
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a fantastic credit card, but to get the most out of it, you need to know how to maximize your points.
You can earn 2X points on travel and dining purchases, which is a great start, but you can do even better by using the card for everyday purchases like groceries and gas.
To maximize your points, make sure to pay your bill in full each month to avoid interest charges.
The card's 60,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months is a great incentive to sign up, but you can earn even more points by taking advantage of the card's anniversary bonus.
Benefits and Features
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a range of benefits and features that can help you maximize your rewards and savings. You can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, which is equivalent to over $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

One of the card's key benefits is its generous rewards program, which includes earning 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, and 2x on all other travel purchases. You'll also get a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Here are some of the card's other valuable perks:
- No foreign transaction fees.
- A minimum of one year of DashPass, which gives a $0 delivery fee and lower service fees on DoorDash orders over $12.
- Purchase protection of up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account if your new purchases are stolen or damaged.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
- Baggage delay insurance covering the purchase of toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day, if your bags are lost or delayed more than six hours.
- Trip delay insurance, which covers you for things like meals and hotel stays, up to $500 per ticket, if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours (or overnight).
Benefits Overview
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a range of benefits that make it a great choice for frequent travelers.
The card's rewards program is one of its standout features, offering 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, and 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases.
You can also earn a 60,000-point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
In addition to its rewards program, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a range of travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, and travel accident insurance.

These protections can provide peace of mind when booking travel, and can help you recover from unexpected delays or cancellations.
The card also offers no foreign transaction fees, making it a great choice for international travel.
Here are some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred also offers a range of other benefits, including purchase protection, rental car insurance, and a minimum of one year of DashPass, which gives a $0 delivery fee and lower service fees on DoorDash orders over $12.
Don't Miss Other Card Benefits
Using your Chase Sapphire Preferred card for every purchase can lead to missing out on valuable benefits from other credit cards.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is a great example of this. It earns 4 points per dollar at Hyatt hotels, which translates to a 6.8% return based on TPG valuations.
If you book the same hotel brand often and elite status is important to you, using the hotel's cobranded credit card will earn you more points.
Here are a few examples of other credit cards that offer great benefits for specific purchases:
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 12 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases, which is a 7.2% return based on TPG valuations.
Maximizing Rewards
To maximize your rewards with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, it's essential to understand the best ways to earn points. One strategy is to split your rewards across multiple cards, as mentioned in Example 2, which highlights the best cards to use for different spending categories.
You can earn 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 5x points on purchases in the Chase Freedom Flex's rotating bonus categories, and 3x points on dining and drugstore purchases. This is a great way to maximize your earnings, especially if you have a good understanding of the bonus categories.
Here are some specific cards to consider using for different spending categories:
By using the right card for each spending category, you can earn the maximum number of points and maximize your rewards.
Strategies for Maximizing
To maximize your rewards, it's essential to understand the best ways to use your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This card offers a generous 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months, worth $1,230 according to TPG.
Using the Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay for travel booked through the Chase Travel portal can be a great way to earn 5x points. This is because the card earns 5x points on travel booked through the portal, making it a great option for those who frequently book travel.
Splitting your rewards across multiple cards can also help you maximize your earning potential. The Chase Trifecta strategy involves using multiple Chase cards together to earn the most points in different categories. By using the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Freedom Flex, and Chase Freedom Unlimited, you can earn 5x points on travel, 5x points on rotating categories, and 3x points on dining.
The key to maximizing your rewards is to use the right card for the right category. For example, the Chase Freedom Flex earns 5x points on purchases in rotating categories, such as Amazon or fitness clubs. Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x points on dining.
Here's a breakdown of the best cards to use in different categories:
By using the right card for the right category, you can earn the most points and maximize your rewards.
Car Rental Payment
Paying for rental cars with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card can save you money on insurance costs. You can waive the in-house rental agency's pricey Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) insurance, which can cost up to $15 per day.
This means you'll still receive primary rental car insurance, courtesy of Chase, which covers damage and theft to the card without going through your personal insurance company.
Using the Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a card that rewards you for your spending, and one of the best ways to maximize its benefits is to use it for travel purchases. You'll earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal, which can add up quickly.
To take advantage of this benefit, make sure to book your travel through the Chase travel portal, rather than through a third-party site. This will ensure that you earn the maximum points for your purchase.
If you're a frequent traveler, you'll also appreciate the card's travel protections, including trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, and travel accident insurance. These benefits can provide peace of mind and financial protection in case something goes wrong during your trip.
The card also offers primary rental car insurance, which can save you money on rental car insurance fees. This benefit can be especially useful if you're renting a car for an extended period of time.
Here are some key benefits to keep in mind when using the Chase Sapphire Preferred:
By using the Chase Sapphire Preferred for your travel purchases and taking advantage of its travel protections, you can maximize your rewards and enjoy a more convenient and stress-free travel experience.
Managing Your Account
Managing Your Account effectively is crucial to maximizing your Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards. You can log in to your account online or through the Chase mobile app to view your account information and transaction history.
To make a payment, simply navigate to the "Make a Payment" section and enter the amount you want to pay. The payment will be applied to your current balance.
You can also set up automatic payments to ensure you never miss a payment. This can be done by clicking on the "Payment Settings" tab and selecting the frequency and amount you want to pay.
To update your account information, such as your address or phone number, click on the "Account Settings" tab and make the necessary changes. This will help ensure that you receive important account updates and statements.
If you have any issues with your account, you can contact Chase customer service 24/7 for assistance. They can be reached by phone, email, or through the Chase mobile app.
Making the Most of Your Points
You can get a 25% redemption bonus when redeeming your rewards for travel through Chase Travel℠, giving you a flat 1.25 cents per point.
This is a great option for some, but you can unlock much more value from your points by transferring them to one of Chase's 14 airline and hotel transfer partners.
By doing so, you'll get an average of 2 cents per point, according to The Points Guy's valuations.
This means that a 60,000-point welcome offer is worth at least $750 when redeemed for travel through one of these partners.
If you have the Chase Freedom Flex or the Chase Freedom Unlimited, your Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel, with no transfer option to partners.
However, if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you can transfer your points to one of Chase's over a dozen hotel and airline travel partners, giving you more flexibility.
This flexibility is one of the features that makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card such a great option, offering a 25% boost when you book in the travel portal, combined with the option of transferring points to airline, hotel, and other partner programs.
Understanding the Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a premium travel rewards credit card that offers a wide range of benefits and rewards. With its generous sign-up bonus and ongoing rewards program, it's popular among frequent travelers and travel enthusiasts.
To get the most out of this card, you'll want to understand its key benefits. Here are some of the most notable features:
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits like 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Travel℠.
The $95 annual fee may seem steep, but it's not waived the first year. However, the Chase Ultimate Rewards points you'll get as a welcome bonus more than offset it, at least for the first year.
What Is the?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a premium travel rewards credit card that offers cardholders a wide range of benefits and rewards.
It's designed specifically for people who love to travel and want to earn rewards on their everyday purchases. This makes it a popular choice among frequent travelers and travel enthusiasts.
The card offers a generous sign-up bonus, which is a great incentive for new cardholders. This bonus can be redeemed for travel or other rewards, making it a valuable perk.
It's also worth noting that the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a premium card, implying that it comes with higher-end features and benefits.
Is the Annual Fee Worth It?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred's annual fee is $95, not waived the first year, so it's essential to consider whether it's worth the cost.
The welcome bonus of Chase Ultimate Rewards points more than offsets the annual fee for at least the first year.
You'll need to decide how valuable the Chase Sapphire Preferred is for your spending and travel patterns after the first year.
If you already have other Chase cards like the Chase Freedom or the Chase Freedom Unlimited, having a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be valuable.
This is because it allows you to earn more valuable points in Chase's travel portal and transfer them to hotel and airline partners.
Bonus Eligibility
To be eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card bonus, you must meet two requirements. You can't have any Sapphire cards, either the Preferred or Reserve, currently.
If you've received a new card member bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months, you're not eligible. This means you've got to be a new player in the game.
To get the 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points as a welcome bonus, you'll need to meet these requirements and apply for the card. The bonus points will be added to your account in the next billing cycle.
Here's a summary of the eligibility requirements:
Our Expert Take
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a powerhouse of a card, especially considering its $95 annual fee. It offers annual travel credits, which can be a huge perk for frequent travelers.
One of the standout features of this card is its comprehensive travel protections. This includes various forms of insurance to safeguard your trips, giving you peace of mind when booking travel arrangements.
The card's annual fee is a mere $95, which is a small price to pay for the many benefits it offers. This fee is a fraction of what many other premium travel cards charge.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you'll also have access to a wide range of travel benefits, including annual travel credits. These credits can be redeemed for travel-related expenses, such as flights, hotels, and rental cars.
Special Offers and Perks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers some fantastic special perks to enhance your travel experience. With no foreign transaction fees, you can use your card abroad without worrying about extra charges.
You'll also get a minimum of one year of DashPass, which provides a $0 delivery fee and lower service fees on DoorDash orders over $12. Activate your subscription by December 31, 2027, to take advantage of this perk.
In addition to these benefits, the card offers various types of insurance, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip, and baggage delay insurance covering the purchase of toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day.
Here are some of the key insurance benefits:
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
- Baggage delay insurance covering the purchase of toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day.
- Trip delay insurance, which covers you for things like meals and hotel stays, up to $500 per ticket, if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours (or overnight).
Card Perks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a wide range of perks that make it a great choice for travelers. One of the most valuable perks is the lack of foreign transaction fees, which can save you a lot of money when traveling abroad.
You'll also get a minimum of one year of DashPass, which gives you a $0 delivery fee and lower service fees on DoorDash orders over $12. This can be activated until December 31, 2027.
Purchase protection is another great perk, covering up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account if your new purchases are stolen or damaged.
The card also offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
If your bags are lost or delayed more than six hours, you're covered for the purchase of toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day.
The card also includes trip delay insurance, covering you for things like meals and hotel stays, up to $500 per ticket, if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours (or overnight).
Here are some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:
- No foreign transaction fees.
- A minimum of one year of DashPass, which gives a $0 delivery fee and lower service fees on DoorDash orders over $12.
- Purchase protection of up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
- Baggage delay insurance covering the purchase of toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day.
- Trip delay insurance, covering you for things like meals and hotel stays, up to $500 per ticket.
To take advantage of these perks, be sure to activate your DashPass subscription by December 31, 2024, to get the most out of your card.
Free DashPass Trial for Food Delivery Savings
You can get a complimentary trial of DashPass, DoorDash's premium membership, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This trial lasts for a year or more, depending on when you activate the benefit.
DashPass normally costs $9.99 per month, but with the trial, you'll get access to $0 delivery fee on orders over $12 from eligible restaurants on DoorDash and Caviar. To activate the benefit, add your Chase Sapphire Preferred as your default payment method to your DoorDash account.
To get the DashPass benefits on a given order, you'll need to pay with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This card earns 3x points on dining at restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services, including DoorDash.
Rewards and Redemption
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a 60,000-point welcome offer, which can be redeemed for a significant value.
You can redeem your points for travel through Chase's travel portal, where each point is worth 1.25 cents, making the welcome offer worth at least $750.
The flexibility of transferring points to one of Chase's over a dozen hotel and airline travel partners is another benefit of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Split Rewards Across Cards
Splitting your rewards across cards is a great way to maximize your earning potential. You can use the Chase Freedom Flex, Chase Freedom Unlimited, and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards together to earn rewards in different categories.
The Chase Freedom Flex earns 5x points on purchases in rotating bonus categories, such as Amazon, fitness clubs, and Target. It also earns 3x points on drugstore purchases.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5x points on all purchases. You can use it for purchases that don't fall into the bonus categories of the other cards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3x points on dining, and 2x points on all other travel purchases.
By using all three cards, you can earn rewards in multiple categories and maximize your earning potential.
Here's a breakdown of the rewards rates for each card:
By splitting your rewards across cards, you can take full advantage of each card's bonus categories and maximize your earning potential.
Your $50 Anniversary Credit
You can use your $50 anniversary hotel credit through Chase Travel to book a hotel reservation and get a discount on your stay.
The credit can be redeemed by booking your hotel reservation through the Chase Travel portal and paying with your Sapphire Preferred card.
The statement credit will be posted to your account within one to two billing cycles, according to Chase.
This credit is a nice discount if you were already planning to book a hotel through the portal, covering more than half of the card's $95 annual fee.
Best Ways to Spend 60,000-Point Bonus
Spending your 60,000-point bonus wisely is key to getting the most value out of your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. You can transfer your points to travel partners for the best value, unlocking an average of 2 cents per point through partner airlines and hotels.
The Points Guy's valuations show that transferring points to these partners can get you a much better deal than redeeming through Chase Travel℠, which offers a flat 1.25 cents per point. By booking travel directly through the partners' own loyalty programs, you can find deals and "sweet spots" that maximize your points' value.
To give you a better idea, let's look at some examples of how to spend your bonus points. For instance, you can redeem 34,000 Ultimate Rewards Points, plus taxes and fees, for a multithousand-dollar business class flight to Europe through Iberia Airlines. This is a much better value than redeeming for travel through the Chase portal.
Here are some options to consider when spending your 60,000-point bonus:
Keep in mind that you can also use your points to book travel through the Chase portal, but it's generally not the most valuable option.
Top Tier Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a top-notch rewards program that lets you earn points on your everyday purchases. You can earn 3x points per $1 spent on dining, making it a great option for foodies.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can also earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through March 2025, which is a great perk for frequent riders.
You'll earn 2x points per $1 spent on travel, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. This means you can rack up points quickly on your usual expenses.
One of the standout features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is its ability to unlock travel transfer partners. This means you can transfer your Ultimate Reward points to partner airlines and hotels, where you can redeem your points and miles for 2-4x the value.
Here's a quick rundown of the Chase Sapphire Preferred's rewards program:
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can redeem your points for travel through the Chase Travel portal and get a 25% redemption bonus, making your points worth 1.25 cents each. This can be a huge perk for frequent travelers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 48 month rule for Chase?
The 48 month rule for Chase states that you can only collect bonus points on Sapphire-branded credit cards every 48 months. This means you'll need to wait 48 months after receiving bonus points to earn them again.
What is the most cost-effective way to use Chase points?
The most cost-effective way to use Chase points is to redeem them for cash back, which offers a value of $10 for every 1,000 points. This option provides a higher return than redeeming points for other rewards.
Sources
- https://thepointsguy.com/news/how-to-maximize-your-rewards-earning-with-the-chase-sapphire-preferred/
- https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/save-on-food-travel-and-more-how-to-maximize-the-chase-sapphire-preferred-card/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-way-to-spend-chase-sapphire-preferred-bonus/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/how-to-get-the-most-from-the-chase-sapphire-preferred-card
- https://www.thepointspassport.com/content/chase-sapphire-preferred
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