The number one question everyone always asks is which travel rewards card should I apply for first?
Hands down we always recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This is the card that will introduce you to the generous world of travel perks and we believe will have you hooked in our exciting world.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for beginners in the travel reward space? Yes and No. Let me explain. We will delve deeper into the specifics of the card in just a bit but first you should be aware of the requirements they have. These requirements will determine whether this card is a good fit for you for your current circumstances. This is a very important point often over looked.
Important Considerations
- 720 or higher credit score is generally needed to qualify for the Sapphire Preferred.
- $95 annual fee.
- You are only allowed to earn Chase’s Ultimate Reward Bonus Points once every 4 years from Sapphire cards.
- You do not currently have any other Sapphire card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
- 5 in 24 rule.
Premium dining & Travel rewards
Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards as you make purchases with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, including: earn 5x total points on travel purchased through their very user friendly Chase Ultimate Rewards site. Earn 3x points on dining, including delivery and takeout. Earn 2x on other travel purchases.* $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit.*
New Cardmember Bonus
60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Different sites will value the 60,000 points from $600 to $800 towards travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards but we here at FPTM are focused on Business & First Class tickets + Benefits received during that flight and value the points at $1,500 to $2,000 easy.
Travel Credit Card Rewards & Benefits
- $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.*
- 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit.*
- 5x points on Lyft purchases through March 2025.*
- 5x points on Peloton equipment or accessories purchased through March 2025 of $150 or more.*
- 2x on other travel purchases.*
- 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.*
- 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).*
- 3x points on select streaming services.*
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.*
10% Anniversary Points Bonus
Each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total spend in points from purchases made with your credit card during the previous account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $1 spent. “Account Anniversary Year” means the year beginning with your account open date through the anniversary of your account open date, and each 12 months after that. This means if you spend $25,000 on purchases, you’ll get 2,500 bonus points.
My Chase Plan
Eligible cardmembers can break up card purchases of $100 or more into fixed monthly payments with My Chase Plan.* No interest, just a fixed monthly fee on only the purchases you selected for the plan.
1:1 Point Transfer
Are you a member of a frequent travel program? With Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you can transfer your points to leading frequent travel programs at 1 to 1 value.
Airline Travel Partners
- Aer Lingus, AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards®
- Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
- United MileagePlus®
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotel Travel Partners
- IHG® Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy®
- World of Hyatt®
Partner Benefits
Lyft – Earn more points
5x points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025. That’s 3x points in addition to the 2x points you already earn on travel.*
DoorDash – DashPass Subscription
Once you get your Chase Sapphire Preferred card makes sure go to the DoorDash website.
Get complimentary access to DashPass – a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar – which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.*
Instacart – Instacart+ Subscription for six months
This offer is valid as long as you enroll before July 31, 2024. Once you get your Chase Sapphire Preferred card go to the Instacart website.
Related Bonus: Instacart+ members get a six month free Peacock subscription with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Skip the trip and have your groceries delivered to your doorstep with 6 months of complimentary instacart+.* Activate by July 31, 2024. Plus, Instacart+ members earn up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024.* Membership auto-renews.
Peloton – Earn more points
Earn 5x total points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 with a max earn of 25,000 total points now through March 31, 2025. Once you get your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to to the Peloton website.*
I want to get the card. Apply here for the Chase Sapphire Preferred
Travel & Purchase Coverage
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $,10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.**
Baggage Delay Insurance
Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 5 days.**
Trip Delay Reimbursement
If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.**
Purchase Protection
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.**
Extended Warranty Protection
Extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.**
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.**
**These benefits are available when you use your card. Restrictions, limitations and exclusions apply. Most benefits are underwritten by unaffiliated insurance companies who are solely responsible for the administration and claims. There are specific time limits and documentation requirements. Once your account is opened we will send you a Guide to Benefits, which includes a full explanation of coverages.
Flexibility To Pay Over Time On Specific Purchases You Choose
Break up eligible card purchases into budget friendly payments with no interest– just a fixed monthly fee.***
My Chase Plan lets you pay off eligible purchases of $100 or more*— over time in equal monthly payments. There’s no interest for purchases once it’s placed in a plan, just a fixed monthly fee. Plan durations range from 3-24 months, based on the purchase amount, your creditworthiness and y our account history. Track your payment progress at a glance on chase.com or in the Chase Mobile app.* For more information, please visit chase.com/mychaseplan.
No foreign transaction fees
There is no foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States.***
Visa Signature Concierge Service
As a Chase Sapphire Preferred card holder, you will have access to the Visa Signature Concierge Service for free. Folks that are new to traveling may shrug off and over look this benefit but for the seasoned traveler you know this comes in handy at times.
Much like what you find at a resort there are always concierges waiting to assist you in booking excursion travels, making restaurant reservations, researching shopping requests and more. Take for instance there’s this popular restaurant or place you saw on the gram and need help booking it because they only speak their local language. Are you starting to see the importance of having this perk while not always needed it?
What other cards should I consider before deciding?
If you’re looking for an alternative to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card then the Capital One Venture Rewards card would be our next choice. You get a hefty 75,000 bonus miles and 2x miles per dollar on every purchase and so much more.