#
Introduction: The Chase Sapphire Preferred
As a seasoned travel credit card enthusiast, I’ve seen countless cards come and go, each promising the world. However, some cards possess staying power, consistently delivering value and earning a permanent spot in our wallets. The Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) is undoubtedly one of those cards. It essentially democratized travel rewards, demonstrating that you don’t need a six-figure income or a relentless business travel schedule to unlock the benefits of free flights and hotel stays. But in today’s crowded landscape of premium rewards cards, does the CSP still hold its own? Let’s explore everything this card offers and whether it deserves a place in your wallet.
#
Earning Points: A Rewarding Experience
The Chase Sapphire Preferred, with its annual fee of $95, positions itself as a mid-tier travel rewards card, and I feel it really delivers on that promise. Currently, it boasts a generous welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account. That’s a considerable haul to kickstart your travel aspirations.
According to recent valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth around 2.05 cents each. Therefore, that welcome bonus alone is worth a staggering $2,050. That easily offsets the annual fee for years to come, making it a great value proposition.
Beyond the welcome bonus, the ongoing earning rates are quite compelling:
* 5 points per dollar: Travel booked through Chase Travel℠ * 3 points per dollar: Dining purchases, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs) * 2 points per dollar: All other travel purchases * 1 point per dollar: Everything else
What I particularly appreciate about Chase is their broad definition of bonus categories. For instance, “travel” isn’t restricted to just flights and hotels. It encompasses ride-hailing services, public transportation, and even some parking fees. Similarly, the “dining” category extends to food delivery services, providing ample opportunities to accumulate points on your everyday spending. I personally use this card for all my restaurant and delivery orders as it is easy to earn points fast.
#
Redeeming Points: Flexibility is Key
When it comes to redeeming your hard-earned points for travel, you have two primary avenues. If simplicity is your priority, you can directly book travel through the Chase Travel portal at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. I find this option useful when I have a specific flight or hotel in mind and want a straightforward booking process. Plus, you can even combine points and cash if you don’t have sufficient points to cover the entire trip.
Another advantage of booking directly through Chase Travel is that you’ll still earn bonus and elite qualifying miles with the airline you’re flying. These redemptions are processed as cash tickets, ensuring you receive the miles you’re entitled to.
However, if maximizing the value of your Chase points is your ultimate goal, you’ll typically achieve better results by transferring your points to one of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. These partners span all three major airline alliances (Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam) and include some of the largest hotel chains. Regardless of your destination, your points can contribute to your travel experiences. I especially love to transfer my points to Hyatt to unlock luxury experiences.
#
Travel Benefits: Peace of Mind on the Road
Beyond the points-earning and redemption aspects, the Sapphire Preferred card offers a suite of valuable travel benefits that provide peace of mind during your journeys. To start, the card charges no foreign transaction fees, saving you money on international purchases.
Unfortunately, travel plans don’t always go as expected. Delays and cancellations are sometimes unavoidable. That’s where the Sapphire Preferred’s generous travel protections come to the rescue:
* Trip delay insurance: If your flight is delayed by 12 hours or more, or requires an overnight stay, you can be reimbursed up to $500 for expenses like food, lodging, and local transportation. * Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: If your trip is canceled due to illness, weather, or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip for nonrefundable, prepaid expenses such as tours, hotels, and plane tickets. * Baggage delay insurance: If your luggage is delayed for six hours or more, you can be reimbursed up to $500 ($100 per day for five days) for essential purchases like clothing and toiletries.
The Sapphire Preferred also provides lesser-known benefits, such as primary rental car insurance.
Chase also offers partnerships on the Sapphire Preferred. For example, cardholders can receive a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, which includes at least a year of unlimited free food delivery. Normally valued at $9.99 a month, DashPass customers receive lower service fees and free delivery on all orders of more than $12. Sapphire cardholders can register anytime before December 31, 2027. Cardholders with an activated DashPass membership also receive up to $10 off each calendar month at checkout on one grocery, convenience or other nonrestaurant order on DoorDash.
#
Synergies with Other Chase Cards: The Power of the Ecosystem
If you’ve already started collecting Ultimate Rewards points, owning the Sapphire Preferred can significantly enhance your existing collection of Chase cards.
The Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited cards, both with no annual fees, are great for cash back. But if you also have an Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, your Freedom cards become even more rewarding.
The Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back (5 points per dollar) on your first $1,500 spent in rotating quarterly bonus categories (activation required). The Freedom Unlimited earns at least 1.5% cash back (1.5 points per dollar) on all purchases.
The cash back you earn from these cards is issued in the form of points worth 1 cent each. However, you can redeem them for cash back or transfer them to your Chase Sapphire Preferred and convert them into full-fledged transferable Ultimate Rewards points, more than doubling their value.
Similarly, the Preferred pairs well with the no-annual-fee Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card. This card earns 5% back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellphone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year. By transferring those points to your Sapphire Preferred, you’re boosting your return to over 10%.
#
Is the Sapphire Preferred Right for You? Factors to Consider
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent card for many, it’s not necessarily the perfect fit for everyone. Here are a few factors to consider before applying:
##
The 5/24 Rule
Chase enforces a 5/24 rule designed to combat credit card churning and encourage long-term customer relationships. Simply put, you’ll be automatically denied for any Chase cards, including the Sapphire Preferred, if you’ve opened five or more cards in the past 24 months. If this applies to you, applying for the Sapphire Preferred would be a waste of time.
##
Previous Sapphire Cardholders
If you’ve received a sign-up bonus from another Chase Sapphire card within the last 48 months, you won’t be eligible for the current bonus on the Preferred. Therefore, you should wait until you’re outside that 48-month window before applying.
##
Ultimate Rewards Suitability
The Ultimate Rewards program provides access to a diverse selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs. However, there may be instances where the program isn’t ideally suited to your needs.
For example, if you primarily fly American Airlines on long-haul international flights to Europe, you might not derive significant value from British Airways Club or Club Iberia Plus, which are the only Oneworld transfer partners within Ultimate Rewards. Similarly, if you’re a dedicated Hilton loyalist, the ability to transfer points to Hyatt might not be particularly appealing.
Despite this, I’m a loyal American Airlines flyer who has never redeemed Ultimate Rewards for hotels, yet I still find tremendous value in the program. Remember, you can always book travel through Chase Travel and take advantage of the 25% points redemption bonus. Therefore, it’s worth assessing your travel patterns and determining whether diversifying your points and miles strategy could be beneficial.
#
Conclusion: The Verdict
The Chase Sapphire Preferred remains a top recommendation as a well-rounded rewards credit card for travelers in 2025. It offers significant value with a reasonable annual fee of $95 and no foreign transaction fees. I really think that the sign-up bonus alone makes it a no-brainer for the first year.
Furthermore, the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s double points on travel and dining, along with its valuable perks like trip insurance and car rental coverage, make it a worthwhile choice for any wallet beyond the first year. If you are looking for a first travel credit card I recommend this one because it is a great all rounder that provides fantastic value.
