{"id":174819,"date":"2025-04-07T03:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T03:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/airline\/chase-sapphire-preferred-review-the-best-starter-card\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T03:26:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T03:26:00","slug":"chase-sapphire-preferred-review-the-best-starter-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=174819","title":{"rendered":"Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: The Best Starter Card"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In the interest of full disclosure, OMAAT earns a referral bonus for anyone that\u2019s approved through some of the below links. The information and associated card details on this page for the Chase Freedom Flex\u2120 has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. These are the best publicly available offers (terms apply) that we have found for each product or service. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, hotel chain, or product manufacturer\/service provider, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Please check out our advertiser policy<\/a> for further details about our partners, and thanks for your support!\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Link: Apply now for the Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae Card<\/a> with 100K bonus points<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae Card<\/a> is one of the most popular travel rewards cards out there, and for good reason. The card has a reasonable annual fee, great rewards structure, and offers valuable travel protection. <\/p>\n

In this post, I want to take an in-depth look at this card, and share why this card can be worth having<\/a> in your wallet. This is the ideal time to apply, as the card currently has the best welcome offer that we\u2019ve seen in years.<\/p>\n

Chase Sapphire Preferred Basics For April 2025<\/h2>\n

While a lot of people nowadays talk about the Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae Card<\/a> (review<\/a>), this card was built on the basics of the Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a>. For many, the Sapphire Reserve has overshadowed the Sapphire Preferred in recent years, but I\u2019m not sure that should consistently be the case.<\/p>\n

I consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card worthy of consideration for travel rewards experts and novices alike, thanks to the value it can unlock with a low annual fee. Let\u2019s go over everything you need to know about the card.<\/p>\n

100K Bonus Points Welcome Offer<\/h3>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred currently has an improved welcome bonus<\/a> of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points<\/strong> after spending $5,000 within three months. Unfortunately we don\u2019t know when this offer will be pulled, as an end date hasn\u2019t been published.<\/p>\n

At an absolute minimum, Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed<\/a> for 1.25 cents each toward a travel purchase, meaning that 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points will get you $1,250 worth of travel.<\/p>\n

While that\u2019s the minimum value you should get, as I\u2019ll explain below, there are ways to get way more use out of the points than that. Based on my valuation<\/a> of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, this bonus is worth $1,700<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Redeem points for Singapore\u2019s A350 business class<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Welcome Bonus Eligibility<\/h3>\n

You can only earn the bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you don\u2019t currently have any Sapphire card, and haven\u2019t received a new cardmember bonus on a Sapphire card in the past 48 months<\/a> (this includes the Sapphire Reserve). It\u2019s fine if you had this card or the Sapphire Reserve in the past, you just can\u2019t currently have it, and can\u2019t have received a bonus in the above timeframe.<\/p>\n

Here are general rules on applying for Chase cards<\/a>, and here are the Chase Sapphire Preferred eligibility requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth being aware that Chase will often let you product change from one card to another, assuming you\u2019ve had a card for at least 12 months. For example, if you apply for the Sapphire Preferred, you could later upgrade it to the Sapphire Reserve. Just keep in mind you wouldn\u2019t be eligible for the bonus on a card if you get it through a product change.<\/p>\n

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Chase may let you product change between cards<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

$95 Annual Fee<\/h3>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a reasonable $95 annual fee<\/strong>, making it one of the best low annual fee cards<\/a>. You can add authorized users to the card at no extra cost, and any spending they put on their card will contribute toward the points you earn.<\/p>\n

Earning Points With The Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/h2>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a> is an industry-leading card in terms of its rewards structure<\/a>. When picking a credit card, I always recommend getting one that has bonus categories that match up with your spending profile, and I think the categories on the Sapphire Preferred will prove useful to a lot of consumers.<\/p>\n

5x Points On Chase Travel Portal Bookings<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred offers 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal<\/strong>. This includes prepaid travel purchases made online or by phone, as long as they\u2019re done through Chase\u2019s Ultimate Rewards travel department. Eligible purchases include airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, vacation rentals, and cruises. The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection won\u2019t qualify.<\/p>\n

I value<\/a> Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, so to me that\u2019s the equivalent of an 8.5% return on travel spending, but only through the Chase Travel Portal. While some people will no doubt benefit from that, I do find this to be somewhat limiting, since there are downsides and opportunity costs to not booking direct with an airline, hotel, etc.<\/p>\n

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Earn 5x points on Chase Travel Portal bookings with the card<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5x Points On Lyft Rides<\/h3>\n

Chase and Lyft have a partnership<\/a>, and with this, the Sapphire Preferred earns 5x points on Lyft rides<\/strong>, valid through September 2027. To me, that\u2019s the equivalent of an 8.5% return on Lyft spending, making this one of the best cards for rideshare spending<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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3x Points On Dining<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred offers 3x points on dining purchases globally<\/strong>. The dining category includes sit-down and eat-in dining, ranging from fine dining, to fast food, to cafes. On top of that, takeout and delivery also qualifies. To me, that\u2019s the equivalent of a 5.1% return on dining spending<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Earn 3x points on dining with the Sapphire Preferred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3x Points On Online Grocery Purchases<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred offers 3x points on online grocery purchases<\/strong>, excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs. This includes purchases for grocery pickup and delivery that are placed online with grocery stores, specialty food stores, and meal kit delivery services. <\/p>\n

While admittedly not everyone orders groceries online, this is an excellent bonus category. To me, that\u2019s the equivalent of a 5.1% return on online grocery store spending<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3x Points On Select Streaming Services<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred offers 3x points on select streaming services<\/strong>. Select streaming services include Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube TV. To me that\u2019s the equivalent of a 5.1% return on streaming services spending.<\/p>\n

2x Points On Travel<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred offers 2x points on travel purchases globally<\/strong>. Of course, you can earn 5x points on travel purchases directly through Chase, but all other travel purchases are eligible to earn 2x points. To me that\u2019s the equivalent of a 3.4% return on travel spending. The travel category includes the following:<\/p>\n

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airlines, airports, car rental agencies (including truck, trailer, and RV), cruise ships, hotels and motels, timeshares, local and commuter transportation (including trains, buses, taxis\/limos, ferries, bridges, tolls and parking), travel agencies<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Earn 2x points on travel with the Sapphire Preferred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10% Anniversary Points Bonus<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred offers a 10% anniversary points bonus<\/strong>. The way this works, each account anniversary year you\u2019ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of the total spending in points from purchases made with your credit card during the previous account anniversary year. <\/p>\n

You won\u2019t receive the 10% anniversary points bonus based on any sign-up bonuses or bonus categories, but rather the 10% bonus applies to base spending. In other words, if you had $50,000 in eligible purchases on the card in an anniversary year, you\u2019d receive 5,000 bonus points.<\/p>\n

No Foreign Transaction Fees<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees<\/strong>, so this is an excellent card to use for purchases globally<\/a> since you can earn valuable rewards while not being stuck with those fees, which can be as high as 3%.<\/p>\n

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Earn bonus points on international train tickets with the Sapphire Preferred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Redeeming Chase Sapphire Preferred Points<\/h2>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a> earns Ultimate Rewards Points<\/a><\/strong>, which I find to be one of the most valuable flexible points currencies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio<\/a> to the below programs.<\/p>\n

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Points are also worth 25% more when redeeming for travel through the Chase Travel Portal<\/a>. You can apply points toward flights, hotels, car rentals, and more, at the rate of 1.25 cents per point. Note that when you book flights through the Chase Travel Portal, you\u2019ll generally still earn miles, and those flights will still count toward elite status.<\/p>\n

That means that a $1,250 flight will cost you 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points, though you may get better value than that if transferring points to an Ultimate Rewards partner, especially if you\u2019re looking for a first and business class flight, or a luxury hotel.<\/p>\n

For example, you could transfer 25,000-35,000 points to World of Hyatt for a free night redemption at the Park Hyatt Maldives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Redeem Ultimate Rewards points for a stay at the Park Hyatt Maldives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Or you could transfer 72,500 points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for a redemption<\/a> in All Nippon Airways first class<\/a> between the west coast of the United States and Japan.<\/p>\n

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Redeem Ultimate Rewards points for a flight in ANA first class<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits<\/h2>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a> offers quite a few benefits that make this card even more valuable, from car rental coverage, to benefits that can earn you more points, to other travel and purchase protection. Let\u2019s take a look at how those benefits work.<\/p>\n

$50 Anniversary Hotel Credit<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred offers a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit<\/a><\/strong>. The way this works, you receive a statement credit for a hotel accommodation purchase made through the Chase Travel Portal, up to $50. There\u2019s no minimum spending required, so in theory, you could book a $50 hotel room, and then get a $50 statement credit.<\/p>\n

This benefit is based on your account anniversary year, and you even receive this in the first year that you have the card.<\/p>\n

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Receive a $50 annual hotel credit with the card<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Travel & Purchase Coverage<\/h3>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers quite a bit of valuable travel and purchase protection<\/strong>, including the below.<\/p>\n

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Visa Signature Benefits<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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Details<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

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Baggage Delay Benefit<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u2022 You can be reimbursed up to $500 when some or all of the cost of a common carrier ticket is charged to your card (therefore award tickets should be eligible if the taxes are charged to the card)<\/p>\n

\u2022 You can be reimbursed a maximum of $100 per day for emergency purchases of essential items at a destination other than your current residence<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Lost Luggage Reimbursement<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u2022 Receive reimbursement for lost or damaged checked or carry-on bags and personal property<\/p>\n

\u2022 Maximum reimbursement is $3,000<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Trip Cancellation\/Interruption Insurance<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u2022 Receive the non-refundable amount of the passenger fare or $5,000 (whichever is less) in the event of a trip cancellation or interruption<\/p>\n

\u2022 The cancellation or interruption must be caused by death, accidental injury, disease, or physical illness of the passenger or immediate family member<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Trip Delay Reimbursement<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u2022 Receive up to $500 if your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours<\/p>\n

\u2022 The trip has to be delayed by an equipment failure, inclement weather, labor strikes, or hijacking<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Warranty Manager Service<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u2022 Extends the free repair period under the original manufacturers repair warranty up to one additional year<\/p>\n

\u2022 Motorized vehicles (boats, cars, aircraft, etc.) aren\u2019t included<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Primary Car Rental Coverage<\/h3>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers primary collision damage waiver coverage<\/a><\/strong> against damage up to the cost of most rental car vehicles, provided you decline the CDW coverage offered by the rental agency. You\u2019ll want to check your cardmember agreement for full details.<\/p>\n

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Coverage on rental cars is a valuable perk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Complimentary DoorDash DashPass Membership<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Preferred offers a DoorDash DashPass membership<\/strong><\/a>, for a minimum of one year when enrolled by December 31, 2027.<\/p>\n

With DoorDash DashPass, you pay a $0 delivery fee when placing eligible orders with thousands of restaurants and grocery stores nationwide. You just need to place an order of at least $12 from an eligible restaurant, or $25 from an eligible grocery store, and you\u2019ll get a $0 delivery fee and a reduced service fee.<\/p>\n

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Save on DoorDash with this Sapphire Preferred benefit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chase Offers<\/h3>\n

One of the great features of Chase cards is access to Chase Offers<\/strong><\/a>, which provides savings on purchases with all kinds of retailers. This program has saved me a significant amount of money, as I\u2019ve seen offers with retailers I\u2019d make purchases with anyway.<\/p>\n

Is The Sapphire Preferred Worth It?<\/h2>\n

Let me answer this question very simply \u2014 if you don\u2019t have the Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a> and are eligible, then yes, the card is worth getting. The card\u2019s welcome bonus is excellent, the bonus categories are great, the perks are awesome, and this is also a fantastic \u201chub\u201d card for Chase Ultimate Rewards.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, let\u2019s take a look at some of the factors to consider, ranging from a comparison to the Sapphire Reserve, to other cards to consider in place of this, to cards to consider as complements.<\/p>\n

Comparison: Sapphire Preferred Vs. Sapphire Reserve<\/h3>\n

The Sapphire Reserve<\/a> is an even more premium version of the Sapphire Preferred<\/a> \u2014 which of these two cards is better<\/a>? Let\u2019s compare them across a few categories:<\/p>\n