Chase Travel Credit Cards: A Comprehensive Guide to Earning and Redeeming Points

Chase offers a variety of travel credit cards that can help you earn and redeem points for travel-related expenses.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a 60,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, which can be redeemed for $750 in travel.

To earn points with a Chase travel credit card, you typically need to make purchases in the card's rewards category, such as travel, dining, or groceries.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers 3X points on travel and dining purchases and a $300 travel credit.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card offers a range of benefits that make it a valuable travel companion. You can earn up to 10X points on Lyft rides, which can add up to serious rewards if rideshares are a significant part of your monthly budget.

You'll also get two free years of Lyft Pink All Access membership, normally valued at $199/year, which includes perks like 10% off Lux rides and free priority pickup upgrades.

The card also grants you access to over 1,300 airport lounges all over the world, including Priority Pass-affiliated restaurants in airports. Lounges offer complimentary snacks, meals, beverages, comfortable seating, private areas, working stations, outlets, and even shower facilities in some airports.

You can use your card to get a $60 Doordash credit and DashPass status, which allows for $0 delivery fees on eligible orders for a minimum of one year and other perks from DoorDash. I've had positive experiences with DashPass, including free delivery and getting more food for the money I'm spending.

Here are some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card:

You can earn triple points back on travel and dining purchases with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, and since points go 50% further when used to book travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal, you could essentially get $4.50 toward travel for every $100 you spend on travel or dining.

To maximize your points, use the Chase Ultimate Rewards Shopping portal, which offers rewards for shopping at hundreds of different retailers, earning anywhere from 1x to 8x additional points per dollar spent.

You can also earn 5X on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually) and 10X on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually), which pads your points total even more.

Here's a breakdown of the rewards you can earn with Chase travel credit cards:

Spending in bonus categories can help you earn more points on your Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. You'll get triple points back on travel and dining purchases, which is a great return on your spending.

To maximize your earnings, focus on putting your travel and dining expenses on your card. This includes not just flights and hotels, but also expenses like Uber rides and parking fees, which can add up quickly.

You can also earn 5X points on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠, after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. And, you'll earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠, after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.

Here's a breakdown of the bonus categories and their rewards:

By taking advantage of these bonus categories, you can earn more points and redeem them for rewards, like free travel or cash back.

The welcome offer is a great way to earn a large sum of points, with some cards offering up to 100k points after meeting a certain spending requirement.

You can earn a welcome offer by signing up for a Chase credit card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. These cards offer different levels of perks, benefits, and rewards, and you can only have one of these Sapphire cards.

To earn the welcome offer, you typically need to spend a certain amount of money on purchases within a specific timeframe, such as $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

The welcome offer can be a significant factor in offsetting the annual fee of the card, but if the minimum spend is more than you'd typically charge to a credit card, this card may not be the best choice for you.

The current offer for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $900 towards travel when booked through Chase Travel℠.

This bonus is a great way to earn a large sum of points without spending a lot of money, and it's a key factor to consider when deciding which card to apply for.

Travel and transportation benefits are a major draw for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders. You'll get up to $300 in annual travel credits, which can be used on travel expenses. This can be a huge selling point, as it effectively reduces the annual fee to $250.

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can earn 10X points on Lyft rides, making it a great option for frequent users. This perk is especially valuable since rides can be pricey and are often more expensive than Uber. The 10X points on Lyft rides can translate into serious rewards, especially if rideshares are a significant part of your monthly budget.

One of the most comprehensive travel insurance policies is found with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which includes up to $20,000 reimbursement for trip interruption or cancellation and up to $3,000 per passenger for lost bags. You'll also get primary insurance coverage for rental cars, which means if you get in an accident, it applies before any other type of insurance coverage you might have.

Here are some of the travel and transportation benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you'll also get a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which means you'll no longer have to wait at the boarding gates in many cities when waiting to board your flights.

Airport lounges can be a game-changer for travelers, offering a comfortable and elevated experience before flights.

Many travel rewards credit cards offer cardmembers complimentary access to lounges, where they can relax and enjoy amenities like free buffets and cocktails.

The major U.S. card issuers, such as American Express, Capital One, and Chase, have built their own network of lounges to attract new card signups.

Airlines also operate their own branded lounges, like the American Airlines Admirals Club or the Delta Sky Club, which often come with premium airline credit cards.

You can also use a Priority Pass membership, which comes with certain travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X Rewards cards, to access over 1,300 global airport lounges.

Here are some of the benefits of using airport lounges:

Some credit cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, offer a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which grants access to these lounges.

If you're looking to use airport lounges, consider the following options:

Keep in mind that some lounges may have limited capacity or require reservations, so it's a good idea to check ahead of time.

When you're abroad, you don't have to worry about being charged fees for using the ATM or making purchases classified as foreign transactions, which can add up quickly.

You'll save money on foreign transaction fees, which can be a huge relief when traveling to countries with strong currencies.

Not having to pay extra for foreign transactions can help you stretch your travel budget further and enjoy your trip more.

Being able to use your card without worrying about added fees makes traveling abroad much more convenient and stress-free.

You can focus on exploring new places and cultures without the burden of unexpected fees eating into your travel funds.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is a premium rewards card that's perfect for frequent travelers and diners.

This card offers many benefits that can help offset its annual fee.

You can rack up serious rewards if you travel and dine out frequently.

The card includes a Priority Pass membership, which can make traveling a lot easier and more convenient.

With a Priority Pass membership, you can skip waiting at the boarding gates in many cities.

If you can check off most of the items below, you should consider applying for this card.

The benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card make it a great choice for travelers who value convenience and rewards.

Redeeming your Chase points can be a seamless experience, especially with the Ultimate Rewards Center in the Chase online portal system. Here, you can visually see the value of your points depending on what you decide to spend them on, such as flights, hotels, or shopping.

You can redeem your points for cash back, which is generally worth 1 cent per point. However, using your points to book travel through the Chase travel portal can be more valuable, with options for 1.25 cents or 1.5 cents per point with certain cards.

Some people may be hesitant to redeem their points, but it's always good practice to try and maximize your points' value. For example, transferring points to airline or hotel partners on a 1:1 basis can squeeze out even more value per point.

Points can be earned with every purchase, and the number of points earned per dollar depends on the spending category.

The Sapphire cards offer a sign-up bonus for spending a certain amount on the card within the first few months after approval.

You can redeem your points for cash back, with points generally worth 1 cent apiece.

Redeeming points for travel bookings can be more valuable, with points worth 1.25 cents apiece with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and 1.5 cents with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card.

You can also transfer points on a 1:1 basis to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, potentially squeezing out even more value per point.

Here are some ways to redeem your points:

You can redeem Chase points in multiple ways, including fixed-value redemption for travel or non-travel, earning a statement credit at a fixed rate of 1 cent each.

The Chase Pay Yourself Back program can get you a higher rate, usually 1.25-1.5 cents each, depending on its rotating categories.

You can also link an eligible Chase card to your Amazon account and pay for purchases that way with their Shop With Points program, but the point value will dip to 0.8 cents per point.

To redeem points, you can use the Ultimate Rewards Center within the Chase online portal system, where you can visually see the value of your points depending on what you decide to spend them on.

This makes it easy to compare the value of your points across different options, such as flights, hotels, or shopping.

You can also transfer points to partner airlines, like JetBlue, and have them transferred almost immediately.

Here are your main options for redeeming Chase points:

By choosing the right option, you can maximize the value of your points and save even more money.

If you travel often and are loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, a co-branded card from Chase might be a great fit. These cards offer loyalty program benefits that you won't get with a general-purpose travel card.

Chase issues co-branded cards with several airlines and hotel groups, including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Aer Lingus, and many others. These cards can provide powerful benefits like waived checked-bag fees and free upgrades.

The key is to consider whether you'll use the benefits of a co-branded card enough to justify the card's annual fee. If you're only traveling once every couple of years, a cash-back card might be a better choice.

Here are some of the airlines and hotels that partner with Chase for co-branded cards:

Hotel and airline cards issued by Chase offer exclusive benefits that can make your travels more rewarding. These co-branded cards are partnerships between Chase and airlines or hotels, such as United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Marriott's loyalty program.

You can earn loyalty program benefits, like waived checked-bag fees on an airline or free upgrades at a hotel, when you pay with a co-branded credit card. These benefits are powerful enticements for frequent travelers.

Double dipping is a great advantage of co-branded cards, where you earn rewards for being a loyalty program member, and additional points or miles on top of those when you pay with the card. For example, Marriott's loyalty program members earn at least 10 points per dollar spent at most hotels in the Marriott family of brands.

If you travel often and are loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain, a co-branded card makes sense. However, if you only travel occasionally, a cash-back card might be a better choice.

Some popular co-branded airline and hotel cards from Chase include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, and Iberia. If you're a regular traveler who favors one of these partners, consider whether the benefits of a dedicated hotel or airline card appeal to you.

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when deciding between a co-branded card and a general-purpose travel card:

Hotel and airline cards have their downsides. One major con is the lack of flexibility when redeeming rewards. Unlike Chase Ultimate Rewards points, airline miles and hotel points lock you into redeeming through the co-brand partner.

Redemption restrictions are another issue. Airlines and hotels often put limits on when you can redeem your rewards for a free flight or stay, and for limiting how many seats on a given flight (or rooms at a given hotel on a given night) are available for "award travel".

Some hotel and airline cards come with hefty annual fees, which can range into the hundreds of dollars. For example, one card has a $550 annual fee.

The benefits of hotel and airline cards aren't always freebies. Cards with no annual fees tend to earn rewards at lower rates and don't offer signature benefits.

Here are some specific drawbacks of hotel and airline cards:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is a premium rewards card that's worth considering if you travel and dine out frequently. It offers serious rewards that can more than offset the $550 annual fee.

If you can check off most of the items on the list of benefits, such as annual travel credit, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, Lyft and DoorDash perks, and triple points on some categories, it's definitely worth applying for.

The card has enhanced my travel experiences with the Global Entry and Priority Pass status and makes my goal of flying business class again a realistic possibility because I earn points on all of my purchases.

If you're considering a Chase travel credit card, you have several options to choose from. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card are two of the most popular choices.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is the more expensive option, with an annual fee of $550 plus $75 for each authorized user, but it comes with richer rewards, a higher redemption value, and a longer list of benefits, including an annual travel credit that makes up for a big chunk of the annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, on the other hand, is less costly, with an annual fee of $95, but it still offers extensive benefits that make it a popular choice for people who are just getting started with travel rewards.

If you travel frequently, you can rack up serious rewards with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, which can more than offset the cost of the annual fee.

However, if you're carrying a credit card balance or looking to cut down on your spending, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card might not be the right choice for you.

To decide if the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is worth it, consider the value you'll get from the benefits this card provides, such as the annual travel credit, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, Lyft and DoorDash perks, triple points on some categories, and airport lounge access.

You can also consider the flexibility of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which earns solid rewards on all travel and allows you to redeem those rewards without being tied to any specific airline or hotel brand.

Here are some key benefits of Chase-branded cards:

Ultimately, the best Chase travel credit card for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a hefty annual fee of $550, which can be a significant expense. This fee is not for the faint of heart, but it can be worth it for those who use the card's benefits frequently.

Some people may find it challenging to afford the annual fee, but one strategy is to set aside a portion of earnings from a side hustle or freelance work. For example, one person sets aside $5-$15 from each payment into a separate savings account specifically for the card fee.

The annual fee is just one of several charges associated with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Other fees include a high spending requirement for the welcome offer and a $75 annual fee for each authorized user.

The annual $300 statement credit is a significant perk of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. You can use it to offset your travel expenses, which can add up quickly.

You don't need to be a frequent flyer to take advantage of this benefit, as a single plane ticket can easily cost $300 or more. Even expenses like Uber rides and parking fees can count toward your annual travel credit.

The statement credit is automatically applied to your card statement once the annual period rolls around. This means you don't have to do anything extra to receive it, other than using your card for travel expenses.

Things like groceries and gas also count toward the statement credit total, which can be a nice bonus if you're already using your card for these types of purchases. If you want to use the statement credit for something specific, it's a good idea to charge that expense to the card first, so it's deducted from the credit total.

The annual fee of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a significant $550, which can be a con for many users. It's not a cheap card, and most people wouldn't have $550 lying around to contribute towards a credit card.

However, the annual fee can be offset by the card's perks, such as the annual travel credit, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, Lyft and DoorDash perks, triple points on some categories, and airport lounge access. The card's benefits can be worth more than the annual fee, especially for frequent travelers.

To afford the annual fee, some users set aside money in a separate savings account, like SmartyPig, to make it easier to plan and budget for the fee. This can help make the annual fee more manageable and less of a surprise.

The $300 annual statement credit can also help reduce the effective annual fee to $250. This credit is automatically deducted from your card statement and can be used on travel expenses.

Here are some key facts about the annual fee: