Few travel rewards credit cards are as iconic as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It was one of the few transferable points credit cards when it launched in 2009, and it skyrocketed the popularity of Chase’s travel credit card portfolio and Chase Ultimate Rewards.
And for a good reason. The card has evolved over the past 15 years, but has remained popular thanks to its low annual fee, earning rates, and the incredible value of Ultimate Rewards points. You can transfer the points you earn with the card to 14 top-notch loyalty programs, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, and World of Hyatt, among others.
Here’s why we think the Chase Sapphire Preferred is still the best travel rewards credit card for beginners, and a look at its welcome bonus, earning rates, and other features.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers new cardmembers 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is worth at least $937.50 when you redeem through Chase Travel, but can be worth significantly more when you leverage transfer partners — more on this soon.
The card charges a $95 annual fee, which does not get waived for the first year.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholder earns bonus points on popular purchases. Here’s a look at its earning rates:
These are solid earning rates given the card’s relatively low $95 annual fee. The spending categories are broad, too — for example, the travel category includes things like public transportation and taxis. Dining specifically includes delivery services and takeout.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is essentially an earner card, meaning it has few travel benefits (for example, airport lounge access is not included), but it’s a great card to use for earning points for a future trip. Regardless, there are a few benefits you should be aware of and take advantage of if you decide to apply for the card.
Note that you must charge your flights or other travel expenses to your Chase Sapphire Preferred to be eligible for most of these protections. Refer to the card’s benefits guide for more information.
You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for:
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are among the most flexible thanks to the program’s 14 transfer partners. Of these 14, three are hotel loyalty programs, and the other 11 are airline loyalty programs.
For American Airlines flights:
For United Airlines flights:
For Delta Air Lines flights:
Here are some of our favorite ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points by leveraging its partner program sweet spots:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the more premium version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, with airport lounge access and other premium travel benefits. But these come with a significantly higher annual fee.
Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a similar annual fee with a different earning structure.
We think the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect starter card for those new to travel rewards. It has a relatively low annual fee that’s more than made up for with its earning structure, welcome offer and annual 10% points bonus and $50 hotel credit. Plus, it’s easy to use points: You can redeem at 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel or leverage one of Ultimate Rewards’ 14 transfer partners for even more value.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred packs a lot of punch for a sub-$100 annual fee travel credit card. You’ll earn bonus points on your travel and dining purchases and never have to worry about paying foreign transaction fees abroad. When it’s time to use your points, you have plenty of high-value options, from luxury hotel stays with Hyatt to domestic flights and more.
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