal first.
Is Priority Pass Lounge access free? ›Access to Minute Suite: Priority Pass members have free access to Minute Suites at airports. You can use these services for free for the first hour and thereafter pay a nominal fee.
What airlines does Chase Sapphire points convert to? ›The Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer partners are Aer Lingus, Aeroplan/Air Canada (coming later in 2021), British Airways, Emirates, Flying Blue Air France KLM, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United Mileage Plus, Virgin Atlantic, World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards Club and Marriott ...
How much is 80 000 Chase Sapphire points worth? ›The Chase Sapphire Preferred's increased welcome bonus gives you 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. At a minimum, 80,000 Chase points are worth $800 in cash back.
How to get free Global Entry with Chase Sapphire? ›How can I get Global Entry for free? You can get Global Entry for free by using the Chase Sapphire Reserve card's application fee reimbursement, which covers up to $100 every 4 years. You can also use this credit for TSA PreCheck or NEXUS.
Does Chase Sapphire offer TSA PreCheck credit? ›Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
Receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your Sapphire Reserve card.